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1875. NEW ZEALAND.

EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (LETTERS FROM THE AGENT-GENERAL.)

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by command of Sis Excellency. No. 1. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigration. (No. 1258.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 4 30th May, 1874. Referring to your letter No. 43, of the 11th March, enclosing copy of the Immigration Commissioners' report upon the ship " Ocean Mail," and extract from the diary of the Surgeon-Super-intendent, I have the honor to state that I have perused these documents, and referred them to the Despatching Officer, with a request that he will give to the remarks and suggestions of the Immigration Commissioners and Surgeon-Superintendent his most careful attention. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 2. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigration. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sin, — 30th May, 1874. Referring to your letter No. 46, of the 12th March, forwarding copy of a letter from the Consul for the German Empire in Wellington, upon the subject of emigration to the colony, and enclosing extracts from a letter received by him from Mr. E. Barck, a clergyman in the Baden district, I shall, as you direct, make inquiry on the subject of these communications, forwarding the documents in the first instance to Mr. Kirchner, my agent in Germany, and if it should appear desirable to do so I will give Mr. Barck a free passage to the Colony. I have already advised the Government that I have completed arrangements for a large emigration from Germany, and under these circumstances it is possible that it may appear to bo unnecessary to apply any further stimulus to the emigration movement in that country. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 3. The Agent- General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigbation. (No. 1261.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, "Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 30th May, 1874. Referring to your letter No. 58-74, of 14th March, in which you inform me that the ship's books of the " Mongol " (which arrived upon 30th February), of the " Scimitar " (which arrived upon the 4th of March), and of the " Wild Deer " (which arrived upon the sth of March), were not received at the date of your letter, I have the honor to submit the following observations in reply, viz., — 1. As explained in my letter No. 861, of the 24th December, the steamer "Mongol" sailed from Plymouth on the 23rd December, and the mail via Brindisi closed on the following day. The Government will therefore understand that it was impossible to get the ship's book corrected, completed, and fairly copied in time to forward by the mail of 24th December. It was, however, sent via Southampton on the 14th January. (See my letter No. 901, of that date.) 2. The " Scimitar " sailed from Plymouth on the 26th December, two days after the despatch of the mail via Brindisi. The book of this vessel was also forwarded on the 14th January. (See my letter No. 901, of that date.) The circumstance that these two ships arrived before the statements relating to them reached the Government is clearly due to the fact that the vessels made unusually rapid passages, and to no neglect on the part of this office. I—D. 2.