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The nominal value of bills in the Nelson office for collection on the 30th June last was £598 15s. 6d. There are twelve applications under " The Immigrants Land Act, 1868," registered in this office representing land claims to the value of £700. None of the applicants have as yet selected land, and there is no law in force in this district to enable them to take advantage of the provisions of " The Waste Lands Administration Act, 1876." I would therefore respectfully suggest that bond fide settlers who remain, say, two years in the district should be entitled to exercise their scrip as cash in the purchase of land within that district, either at auction or otherwise as the land laws permit, and I would further suggest that the scrip be made transferable, as those to whom land would be of little use will otherwise have to go to the trouble and expense of obtaining their land and title, to convey it to some one else at a further expense, thereby considerably reducing the original value of the scrip to the legitimate owner. I have, &c, Alfred Greenfield, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer.
No. 6. The Immigeation Offices, Blenheim, to the Undee Seceetaey for Immigeation. Sis,— Blenheim, 3rd July, 1877. During the past year there has been no immigrant ship direct to this district, the transhipments have been by "Camperdown," from Nelson, 106 adults; by "Howrah," from Nelson, 24; by "Leicester," from Wellington, 30; making a total of arrivals during the year of 160. I regret that owing to the records of the early part of the year having been destroyed in the fire at the Government Buildings in Blenheim, I cannot make any classification. The immigrants have all settled down, and I do not hear of any complaint of want of work. The present requirements of the district appear to be satisfied except in regard to single women for domestic service—a demand for which always exists; and Ido not doubt but that as the season advances a fresh demand will arise for labour of all classes. I have, &c, Cyrus Goultee, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer.
No. 7. The Immigration Offices, Hokitika, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir, — Immigration Office, Hokitika, 13th July, 1877. I have the honor to report that during the year ending 30th June, 1877, the number of nominations received through this office by persons resident in Westland desiring to nominate their relations or friends for free passages out to the colony was 106, nominating 195 souls, equal to 183 adults, divided as follows : —l6 married couples, 27 children, 79 single women, 55 single men, 2 widows ; occupations of which are —labourers, 17 ; farm labourers, 29; domestic servants, 75 ; cooks, 2; printers, 2 ; miners, 5 ; nurse, 1; butcher, 1 ; draper, 1; blacksmith, 1; gardener, 1; carpenter, 1; weavers, 4; shepherds, 2 ; groom, 1 ; dressmakers, 5 ; dairymaid, 1; housemaids, 3 ; bootmaker, 1: this being a slight increase on the preceding year of 14i adults. I think if the Government were to advertise more freely the privilege held out to persons resident here of free immigration by nomination, the system would be to a greater extent taken advantage of, thereby the colony would be the gainers by securing a better class of immigrants and ones more suited for colonization, as it can be taken for granted as a rule that friends would not nominate their relatives or friends unless they were able to earn their own living on arrival here. During the past two months a short advertisement has been put in the papers drawing attention to the closing of nomination lists, and in several instances parties came in to nominate their relatives who stated that till they saw the advertisment they had no idea they could get free passages by nominations or that any such system was in force, plainly pointing out that greater publicity should be given to the system than is done at present. The number of Government immigrants that have arrived during the year was 282 souls, equal to 237 adults, all of whom eventually found employmont after some trouble. A portion of the above were sent to Jackson's Bay Special settlement at their own desire. A good number of the German immigrants sent to Westland have located themselves in and about Hokitika, and it is wonderful how they have got on and prospered, when it is considered that when they landed they did not know a word of English. They in a great many instances have saved sufficient money to buy land and houses, and when spoken to about the colony say they are very happy and contented, and well satisfied that they came out. At tho present time there is not a great demand for labour, consequently I would not recommend the forwarding of any more Government immigrants in large numbers for some time to come, as at the present time of the year there are no large works going on, nor is there likely to be any till the summer comes on. The rates of wages ruling here at the present time are as follows : —Carpenters, 12s. to 14s. per day ; blacksmiths and bricklayers, lis. to 13s. ; tailors, 10s. to 125.; labourers, 9s. to 10s. ; compositors, £3 10s. to £4 10s. per week ; agricultural labourers, 20s. to 255. per week and found; domestic servants for hotels, 20s. to 30s. per week and found ; private families, 15s. to 20s. per week and found ; nursemaids, Bs. to 12s. per week. In conclusion, I have to report that the depots at Greymouth and Hokitika are in good order and repair. I have, &c., F. A. Leaemonth, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer.