3

E.—lA

At the present time I feel a difficulty in giving to emigrant ships the quantity of plant which they require as dead weight. In confirmation of the above statement, I append two tabular statements Betting forth the particulars. Referring to the last paragraph of the Hon. Mr. Richardson's Memorandum, in which he states that "the competition for freight which is likely to take place during this year wdl enable yon to effect shipments at much lower rates than those quoted by you," I have to express my regret that there seems not the slightest prospect of the expectation being realized ; for the representatives of the Freight Companies invariably, on their arrival here, combine with Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Company to keep up the rates of freight. As an illustration of this, I may mention that the representatives of the Auckland Freight Company induced Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Company to raise the rates of freight to Auckland by from 20 to 25 per cent.; and Mr. Turner, the Manager of the Canterbury Freight Company, has already entered into an agreement with Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Company to maintain, if not to raise, the present rates. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 4. Statement showing Quantities of Railway Material shipped by Chartered and ly Emigrant Ships to date. Tons. Bails and fastenings shipped by chartered vessels, per " George A. Holt" 1,554 per "Millwall" ... 1,405 Say ... ... 2,960 Kailway Material shipped by emigrant ships ... ... ... ... 13,519 Engines, 16; Carriages, 31; Brake Vans, 17 ; Waggons, 163. Office of the Agent-G-eneral, London, Bth July, 1873. Note. —The second statement was omitted to be enclosed. By Authority: Gbobgb Didsbcet, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB73. [Price 3d.]