3

D.—6

Of these 90 souls, 79 adults were Germans, Danes, and Poles, all of whom have found employment or joined their friends settled here. Immigration Depot. —The Marsland Hill Depot is in good order, and requires but trifling repairs. The Depot Master's services ceased on the 28th February, and the Medical Officer's on the 31st March, and all goods in charge of Immigration Officer have been handed over to the Storekeeper in charge of store at New Plymouth, as instructed. Immigrants Land Act. —Eight certificate holders selected during the year ending 30th June, 1877, 178 acres 3 roods 13 perches of forest land. Nominated Immigration. —Twenty-nine applications have been received and forwarded, being for 93 souls or 79 adults, all foreigners nominated having to pay their own passages to London, and find themselves in board, &c, until ship's departure. Land open for Settlement. —No open land has been offered for settlement during the past year, and the price asked for forest land in remote localities, without roads, prevents it being taken up by small farmers or capitalists. Labour Market. —l am able again to remark that all willing to work at a fair wage can find employment, the demand for labour being fully equal to the supply; and many of the immigrants who at first were the greatest grumblers are now satisfied with their present and future prospects, and are availing themselves of the nominated system of immigration to induce their friends to emigrate to New Zealand. Provisions —With the exception of flour, which has, from outside causes, risen to a high figure— continue at the same moderate prices as before reported. House rent has fallen about 20 per cent., owing to the great reduction in the price of timber, which, on completion of the railroad to Inglewood, will, I have every reason to believe, again form an important export. I have, &c, W. K. Hitlke, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer.

No. 3. The Immigeation Offices, Napier, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir, — Immigration Office, Napier, 7th July, 1877. In accordance with your circular of the 7th May, I have the honor to report upon the subject of immigration operations in this province for the year ending June 30, 1877, and, as requested, will be as brief as possible compatible with the importance of the subject. First.—As regards the demand for labour. The supply has been ample, taken in conjunction with the great influx from the other provinces. The annexed return, marked A, will put you in possession of the number of immigrants —viz., 669, equal to 584 adults—who have arrived since the date of my last report. Secondly. —As to the suitability of the immigrants introduced. The supply of single girls has never been sufficient, nor in any way approached the demand. I might here point out that nearly onethird of the so-called single girls (servants supposed to be) range between the ages of twelve and fifteen years of age, and cannot have had experience as servants. The supply of single men has been much more satisfactory during the past year than heretofore, and, although the largest shipment arrived at the dullest season of the year, there was little difficulty in finding them employment. Excepting a few large families sent to Wellington, this late-in-the-season shipment was duly supplied with work. I would here beg to draw your attention to the Hon. Mr. Ormond's suggestions as to the time ships should arrive in Napier with immigrants, as those periods would best meet the requirements of the district. Thirdly. —The success of the immigration scheme, so far as the immigrants are concerned, is certainly most satisfactory. Wages have not decreased, and all willing to work find steady employment. Fourthly. —As regards collection of promissory notes. Having lately received instructions on this subject, arid being now engaged in taking proceedings, I will reserve a report on this subject for a future occasion, simply now stating that, since free immigration, the immigrants who signed promissory notes under the old system express an opinion that they should not be called upon to pay, seeing the number who have been granted a free passage. I have, however, invariably on every occasion pointed out their responsibility, and that it would be dishonorable to endeavour to evade their liability. Fifthly. —The nomination system. I have always in all my reports advocated this system in every point of view as being the best, and still continue to do so. The evidences in support of this system are too numerous and have been too often repeated to require further comment on my part. Sixthly. —Expenditure for the forthcoming year. I lately visited the immigration depots inland, and found them in good repair. In conclusion, it is my great pleasure to again, after a period of seventeen years' service (Provincial and Civil) as Immigration Officer, report that the Commissioners have not found it necessary to place a single vessel in quarantine. The quarantine buildings which I lately inspected are in good repair, but it may be will require painting before next winter, in order to keep them in good order. I have, &c, Geo. Thos. Fannin, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer.