105

D.—l

that it was not the intention of his Government to abandon the confiscated lands ; whilst the Hon. Mr. Hall's remarks as quoted, on which you also base your decision, have reference, as I read them, not to confiscated lands but to lands which, having passed through the Native Lauds Court, were a matter of bargain between the Native owners and Europeans, not between the Government and Crown grantees, as would have been the case in any dealings with the confiscated lands. It is the intention of the present Government, as soon as ever the stream of emigration begins to flow freely into the Colony, to take steps for establishing settlements along both coasts. At present, there is a difficulty in undertaking the task, owing to the diminutive supply of immigrants arriving, all of whom are at once absorbed by the labour market at wages unprecedentedly high. With regard to the confiscated lands, in respect of which you speak in depreciatory terms, it is right that you should be made aware that at two sales recently held, one at Whenuakura, the land fetched from £1 12s. 6d. to £3 15s. per acre ; and the other at Patea from £2 to £7. This is a proof of the estimation in which these lands are held, and the confidence that is felt in setttling upon them. The Government have thus, through your inattention to their instructions and through the lack of a supply of immigrants, been obliged to abandon temporarily the occupation of the lands referred to with special settlements, and are now, at the desire of settlers, offering them for sale as ordinary waste lands. The prices realized will convince you of the competition that exists for acquiring property in these districts. Immigration Office, Wellington, N.Z., sth July, 1873. G. Maueice O'Eoeke.

No. 115. Memorandum No. 144, 1873, for the Agent-General, London. Is reference to a statement contained in my Memorandum No. 72, of April last, wherein I informed you that it was the intention of the Government to offer land to the value of £20 to immigrants who pay their own passages, I have to inform you that that scheme has not been matured, but is still under the consideration of the Government. Herewith is enclosed a Cabinet Minute inviting co-operative associations of a certain class to send out representatives to ascertain for the information of the bodies to which they belong, the advantages which this Colony presents as a field for settlement. Immigration Office, Wellington, sth July, 1873. G. Maueice O'Eoeke.

Enclosure in No. 115. Memorandum by the Cabinet. The Government having had under consideration the question whether any useful emigration agents might not be found in persons deputed to report upon the resources and capabilities of the Colonies by those who contemplate emigration, it is the desire of the Cabinet that the Agent-General should be informed that, unless he sees any strong and grave objections to such a course, he should make known his readiness to receive applications from societies and organizations the members of which are fitted for emigration, asking that he will provide free passages to the Colony for a representative, or if he thinks right two representatives, for the purpose of reporting to those deputing them upon the resources and capabilities of the Colony, lie should add, that to any such representative or representatives he is prepared to give free passages direct to New Zealand, to pay reasonable expenses incurred during three months spent in the Colony, and, if so desired, to provide free return passages direct from the Colony. Besides publicly notifying to the effect already stated, the Agent-General should communicate with societies and organizations with the view of encouraging them to take advantage of this offer in the interests of those of their members who may desire to emigrate. It would be difficult to indicate the class of societies and organizations with which it is desirable the Agent-General should communicate; but amongst them should be included Temperance Associations, and any organized bodies. of persons whose training could fit them to readily find employment in the Colony, e.r/. agricultural labourers, small farmers, and to a limited extent coal miners. It might also be desirable that in some localities the Agent-General should communicate with Odd Fellows, Foresters, and similar organizations, as well as with organizations of a Co-operative nature ; but as to this, he will be best able to judge. The Agent-General must stipulate that in every case deputed representatives must be subject to his approval; and he must satisfy himself that each is an intelligent person, able fairly to ascertain what inducements are offered by New Zealand to intending emigrants, and also to state intelligently to those by whom he has been deputed the opinions he has formed consequent upon his visit to the Colony. The Agent-General should guard against giving his approval to any one who it may be supposed desires only to procure a free passage to and from the Colony for the purpose of health or recreation; and he will of course in every way endeavour to send to the Colony men who are really the representatives of numbers who desire or may be induced to emigrate to New Zealand. The Cabinet believe that by the adoption of the plan now stated, the best possible evidence will be given to those who are disposed to emigrate that the Government are in no sense afraid to assist in having the resources of the Colony reported upon by independent and disinterested persons. The opinions of such persons will have influence with many who would refuse to consider any inducements offered by paid agents of the Government; and, in short, the plan now proposed'may fairly be expected to enlist the co-operation of many powerful organizations in Great Britain, through the action of which a constant stream of most desirable emigration to New Zealand may be secured at a cost for agency which will ultimately prove inconsiderable. As to the nature of the passages and allowances, the Agent-General will be able to judge what is suitable. Wellington, sth July, 1873. 14—D. 1.