4
D.—IB
Character of Immigrants. Fair. The behaviour of the '■ Edwin Fox " immigrants, while in Barracks, at Christchurch, and Quarantine, has been very good. They are not, however, on the whole equal in physique to previous shipments; one man was suffering from a disease in the ankle joint of many years standing which renders him a complete cripple. What Wages were given. Married Couples, farm servants ... ... £60 per annum and found Single Men... ... ... ... ... £36 to £50 and found Boys ... ... ... ... ... £10 per annum Carpenters ... ... ... ... ... 10s. to lis. per day Bricklayers... ... ... ... ... 10s. to lis. per day Single Women — General Servants ... ... ... £20 to £25 Nurse Girls £12 Present demand of the Labour Market. There is a steady and increasing demand for farm and general labourers. The demand for carpenters, plasterers, stonemasons, plumbers, painters, tailors, and shoemakers is still very active, and wages are higher. Domestic servants are in as great demand as ever. J. E. March, Immigration Office, Immigration Officer. Christchurch, 9th August, 1873.
No. 4. Memorandum No. 179, 1873, for the Agent-General, London. Herewith is forwarded a copy of a memorandum by the Immigration Officer at this port, and I have to request that you will be good enough to give such instructions as will ensure that all nominations and other particulars respecting emigrants are correctly noted in each ship's book. I have, &c., Immigration Office, AVellington, New Zealand, G. Maurice O'Rorke. 22nd August, 1873. Enclosure in No. 4. Mr. Haughton,— I wish to draw attention to the fact that this department is likely to be greatly embarrassed if accurate information is not furnished in the ships' books received from the Agent-General's Department respecting each immigrant. It frequently happens that single females who have been nominated in the Colony for free passages have signed promissory notes in England for £5, but this does not cause much difficulty when the nomination is properly entered in the column of remarks in the ship's book, but if it is not, great inconvenience and annoyance is caused. I will instance the case of a single female passenger by the " Bebington" last year. This immigrant had signed a promissory note and refused to pay it, not stating the reason why she refused. After repeated applications for payment had been made without success, authority was granted to me to proceed against her in the R.M. Court, and I now ascertain that she was a nominated passenger to this port. As it is impossible for Immigration Officers to remember every nomination which passes through their hands it is apparent that mistakes will occur unless the ship's hook contain a correct record of each passenger. Another immigrant, by the same vessel, has also signed a promissory note for £5, but being struck with the peculiarity of the name I was enabled to remember that she was a nominated passenger, although no note to that effect appeared in the ship's book. I have, &c, H. J. H. Eliott, Immigration Office, AVellington, 21st August, 1873. Immigration Officer.
No. 5. Memorandum No. 180, 1873, for the Agent-General, London. The following is copy of telegram forwarded to you on 20th instant. Featherston, London. First day each month telegraph number immigrants sailed previous month in each ship, and port of destination. Immigration Office, AVellington, New Zealand, Vogel. 23rd August, 1873.