35

D.—2d

measure removed from tho temptations of vice and crime to which the more destitute classes are exposed ; and I still believe " Brogden's men" will in the end prove to be really valuable settlers, knowing as I do that a considerable number of them havo been at one time of their lives strictly agricultural labourers. I have already, in previous despatches, explained that the great difference between emigration to New Zealand and to tho Australian colonies consists in this : that whereas in the former case the emigrants aro required to bo distributed amongst six or eight different Provinces, in the latter they are always landed at one port, thus rendering it extremely difficult, in the case of New Zealand, to obtain within a reasonable time a full complement of emigrants for any one ship. It is scarcely necessary to observe that this difficulty would be materially increased if, as has been suggested in various memoranda of the Government, emigrants of different nationalities, or of different classes, as now suggested by the Superintendent of Otago, were required to be sent out iv separate ships. But as regards the sending out navvies in the same ships with other emigrants, His Honor is not likely to have further cause of complaint on this ground, inasmuch as, I regret to say, the Messrs. Brogden, in consequence of the representations made to them by Mr. James Brogden, are already demurring to send out any more emigrants under their contract. I have, Ac, I. E. Featherston, The Hon, the Colonial Secretary, AVellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 87. The Agent-General to the Hon. tho Colonial Secretary. (No. 492.) 7, AVestminster Chambers, Victoria Street, AVestminster, S.W., Sir,— 14th April, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of the Hon. Mr. O'Rorke's Memorandum of 17th January, 1573 (No. 14, 1873), covering copy of a letter from the Immigration Agent at Christchurch, and, in reply, to stato that I have never made any promises, either of land or employment by the Government in the Colony, to a single emigrant sent out in the ships despatched by me. AVith regard to the persons named iv Mr. March's letter, I beg to state that, to the best of my belief, I never had any communication whatever with either Christian Laagesen or Heinrieh A. Larsen, emigrants by the ship " Crusader." In tho case of Mr. Petersen, however, who was highly recommended to mo by Mr. AVinge and other influential persons at Christiania, I did promise to request the Government to find him some employment in one of the Scandinavian settlements. I was under the impression that I had in private correspondence redeemed the promise I had made to Mr. Petersen's friends, and that Mr. Friberg was made aware at Christiania of my desire to promote their wishes in this matter. If, however, I have failed to do this, I would now- beg earnestly to recommend Mr. Petersen to the Government for employment, as being a man of education, of a good social position, and thoroughly trustworthy in every respect. I have, Ac, I. E. Featherston, Tho Hon, the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 88. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (No. 493.) 7, AVestminster Chambers, Victoria Street, AVestminster, S.W., Sir,— 17th April, 1873. I havo the honor to acknowledge receipt of the lion. Mr. AVaterhouse's Memorandum of sth of December (No. 34, 1872), and I trust that I havo sufficiently answered the complaints as regards the character of Messrs. Brogden's emigrants, in my despatch of April llth, and in the report prepared at my request by Mr. Carter, to whom I intrusted the duty of examining and passing all emigrants sent out by Messrs. Brogden. I have, Ac, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 89. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (No. 495.) 7, AVestminster Chambers, Victoria Street, AVestminster, S.W., Sir,— 17th April, 1873. Referring to the Memorandum of the Hon. the Minister for Immigration, No. 9, 1873, of 9th January, I have tho honor to stato that, in accordance with your instructions, an additional gratuity of £50 shall be paid to surgeon-superintendents of emigrant ships in all cases where it shall appear that these officers have performed their duties satisfactorily, and on their intimating their readiness to proceed in other vessels. I observe that this additional gratuity is to be paid to Dr. Elphinstone and to Dr. Husband, in respect of the services performed by them last year as surgeons of the ships "St. Leonards " and " Jessie Readman " respectively; also to the widow of Dr. Dry, late surgeon-superintendent of the " Glenmark," who was unfortunately lost in that vessel. I have, Ac, I. E. Featherston, The Hon, the Colonial Secretary, AVellington, N.Z. Agent-General.