D.-9.

6

I append a return of the ships conveying immigrants during the year, date of arrival, nationality of immigrants, and births and deaths on the passage. The demand for labour during last year was even better than in any former year of my experience in this part of the colony. The labouring classes of the community were fully employed, both in town and in the country districts. The immigrants introduced were of good character, and, upon the whole, suitable for our requirements. The rates of wages now ruling are as follows : —Married couples, for farms and stations, £65 to £80 per annum, and double rations ; ploughmen, £55 to £60 ; farm servants, £52 to £55 ; gardeners, £55 to £60; common labourers, 6s. to Bs. por day. Female servants: cooks, £10 to £50 ; general servants, £30 to £35. The nominated system continues to work satisfactorily. The number of nominations received at this office for the past year was 908 souls, equal to 797 adults ; at Invercargill, 423 souls, equal to 387! adults; and at Oamaru 110 souls, equal to 101 adults ; making a grand total for this provincial district of 1,441 souls, equal to 1,285! adults. The nominations taken have been chiefly confined to farm servants, general labourers, and female domestic servants. During the season two ships were placed in quarantine —one for scarlatina, and the other for typhoid and typhus fever. The health of the immigrants on the voyage was generally very good, and the deaths much below the average. The amount collected on account of promissory notes during the past year has been £200 17s. 6d., and received for passages and outfit, £375 7s. 2d. I have, &c, Colin Allan, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer.

No. 10. The Immigration Officee, Invercargill, to the Undee Seceetaey for Immigeation. Sic, — Immigration Office, Invercargill, 3rd July, 1878. I have the honor to furnish, for the information of the Hon. Minister for Immigration, my annual report for the year ending 30th day of June, 1878, respecting matters in this locality, which I will touch on summarily in detail. 1. Shipment of Immigrants. —Two shipments of immigrants have arrived at the Bluff during the past season, the first the " Marlborough," arrived on the 4th day of November, 1877, bringing 182 souls, equal to 172! adults ; these were landed at the Bluff under the superintendence of Mr. Colin Allan, Immigration Officer for Otago, and handed over by that gentleman to me at the depot. They were a fair class, being apparently morally and physically healthy; the single women were not however servants, but principally factory girls, and those who had never been out to service ; among thirty-six women there were only three that could be classified as experienced servants. The " Oamaru" arrived on the 13th day of January, 1878; her people were landed under my charge, and were seventy-five in number, equal to 70 adults. There were thirteen single women, one of whom landed on the eve of her confinement; the same fault was observable with these as with the former shipment. 2. Nomination System. —The nomination system has worked well during the last twelve months. I have used my discretion in accepting nominations, rejecting many I thought unsuitable, or where I thought representation was not true. The amount nominated for the year ending 30th June, 1878, amounted to 378 souls, equal to 348 adults. 3. Revenue. —Eevenue received during the year has amounted to £95 125., passages of nominated immigrants over the prescribed age ; collected on promissory notes, £32 13s. 3d.; rent of immigrant's cottages, £2 6s. From this last source no more revenue will be derived, they having been sold.

Enclosure'in No. 9. Eetuen of Immigeants arrived in Dunedin for the y> iar endi ing 30th June, 1878. Name op Ship. Date Total Aeeived. Souls. Adults. Nominated. BlETHS. Nationality. Deaths. - English. Irish. Scotch. Abeivai. Souls. Adults. W. Fleming Marlborough Waipa Canterbury... Oamaru Piako Wellington ... Wild Deer ... Wm. Davie... 1877. Oct. 3 Nov. 4 „ 21 Doc. 29 1878. Jan. 13 Feb. 5 „ 6 April 3 June 21 248 183 212 202 261 166 297 6 10 218! 170! 191 239 240 145! 271 5 7^ ' 2 75 18 50 31 56 8 10 6 6 64! 15 43 27 47! 7! 9 5 4! 1 3 2 2 2 3 2 1 29 11 85 19 36 135 38 114 99 88 165 160 32 171 6 106 73 41 78 65 "2 86 6 4 Total 1,645 1,488 260 223 10 359 835 453 Colin Al: Im: ,AN, nigratii m Offii :er.