OF SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRANTS.

11

D.—No. 3.

From particulars furnished by Mr. Morrison, we learn that the first draft is composed of eighteen men, of ages varying from twenty to thirty-five years, with their eighteen wives, and seventeen very young children, making a total of fifty-three souls. The heads of families are described as being of the following occupations : —Workmen, 9 ; carpenters, 4; machinist, 1; blacksmith, 1; cattle driver and tender, 1 ; baker and miller, 1; tailor, 1; total, 18. As we may reasonably suppose that a somewhat similar selection will be made, both as to ages, sexes, and occupations in the case of other drafts of the emigrants, we may be understood to speak generally of the whole number expected, when making suggestions and recommendations relative to the reception and settlement of the first detachment. We find that tho barracks at Te Aro, at present unoccupied, are in sufficiently good order for the reception of a small body of emigrants, and with a small expenditure could be made available for the whole number expected. The rooms are large and airy, and the accommodation afforded for cooking and washing is extremely good ; the only difficulty which suggested itself in the way of housing a number of families is the want of partitions in the rooms, but this is a difficulty which, in our opinion, the emigrants themselves can easily overcome, by partitioning off their several sleeping-places with blankets, &c, &c. The emigrants can be easily supplied here with rations, fuel, &c, at rates extremely low, the Government contractors being willing to supply them on the same terms as they are supplying other Government Departments. It will, of course, be advisable that the stay of the emigrants in AVellington should be as short as possible; and understanding from Ministers that they are willing to employ these emigrants on public works, such as forming a tramway to the nearest navigable part of the Manawatu River from Palmerston, and in preparing railway sleepers and telegraph posts for exportation to other parts of the Colony, we have conferred with the Provincial Executive with a view to their immediate removal to that district, and their location on land which they shall be allowed permanently to occupy. AYe find that the immediate neighbourhood of the town of Palmerston presents all the desiderata for the successful location of such a body of settlers as are being introduced. The site of the town itself is an open dry clearing of a few hundred acres, entirely surrounded by bush land of the richest description. Through this open flat the main trunk line of communication between AVanganui and the AVairarapa will eventually be carried, and three important roads converge at that spot—viz., from AVanganui through the heart of the Rangitikei and Upper Manawatu districts, from Napier and tho AVairarapa, and from Foxton and the AVest Coast settlements. From Palmerston to the navigable head of the Manawatu River, a place called Ngawhakarau, is a distance of nine miles, along which an extremely good road, almost a dead level, has been formed.; and if a tramway should be laid along this, Palmerston will present very great facilities for exportation and importation of any produce whatever. Another work is, however, essential to the progress of that neighbourhood, equally with that cf a tramway to the port—viz., a road or tramway through the eight miles of bush which separate Palmerston from the open country of the Rangitikei-Manawatu Block. Having in view the immediate occupation of that block of agricultural country, and the demand for totara limber for building purposes which will consequently arise, there is no doubt that a considerable timber trade would spring up in Palmerston as soon as a means for its conveyance should have been provided. Nor is this all; for if an available road or tramway were made within the next year or eighteen months through from Ngawhakarau to the open country of the Rangitikei-Manawatu Block, the incoming stream of immigration will be drawn through Palmerston, as will also much of the traffic outwards, which, for want of a nearer port, is now forced to AVanganui. AYe venture to make these remarks to show the Government that in locating the emigrants in Palmerston, their work under the Government direction will probably be the means of bringing to their doors ample remunerative labour when Government aid shall be withdrawn. The terms on which the Provincial Government are prepared at once to put the General Government in possession of the land required, have already been stated in Mr. Pharazyn's letter to the Minister for Public AVorks, who had requested him to confer with tho Provincial Executive on the subject. Those which we suggest might be offered to the immigrants are as follows : — Employment of men, for twelve months certain, on Government works, by way of contract, or at a rate of wages to be fixed by the Government, not exceeding that prevailing in the district, and not necessarily exceeding four days per week for each man. A list of men so employed to be kept by the officer in charge of immigrants. Every head of a family, or single man whose age is twenty-one years, to be allowed to select a block of fifty acres, out of such of the alternate sections belonging to the Government as they may decide to allocate to each particular shipment of immigrants. Selection to be made after ballot for right of choice. Immigrants selecting the section to have the right to occupy and improve it, by cutting timber, fencing, or otherwise, rent free, for two years, but to have no title to the laud except upon payment of the purchase money, at the rate of thirty shillings per acre, either in one sum, in which case discount shall be allowed, or by equal consecutive annual payments of ten shillings per acre, commencing at the end of the third year and continued till the sum of thirty shillings has been paid to the Government, when a Crown Grant shall issue, but not before, occupant having no right to any compensation whatever for his improvements, in the event of his abandoning his section or failing to pay his rent and purchase money during any one year. Immigrants to be supplied with rations and tools at fixed rates during the first year, those taking credit paying 25 per cent more than the cash price for the same. Accounts to be settled monthly. Immigrants to be allowed to take their names off the Government list, but in'that case to forego any right to purchase rations, &c, at the Government Store, but contracts as to land to remain as before. Mr. Stewart having an intimate knowledge of this district, of its inhabitants, and of the survey of