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copy of which was forwarded by me without comment. As the absence of comment may possibly be misconstrued, I have now the honor to state that the Provincial Government has all along been desirous that a proportion of immigrant ships bound for this province should discharge their passengers at Bluff Harbour. This desire has been so frequently expressed both verbally and in writing, and is so well known to your predecessor in office, that it was deemed unnecessary reiteration to be repeating it. Tho subjoined extract of a letter addressed by me to the Provincial Agent, Mr. Auld, under date as per margin, set forth the views and wishes of the Provincial Government upon the matter in question. Although tho Agent-General has been already advised on the subject, perhaps you will be good enough again to direct his attention thereto. Extract. —" I beg again to confirm my previous instructions with respect to a proportion of the " emigrant ships for this province landing their passengers .at the Bluff, and have to request that in as " far as you can control or influence the matter you will be good enough to do so, even if the rate of " passage money should be slightly in excess of that charged to Port Chalmers. Had the Provincial " Government been finding the money for immigration, it would have been bound, in terms of an " understanding anterior to the reunion of Otago and Southland, to have stipulated that a proportion "of the ships chartered on its behalf should call at the Bluff. As it is, however, the matter rests " practically with the Agent-General, who I venture to hope will give due weight to your representa- " tions on the subject." I have, Sec, J. Macandrew, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Superintendent.

Enclosure 2 in No. 43. Invercargill Road Board to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — Invercargill, 27th January, 1875. I am instructed by the Invercargill District Road Board to bring under your notice the loss that this district is receiving through non-compliance with one of the chief terms of re-union with the Province of Otago, viz. that every third immigrant ship should call at the Bluff. Although we have been re-united to the Province of Otago for several years, only three vessels have come direct to the Bluff with immigrants, and those under arrangements with the General Government. Occasionally drafts of immigrants have been very meagrely supplied from Dunedin, but nothing in comparison with the absorbing power of this district. It is almost needless to say that those few were immediately and profitably employed. This Board urge that this district has peculiar claims on the attention of the Government, as, notwithstanding the amount of public works being carried on in this locality, we have upwards of thirty saw-mills at work —an industry alone wdiich absorbs hundreds of men. No objection can be made by shipowners as to the unsuitableness of our harbour, the Bluff, which is second to none in New Zealand, as ships of any size can enter with ease and safety without the aid of a steam-tug; and an efficient pilot service is stationed at the port. Although this objection, we understand, has been mooted by some shipowners at Home, it is not in accordance with fact, as within the past twelve months no less than eight large vessels have arrived from the Home country with cargo for this port, but unfortunately having landed their immigrants elsewhere. This Board, therefore, deem it their duty to urge upon you to use your utmost endeavours to see that the terms of our re-union compact are carried out in their entirety, and that this district receives its proper share of immigrants at your hands. Trusting you will give this your most earnest attention, I have, Sec, Lewis Longuest, The Hon. tho Minister for Immigration. Clerk to the Invercargill Road Board.

No. 44. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-General. (No. 47.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 13th February, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 1956, of the 15th December, addressed to Mr. Vogel, in wdiich, in reply to a letter from him dated Bth September, you enter at length upon the subject of " The Immigrants Land Act, 1873," and of the duties required of you in relation thereto. As Mr. Vogel has without doubt discussed the matter fully with you when in London, it is unnecessary for mo to prolong the correspondence upon the subject. I have, Sec, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 45. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-General. (No. 52.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 15th February, 1875. I have the honor to forward herewith copies of the general conditions of the Jackson's Bay Special Settlement in the Province of Westland, with reports of the Chief Surveyor and the Chief Harbour-Master, which have been sent to me by the Superintendent, under cover of a letter, in which his Honor expresses himself in the following terms: —