D.—6

10

No. 12. The Immigration Offices, Dunedin, to the Under Seceetaet for Immigration, Wellington. Sic, — Immigration Office, Dunedin, July, 1876. I have the honor to furnish, for the information of tho Hon. the Minister of Immigration, the following report relating to immigration to this province during the year ending 30th June, 1876. As a return of the number of immigrants who arrived during tho said period will be furnished in a tabulated form from the Head Office, it is not necessary to give the information here. In last year's report, I had occasion to notice the marked improvement that had taken place in respect to the class of immigrants who had arrived during the year. 1 have, pleasure in reporting that those introduced during the year now ended have evidently been selected with still greater care, with a view to supply the special requirements of the province. The larger proportion being brought up to farming operations, they proved a suitable addition to our population. It is not advisable to offer inducements to emigrate to certain classes of mechanics and tradesmen, such as engineers, engine-fitters, boiler-makers, blacksmiths, iron-moulders, tinsmiths, painters, and bakers, as the numbers of each class introduced during the last three years are quite sufficient to supply the demands of the province for at least a few years to come. There can be no doubt that the partial suspension of immigration during the winter months has been attended with good results. It had the effect of keeping the labour market from being glutted at a time of the year when labour is scarce and the weather unfavourable, and of affording a number of the erratic labouring classes a chance of settling down to steady employment. Although the prospects of regular employment for the working classes during the winter months looked rather gloomy in the early part of the season, I am glad to report that the result turned out different from what was anticipated. There has hitherto been no lack of work either in the city or the country districts ; and, as far as I can judge from observation and report, the demand for labour is likely to continue good during the remaining portion of the winter months. There is also an increasing demand for female servants for both town and country. The numbers who have arrived during last season have not supplied anything like the requirements of the province. ■ I have, &c, Colin Allan, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer.

No. 13. The Immigration Officee, luvercargill, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sic, — Immigration Oflice, Invcreargill, 10th July, 1876. In reply to your circular of 20th May last, I have the honor to furnish my annual report as Immigration Officer, and have considered it not unadvisable to furnish the Government with tables, showing at a glance the palpable results of the scheme of public immigration since its active operation in this particular subdivision of the colony, as from the 16th April, 1572, to 30th June, 1876. Table A gives the number of immigrants nominated by residents in the colony for the above period, together with their nationalities ; the total number nominated amounting to 4,630 souls. As I have always been of opinion that this is ihe best description of immigration to be obtained, I have given it earnest attention, and pushed it as much as possible. Table B gives the number of assisted immigrants landed at the Bluff for the year Ist July, 1875, to 30th June, 1876, to be 1,273; and for the period April, 1872, to June, 1876. 3,502 souls. Table C gives the number of nominated immigrants arrived at the Bluff direct, or transhipped coastwise from April, 1872, to June, 1876, to be 709 souls ; making with table B a total of 4,211 souls, assisted and nominated, arrived during that period. Keturn D gives the number of immigrants landed at the Bluff by direct shipment from the Home country during the year to be 1,239 souls, i.e. assisted. Eeturn E gives the number of nominated immigrants landed at the Bluff direct and coastwise, during the year, viz. 114 souls. I may state generally that all these immigrants have been absorbed without any difficulty or hesitation at remunerative prices, except those by the " Carrick Castle," an exceptionally bad lot, difficult to place. Indeed, as the arrivals during this year have shown a marked improvement in physique and moral culture, they have met with ready employment; and I am inclined to think that this district could absorb without inconvenience, at fair prices, from 800 to 900 able-bodied immigrants—really trained to agricultural and domestic service—yearly, for the next three years. As regards the prospects of labour during the winter, the continuation of the railway lines from Gore to Balclutha, Winton to Kingston, and completion of the western district, eight lines of rail, would doubtless relieve tho present glut of labour in the market, and afford its encouragement on as yet untilled farms, by placing the interior in favorable communication with the sea-board. I have, <fee, Walter 11. Pearson, The Under Secretary for Immigration, "Wellington. Immigration Officer. Note.—lt has not been thought necessary to print the tabloß attached to this report, tho information being already hi the Immigration returns.