13

D.—sa

It appears to me that if immigration to the colony is still to be encouraged—and none will question the necessity for this—the facilities for free passages must be continued, and assistance must still bo given to enable colonists already settled here to have their friends and relations brought out, or land must be given to those who pay the cost of their own passages to the colony. Auckland may submit to the necessities of an alteration to the free immigration policy, but she may fairly demand to be placed in a position which will enable the Government to colonize her waste lands as freely as those more favoured provinces of the South which have had their lands handed over to them almost free of cost for colonizing purposes. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. J. Williamson, Superintendent.

No. 32. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. (Circular Telegram.) Wellington, 26th May, 1874. He Assisted Immigration.—The Government, after considering the replies of Superintendents, have come to the conclusion only to instruct Agent-General to limit the number of emigrants depatched by him between Ist March and the end of the year to 25,000. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Julius Vogel.

No. 33. Telegrams between His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland, and the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Auckland, 15th June, 1874. Ec Immigrants' Cottages.—Tenders have been received and accepted for twenty-five, on plan approved by Minister for Public Works; tenders ranging from £199 to £116 10s., the latter being below the estimated cost. Mr. Taylor, an honorable contractor, offers to construct the whole number within two months at the latter price. Twenty-five more, at least, will be required ; may I invite tenders for them ? They will be constructed so as to allow of removal to special settlement sites after, and much of first cost recovered by sale of them to settlers. Hon. J. Vogel, Wellington. J. Williamson. Wellington, 17th June, 1874. In accordance with your Honor's recommendation, I approve calling for tenders for a further number of twenty-five cottages. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Julius Vogel.

No. 34. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir,— Wellington, 6th July, 1874. Judging from a remark which fell from your Private Secretary, Mr. Fox, since my arrival in Wellington, it appears that some uncertainty exists in your mind as to whether the immigrants' cottages now in course of construction at Auckland are intended to be used in lieu of depots for the reception of immigrants on their arrival, or for the purpose of erection in country districts, as authorized in your circular of date 19th December, 1873, to be paid for by instalments. In order to make the matter perfectly clear, I beg to refer you to the memorandum of Mr. Allright,* enclosed in my letter of 15th April last, by which you will see that the cottages referred to are intended to be used in lieu of depots, and are to be distributed, as occasion may require, for erection for temporary use at various settlements along the coast to which immigrants may be sent from Auckland at the request of settlers selecting them at the principal dep6t. Until these cottages have been disposed of for permanent erection, they will remain the property of the colony. When so disposed of, it will then be open to rent them to the occupants, or to arrange with such occupants for payment of cost by instalments. I have not yet acted upon the authority given me to erect cottages of the class referred to in your circular, the cost of erection of which is to be guaranteed by the Province, and to be paid by four yearly instalments, inasmuch as I am unable at present to form a correct judgment as to the localities in which immigrants may be located under the system of special settlement or otherwise ; nor do I think it desirable or expedient to decide upon such locations until a number of blocks of land lately purchased by the General Government shall have been handed over to the Province, I have, &c, John Williamson. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Superintendent, Auckland. * D.-5, p. 5.