3

D.—s

As a rule the immigrants who have arrived here have proved healthy and suitable, while the paucity of indifferent characters shows careful selection. Owing to the general depression, there is very little demand for ordinary labour. Some employers having reduced their establishments, there are several men now out of employ. Ploughmen who thoroughly understand their work, good farm labourers, especially those accustomed to work with machinery, aud female servants, will for a long time readily find employment at good wages. I have, Ac, J. T. Tylee, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer.

No. 3. The Immigration Officer, New Plymouth, to theUNDEE Seceetaey for Immigration. Sic,— Immigration Office, New Plymouth, Bth July, 1879. I have the honor to report on the immigration connected with this district for the year ending 30th June, 1879. Number of immigrants, free and nominated, arrived during the year—souls, 234; adults, 172*. The immigrants sent to this district were absorbed at once—no difficulty in finding employment at high wages. There is great demand for single women. The immigrants sent to this district have mostly settled down to colonial life in its various phases, giving satisfaction to their employers. Their conduct has been good. There has been very little sickness. Up to the present date there has been no dearth of employment. The railway extends several miles beyond Inglewood, and will be open to Stratford (thirteen miles) in a short time. I hope to see the railroad and macadamized road completed through to Normanby before twelve months. There is an immense quantity of good land available, which can be taken up on easy terms, convenient to this line. Foreign immigrants sent to this district are industrious and provident, and the concession made in allowing persons to nominate their friends will give satisfaction. I have, &c, C. A. Stapp, Bt. Major, Immigration Officer at Taranaki. The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington.

No. 4. The Immigration Officer, Wellington, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir,— Immigration Office, Wellington, 9th July, 1879. I have the honor to forward my annual report ou immigration to this port tor the year ending 30th June, 1879. I attach a return showing the number of ships and also of immigrants who have arrived during that period. There has been little difficulty in placing all these immigrants. It being now the middle of winter there appears to be no demand for labour. A good many men are out of work, especially carpenters ; a number have applied to me for advice, and to help them find work. lam in hopes, as finer weather sets in, aud tho contemplated City Corporation work is started, all here will be able to find work ; aud I think that when the harvesting and shearing commence labour will be in demand. I am informed that a great many from tho West Coast of tho Middle Island have found their way across to Wanganui on this Island, and that at the present time there is little demand there for labour. AVhen 1 visited the Wairarapa a short time since there appeared to be no demand ; but I see by the papers that the men ou the railway-line have struck, asking that their wages may be raised from 7s. 6d. to Bs. per diem. The high rate of wages still asked appears to me to act very much against the employment of labour; and I think there would be very few out of work now if they were only content to take fair wages. I attach a letter which appeared in one of the evening papers of the 9th instant on the subject. There is still a good demand for single women for servants. The health of the immigrants, with the exception of those by the " Hermione," which ship had to be put in quarantine for typhoid fever, has been good. The number of nominations, especially during the last six months, has very much increased, being 1,801 for this year, as against 901 last year. If a fair proportion of the number nominated avail themselves of the passage-orders sent Home, I think it would not be advisable to further increase the number for this port until the prospects of employment are better than they are at present. There are now two ships on the way out with immigrants—the " Orari," shortly expected at Lyttelton with immigrants for that port, and also 129 for Wellington and other ports ; the "Rakaia" left about the beginning of June with 295 souls for Wellington and Napier. The amount of cash received during the year is as follows: —viz., Passages and outfits, £531 7s. 6d. ; on account of promissory notes, £79 65.; sundries, £24 35.; rent of immigrants' cottages, £187 10s. : total, £822 6s. 6d. ' I have, &c, James B. Redwaed, Immigration Officer for Wellington, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington.