D.—No. la.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH AGENT-GENERAL, LONDON.

26

The employment of foreign shipping for the conveyance of emigrants must be regarded as an experiment (as far as New Zealand is concerned), which may or may not be successful. But it is worth trying for the following amongst other reasons : — The emigrants themselves prefer embarking at a port in their own country, and in a ship belonging to their country and manned by their own countrymen ; they like the diet provided for them by the emigration laws of their own country better than the dietary scale laid down in the Passengers Act of the Imperial Government; they save expense, and avoid the trouble and inconvenience of a second embarkation. A large portion of the emigration from Germany and Scandinavia to America has all along and is still being conducted in German and Scandinavian vessels, and I cannot ascertain that it has in any espect been less satisfactorily conducted than that conducted in ships from the United Kingdom. The Queensland Government has expressed the highest satisfaction with the class of emigrants sent out to them from Germany, and with the manner in which the conveyance of emigrants has been carried out by the shipping firms to which it has been entrusted. All the European Governments are so adverse to emigration, especially at the present time, that they have placed every obstacle in its way by passing and enforcing the most stringent emigration regulations. An examination of the emigration laws of Germany and Scandinavia will satisfy any one that the most ample provision has been made for tho well-being, comfort, and health of the emigrants, and for a proper inspection of tho vessels. These reasons will, I hope, satisfy you that while I admit there are some disadvantages and perhaps risks in the employment of foreign vessels, I have not entered into these engagements without having very carefully considered the question. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. W. Gisborne, Wellington, New Zealand. Agent-General.

No. 26. (No. 255.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir— . 2nd May, 1872. By a telegram just received, I learn that the first ship with German and Scandinavian emigrants, the " Friedeburg," w Till sail from Hamburg on the 18th instant. In the absence of instructions, I purpose sending it to Lyttelton. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. W. Gisborne, Wellington, New Zealand. Agent-General.

No. 27. (No. 256.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 2nd May, 1872. I have the honor to inform you that I have only this moment, after repeated discussions, come to an arrangement with the Messrs. Brogden, with respect to the emigrants to be sent out by them. I trust to send you the agreement, duly executed, by the next mail. The main provision of it is, that Messrs. Brogden are to give the Government their promissory note for £10 for every statute adult, they taking a promissory note from the emigrants for £16. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. W. Gisborne, Wellington, New Zealand. Agent-General. ERRATUM. On page 23, line 30 from bottom, for 25b. read ss.