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No. 15. The Agent-Geneeai, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigbation. (No. 1356.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 29th June, 1874. Referring to your letter No. 84-74, of Bth April, forwarding copies of correspondence with His Honor the Superintendent of Marlborough relative to emigration to that province, and of a telegram forwarded to me upon the subject under date Ist April, I observe that the emigrants despatched by the two direct ships, to arrive, if possible, in October and December, are to be inclusive of the number ordered in your letter of 12th March, No. 57; that your instruction as to sending a certain proportion of emigrants for Marlborough in Nelson ships remains in force ; and that in the arrangements for the distribution of these emigrants, it is to be understood that if they, upon arrival at Nelson, decline to proceed further, the Government will not in any way recognize their claim to assistance in providing employment, nor will they be received or maintained in our depots. I regret to state that hitherto both Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co. and the New Zealand Shipping Company have declined to send emigrant vessels direct to Marlborough. The Government may depend upon my making every effort to give effect to their wishes in this respect. In the meantime I have arranged to despatch a ship a month for Nelson; emigrants for Marlborough being also taken. The first of these vessels will embark passengers in London on the 20th July. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 16. The Agent- Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministeb for Imsiigeation. (No. 1389.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 30th June, 1874. Referring to your letter No. 70-74, of Ist April, on the subject of the engagements made with emigrants on board the " Scimitar," I note that you disapprove the plan of despatching emigrants for one province to the port of arrival in another ; and that you desire that no arrangements for transhipment should be made except under the following circumstances, viz., — 1. When lam absolutely unable to fill a ship, when ready for sea, with emigrants for her port of arrival. 2. When I am unable for any particular port to obtain a direct ship. And I observe that, in all cases where emigrants are to be forwarded to other provinces than that in which the port of arrival of the ship is situated, you desire that separate lists of such emigrants— arranged according to the provinces for which they are destined—may be sent to the Government; such lists to be additional to, and not in place of, the ship's books as at present made up, which you remark seem admirably adapted for their purpose. I note also that, in your opinion, it is desirable that the contract tickets should state distinctly the final destination of the emigrants via the port of arrival. I shall endeavour to give effect to the wishes of the Government in the various matters referred to in my future emigration arrangements. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 17. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Mikistee for Immigeation. (No. 1397.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, "Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 30th June, 1874. Eeferring to your letter No. 73-74, of the Ist April, forwarding copy of a letter from the Rev. C. Ogg, relative to emigration from the Shetland Islands, I have the honor to inform you that I have recently received a very large number of applications from Shetlanders for free passages to the colony; and I expect to be able to forward during August about 200 suitable emigrants, and probably a similar number in September, from this district. The first party will proceed in the Nelson ship on the 12th August; they will be engaged for the Province of Marlborough. As the intending emigrants from this district are very poor, it will be necessary, in most cases, to advance the expense of the journey from Shetland to London. For the sums so advanced, the emigrants will be required to sign promissory notes. The Rev. P. Barclay, who has been working in Shetland for some months, will personally superintend the arrangements for forwarding the emigrants to London. I -expect also to obtain considerable numbers of West Highland emigrants during August and September. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.