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1. It would be very unwise to settle people from a remote place such as the Shetland Islands in a special settlement, such as I see has been contemplated at Stewart's Island. It must be remembered that a Shetlander, unless he has been out of his native islands, has never seen a tree, scarcely a plough, that he is very ignorant, therefore, of a great many of those arts which would be absolutely necessary in a new settlement. 2. The Shetland Islands are not to be confounded with the Hebrides or Western Islands, as Dr. Featherston seems to have done. Portree, the capital of the Isle of Skye, is more than 300 miles from Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, and the existence of small-pox in the former place need not excite apprehensions in the latter. The charge of ignorance cannot be laid against the Shetlanders, nor of unwillingness to go from home, since as sailors they visit every part of the world. 3. The population of the Shetland Islands is about 33,000. The people are not of Celtic origin, but of the race of Northmen ; they are pretty well educated ; the female population largely exceeds the male ; the men are fishermen and sailors, but are accustomed to work on their small patches of ground when, on shore. Men and women can all handle the spade, which is their only implement of husbandry; the women are accustomed to hoe, to attend to cattle, to milk cows, to clip sheep, to spin, to knit, to carry burdens, since there are very few carts and fewer roads on the islands. The climate of the Islands is damp but not cold, the houses of the people are bad, damp, with cold earthen floors, and do not offer much encouragement to cleanliness. The Shetlanders, I think, are very clever and docile and apt to learn ; a little training would make the girls into very good servants, and without any training at all, I think, would make very good wives for men who had small holdings with sheep and cattle needing attention. 4. I think that, if proper measures are taken, a considerable number of emigrants for New Zealand could be got from Shetland. Several of the proprietors of land on the Islands are anxious to get rid of their tenants, and to turn the land into sheep pastures ; also the people in several of the parishes have recently had some of their privileges curtailed or taken away. There is a good deal of agitation in the minds of the Shetlanders at present, on account of the resolutions of the Truck Commissioners ; and if the movement is improved by the agents of the New Zealand Government, a great many people might be induced to emigrate. 5. I would be happy to be of service in promoting the cause. I know a number of ministers of the Established Church in Shetland, and if you were to send Mr. Barclay to the Islands, I would be glad to write letters to them recommending this project. I would also be glad to assist in drawing up instructions for Mr. Barclay's guidance, suggesting to him what persons he should call upon, and what parishes and islands he should especially visit. If it is to be done it ought to be done at once, and by your agent at home, with all his might; but I think it would take him from six weeks to two months to do the thing well. I cannot, of course, say what success would attend the efforts of your agent; but I think if he could speak to them well and enter a little into their difficulties, he would be able to bring from the Islands not less than 1,000 souls, perhaps double that. Many of the Shetlanders are not ignorant of New Zealand. I remember about four years ago, crossing the Atlantic in a ship mostly manned by Shetlanders, and some of them told me that they intended, when they had saved a little money, to settle in New Zealand. I am, &c, A. F. Halcombe, Esq. Chas. S. Ogg.

Enclosure 2 in No. 4-9. Memorandum for Hon. Mr. O'Korke. The TJev. Mr. Ogg, of Wellington, read to me yesterday a long letter sent by him to the Rev. Mr. Barclay, with reference to the prospects of a large migration from the Shetland Islands to this Colony. The latter contained full information as to the condition of the population of those Islands, and the most likely places therein to obtain immigrants. It referred Mr. Barclay to many influential residents in the Shetlands likely to assist an emigration, and it drew a comparison between the advantages to the emigrant of settling in the Colony of New Zealand as against Canada, to which colony a considerable number of the Shetland Islanders had moved some years ago. The comparison was most favourable to this Colony; and as Mr. Ogg was for some years in charge of a parish in one of the Shetland Islands, then acted for several years as pastor to the Canadian settlement of Shetlanders, and is now able to speak from actual experience out here, his letter is likely to have great weight. I would therefore beg to suggest that the attention of the Agent-General should be directed to the fact that Mr. Barclay has been placed in possession of this valuable information, with a view to his taking some action thereupon. A. Foi/LETT HALCOMBE, February, 1873. Immigration Officer.

No. 50. Memorandum No. 28, 1873, for the Agent-General, London. I forward herewith copy of a correspondence between the Superintendent of Auckland and this Government, on the subject of establishing a special settlement in the valley of Victoria, Mongonui. The proposal, as you will observe, originated in the Auckland Provincial Council, and being approved of by the Superintendent, a correspondence ensued between His Honor and Mr. Samuel Dunn, of the Wade, near Auckland, who is desirous of inducing members of the Moravian brotherhood to join together for the purpose of forming a settlement in that part of New Zealand. The Superintendent, in order to encourage a settlement of this class in the northern portion of the Province of Auckland, has informed Mr. Dunn that each statute adult emigrant will be entitled to receive forty acres of land in a block of 10,000 acres, which he proposes to set apart for this body of emigrants under " The Auckland "Waste Lands Act, 1870," (commonly known as the Homestead Act).