D.-5

8

Enclosure in No. 8. RETURN of IMMIGRANTS arrived in DUNEDIN for the Year ending 30th June, 1879.

No. 9. The Immigbation Officee, Invercargill, to the Undee Seceetaey for Immigbation. Sib, — Immigration Department, Invercargill, Ist July, 1879. I have the honor to furnish for your information my auuual report for year ending 30th day of June, 1879. We have had a fair share of immigrants to this port during the season. The ship "Waitara" landed 229 souls, equal to 209 adults ; and was followed by the " Western Monarch," bringing 369 souls, equal to 331 adults: making a total of 598 souls, equal to 540 adults. The immigrants by the ship "Waitara" showed a ready spirit for immediate employ, and were readily engaged at a fair rate of wages. With many of the single women, however, there wero great complaints of their inability as servants, most of them having had little or no experience as such; in fact, by their own acknowledgment, they had hardly ever left their parents' homes. While commenting on this fact, I should mention the wrong certificates of character given to servants leaving Home. Whether these certificates are genuine it is difficult to say; but, in most cases, I am certainly of opinion they are not. They are seldom asked for by the people on leaving the dep6t. The same also refers to married people and single men who describe themselves as farm labourers. From all the information I can gather, aud from my own personal experience, I am inclined to think that very groat caution should be exercised iv the introduction of further supplies, for more than one reason. First, really good farm servants, without incumbrance, are generally in demand at most seasons; but few, such as wo do get, are to be obtained amongst the immigrants introduced, the majority of those describing themselves as such having proved, on employment, either to be very indifferently acquainted with agriculture in any of its branches, or, as more frequently is the case, to be entirely ignorant of it, describing themselves as agricultural labourers believing such a designation to be the best passport to get free passages to the colony. Though such men do generally find employ on the railway works in progress, as these necessarily cease, there will be a very large margin between demand and supply; the latter would therefore show largely in excess, to be absorbed by the ordinary channels of colonial wants. Secondly, I should, therefore, for the coming season, very respectfully suggest that, as the nomination system is working so well, further free immigration should be coufinsd to those nominated by friends. Although the supply will probably be smaller than that hitherto obtained, yet I feel sure they will prove more equal just now to the occasion, and be found also more beneficial to all concerned. For single women there is generally a good demand, but what is most wanted are servants who have had some experience as such. The " Western Monarch " immigrants were a fair class, though tho same fault with the single women was felt as with the " Waitara " lot, and the men generally had little experience in agricultural pursuits. ■ Most of this shipment, married and single, found employ on the railway works. The sum of £198 15s. has been received in advance for passages and ship outfit. I have used every endeavour to collect on promissory notes, without success, my applications generally finding their way back to me through the Dead-Letter Office. With a recent circular lam now issuing I hope to be more successful.

Total Arrived. Nominated. Nationality. Name of Ship. Date of Arrival. Births. Deaths. Souls. Adults. Souls. Adults. ! .English. Irish. Scotch. Aline City of Dublin Stracathro James N. Fleming ... EokebyHall Invercargill ... Timaru Waitara (Bluff) Canterbury ... Waipa 1878. July 8 July 16 Aug. 2 Aug. 7 Aug. 21 Oct. 2 Nov. 0 Dec, 5 Dec. 10 Dec. 11 1879. Jan. 10 Jan. 19 Jan. 24 Feb. 17 March 21 April S April 21 April 13 June 17 1 5 1 3 * 6 338 340 228 320 2 1 3 J 1 14 5J 306^ 806* 208i 284 2 1 5 4 76 58 32 100 2 1 8J *8i 62 £ 4Si 28 85 2 3 2 2 1 8 1 1 1 6 67 53 111 48 1 166 169 93 149 3 91 119 14 122 2 Oamaru Western Monarch ... Taranaki Wellington Lyttelton East Lothian .., Westland Stad Haarlem (s.s.) ... Otago 357 368 291 330 20 4 166 134 1 307i 329 i 255* 292J 17 2 148 110 1 109 40 76 66 8 4 61 23 91* 36' 66 55 7h 2 52 20 3 3 3 4 2 2 57 228 31 70 6 4 12 113 110 125 66 75 10 190 13 196 187 4 1 "72 16 83 5 1 Totals 2,915 2,583 665 5(54 13 IS 812 1,052 1,030