Page image

D.-l

2

may have written home in a slightly desponding strain. As soon, however, as summer arrived, they got shook into their places, and picked up the English language (which they readily do in five or six months), they found work, and, in fact, farmers were glad to have them, in some instances preferring them to Englishmen. A foreigner arriving here is in something the same position as a professional man —h e wants to make a connection. This, of course, takes a little time, and men want time also to get into their natural groove; but I am quite satisfied that there is scarcely a German immigrant who has been here, say, two years, who would write home in the strain mentioned above. One or two instances which have come under my notice I will relate. About fifteen months ago a number of these immigrants arrived here, and some of them settled down in Wanganui. Having some spare land just outside the town, on which I wished to put a few settlers, I offered several of these families half an acre apiece, and assisted them to build cottages by becoming responsible for tho material, &c, and advancing a little money for wages. The price of these cottages averaged from £60 to £80 each. With one exception, the whole of these cottages have all been paid for or nearly so already, and in another twelve months these people will have comfortable homes of their own. Some of them have (by permission from Wellington) nominated their relatives and friends for passages out. To show that New Zealand is not unsuitable for German immigrants, I will give another instance. Near the Township of Marton there is a German settlement called Pukepapa. It is inhabited by a number of Germans who came from Australia some ten or eleven years ago. The land at that time was poor and sterile, and nothing to be compared in quality to most of the other land in the district, and the amount taken up by the new arrivals rarely exceeded fifty acres, in some cases even less. The settlement now is a most prosperous one; every one of the inhabitants is in comfortable and easy circumstances, possessing good houses, capital stock, and well-cultivated farms. One of these Germans (for whom New Zealand is so unsuitable !) has, to my own certain knowledge, purchased a block of land of over 500 acres, several others, blocks of nearly the same size, while the majority of them have increased tho acreage of their original holdings. The sons have also taken up land from the Government on the deferred-payment system ; in fact, the settlement of Pukepapa is a decided success, and shows that the Germans, when they get into their groove, take kindly and naturally to the soil. lam willing to admit that Germans, except when they are clever tradesmen, do not do well in towns ; but fix them on ever such a small piece of land, if it is only half an acre, with a chance of its becoming their own property, and they do well. I may add, in conclusion, that most of the single girls who have arrived here are getting from 10s. to 15s. per week as domestic servants, and that I could readily place forty or fifty more at the same rate after they had picked up oven a little of the language. I have penned these few notes with the idea that they may enable you to send an answer to the AgentGeneral's telegram, should you wish to do so. I have, &c, Joseph Giles, Esq., Under Secretary, IT. M. Beewee, Immigration Department, Wellington. Sub-Immigration Officer.

No. 4. The Hon. J. T. FisnEß to the Agent-Geneeal. - Sic,— Immigration Office, Wellington, N.Z., 31st December, 1877. Referring to my letter No. 182, of 29th October, I have the honor to forward herewith copy of a circular addressed to Immigration Officers relative to the nomination of foreigners, from which you will observe that the Government have decided to discountenance foreign nominated immigration. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. J. T. Fishee.

Enclosure in No. 1. Circular Memorandum for Immigration Officers. Immigration Officers are informed that it is considered desirable to discountenance to some extent the further nomination of foreigners as immigrants to the colony. With this view, it is requested that, for the future, all nominations of foreigners may be entered upon a separate list, for transmission through this office. In forwarding such lists, some fuller remarks and explanations should be appended than in ordinary cases, showing any special reasons which the Immigration Officer may have for recommending the nominations. The nominators of foreigners should be informed that their nominations will not be accepted as a matter of course, but will be specially considered by the Government. In accepting provisionally foreign nominations, the preference should always be given, other things being equal, to relations and members of the families of the nominators, rather than to mere friends or acquaintances; in fact, the latter class should, as a rule, only be accepted for special reasons. J. Giles, Under Secretary for Immigration. Immigration Office, Wellington, 18th December, 1877.

No. 5. The Hon. J. T. Fisher to the Agent-Geneeal. Sic,— Immigration Office, Wellington, N.Z., 3rd January, 1878. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 1021, of 3rd November, 1877, in which you report upon the case of Francis D , and ask for instructions how to deal with