58

D.—l

Some young and rather green hands may have to take Bs. a week until they get older and more experienced, but the above is without exaggeration the rate of wages, and at this moment fifty girls could be placed in Wellington at the above wages, which will appear large to Shetland ideas. 3. The Government are so anxious to introduce young and respectable females into the Colony that they give them a free passage from London to New Zealand, provide a matron to look after them, a doctor to see to their health while on board, and make arrangements for them when they land. They will moreover, in the event of a number of girls coming from Shetland, advance the sum necessary to carry them to London for embarkation, and ask them to pay this portion of the expense out of their wages when they are placed in situations in the Colony. The passage from London to New Zealand is free ; the above advances to carry the girls to London will be made at my suggestion, to girls of good character, recommended by you. 4. The voyage from London to New Zealand is a mere nothing; it is one of the smoothest and most pleasant passages that could be made; it is a far calmer and safer voyage than one across to America. 5. The city of "Wellington contains about 9,000 inhabitants, and is rapidly increasing; it is a very healthy place, fanned by strong breezes ; it lies on the shores of a fine inland bay surrounded by hills, and which looks very like a Shetland voe. 6. The climate of Now Zealand is of all the Colonies the best fitted for a Shetland constitution; you have sea breezes, and now and then strong winds, which purify the air. No snow falls here except upon the mountains; the winter is therefore extremely mild, and the heats of summer are not greater than they are frequently in Scotland. The climate is most healthy and delightful, and is really one of the finest in the world. 7. Should any of the girls whom this letter may induce to try her fortune in New Zealand resolve to go home again, she need only have to practise a little economy with her wages in order to enable her to do so. A Scotchwoman who was servant to a friend of mine here went home the other week with £170. From £26 to £30 a year are more than double what a Shetland girl ought to spend. Any money saved can be put into a Savings Bank at 4 per cent. 8. I would recommend some of the girls who come here to bring with them their spinning and knitting implements. This is a great wool country ; and though they could not make a great living by spinning, &c, they could fill up odd time with it, and many a mother would be glad to do the household work while the Shetland servant lassie spun and knitted a few pairs of stockings for the gudeman and the bairns. 9. Though I write this letter chiefly to invite female immigrants, yet I may say at the same time that there are very good openings in New Zealand for young men and married couples. The wages of labourers in Wellington at present are 7s. a day of eight hours ; and married couples get £70 a year, with house and food, to go up the country to take charge of sheep and work on farms. If a man not far past middle life could come here, with some sons and daughters to help him, he would do well. Please try to send along with the girls a few respectable married couples. Any respectable married man coming in charge of the girls would be paid for his trouble. I have no doubt the girls and young men who may come out to New Zealand in answer to this invitaton would be anxious after a time to induce their fathers and relations to follow them. Young men can get £6 a month on the coasters; and a boat's crew or two could be employed profitably in Wellington in catching fish for the consumption of the town, where they bring a good price. 10. Some persons have been deterred from emigrating to New Zealand because they have heard of troubles with the Natives ; but these troubles, which were produced by bad management, will never break out again. Moreover, the Natives are confined to a small portion of the North Island, 200 miles from Wellington; no trouble has ever occurred with them here. Moreover, the Natives are good and obliging when they are well treated. Their numbers are rapidly diminishing. 11. I shall be glad to see any of your parishioners who may come here in answer to this invitation. I will show them all the attention and give them all the assistance in my power. Situations will be provided for the girls as soon as they land. As soon as I know of their coming, I will do my best to find for them kind, considerate families, who will take a little pains and trouble to initiate them into the ways of the Colony. This is a far better opening for the girls than going to Edinburgh as servants. 12. You will be able, I think, to say to your people that they can place reliance upon what I have written, but a number of the Yell people will remember me. I conclude by hoping that you will do your best to bring this offer under the notice of the people of Yell. New Zealand is the most beautiful and healthy of all the Colonies ; the wages of labour are high in it; and from its insular situation and mild climate, it is peculiarly fitted to become a home for emigrants from the Shetland Islands. I have, &c, Chas. S. Ogo, Minister of St. Andrew's Church, Wellington, N.Z.

No. 60. Memokandttm No. 48, 1873, for the Agent-General, London. It has been represented to the Government that in the allocation of the number of emigrants proposed to be sent to the Colony this year, the Province of Auckland does not receive a fair share. I nave therefore to request that, pending future instructions, you place that Province on a par with the Provinces of Otago and Canterbury as regards the distribution of emigrants throughout the Colony. This instruction is not to have the effect of diminishing the numbers already ordered for the other Provinces during the current year. Immigration Office, "Wellington, New Zealand, Gr. Maueice O'Eoeke. 15th March, 1873.