D.—2

36

In conclusion, allow me to say I strongly advise against any renewal of contract when the present one expires. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No 50. Messrs. Mackrell to the Agent-G-eneral for New Zealand. New Zealand Shipping Company. Deae Sir Julius, — 21, Cannon Street, London, 14th March, 1879. We have perused the papers in this matter, and think that the 15th clause of the contract gives you power to charter aud employ other vessels if default is made in providing vessels, and upon a requisition naming a reasonable time, although wo think it is open to question whether the discretion vested in the Queen is exercisable by the Agent-General, it not being either an act or thiug to be done or any power to be exercised by the Queen within the terms of the first clause. No doubt your requisition of the 4th December last did give a reasonable notice, especially having regard to the terms of the 24th clause, which provides that six weeks shall be enough for an emigrant ship. Before, however, exercising the power, we would advise that you should serve upon the Company a notice in the form which we send enclosed,, naming therein such time as would be reasonable, to enable them to comply with it. We return the papers. We have, &c, The Agent.Greneral for New Zealand, London. John Mackeell and Co.

No. 51. The Agent-G-eneeai, to the Hon. the Minister for Ijimigeation. Sib, — 7, "Westminster Chambers, London, Ist April, 1879. I have the honor to report as follows, as to the proceedings_ of my department during the month of March :— On the 7th March, 12 souls, equal to 10^ adults, embarked from London by the " Isle of Bute," for Auckland. These emigrants were principally those nominated by their friends in the colony. The number of approved nominated emigrants being sufficient to justify the laying on of a vessel which would come under the Passenger Act, I have arranged with the New Zealand Shipping Company to despatch the ship " Orari" to Lyttelton, from Plymouth, on the 24th of this month. The " Orai'i " will take probably a full complement of emigrants, including a number for Wellington, which the Company have engaged to tranship to that port for £1 per statute adult extra. The ship "Napier," sailing from the Clyde for Port Chalmers, will also take a full number of emigrants, and I have arranged with the Albion Shipping Company to send another party of nominated < emigrants and single women by the ship "Nelson," sailing 4th June, from the Clyde. During the past month the number of communications received at this department have increased in an unprecedented degree, and from 200, the number mentioned in my last monthly report, they have mounted up to over 500, while on this day they have numbered over GOO. This, comparatively speaking, vast amount of correspondence considerably exceeds that which this department has ever had to deal with before, and I have been compelled, in order to prevent large arrears from accumulating, to engage extra clerical assistance. Although I have not inserted any advertisements in any of the newspapers published in Ireland, and have also dispensed with the services of all the local agents in that country, except those of one each in two of the northern counties, yet the number of applications from intending emigrants residing in the southern counties in Ireland have considerably exceeded in number those coming from any other part of the United Kingdom. These applications come principally from young single men, who, from their testimonials, appear to be good farm labourers. The most eligible are being selected for passages by the ships which will be despatched during the ensuing emigration season. I shall take care, however, in making up the complement of each vessel, that the proper proportions (in accordance with your instructions) of the nationalities of the United Kingdom be maintained. The Rev. Mr. Berry has been lecturing in various parts of Lincolnshire, and reports that his lectures are attentively listened to by large audiences. He has also issued a large number of application and certificate forms and other papers (with which this office supplied him for distribution), amongst eligible intending emigrants. But few of these applications have as yet been sent in. Mr. Holloway has been lecturing and inspecting applicants in Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and the Forest of Dean, during the past month, and has sent in completed forms for a number of eligible emigrants. Mr. G-. M. Eeed reported himself at this office on the 23rd March. I have conferred with him on the subject of the best mode in which to utilize his services, and it appears to me that he would probably do good service by proceeding to the North of Ireland, and, under my directions, manage the emigration operations in that part of the United Kingdom. He might establish an office at Belfast or some other centre, and at times go into the country districts for the purpose of lecturing and personally inspecting applicants for free passages, and possibly next year he may find himself in a position to undertake, in some degree, the control also of the emigration from the South of Ireland. I have for the present asked him to examine some of the large number of applications that are coining in from Ireland, by which he will gain an insight into the present emigration operations.