AGENT-GENERAL, LONDON.

D.—No. 1

9

I need not inform you that the public works which it is intended to construct will absorb, beyond the ordinary labour of the Colony, a large amount of imported labour for a considerable period ; and very serious inconvenience to existing industries, not to mention great additional expense in carrying out the proposed works, would be occasioned, if for some time there was not a continuous flow of labour into the Colony. The Government have already sent to you, on behalf of various Provinces, instructions to forward immigrants under regulations which have also been sent to you. Those regulations may embrace restrictions which will make it impossible for you to obtain the desired number of immigrants. I refer especially to the condition that tho immigrants should pay in cash a stated portion of the passage money. I attach hereto a list of the number of immigrants I desire should arrive in tho Colony during the year 1872. Half of that number I desire that you will cause to be forwarded with the least possible delay. Tou may deduct from the number stated in the attached list, those immigrants whom you have, since your arrival in England, sent out, or engaged to send, under the regulations already in your possession. The number stated in the list is to be independent of the immigrants to be sent out under arrangements with Messrs. John Brogden and Sons, particulars as to which will be separately addressed to you, and that number also to bo independent of those whom you may send out under nomination by persons already in the Colony. Tou will thus understand that the number stated in the attached list is the number of immigrants I desire should be forvfarded by you to arrive in the Colony during all 1872, irrespective of immigrants nominated by settlers or sent under arrangement with the Messrs. Brogden, and reducible by the number of immigrants already despatched or arranged for by you at the time you receive this memorandum. I should prefer that, as far as possible, you should approach to an uniform system ; and I have to suggest to you, in the absence of cash payments by the immigrants, that you should pay the whole amount of passage money, receiving from the immigrants promissory notes for repayments in instalments extending over five years from the date of sailing. In the case of families, the adult males should become responsible, as stated. I desire that, as far as possible, families should be selected as immigrants ; but you are at liberty to decide, in particular cases or generally, what proportion of male adults shall be sent out; but I beg you to understand that you are not to permit the precise letter, or even the spirit, of tho instructions sent you, to prevent your sending out the number of suitable immigrants I have asked for. Especially, I desire that you send out, without delay, the half of the number required for the year. Although I am not now able to forward to you the particulars of the plan of any special settlement except that proposed for Hawke's Bay, I wish you to considor yourself at liberty to arrange with some of the immigrants,—say one-third out of the whole number of families to be sent to the Provinces of Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, and Otago, —that the Government will, on their arrival, should they prefer that course, enable them to join a special settlement upon the general plan I have herein indicated, it being the intention of the Government to make arrangements, without delay, for several such settlements. I do not give to you instructions as to providing for the comforts of the immigrants' wants during the voyage, nor as to the chartering of ships, because I am convinced that, by leaving you the fuflest discretion, you will be able to make arrangements in every way more beneficial than would be the case were I to hamper you with directions and conditions which you might constantly find incompatible with the circumstances within which you have to act. But, speaking generally, it is of course the desire of the Government that the immigrants should be sent out in well-found first-class vessels, and should enjoy during the voyage all those comforts and conveniences suitable to their circumstances. I should prefer your not confining your contracts to one ship-owner or firm, for there is a feeling in the Colony that it is desirable more attention should be directed to the shipping requirements of New Zealand than any single owner or firm will be able or willing to give. But in this matter, as in others to which I have already referred, I wish you to exercise the widest discretion. Tou will, of course, keep the Government fully informed, in all respects, as to the steps you have taken or contemplate taking; and I request that you will be so good as to make any suggestions that may seem to you calculated to promote the objects I have explained, and which your knowledge of the intentions of the Government and the circumstances of the Colony so well qualify you to offer. W. Gisborne.

Enclosure in No. 7. List of Immigrants required to arrive during the Tear 1872, exclusive of those to be forwarded by Messrs. Brogden and Sons and of those nominated in the Colony, but inclusive of those already sent out under instructions heretofore forwarded under the regulations made for the various Provinces. Auckland, families and single women equal to ... ... 800 adults. Hawke's Bay ~ ~ ~ ... ... ... (500 ~ Wellington „ „ „ ... ... ... 1,000 Marlborough „ „ „ ... ... ... 100 „ Canterbury ~ „ ~ ... ... ... 2,250 „ Otago „ „ „ ... ... ... 3,250 Total ... ... ... 8,000 3 .