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1875. NEW ZEALAND.

IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. LETTERS TO THE AGENT-GENERAL.

Presented to loth Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Hon. Julius Vogel to the Agent-General. (No. 260.) Sir, — Immigration.Office, Wellington, Bth September, 1874. I have the honor, earnestly and urgently, to direct your attention to the manner in which, as it seems to me, you have failed to understand " The Immigrants Land Act, 1873." 2. The provision of that Act by which you were to approve of immigrants intending to claim under the Act, was not meant as an idle or formal one. 3. It was meant that you should bear in mind at least two leading principles—(l.) That land was to be given as a real inducement to those who otherwise might not be disposed to emigrate to New Zealand. (2.) That land was to be given only to those whom you considered suitable emigrants, and who were likely to become permanent settlers. 4. I attach a schedule of applications for land that have been received here, from which it seems that any one about to sail for the colony, and whose passage had been paid, has had only to send you a letter asking for a recommendation, in order to induce you to give it; that you have not, generally, thought the granting of a certificate necessary; but that you have given certificates in cases so anomalous, that lamat a loss to understand how you could have given them. For example, Mr. Passmore was coming out under an engagement to act as an engineer in the Public Works service ; but, according to his statement, he was told in your office, and it was confirmed by you, that it was right he should receive a certificate under the Act entitling him to a grant of land. lam glad to say that he voluntarily abandoned the certificate on its being pointed out to him how foreign it was to the intention of the Act that he should receive land. Some persons, who were very suitable for the receipt of certificates, left England without them, being unaware that they were required, and believing that they would obtain land on their arrival. 5. I have earnestly to ask that you will consider the Immigrants Land Act as a measure of very great importance, and that it is desirable that you should consult its spirit and intention as well as its letter. As I have pointed out, you have failed to appreciate either; but I do not doubt that further consideration will induce you to give the measure most careful attention in future. 0. I wish to impress upon you that the nature of the Act seems to be very much misunderstood. I think you should endeavour to remove the misapprehension which prevails, by letting it be known that your certificate is required, that you will not give it without consideration, that you will not give it unless in very rare cases to persons who have already paid their passages, that the grants are intended only for suitable persons or families, and that conditions are attached to the grant of the land. I think that you, or some responsible person appointed by you, should carefully consider every application, and personally see the applicant. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel.

Enclosure in No. 1. Precis of Applications for Land under " Immigrants Land Act, 1873." E. 13rowne, passenger by " Wennington," paid his passage at Agent-General's office, sth January, 1874 ; was never told Agent-General's certificate necessary. Saw in a paper that land was given to emigrants paying their passages. There are other exactly similar cases. A number of immigrants by " Mairi Bahn," which arrived on July 25th, 1874, state that they paid their passages on the faith of getting land. Agent told them land would be ready for occupation on their arrival. I—D. 1.