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No. 9. The Hon. J. Hall to Dr. Featheestott. (No. 119) Lands and Immigration Office, Sir, — Wellington, New Zealand, 16th October, 1872. I have the honor to inform you that the attention of the Government has been drawn to the case of John Dewey, an immigrant who was provided with an assisted passage for himself and family to Canterbury by the ship " Charlotte Gladstone." It appears that Dewey was in Her Majesty's military service, and that he had received such injuries (including the loss of all his fingers on one hand) from a gunpowder explosion as to necessitate his leaving that service. I have to point out to you that it is very desirable that all immigrants sent to the Colony shall be physically able to provide for themselves and their families, as any other class of immigrants must ultimately become a charge on either the General or Provincial Governments for charitable relief. I have, &c., The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. John Hall.

No. 10. Memorandum No. 122, 1872 for the Agent-General, London. Referring to the several Memoranda that have been addressed to you from time to time in reference to the necessity for reducing the cost of passage and freight to all the ports in the Colony, I now forward copy of a letter from the Chairman of the Otago Freight Association on the same subject. In doing so I take the opportunity to repeat that while the Government does not wish to interfere with the discretion which must necessarily be left to you in matters of this kind, it appears to them very desirable to assist any well-considered plan which may be put in opei'ation for securing to the colonists of New Zealand a reduction in the high rates of freight they have hitherto been obliged to pay. Public Works Office, Wellington, 24th October, 1872. J. D. Ormond. Enclosure in No. 10. Mr. E. Prossee to the Hon. the Menister for Public Works. Sir, —■ Otago Freight Association, Dunedin, 25th September, 1872. I have the honor to inform you that the merchants of Dunedin, who, in common with the merchants in the other Provinces of the Colony, for many years have been suffering from the monopoly of the carrying trade between England and this Colony, enjoyed by Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co., have formed an association having for its object the breaking down of that monopoly, and obtaining a reduction in the freights of goods shipped to this Colony. The Otago Freight Association is not a trading undertaking, but a combination of merchants who have mutually agreed to employ such ships only whose owners shall undertake to despatch regularly and punctually to this port, first-class vessels at such rate of freight as shall enable importers resident in this Province to compete with the increasing efforts of Australian merchants, who, being favoured with extremely low rates of freight to Melbourne and Sydney, are able to undersell the New Zealand merchants. By their articles of association, which have been signed by nearly all the merchants and importers in Dunedin, the members are bound under a heavy penalty to import their goods only by ships under engagement with this Association; and they have appointed the Manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company in London, to be their agent, ■with instructions to enter into arrangements with shipowners for the despatch of Al ships from London punctually, at frequent intervals, full, or not full, at such rates of freight as shall be agreed upon, but as nearly as possible the current rates from London to Melbourne. The General Committee of the Association therefore solicit the co-operation of the Government to assist in breaking down the monopoly the mercantile community has so long suffered; and they have the honor to request that the Government will forward to the Agent-General such instructions as shall insure for the ships engaging with this Association his countenance and support, by preference being given to those ships for the conveyance of Government goods and passengers. I have, &c., E. Peossee, Chairman of the General Committee.

No. 11. Memorandum No. 121, 1872, for the Agent-General London. Refeeeing to my Memorandum No. 90, 1872, of the 6th July, in which I informed you that the Government were anxious that you should continue to keep up the Scotch Agency established by the Provincial Government of Otago in Edinburgh, and renew the direct emigration from Glasgow, I have now to request that you will, with all possible speed, give effect to the views of the Government. Public Works Office, "Wellington, 28th October, 1872. J. D. Oemond.

No. 44, D. No. 1, 1872, p. 50.