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regards the second, I desire respectfully to urge the advisability and necessity of having domestic work taught in some of the public schools. lam quite sure that the carrying out of the necessary details to accomplish this would not be half so difficult as might at first sight appear. I would moreover draw attention to the fact that at present a very small percentage of the girls who leave school accept service ; they have a distaste for it, and having only been taught needlework, embroidery, &c, the majority seek to obtain situations at dressmaking or work of that description. If domestic work was made a part of the duties the elder girls had to learn, there would not be that disrelish for domestic service that there is at present, and I need hardly dwell on the beneficial results that would arise from such a course of instruction. It follows therefore, I think, that as the supply of this very useful class of labour is urgently required, and as there is no prospect of obtaining such supply from Home, an endeavour should be made to provide the same in the colony. I have, &c, J. E. March, W. Eolleston, Esq. Immigration Officer.

Enclosure 3 in No. 16. The Town Clerk, Christchurch, to W. Eolleston, Esq. Sir, — City Council Office, Christchurch, 7th December, 1876. Eeferring to my letter of the Ist instant, written to you by direction of his Worship the Mayor, 1 beg to add that the matter of the want of female servants came before the Council at its meeting on Monday last, and resulted iv a resolution being passed to the effect that the Government should be communicated with in regard thereto. The Council wished me, in writing, to point out that there are a large class of persons in good positions in Canterbury whose domestic comfort is materially affected through the want of female servants, and the fear was expressed that unless that is remedied, those who are not tied by business to the place will be forced to sock elsewhere a home where the evil so bitterly complained of here does not exist. It need scarcely be pointed out that the loss of the class of residents mentioned would seriously injure the prosperity of Canterbury. As no one can be better acquainted than yourself, from your long official position, with this existing and growing want, the Council would ask you to make a strong representation to the Government to cause the Agent-General to forward to Canterbury a much larger number of domestic servants than it has hitherto received —if at all possible, such a number as shall be adequate to the requirements of the inhabitants of this portion of New Zealand. I have, &c, W. Haskins, W. Eolleston, Esq. Town Clerk.

Enclosure 4 in No. 16. W. Eolleston, Esq., to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (Memorandum.) There is no doubt a great demand for female servants. I have no reason to suppose that any effort is being spared to obtain as many as possible, but no greater mistake could be made than to bring women of loose character to be the mothers of the future colonists, for they will be married, if you bring them, most certainly. I have always been strong in favour of bringing growing families; it is the only way of settling a good class of colonists, and the only objections are departmental. We have depots, and we must make villages, and build respectable cottages. We cannot bring out too many of a good class of colonists, and at present the supply here is short of the demand. 10th December, 1876. W. Eolleston.

Enclosure 5 in No. 16. W. Eolleston, Esq., to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (Memorandum.) I agree with Mr. March that the practical and useful ought to take a more prominent place in our schools, bnt the school curriculum must move on simultaneously with the popular practice, and cannot very much precede it or guide it in a matter of this kind. If the people want a certain style of teaching they will have it, and they will not see the force of altering their ideas to meet the demands for useful servants. I believe the " fashion " may be set in a good class of girls' high schools, and that the future mistresses are the people to teach first. 10th December, 1876. W. Eolleston.

Enclosure 6 in No. 16. W. Eolleston, Esq., to the Mayor of Christchurch. Sir, — Government Buildings, 11th December, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the Ist and 7th instant on the subject of the scarcity which exists of female servants in the province. ' On the receipt of your first letter, I placed myself in communication with Ministers in reference to the inquiry made as to the number of female servants likely to arrive during the current year, and find that about 240 will