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from the statement made in the New Zealand Parliament by the Minister for Immigration, and which, I think, will be read with satisfaction by those persons who have friends in New Zealand, or who intend to proceed to that colony. I would also refer you to the statements made by your own correspondent in New Zealand, under date of October 21, published in one of your papers of last week, in which he states that it is a fact " that, even if the public works were to cease altogether, there is ample means within the colony to employ all the available labour within it, and that we can safely continue to import immigrants in large numbers for some time to come." I may add that by the latest advices the following are the rates of wages paid in the Province of Otago, of which Dunedin is the principal town : —Carpenters, 10s. to 12s. per day, eight hours ; bricklayers, 12s. to 14s. ; blacksmiths, 125.; masons, 125.; bricklayers' labourers, 10s.; general labourers, 7s. to Bs.; married couples (farm and station work), £70 to £S0 per annum and found; ploughmen, £55 to £60 ; farm labourers, £50 to £52; shepherds, £60 to £65 ; dairymaids, £36 to £40; general servants, £30 to £35 ; housemaids, £20 to £25. I have, &c, I. E. Eeatheeston, Agent-General. " Statement made on the Bth of October, 1875, in the House of Representatives, New Zealand, by the Minister for Immigration, the Hon. Major Atkinson. '' I mat state that the Government think it a matter of very great importance that a regular stream of immigration should be kept up, bnt that we should most carefully avoid introducing more persons than we are sure can find work readily. A small, but regular, stream of immigration, selected with great care, is what we now want. It is, I think—it certainly is to me —a matter of very great surprise that we have, up to the present time, succeeded in finding work for the very large numbers that we have introduced. I must confess to the House that I had some little doubt, or, rather, I had some little anxiety, for the last winter; and it is a matter, I think, for very great rejoicing that nowhere in the colony has there been any lack, at very high wages, of work during the last winter. The honorable member for Dunedin City yesterday wished to read a paper to this House, a resolution come to by some men who call themselves ' The Unemployed in Dunedin.' Of course, a statement of this sort going abroad, where the real facts would be unknown, would do more or less damage to this colony, and it is desirable that we should state what are the real facts as regards Dunedin. By information which I received of a reliable character, it appears that this meeting was got up by two or three perfectly worthless persons, and was attended by a few very worthless persons, and by a large number of persons who went to see what they call' the fun.' The meeting was very rowdy. That expression, lam informed, correctly describes it. It was so unruly that the reporters left it; they did not stop to report the meeting. To show that there has been absolutely no truth in the statement put forth, this is a report which I have received to-day from the Immigration Officer at Dunedin. I will read the whole telegram:—■ "' I did not consider so-called meeting of unemployed of sufficient importance to report to you. Meetings got up by Grant, McLaren, and Powditch, well-known demagogues in Dunedin. Majority of those at the meeting were not the unemployed ; they attended to have some fun. The meeting was so ' rowdy ' that the reporters left. The demand for labour can be judged by following facts: —The ' Waimea' arrived on the 18th of September with 267 adults ; ' Invcrcargill,' on the 30th of September, with 377 adults. All are now employed, except 26| adults in the depot to-day, who will be at work on Monday.' " Now, Sir, I think we may fairly judge of the worthlessness of the statement put forth. About 600 people —new-comers —readily obtained work. After this will any one credit the statement that in Dunedin men cannot obtain work in the course of a month? It is necessary that we should, as far as possible, contradict the rumours whenever we get the opportunity." To tie 'Editor of the Times. Sir, —In your paper of to-day is an account of a meeting of " distressed operatives " held at Dunedin New Zealand. As a useful commentary on their resolutions, I give an extract from a letter received from the manager of my sheep station in New Zealand, dated October 8 : — " I have to give 30s. a week for this summer's work ; hands will not come for less. To show how independent they are, Allport (whom you may remember) leaves to-morrow because, he being a yearly servant, I give him 255." When it is known that, in addition to these wages, men get as much good food as they can eat, you will agree with me that New Zealand still offers inducements to men who really wish for work. I have, &c., Grantham, December 20,1875. A Sheep Earmeh.

No. 24. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 909.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, "Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 23rd December, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 231, of October 26th, enclosing a copy of the statement upon immigration which^you made in the House of Representatives, and to thank you for the same. "Sou will observe by another letter that its opportune arrival enabled me to avail myself of its closing paragraphs in replying to the letter sent to the principal papers by the chairman of the meetings held in Dunedin in October last. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.