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No. 18. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-General. (No. 311.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 22nd October, 1874. , I forward herewith correspondence with His Honor the Superintendent of Otago, relative to the case of certain lunatic immigrants who, it is reported, were clearly known as lunatics previous to their embarkation for New Zealand. It is unnecessary that I should point out to you how extremely painful it is to the Government to have such cases brought under their notice, evincing, if the facts alleged be true, such gross carelessness on the part of the inspecting and shipping officers of your department. I have to request that you will cause a strict inquiry to be made in each case, and report fully to me with the least possible delay. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure in No. 18. Correspondence between the Superintendent, Otago, and the Minister for Immigration. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 10th October, 1874. Single female immigrant, ex "Christian McAusland," M A T , has been lodged in lunatic asylum. I find, on inquiry, that she showed symptoms of insanity in depot at Blackwall before embarking. Has been very violent during whole passage. This is second case of the kind recently, and ought to be pointed out to Agent-General. These patients will be a continual burden on the province, and should be sent back to England. J. Macandrew. Hon. Colonial Secretary, Wellington. (Telegram.) Wellington, 12th October, 1874. Vert much regret landing of second lunatic, and will make strong representations to Agent-General upon the subject. Government are considering the question of re-shipping them to England. Will you let me know whether you will undertake to do this on behalf of Government, and the probable cost ? Have the lunatics any friends in tho colony who would object to proposed action ? H. A. Atkinson. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago.

No. 19. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-General. (No. 314.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 23rd October, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 1448, of 20th July, upon the subject of chartering ships for New Plymouth direct. 2. I beg to express my satisfaction at your assurance that you are doing all that is possible to give effect to the instructions upon this subject contained in my predecessor's letter of the Bth May last, No. 127, and I fully concur in his remark relative to the refusal of the shipping companies with whom you at present do business to lay on direct ships, viz. that you should be in a position to control these companies, and not to accept their dictation. 3. I think it of very great importance, in the work of settling the country, that direct ships should be sent to New Plymouth, and am strongly of opinion that in future no contract should be entered into, except upon the condition that the contractor will lay on ships for any port in New Zealand to which the Government might desire to send emigrants. I do not give you positive instructions in this respect, as the Hon. Mr. Vogel will be in London when, or shortly after, you receive this letter, and will consult with you as to the determination of future charter-parties. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 20. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-General. (No. 315.) Sic — Immigration Office, Wellington, 23rd October, 1874. It has been brought under my notice that the female population of the Shetland Islands largely exceeds the males, and consequently that the chances of settlement in life for single girls are very rare, whilst the wages for domestic servants range only from £3 to £5 a year. Under these circumstances, I am inclined to think that many of these, or the families comprising them, a class of emigrants urgently required, might at the present time be induced to emigrate to this colony ; and in order to secure them, I would suggest that the regulations be considerably modified in their case, inter alia, that the age of the single women be extended, say, to forty years, and that fathers and mothers, with families comprising single women, be allowed free passages, to accompany them, although they may be somewhat over the prescribed age. I am further informed, from a source I have reason to think reliable, that the inhabitants of the Fair Isles are desirous to emigrate almost in a body to New Zealand, but, from the position and 2—D. 1.