AGENT-GENERAL, LONDON.

9

D.—No. la.

All moneys received in Norway by the agents or contractor from emigrants, on account of their passage money, to be remitted without any deduction whatever to the Agent-General for New Zealand in London. The date of the sailing of each ship from the port of embarkation for New Zealand to be fixed by the Agent-General, and two or three months' notice of the sailing of each ship to be given by him to the agent or contractor in Christiania. Upon the above terms and conditions, I am prepared to enter into contract with you for the despatch during two years of a number of emigrants, equal to three thousand adults from Norway. I. E. Eeatheeston, Messrs. Winge and Co. Agent-General for New Zealand.

Enclosure 5 ifi No. 4. Messrs. Winge and Co. to Dr. Featheeston. We agree to procure and send out to New Zealand, from Norway and Sweden, a number of emigrants equal to three thousand adults, on the terms and conditions specified in the above letter of the Agent-General for New Zealand. Christiania, 17th October, 1871. Winge and Co.

No. 5. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. (No. 135.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,— Bth February, 1872. Referring to your memorandum No. 50, I have the honor to inform you that Air. Friberg reported himself at this office on. the 6th instant, but that, being fully occupied with the mail, I was unable to have any conversation with him on the subject of the mission entrusted to him. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. W. Gisborne, Wellington, New Zealand. Agent-General.

No. 6. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. (No. 142.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,— Bth February, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of memorandum No. 54, of 25th November, 1871, from the Minister for Public Works, with its enclosures, relative to the foundation of special settlements. As grave difficulties present themselves to my mind in the way of carrying out the views of the Government without involving it in serious embarrassments, and probably defeating their great object of promoting emigration, and as you have allowed me a wide discretion in tho matter, I trust you will pardon me if, before submitting any remarks upon the scheme, I take further time to consider it, and to. ascertain by inquiries how far it is calculated to stimulate emigration, or in the long run to operate as a hindrance and discouragement. I may say, however, that one of the chief fears I entertain is that if such special inducement is once held out, it will not be easy to withdraw it without giving a serious check to the stream of emigration. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. W. Gisborne, Wellington, New Zealand. Agent-General.

No. 7. The Agent-Geneeae to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. (No. 144.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,— Bth February, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of memorandum No. 56, of 25th November, 1871, relative to the contract which it was thought the Government would be able to arrange with Messrs. John Brogden and Sons, for sending to New Zealand a certain number of emigrants, but which contract (a copy of which I have received) has not been arranged. Tou request me, in consequence, to endeavour to come to some arrangement with the members of the firm in London. In reply, I bog to inform you that in the interview of a few minutes, which I had two days ago with the Messrs. Brogden, they expressed their readiness to discuss the matter at an early date : they left, however, an impression on my mind that they were not disposed to enter into any emigration contract. At the same time lam satisfied that they could and would afford valuable aid in procuring emigrants. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, New Zealand. Agent-General.