D.—No. Ia

24

CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE

A ship, Hamburg to Lyttelton, 15th May, with from 300 to 320 emigrants. A ship, Hamburg to Otago, 30th May, with about 300 emigrants. In all probability two other vessels will sail from Scotland about the end of May or first week in June, with full complements —one for Napier, the other for Otago. I also hope that a vessel will be despatched about the Ist of June from Christiania to Napier, with some 200 Scandinavians ; and should Messrs. Brogden succeed in engaging the labourers they require, some 300 or 400 more emigrants may be expected to sail during the period above stated. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. W. Gisborne, Wellington, New Zealand. A gent-General.

No. 21. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (No. 211.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 18th April, 1872. I have the honor to state that the ship " Celestial Queen " will sail for Auckland to-morrow, having on board a number of assisted emigrants, equal to about 90 statute adults. A further advice shall be sent to the Government after the lists have been finally made up. The object of this letter is to inform you that an advance of ten pounds (£10) has been made to the surgeon, Dr. J. de Courcy Young, to enable him to purchase the surgical instruments which ho is required to provide. This sum should be deducted from the salary which Dr. A roung will be entitled to receive after the arrival of the vessel, if tho Government should be of opinion that his duties have been properly performed. I have, &c., I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, New Zealand. Agent-General.

No. 22. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (No. 212.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 18th April, 1872. I have the honor to advise you that the first party of emigrants who have made special engagements with Messrs. Brogden and Sons, sailed in the ship " Schiehallion," for Wellington, on the 13th instant. I enclose a list, furnishing particulars of the emigrants.* The men are all described by Messrs. Brogden as "labourers," and, with but one exception, they are Englishmen. I do not forward with this advice the usual passage money account, as in all cases the terms on which the workmen are sent out have been arranged between Messrs. Brogden and the emigrants. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, New Zealand. Agent-General. P.S. —The remuneration to be paid to the surgeon, Mr. J. W. Todd (if his duties should be properly performed), is the following, viz. : — A salary of fifty pounds (£5O), and head money at the rate of ten shillings (10s.) on each adult emigrant landed. I have informed Captain Levack that I am not authorized to promise any gratuity to the masters of emigrant vessels proceeding to the Colony, but that the Government would bo recommended to make an allowance to him if, in the opinion of the Inspecting Officer, his duties should have been discharged in a satisfactory manner. I. E. F.

No. 23. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (No. 218.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 19th April, 1872. Beferring to my letter of the 22iid ultimo, No. 188, I have now the honor to forward you a report from Mr. Friberg, from which you will learn that he has failed to make such arrangements as would enable him satisfactorily to discharge the duties of an Emigration Agent in Scandinavia. Instead of allowing Mr. Friberg to return at once to New Zealand, as he was quite willing to do, I purpose retaining him, with the view of placing him in charge of some 200 Norwegians who, I hope, will leave about the Ist of June, in a vessel direct from Christiania to Napier. In the meanwhile I have requested Air. Friberg to proceed to Sweden, and to inquire into and report upon the manufacture of sugar from beet, the manufacture of paper from the white pine, and the preserving of milk—the three industries being carried on both successfully and on a large scale in Sweden. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. W. Gisborne, Wellington, New Zealand. Agent-General. * Total, 124 statute adults.