D.—2

36

themselves, from amongst whom I was able to select some most eligible persons to act as agents I bolieve that tho appointment of these agents will cause a considerable increase in the number of emigrants to take place. 1 find the actual number of emigrants who passed through my hands in the last quarter to be as follows :— 2 single men, 3 single women, 2 married couples, with 8 children, by " Crusader " to Canterbury, 10th October, 1872. 4 single men, 2 married couples, with 3 children, by " Himalaya "to Canterbury, 10th November, 1872. 4 single men, G single women, by " Warwick " to Auckland, 31st October, 1872. 1 single man, 1 single woman, 1 inarricd couple with 7 children, by " Euterpe " for Otago, 3rd December, 1872. But this number, I apprehend, represents but a portion of those who have actually received assisted passages to New Zealand from this part of Ireland ; for intending emigrants, after applying to me and receiving all necessary information, frequently conclude their arrangements through the London Office direct, being under the impression ajiparently that by so doing they save themselves expense. The sub-agents already appointed also transact their business direct with the London Office. I have no means, therefore, of ascertaining correctly the number of emigrants from the north of Ireland who have received assisted passages to New Zealand. The numbers that I have given do not of course nelude those families with either large or small means who, after applying to me for information on the subject of New Zealand, have eventually paid their own passages to that Colony. As regards tho number of emigrants likely to be secured during the next three months, I have every reason to believe the number will be much greater than during the past quarter. Already I have applications from 17 single men, 22 single women, and 7 families, most of whom will, I believe, take advantage of the assisted passages; and some of the recently appointed sub-agents write me that there are several families in their districts preparing to take advantage of the terms we offer. A considerable number of intending emigrants are only waiting until they hear of the arrival of their friends who have already gone to New Zealand, and upon the report that they may send will rest the decision whether those remaining at home shall join their friends in New Zealand or remain where they are. Should there at any time be a lack of emigrants coming forward, or should it be your wish at any time to materially increase the number of emigrants from this part of Ireland, such increase might very easily be obtained by authorizing me to further assist eligible families by paying the cost of their railway and steamboat fare from their homes to the place of embarkation (the amount of such assistance to be added to the emigrants' promissory notes). This would at once increase the number; also, a most desirable class of emigrants would be obtained. On the new list of sub-agents being completed, I propose visiting each one individually, for the purpose of instructing him in the details of the agency, and also for the purpose of consulting with them upon the best means of promoting emigration to New Zealand in their several districts. I have, &c., The Agent-General for New Zealand. Haeey ~W. Fabnall.

Enclosure 3 in No. 36. The Eov. P. Baeclay to Dr. Featheeston. Mr dear Sik, — India Street, Edinburgh, 10th January, 1873. I find it difficult to give a supplementary report such as is wished, the report already given in having shown the districts visited—l think a very important district. It also indicated the days I was out, from 27th November to 23rd December inclusive. You will observe that I have knocked off a few days more in former reports than in my last from the full number of days, because, e.g., I might have got through in a day or two less, or because there might be a day which I did not feel warranted to charge ; yet postages and stationery came to so much that I might count a day less off, rather than put in a definite charge, as I once did for these things, of £5 for six months. Some arrangements I make ere going, but some can't be made till I am on the spot and make them personally. And if by reason of illness, I seemed to do less work during the first week I was out, I certainly was overworked the last ten days —holding five meetings in five different places on five successive nights, besides taking duty on Sunday, which procured me a splendid meeting in Huntly on Tuesday—(on the intervening evening I was at Keith, for which I had gone to arrange on the Saturday previous). Then, in regard to the number of emigrants selected during the quarter, I have looked on myself much more as a sower of seed than as a reaper of the fruit. I was led to understand that this was the kind of work I was mainly to do—to call attention to New Zealand, hitherto almost a terra incognita to most of my countrymen, and by pen and tongue to give all the information I possibly could. This I have done largely by my little book, which has brought me letters very difficult to answer, from London, Birmingham, and Jersey, the writers being to some extent men of capital and position. It has also been largely circulated in the North, and is slowly bearing fruit. I have also done it by these continual lectures, by writing in the People's Journal, and by advertising on railway stations, &c, as much as was permitted by the Agent-General. Now if lam a sort of Commissioner of this sort (for the Agent-General said expressly to me that he did not wish to class me among local agents), it is impossible for me to remain in any place long enough to take in names, especially in Aberdeenshiro Tillages, where New Zealand is very much a now country, and where American ideas reign supreme. This work would need to be done entirely by local agents—men constantly there, with whom I keep myself more or less in correspondence—sending lists of ships going, New Zealand newspapers which I receive, &c There were indeed several at Huntly who made known their wish to go to Otago ; and the people at Ithynie telegraphed to me to come and give them a lecture, which I did. But when I went