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the cases of emigrants for Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, and Taranaki. lam fully aware that, in these cases, sending the emigrants by direct ships is not always in your power to arrange, and I had no wish to embarrass you with restrictions in the matter: my remarks had reference solely to cases that have occurred, when, for instance, emigrants for Auckland have been sent out in Otago ships, or vice versa, when, by other arrangements, the heavy expense of transhipment in the colony might have been avoided. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 61. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 125.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 11th May, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 26, of the 9th March ultimo, having reference to the report of the Commissioners upon the ship " Howrah." With regard to your remarks relative to permitting full paying passengers to proceed in Government emigrant ships, I am glad to find that it is your practice to require undertakings from all such persons that they will comply with and submit to the regulations of the Government, and the rules and directions of the surgeon-superintendent. This to a great extent appears to me to obviate what gave rise to the recommendations of Immigration Commissioners in this case, and I would only further add, to what I have already expressed in my letter No. 377 of 23rd December last upon this subject, that I think it would be desirable that steerage passengers paying their own passages should do so, if it can be arranged, through your office, and so prevent the possibility of their taking any other position on board ships than that of ordinary emigrants; and with regard to first and second class passengers, I would suggest that these also should be subject to your approval before their passages are secured to them. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 62. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 144.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 7th June, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 202, of the 19th March ultimo, forwarding copy of a communication addressed to you by Dr. Darcy Sinnamon, the local agent at Portadown, on the subject of the assistance granted to emigrants by the Queensland Government. Mr. Sinnamon does not absolutely state, but certainly seems to imply, that he, as agent for the New Zealand Government, has no power to advance money to intending emigrants for their passage to a port of embarkation, and outfit. As in my predecessor's telegram of 11th October, 1873, you were instructed to authorize where necessary these advances, and I am aware have done so in many cases, I am at a loss to understand the position taken by this officer. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 63. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 145.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 7th June, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 219, of 6th April, forwarding Mr. Kirchner's report of his emigration operations for the year 1874, which I have read with very great interest. 2. I have given careful consideration to Mr. Kirchner's remarks with reference to a translation of the New Zealand Handbook, but I am of opinion, and I think you will agree with me, that in the probable contingency of not continuing to encourage German emigration, the expenditure is unnecessary. 3. I shall be happy to receive, for distribution amongst the German immigrants, any letters for them which may be forwarded by Mr. Kirchner, and I will cause immigration officers to be instructed to receive in return all letters which the immigrants may wish to send home through the Government. I have, <fee, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 64. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Genebal. (No. 151.) Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 7th June, 1875. The Hon. the Premier has notified to the Government his intention, previously to his leaving England, of making arrangements with you as to the conduct of emigration during the ensuing financial