B.—No. 2a,

16

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

" It is recognized on all sides by its opponents, equally as by its supporters, that the present policy of the Government can only be carried out successfully by an immediate and large influx of population. To limit emigration to the United Kingdom, might render it impossible to supply the Colony's urgent demand for labour; might indefinitely delay the execution of the great public works to which the Colony is committed; might enormously increase their cost, and, as a necessary result, render the payment of the interest on the borrowed money, by which these works are undertaken, an intolerable burden. " At the same time, it will, I trust, be clear from the strenuous efforts made to promote emigration from the United Kingdom, and from tho stream already flowing, and which is daily assuming larger and larger dimensions, that it is neither my intention nor desire to flood the Colony with foreigners to the exclusion or detriment of our own countrymen." —[21st May, 1872.] So that it may be concluded a considerable stream of Immigration is secured, and a largo number of immigrants now on their way to the Colony. As at present advised, the numbers arrived and to arrive is as follows : — Souls. Adults. Arrived —selected by the Agent-General ... 844 725 Messrs. Brogden ... 200 175^ 1,044 900| To arrive, having sailed prior to 30th June, 1872 1,714 1,433| Total arrived and to arrive ... 2,758 2,334 Advices have also been received that a ship will be despatched in the month of July to each of the following Provinces, viz., Otago, Canterbury, Nelson, Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Auckland, and that others will follow. As considerable interest has been shown as to the supposed neglect of Ireland as an immigration field, it will be gratifying to honorable Members to learn that inquiry shows that, excluding the emigrants selected by the Messrs. Brogden, the respective numbers of the different nationalities of the immigrants that have arrived (including a German ship daily expected) is as follows: — English, 388 ; Irish, 185 ; Scotch, 127 ; German, 175 ; Danish, 173 ; Norwegian, 87 ; Erench, 1. Showing that Ireland has contributed a very fair proportion. In connection with Immigration, the arrangement made with " The Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation" for the purchase of land at Manawatu, and the introduction of immigrants, cannot but be considered satisfactory. Such full particulars on this subject are before the House that it is unnecessary for me to say more than that, in concluding that arrangement, the Government was largely influenced by the consideration that a valuable class of immigrants would be secured and settled upon land, and by the hope that attention at Home would thereby be called to New Zealand as a field for special settlement, and so lead to the colonization of other portions of the Islands on the same system. Papers on the Table will have informed honorable Members that, in addition to tho immigration promoted by the Colony, immigrants are being brought out by the Messrs. Brogden, and that arrangements for that object have been concluded by the Agent-General in England with that firm; also, that the Agent-General has been instructed to send immigrants to Stewart's Island, under special arrangements. The necessity of encouraging farmers and small capitalists to emigrate to the Colony has not been lost sight of, and the Agent-General has been instructed that portions of the valuable lands situate on the West Coast north of Wanganui and at Tauranga arc available for that purpose, and can be disposed of to suitable persons on a system of deferred payments. Settlements of Scandinavians have been made near Balmerston in the Manawatu district, and also at the Wairarapa end of the Seventy-Mile Bush; and a considerable number of the immigrants now on the way to Hawke's Bay are intended to be settled on land in a similar manner. In all these cases the immigrants find employment on the Public Works being carried out in the vicinity of their settlements; and experience, so far, has shown them to be suited to the work, and desirous of permanently settling themselves upon their land. There is another and very important system of Immigration to which I must call attention; I refer to the nomination of immigrants by their friends in the Colony. Regulations for the conduct of this class of Immigration have been