D.—2

36

Edinburgh, 9th October, 1874. On 10th September ninety-one emigrants left Lerwick per Aberdeen steamer, and on Monday, 14th, eight left. On Wednesday I had a lecture at Bridge of Stronie, nine miles north-west, as some people had been disappointed that I had never been there. The attendance was large. 17th. —On Thursday night I left Lerwick for Kirkwall, where on Monday evening I had a very large meeting in spite of wretched weather. The meeting had been well intimated on tho previous day. My opinion, however, is that we can look for no very large emigration from the Orkney Isles, of which Kirkwall is the chief town. Still a few good farm labourers may be got, and it was worth staying return steamers to make New Zealand better known. 22nd. —Thence on Tuesday I sailed for Aberdeen. In Aberdeenshire I remained for a fortnight or nearly so ; but for this fortnight I make no charges of any kind. In Aberdeen I saw Mr. John Cook, and had much conversation with him as an intelligent authority on emigration. I took a Shetland man who spoke to me in the street about New Zealand to Mr. Cook, who would probably send him to stay with his family. Several families who were going to Otago were on board the steamer which brought me from Shetland. There cannot be a large emigration from this country, as many have gone in times past to America, and some to Australia and New Zealand ; hence wages are very high and labour scarce. At Turriff, a large village in a very fine agricultural country, Mr. Michie, our agent, told me there were very few applicants. At Strichen I heard of several families going. It seems to me that emigrants from Scotland must mainly be procured from the North-west Highlands and Western Highlands, such as Skye, Lewis, Barra, <&c.; and, as I have already said, a very considerable number may be had from the Shetland Islands, Fair Island, &c, although the poverty of tho people and their remoteness are obstacles which need special privileges to overcome. I reckon that fully 500 emigrants have left Shetland for New Zealand during this year, having myself sent away 34S during six weeks of August and September, and knowing of many others going to Canterbury and Otago during the past six months. The whole population of Pair Isle, half-way between Orkney and Shetland, might probably be had by a special arrangement. They amount to 230. Through Mr. A. H.. Smith, our excellent agent in Edinburgh, I hear a large number of people in Barra, in the Hebrides, have applied to be taken. I have written to the factor, and sent him an additional supply of tracts, " Notes on New Zealand," both in Gaelic and in English. It seems, however, that since writing Mr. Smith, he has put himself in communication with Mr. Adam, from Otago. This is disappointing to Mr. Smith, who could not act in any way till he heard from London. But the great matter is, that they get away either by the General Government'scheme or by tho Otago scheme as soon as possible. I believe a large number of people could be got from the Lewes, a large island, population 24,000 —far too many. It is the property of Sir James Matheson, Bart., at whoso invitation I visited the island in 1872, and lectured in six or eight places. But an American agent then came after me, and terrified the people with tales of war and cannibalism in New Zealand, so that very few left. From what I hear this year, they have got rid of their fears, and many of them are disposed to go to New Zealand, could arrangements bo made for them. P. Baeclat. The Agent-General for New Zealand.

No. 63. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Minister for liijiigbation'. (Xo. 1805.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Slß,— 30th October, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 212, dated 28th July, 1874, fowarding a copy of the Immigration Commissioners'report upon the ship " Cartsburn," which you inform me arrived at Port Chalmers upon the 14th July. I notice that the Commissioners approved the general arrangements and condition of the vessel, but remark that the ships despatched from London " arc better fitted, the berths in the latter being fore and aft, in blocks, while in tho former they are athwart ship and close to the sides." An alteration in the direction indicated as desirable, has, I think, recently been made in the mode of fitting the emigrant vessels at the Clyde. I will, however, communicate with Messrs. Galbraith and Co. on the subject, and I hope to be able to arrange for the adoption of the improvement suggested, in the case of vessels sailing from Glasgow. I have, &c, I. E. Featiieeston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

'No. 64. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Ihmigeation. (No. 1808.) 7, "Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 30th October, 1874. Beferring to your letter No. IG6, of 15th June, 1874, on the subject of the payment of recoveries by the agents of the ships in the colony, I have the honor to inform you that I have succeeded in effecting the arrangement mentioned. I enclose a sheet of the charter-party at present in use. The Government will observe that clause 32 contains the necessary stipulation. I have, &c, I. E. PEATnEESTON, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.