D.—6.

8

immigrants arrived here during that period were 302 souls, equal to 274 adults. 2. The number nominated from this office during the same period were 272 souls, equal to 250. adults. 3. The nominated immigrants who arrived were 41 souls, equal to 38 adults. Owing to the sudden cessation in advertising, &c, many of the public were under the impression free immigration had ceased, hence the small number of nominations. The class and character of those who have arrived are satisfactory, and had no difficulty in obtaining work. Wages are still high in this district —namely, labourers, Bs. a day. Domestic servants are very scarce, and command £35 to £50 a year. The Immigration Barracks both here and at the Waimate are in good order. I have, &c., J. LeCeen, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer.

No. 10. The Immigration Officer, Dunedin, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sic, — Immigration Office, Dunedin, 2nd July, 1877. I have the honor to furnish, for the information of the Hon. the Minister of Immigration, my annual report relating to immigration to this port for the year ending 30th June, 1877. During the season, five ships conveying immigrants arrived, bringing 1,537 souls, equal to 1,339j statute adults. Of this number, 315 souls, equal to 208J- statute adults, were introduced under tho nomination system, and on their arrival were taken over by their friends. The number of female servants was 263. The demand for labour during last season continued good and regular, the immigrants soon after their arrival having met with ready employment, especially those of them who were brought up to agricultural pursuits. Farm and female domestic servants are always in request, the demand continuing to increase in proportion to the increase of population. lam glad to report that the people who arrived were upon the whole suitable for our requirements. The rates of wages have not suffered any material alteration since last year's quotations. The rates now ruling are—for married couple 3 for farms and stations, £70 to £80, and double rations ; ploughmen, £55 to £60; farm servants, £50 to £52; gardeners, Bs. to 9s. per day; common labourers, 6s. to Bs. per day p female servants —cooks, £40 per annum ; general servants, £30 to £35. I reiterate the statement made in last year's report that it is inadvisable to expend the public money in assisting certain classes of tradesmen and mechanics to emigrate, as representatives of these are already too numerous in our midst. They include engineers, engine-fitters, boiler-makers, blacksmiths, iron-moulders, tinsmiths, painters, bakers, shoemakers, &c. A limited number of bricklayers, carpenters, and plasterers may be introduced with advantage to themselves and the colony. ■ Two thousand immigrants can be readily placed during the ensuing season, providing they prove to be-of the right class. Oamaru District alone would absorb one-fourth of that number. The nominated system continues to work well, and a number of useful immigrants are beiug received through it. The total number nominated through this office (not including Invercargill or Oamaru) during the year was 577 souls, equal to 513 adults. The system has lately received an impetus from the advertisements inserted in the local papers referring thereto. Two of the ships conveying immigrants were placed in quarantine on account of an outbreak of measles on the passage. The usual precautions of washing and fumigating the clothes and bedding used on board having been observed, a short detention on tho Quarantine Station sufficed. Tho health of the immigrants has been otherwise very favourable. The number of deaths was 19, being 1 male and 2 female adults, 8 male and 4 female children under 12 years of age, and 4 infants. The provisions of the charterparty were faithfully fulfilled by tho charterers of the vessels, no complaints having been made to the Commissioners when inspecting the ships. I have, &c, Colin Allan, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer.

Enclosure in No. 10. The Sub-Immigration Officer, Invercargill, to the Undee Secretary for Immigration. Sir, — Sub-Immigration Office, Invercargill, 12th June, 1877. I have the honor to report, for your information, that since being appointed as Sub-Immi-gration Officer for this district on the Ist August, 1876, the following details respecting the requirements of this division of the colony have come under my notice and observation:—l, I may state that employment of all kinds has been less plentiful in Southland than usual during the last twelve months, partly owing to the great addition to our labouring population received during the previous year, and also to a temporary tightness in the money market, which rendered employers less able to pay the current rate of wages. 2. The cessation of railway and other public works having necessarily thrown a large number out of employment, all of whom, however, now seem absorbed and settled in various parts of the colony. The prospects of labour during the ensuing year are for suitable immigrants good; farm labourers, especially ploughmen, who are really acquainted with agricultural pursuits, will always meet with ready employment and fair wages; and I would further respectfully state that where grownup families of sous and daughters can be induced to emigrate together, it might be well to allow the parents, even if over the age prescribed by the rules, to come free, as such families invariably do well, the presence of the parents being a safeguard for the young people. I know of many large families that came out a year or two ago to Southland almost destitute, who now are thriving settlers, sons and daughters being married, with houses and land of their own; and many of those immigrants who at one time were considered our worst importations are now fairly prosperous, possessing their own homesteads. For married couples without children and single women there is at all times an unlimited