49

D.—l

The ship sailed from Hamburg on the 29th July ultimo, and arrived in Port Chalmers on the 6th December, thus making a passage of 130 days. On her arrival she was placed in quarantine, in consequence of having had scarlet and typhoid fever on board during the voyage. The immigrants were admitted to pratique on the 23rd December, and on the same day received into the Dunedin Immigration Barracks, after which date they were open for engagement. The single men and women were easily disposed of, the former at wages averaging from 12s. to 15s. per week with board and lodgings, and the latter at from £20 to £25 per annum. I have not, however, been so successful in placing the married immigrants, as farmers and runholders are generally disinclined to employ men with a family of children, and appeared much more so in their case from the fact that they were entirely ignorant of the English language, and consequently could not be made to understand what they were required to do by their employers. There were twenty-eight families engaged for farms and stations, at from £30 to £45 per annum, with full rations for their children. The remaining families being in barracks, provided for at the Government expense, and there being little or no demand for them, I applied to Mr. J. Smith, Messrs. Brogden's agent, to give them a contract on the Southern Trunk Railway, which he readily agreed to, but before accepting the offer they deemed it advisable to depute two of their number, in whom they had confidence, to visit the work and report. I took the liberty of employing a conveyance, and accompanied them, with an interpreter, in order that they might clearly understand the nature of the work they were expected to perform, and other minor matters of which it was necessary that they should be informed. Having decided upon accepting Mr. Smith's terms, I have had to incur the expense of conveying them and their families in waggons "to the locality where they were to be employed, fifteen miles distant from Dunedin, and also to purchase timber to make frames for the tents in which they and their families were to lodge. In incurring these expenses without authority, I hope the Government will give me credit for doing what I thought to be for the best in the circumstances, and more advantageous than having a number of men, women, and children maintained in barracks at the public expense. The immigrants were chiefly composed of Danes, Norwegians, and German-Poles, there being only about fourteen Germans proper among the number. They appeared to belong to the poorer classes, as was evident from the scantiness of their wardrobe. Although the experiment of introducing them into this Province as farm servants to supplement the labour market has not been altogether so successful as might have been expected, yet I feel gratified in being able to state that those sent to the railway are doing well and making good wages ; and I have had reports from their employers in other parts of the country which are equally gratifying. It was, however, rather imprudent to send 100 families in one shipment to this Province, with a view to their being readily absorbed among the settlers as farm servants. Thirty families at one time, with a number of young men and women, would be sufficient for our requirements. I feel confident that the immigrants per "Palmerston" would be most successful if they were located together in a special settlement, as their plodding habits and fertility of resources would enable them to overcome difficulties ; and their ambition being less extravagant than that of people from the Home country, their wants would be more easily supplied. I may state that I addressed a letter to His Honor the Superintendent of Otago, asking if the Government would be inclined to sell them land in the township of Greytown, on the Taieri Kiver, near their contract on the railway, with a view to forming a Scandinavian settlement there, and I am glad to state that my proposition was favourably entertained by the Government, as may be seen on perusal of the report of the same in the Morning Star, of yesterday's date. In any future shipments of Scandinavians to the Colony, I would respectfully suggest that English ships should be employed to convey them to their destination, and English teachers, both male and female, be engaged to instruct them in the English language on the voyage. The aptitude of foreigners to learn English is well known; and if such means as I refer to were used, they would acquire such a knowledge of the language as would be of incalculable benefit to them on their arrival in the Colony. I cannot speak too highly of their quiet, steady, and unobtrusive character as a class. They are very industrious, and always appeared very willing to do anything required of them. During their sojourn in barracks they cheerfully conformed to the regulations made for preserving order. I have, &c, The Under Secretary, Colin Allan. Immigration Office, "Wellington.

Enclosure 2 in No. 52. Mr. C. E. Haughton to Mr. C. Allan. Sib, — Immigration Office, "Wellington, 12th February, 1873. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. Minister for Lands and Immigration, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo, and in reply to inform you that Mr. O'Rorke has perused it with great satisfaction, and he considers you have shown great judgment in the manner in which you procured employment for the large body of foreigners who arrived in Otago by the " Palmerston." You also appear to have exercised a wise discretion in removing from the Barracks those immigrants who could not obtain employment in the ordinary way from the settlers to the railway ■works, and the expenditure incurred on that account, though without authority, will be approved; as a rule, however, except in cases of extreme urgency, authority should be obtained by telegraph. The Government trust that His Honor the Superintendent will be able to give effect to your suggestion as to the advisableness of land being offered for sale in the vicinity of the works on which these immigrants are now employed, with a view to their permanent settlement in the locality. A copy of your letter will be transmitted to the Agent-General for his information. I have, &c, C. E. Haijghton. 7—D. 1.