59

D.—l

No. 61. The Hon. J. Vogel to Dr. Featheeston. (Telegram No. 75.) Auckland, 18th March, 1873. Goteenment desire this year 3,500 emigrants to Auckland instead 1,000, adding 2,500 to total number authorized. Kind immigrants Auckland principally requires agricultural labourers. Female servants small settlers. Julius Vogel.

No. 62. Memorandum No. 49, 1873, for the Agent-Genebal, London. I hate to acknowledge the receipt of your letter (No. 17, 1873) bearing date the Bth January ultimo, in which you inform the Government of your having opened in the previous month an Emigration Office in Dublin, in pursuance of instructions conveyed to you in November last. I desire to express my gratification at the promptitude with which you acted in the matter, and my approval of the appointment you have made of Mr. Mason, as Chief Immigration Agent. The fact of your having authorized the appointment by Mr. Mason and Mr. Farnall of local agents in the several counties removes the objections to which I had to refer in my memorandum of last month on the subject of your not giving sufficient publicity in Ireland to the question of emigration to New Zealand. Your endeavour to engage the " Great Britain " to convey emigrants to the Colony commends itself to the Government, who sympathise with you in your disappointment at the negotiations having finally broken off. The Government are satisfied that it was not through any lack of exertion on your part that the matter was not accomplished. In conclusion, you state " that had the experiment (of running the ' Great Britain' to New Zealand) been tried and been moderately successful, you have little doubt that a line of auxiliary screw steamers would have been laid on between Liverpool and Dunedin." The Government have to-day carefully considered that paragraph of your letter, and they trust that you will lose no opportunity of endeavouring to charter steamers instead of sailing vessels for the conveyance of immigrants to New Zealand. An extra charge of one or two pounds per head should form no obstacle. Tour letter under reply shows you are fully alive to the subject, so that the advantages derivable therefrom need not be dilated on. The Government had, when considering this suggestion of yours about employing steamers, the advantage of the presence of Mr. E. B. Cargill, formerly member of the House of Representatives, with whom you are acquainted. He has for many years represented Patrick Henderson and Company of Glasgow, in Otago, and is now on his way to England. The Government have requested him to see you, and to press upon you the advisability of if possible coming to terms with that firm for the conveyance of emigrants from Scotland and the North of Ireland, direct from the Clyde, by a line of steamers which they contemplate establishing, should you offer sufficient inducement. Government believe that a regular line of steamers would draw to New Zealand a larger portion of the emigration which at present flows from the United Kingdom than it is likely to receive under the present system. Your present charg3 of £5 per head would not debar you from competing with America, to which I understand this is the regular fare for emigrants by steamer. This matter is also urged upon the Government by the Otago Executive, as is shown by Mr. Macandrew's letters to the Colonial Secretary and Mr. Auld, forwarded herewith. I now leave this most important matter in your hands, believing that Mr. Cargill's visit to England by the same mail which takes this Memorandum is most opportune. lam aware that there have been some differences between yourself and Messrs. Patrick Henderson and Company and Mr. Auld; but I feel satisfied that if Mr. Cargill submits a reasonable proposal to you on the subject of establishing a line of steamers from Europe to New Zealand, you will eagerly embrace such proposal, and thereby confer a signal boon upon this Colony. G. Maubice O'Boeke. Immigration Office, "Wellington, New Zealand, 15th March, 1873. P.S.—I enclose, in addition, a letter from the Superintendent of Otago, requesting that your guaranteed emigrants might be despatched from the Clyde in vessels under contract with the Provincial Agent, Mr. Auld. I think the request should be granted, whenever it suits the convenience of emigrants. G. M. O'E.

Enclosure 1 in No. 62. His Honor J. Macandrew to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaby. Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 12th March, 1873. Some time since I advised you that the Provincial Agent, Mr. Auld had entered into a contract for the monthly despatch of emigrant ships to Otago direct from the Clyde. I omitted at the time to request that you would be good enough direct the Agent-General to forward guaranteed passengers from Scotland and the North of Ireland by this line, the Clyde being the most convenient port of embarkation for such. Perhaps you will be good enough to give directions accordingly by the out-going mail. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, "Wellington. J. Macandbew.