8

D.—2

This subject has recently been considered in connection with the preparation of a new charterparty, to take effect after the present month, and, in deference to the opinions expressed in several of your earlier letters, and in the reports of Immigration Officers, a new clause in the following words has been added: — " No single man shall he taken in the ship as a saloon passenger unless he is a member of a family also passengers in the ship. No passengers not provided by the party of the second part (AgentGeneral) shall be berthed betwecn-decks without special permission in writing from the party of the second part, and no ateerajre passenger shall be taken in the ship unless approved in like manner by the party of the second part." You will, therefore, see that the intended practice of the office, as provided for in the new charterparty, appears to be in accordance with the opinion expressed in the letter under acknowledgment. I have, <fee, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, Agent-General.

No. 6. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Minister for Immigbation. (No. 598.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Silt,— 24th August, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 120, of 10th May, in which you request me to co-operate with his Honor A. P. Seymour, Superintendent of Marlborough, and afford him every facility in procuring suitable emigrants for his province. I regret that, owing to my absence on the Continent, I was not able to personally see Mr. Seymour when he called at this oih'cc, but I shall be glad to act in accordance with your wishes. Mr. Seymour has been furnished with the necessary documents used in the selection of emigrants, and has been requested to communicate with me whenever he may require my assistance. As Mr. Seymour is connected with the West of England, I have arranged that the next vessel conveying emigrants for Marlborough shall call at Plymouth. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 7. The AaENT-GENEEAii to the Hon. the Mististeb for Immigbation. (No. 618.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, "Westminster, S.W., BIB,— 31st August, 1875. I regret to have to inform you of the death of Mr. Matthies, who came from "Westland to Europe with the intention of obtaining a number of Pomeranian families for the special settlement of Jackson's Bay. I herewith enclose copy of an extract of a letter which I received from Mr. Kirchner, relating the circumstances which he considers to have been partly the cause of Mr. Matthies' fatal illness. I may add that Mr. Matthies was personally cautioned by myself that it would be necessary for him, in carrying out the object he had in view, to be very careful to avoid any breach of the laws of the country in which he was endeavouring to obtain emigrants, and not to act except through the authorized and licensed agents employed by my agent, Mr. Kirchner. I would call your attention to the remarks of Mr. Kirchner as to the property which Mr. Matthies probably possessed, and I shall be glad to co-operate with Mr. Kirchner in any steps which may be thought right to take in the interests of the widow and her children. I have, &c, I. E. Feathebston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 7. Excerpt from Mr. Kirchner s letter referred to in Despatch No. 618. lam sorry to inform you of the death of Mr. Matthies, the person who was to act for Westland. The Berlin Agents, Messrs. Johanning and Behmer, write to me that, notwithstanding all their caution, he allowed himself to be entrapped by the Prussian police, and that, having acted in contravention to the laws, a bill was filed against him, and he was to have been committed to prison. It is supposed that the excitement produced apoplexy by pressure on the brain. My agents cannot hear of any emigrants he lias engaged in Pomerania. He has a wife and four children in New Zealand, who ought to be informed of his death. As I heard that Mr. Matthies' return to Germany was also connected with some expected inheritance, I should advise the widow to apply to the German Consul in New Zealand, in order to establish her claim. I shall be very glad to assist her in the recovery of any money that may be coming to her from Germany, while I am in Europe.