9

D.—6

Single ."Women. General Servants... ... ... 306 ■ Machinists ... ... ... 1 Tailoresses ... ... ... 4 Laundresses ... ... ... 8 Housekeepers ... ... ... 11 Needlewomen ... ... ... 1 Housemaids ... ... ... 48 Milliners ... ... ... 5 Dressmakers ... ... ... 18 Cooks ... ... ... 26 Dairymaids ... ... ... 52 Governesses ... ... ... 5 Weavers ... ... ... 1 Farm Servants ... ... ... 4 Nursemaids ... ... ... 26 Miscellaneous ... ... ... 9 Total Labour—Males, 1,425; Females, 522 ; Total, 1,947. 2. Character and suitability of Immigrants. —I am again pleased to report that the immigrants introduced have been of good character, and, with few exceptions, suitable for the requirements of the province. 8. Bates of Wages. —The rates of wages have not altered since my last annual report; they are as follows: —Married couples for farms and stations, £60 to £70 per annum ; married men with families, ss. to 6s. per day, with cottage found; married men for bush work, 6s. to 7s. per day; grooms and coachmen, £40 to £50 ; shepherds, £50 to £60 and found ; gardeners, £50 to £55 ; single men, for farms and stations, £40 to £55; masons, bricklayers, carpenters, and plasterers, 10s. to 12s. rer day; blacksmiths, wheelwrights, coopers, coachmakers, and plumbers, 9s. to 10s. per day ; shoemakers and tailors, £2 10s. to £3 per week (piece-work) ; general labourers, 6s. to Bs. per day. Single women — domestic servants —cooks, £30 to £40 per annum and found ; general servants, £20 to £30 per annum and found. 4. Nominated System, how working. —The system still continues to work satisfactorily, although the number nominated is not so great as last year The total number nominated at the Christchurch office during the year ending 30th June last, was 748 souls, equal to 65S statute adults, as against 1,662 souls, equal to 1,427 statute adults nominated during the previous year. The number who have arrived under the system for the year ending 30th June was 43 families, comprising 105 souls, equal to 121 statute adults, 88 singlo men, and 105 single women, total, 358 souls, equal to 314 statute adults, as against SB6 souls, equal to 728 statute adults for the preceding year. 5. Special Settlements. —No special settlements have been formed. The immigrants are, however, located in the country districts, where there is the greatest demand for labour. 6. Hecovsry of Bills and Promissory Notes. —I am pleased to report that some progress has been made during the past year (and more especially during the last six mouths) in collecting the outstanding debt on Immigration. The total amount collected has been £879 16s. 2d.; of this sum £87 10s. was received during the first half of the year, and £592 6s. 2d. during the last six months. Arrangements have also been made with a large number of immigrants to pay oft" their debt by small monthly instalments. The total amount of bills and notes in my hands for collection on the 30th June last was £19,082 10s. lOd. 7. General Remarks. —Of the fourteen ships which have arrived, two were placed in quarantine, but the detention was only for a few days. The health of the immigrants has been good ; the dietary scale, and the treatment they received during the passage, have given general satisfaction; and no complaints of any importance have been made. The conditions of the charter-party have, on the whole, been carefully complied with. In two instances, where the Commissioners found there had been an infringement, a penalty of £30 in each case was imposed. During the past year I have registered fifty-three applications under the Immigrants Laud Act, the amount the applicants are entitled to for the purchase of land being £2,380. The amount of land purchased under the Act during the year was 240 acres, representing £480. The total number of applications registered under the Act to the 30th June is 112, and the total amount represented £4,950. I have, &c, J. E. March, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer.

No. 11. The Immigration Officer, Timaru, to the TTndee Secketaex for Immigration. Sic, — Immigration Office, Timaru, Bth July, 1876. In reply to your circular dated May 20th, I have the honor to lay before you the following report on immigration in my district for the year ending 30th June, 1876: — 1. The total number of immigrants arrived here during that period was 1,085 souls, equal to 974 adults. 2. The number nominated from this office during the same period was 270 souls, equal to 251 adults. 3. The number of nominated immigrants who arrived was 113 souls, equal to 96| adults. The class and character of the immigrants who have arrived is very satisfactory. They have had no difficulty in obtaining work, nor do I anticipate difficulty during the winter months for a limited number. I have, &c, C. E. Haughton, Esq., F. Le Cren, Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer. 3-D. 6.