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1873. NEW ZEALAND.

IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND.

(FURTHER LETTERS FROM THE AGENT-GENERAL.) Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency. No. 1. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (No. 620.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— Ist May, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of the Hon. Mr. O'Rorke's Memorandum of 14th February, and in reply to state that as soon as the promoters of the proposed Moravian settlement have placed themselves in communication with me, I shall be glad to afford them all the assistance in my power. They will of course obtain passages on terms as favourable in every way as those which are granted to other emigrants. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 2. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (No. 642.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sr_ — 16th May, 1873. I have the honor to forward herewith, for the information of the Governor, a list of the subagents for emigration purposes appointed by me in Great Britain and Ireland. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 3. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (No. 637.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 16th May, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of Lands and Immigration Memorandum No. 26, of 13th February last, in which I am directed, "in consequence of the heavy rate of postage charged on the ships' books (giving detailed particulars with reference to immigrants) sent via Brindisi," to discontinue the transmission of these books by that route. The instruction of the Government shall be complied with. The ship's book of the " Mary Shepherd," (otherwise) forwarded via Brindisi to-day, will be sent via Southampton on the sth June. I think it right however to draw your attention to the earlier Memorandum of the Hon. Mr. O'Rorke, No. 6, 1872, of 28th October, in which the following passage occurs: — " It is very desirable that the ship's books should be forwarded by tho first mail after the ships have sailed, as otherwise, when the ship makes a good run, she is liable to arrive before the Immigration Officer has had time to prepare for her. This will be apparent when I mention that on receipt of the book here, some of the particulars have to be forwarded to the Superintendent and the Immigration Officer at tho port of the ship's arrival, and that then the friends of nominated immigrants have to be written to, requesting that the immigrants may be met and provided for. The time which this necessarily takes renders it of importance to receive the ships' book from you with as little delay as possible, the nominal list of passengers not being sufficient." I—T). 2e.