D.-2

1879. NEW ZEALAND.

IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. EM (LETTERS FROM THE AGENT-GENERAL.)

Presented to hoth Souses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 11th July, 1878. Beferring to my letter ]STo. 563, of 20th June,* I have the honor to transmit copies of further correspondence which has taken place between the Albion Shipping Company and myself, on the subject of their tender for shipping from the Clyde. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. A gent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Mr. Gaibbaith to the Agent-Genebal. Albion Shipping Company (Limited), 15, St. Vincent Place, Glasgow, Sic,— 3rd July, 1878. Referring to your favour of 18th ultimo, I may state I have not seen a copy of the New Zealand Shipping Company's Contract made in New Zealand, nor do I know what the terms are ; but I pointed out very distinctly in my tender of 28th November last, for conveyance of emigrants from Clyde to New Zealand, how different to other ports than Otago we are situated here, from what the New Zealand Shipping Company, and Shaw, Savill, and Co., are in London, and how, consequently, it was impossible for us, and would be so to any one, to take emigrants at same rate as Otago to any of the other ports. Ido not know what Government freight we could get hence to the Bluff, but of general freight we could not get £50. To Oamaru there would be nothing in freight; and, moreover, this is not a safe place to send an emigrant ship to. "We have not drowned anybody in our long service to Otago in the past, and we wish to keep up our credit in this way in the future. The cheapest and best way is to send the Bluff and Oamaru emigrants from this via Otago. The Union Company will contract moderately to have a steamer, when wanted, to take them on, and we will much rather accept our Otago rate of passage to Otago than the increased rate I quoted for the other ports. It will have to be understood, however, that we could not despatch two ships for Otago in one month—that, is one ship with the emigrants for the Bluff, and another with those to be landed at Otago, as there is barely sufficient cargo for one ship per month from hence. Tours, &c, Jas. Gaibbaith, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Managing Director.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. The Acjeht-Genebaii to Mr. Galbeaith. Slfij—' 7, Westminster Chambers, London, sth July, 1878. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant, respecting the conveyance of emigrants to the Bluff and Oamaru. * No. 4, D.-2A., 1878. I—D. 2.