D— IB

8

From various causes, which it is not necessary here to refer to, there has been difficulty in speedily procuring the required number of immigrants, and very largo discretion has been given to the Agent-General with the view of overcoming this difficulty. It is possible that the representative of the Province in Great Britain might with funds at his command be able to judiciously give assistance to immigrants, otherwise desirable, but who may be unable to make the contribution to the cost of passage, or the provision for outfit, &c., required by the regulations under which the emigration business is for the time being conducted by the Agent-General. In regard to nominated immigrants two questions have been raised, namely: Whether the Government would grant free passages to nominated immigrants, or whether they would do so on the condition of the Provincial Government paying the deposit ordinarily charged to nominators. The Government gave very careful consideration to the recommendations of the Provincial Council that free passages should be given to nominated immigrants, and have come to the determination that it is not expedient to make any alteration in the present regulations for nominated immigration in the direction of reducing the contribution to the cost of passage required from the nominator. The object of the system of nomination is to enable persons resident and established in the Colony to bring out their relatives or friends upon easy terms. It is true that the persons nominated are not invariably of the class of immigrants best suited to the wants of the Colony, but the counter-balancing advantages of the system as at present established are great, and the Government desire to give it every reasonable encouragement. The rule with regard to nomination has been occasionally relaxed at the discretion of Immigration Officers to the extent of permitting persons resident who require servants or artizans of a particular class to designate them by avocation, leaving the task of selection to friends in Great Britain or to the Agent-General—such cases were exceptional. The general unfairness and possible abuse of such a privilege if it were unrestricted need not be insisted on. There remains to be considered the proposal to allow the Government of Canterbury to pay the deposit. To do so would be open to the objection that it would virtually infringe on the two conditions, under which as already stated the Government consider it would alone be right to allow the Province of Canterbury to contribute towards immigration. It would not be a payment to assist in procuring the number of immigrants allotted to Canterbury, nor would it be a payment in full for extra immigrants desired. It would on the contrary be a very small payment in proportion to the cost it would entail on the Colony. I regret to have to inform you that the Government, therefore, cannot concur in the Provincial Government directly or indirectly paying the deposits for nominated immigrants. You will permit me in conclusion to thank you for jour exertions on the subject and to express the hope that the money you expend in the United Kingdom will assist in procuring for the Province immigrants suitable to its wants. The Government recognize that the interests which the Government of Canterbury manifests in immigration proves their sympathy with the policy of colonization which it is the anxious desire of the General Government to give effect to with a proper recognition of the claims of all parts of the Colony. I have, &c, Messrs. W. Kennaway and J. Beswick, Daniel Pollen. Members of the Executive Council of Canterbury.

Enclosure 4 in No. 8. The Deputy Superintendent, Christchurch, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent's Office, Christchurch, Sir,— 21st August, 1873. Referring to previous communications with respect to immigration, I have now the honor to inform you that the Provincial Government have made arrangements with Mr. Andrew Duncan, of Christchurch, to proceed to the United Kingdom for the purpose of assisting in collecting emigrants for this Province, the remuneration for his services being paid by the Provincial Government. By your letter of the 19th ultimo, addressed to Messrs. Kennaway and Beswick, I note that the General Government, in concurring in the appointment of an Emmigration Agent by the Provincial Government agree generally to that officer acting in the manner indicated in the letter addressed to you by the members of my Executive on the 4th ultimo, and I have now to request you to advise the Agent-General in accordance therewith in favour of Mr. Duncan. I have intimated to you by telegram that Mr. Duncan proceeds to England by the next outgoing Suez Mail. I shall, therefore, be glad if you will, as soon as possible transmit to that gentleman such letters as you may consider desirable for him to present to the Agent-General, so that, on his arrival in England, he can immediately enter on the duties of his mission. I have, &c, R. J. S. Harman. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Deputy Superintendent.