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so strong as was the case last year, and that it is quite possible that the withdrawal of the free-passage system, and near approach of what is expected to be a bountiful harvest, will necessarily curtail the number of emigrants proceeding to New Zealand. I shall do my utmost to send out on the average the numbers mentioned in Mr. Vogel's letter of the 30th April. I have caused the charter-party to be carefully revised, and, after conferring with Mr. Vogel, Mr. Mackrell, the solicitor, being present, have finally approved of certain alterations. The list of medicines has been carefully revised by Dr. Husband and Dr. Harding, two experienced ship surgeons, and the revised list, with a few alterations, has been approved of by Mr. Humphreys, the Imperial Government medical officer. The New Zealand Shipping Company have been, invited to send in an offer, which they have undertaken to do on or before the 2nd June. The advertisement relating to the Immigrants Land Act has been amended in accordance with the instructions contained in Mr. Vogel's letter of the 30th April. During the last four weeks, forty-two certificates have been issued, under the provisions of the Act, to persons paying the cost of their passage to the colony, from this office. Eighteen certificates were issued by Dr. Kirchner to passengers paying their own passages by the ship " Friedborg." The following shipments of material and stores have been made since the 30th April:— 1,951 tons of rails and fastenings. 80 sets of switches and crossings. 2 brake vans. 1,680 packages of railway stores. 81 packages galvanized iron and guttering. 55 boxes of glass. 23 packages of telegraph stores. 2,520 gallons of lighthouse oil. 5 cases of material. 8 cases containing copies of the Official Handbook of New Zealand. 1 case each of clothing, patent specifications, despatch-boxes, and Chubb's locks. You will receive separate detailed advices of these shipments in due course. During the month I have accepted tenders —For additional spans for the Eangitikei Bridge, from Horton and Sons; for ten bogie wheels, from Neilson and Co.; and for bookbinding materials and stationery, from Waterlow and Sons. A large amount of material having to be shipped to the Bluff, Southland, I have charteied the ship " Maitland," to load at Middlesborough with railway iron for that port, and she is engaged to sail on or about the 20th July. Having decided upon retaining a certain number of clerks whom I consider I shall require permanently on the staff of the department, I have fixed the amount of their salaries at somewhat higher rates than they have hitherto been obtaining. I have done this, keeping in view the desirability of due economy being used, but at the same time of giving such remuneration as will give reasonable inducement to efficient officials to remain in the service. The large amount of emigration business which has to be transacted during the next four months will oblige me to temporarily engage for that period three or four additional clerks, at from £60 to £80 per annum. You will have heard before this reaches you that the New Zealand March mail, coming by way of San Francisco, was put on board the steamer " Schiller," which was unfortunately wrecked. Many of the mail-bags were recovered, and amongst them are several containing New Zealand letters. A large number, if not all, of the Government letters addressed to this office were duly delivered, and their contents, after some trouble had been taken in drying them, were perfectly legible. Letters acknowledging their receipt, and containing information on the various matters connected with the agency, will be forwarded by the mail leaving London this day. I have, &c, I. E. Featheesxon, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, "Wellington. Agent-General. By Authority : (i kuki.b Didsbuet, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB76. Price 9d.]