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circumstances of the island, they are unable to comply with the regulations, so far as the preliminary steps towards obtaining their passages are concerned. I shall be glad if you will direct your attention to this matter, and instruct your agents in the north of Scotland to endeavour to facilitate the emigration of these persons, who would, I believe, form a very desirable addition to the population of the colony. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 21. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-General. (No. 316.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 24th October, 1874. By the Suez September mail, which arrived yesterday, I have received amongst other advices of ships, that of the " Howrah," which you report haying sailed from London for Wellington upon the 26th August. 2. In your telegram, dated 3rd September, you state " ' Howrah ' three eighty Taranaki," and upon this information all arrangements have been completed to provide for the arrival of this number of immigrants at New Plymouth. 3. It is difficult for me to express my dissatisfaction at finding that the " Howrah," instead of proceeding direct, has been despatched to Wellington. The Superintendent having been officially informed that this ship was direct for his province, has, of course, made the information public, and I feel sure that very great and reasonable discontent will be generally expressed when it is known that this is not the case, but that the immigrants are to be transhipped at another port, and that a portion of the complement is for a different province. 4. It is very undesirable, under any circumstances, that emigrants should he forwarded to other ports than those of their ultimate destination, and this has been repeatedly impressed upon you in the letters of my predecessors in office ; but with regard to Taranaki it is more especially so. The province has, up to this time, notwithstanding the repeated promises of the Government, derived little or no direct benefit from the large stream of immigration which has been poured into the colony, and it is therefore only just to insure that the emigrants shipping for New Plymouth shall be landed there, and not afforded the opportunity of obtaining engagements at the port of transhipment, which is very frequently the result in such cases. The Government have no power to insist upon the immigrants when they arrive in Wellington proceeding farther should they elect to remain ;.and I have considerable apprehension that, with the great demand for labour here at present, only the interior classes and those difficult to dispose of, may reach Taranaki. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 22. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 26th October. "Douglas," " Gutenberg," " Denny," " Readman." Scandinavian emigration ; send all to Wellington ; fifty single women for Taranaki —all must agree to be transhipped where required —Napier as ordered. The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 23. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-General. (No. 319.). Sir,— Immigration Office, Wellington, 26th October, 1874. Referring to letters Nos. 275, of 25th September, and 285, of same date, forwarded from this department, and to previous correspondence, relative to Scandinavian immigration, I have the honor to inform you that, after consultation with the Superintendents of Provinces, and careful consideration of the circumstances of the various parts of the colony, the Government have decided upon instructing you, hy Java cable, not to send Scandinavians to any provinces except Hawke's Bay and Wellington. A copy of the telegram sent to-day is appended hereto. So far as I understand your arrangements, there are at the present date nearly 1,000 Scandinavians to arrive under your old contract with Messrs. Louis Knorr .and Co., 1,600 under the transferred Queensland contract, and 4,000 under your agreement with Mr. Kirchner, making in all some 6,600. I desire that you will give instructions that the number of these emigrants sent during the period ending 30th June prox. may be forwarded in the following proportion:— Wellington. —One ship every two months, with not more than 300. The first ship to bring 50 single women for Taranaki. Hawke's Bay. —One ship, with full complement, to arrive in December, or as early as possible afterwards, as ordered in my telegram of 21st September. The emigrants must- be given clearly to understand that, if considered desirable by the Government, they will be transhipped from the port of arrival to other ports of the colony, and I would suggest that this proviso be entered upon their contract tickets. I have also to, point out to you that the demand for female domestic labour still continues urgent, and as I understand this class of emigrants can without great difficulty be obtained in Germany, I