D.—lA,

Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE AGENT-GENERAL.) [In Continuation of D.-1, Sess. II., 1879.]

Presented to both Houses 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, 29th August, 1879. Referring to the telegrams* from the Hon. the Premier, copies of which I transmit herewith, I have the honor to remark that, on receipt of the telegram dated the 15th instant, I was not clear on all points as to its meaning. I transmitted the telegram dated the 21st instant, asking for further information. I also considered it desirable that you should be made acquainted with the present position of emigration here, and I therefore stated the numbers (4,000) of emigrants despatched from April to August (both months irrcluded), and the numbers waiting for ships; and also that, judging from the experience of tire last three months, I estimated that about three hundred and fifty nominated statute adults per month were availing themselves of the invitation of their friends in the colony. Tour reply, while explaining certain details, leaves me in some uncertainty as to the question referring to the numbers likely to accept the terms mentioned during the financial year. On this point, however, I may say that if I am authorized to despatch emigrants on such terms in every month of the financial year, I have no doubt that, under the circumstances at present existing in this country, I could obtain a large number of persons to accept them. At the same time, if lam restricted to grant passages only during the months which for the last three or four years emigration has been confined, and during which there is, as a rule, a less inclination on the part of the more suitable people to emigrate, a much smaller number would be obtained. But it is difficult to estimate very closely until I know what particular occupations are required. I observe, however, that in the last-dated telegram I am directed to wait for the instructions which have been sent by the last mail, so that I shall confine my operations to entertaining applications from the persons nominated by their friends in the colony. With reference to the question of the special ships for farmers, I am disposed to think that the Government are under some misapprehension as to the total amount of assistance which it was likely would be required. I have granted such assistance to only a few families whose circumstances and characters appeared to me to justify such encouragement. I have kept carefully in view the desirability of the principal number paying irr full for their own passages. And Mr. Reed, Mr. Berry, Mr. Clayden, and others, who have been engaged in promoting that class of emigration, were instructed by me not to encourage the idea tlrat assistance would be granted, except under special circumstances. The " "Wanganui," the first ship sailing under the arrangement providing for only one class of passengers, a liberal dietary, and other advantages, with a moderate rate of passage-money, will sail next week with a full complement of over 200 intending settlers. Of those who proceed by that vessel I have granted assistance (averaging about £10 per head) to only nine families, representing about forty-one statute adults. I have reason to think that the " Wanganui" will convey to New Zealand a valuable and suitable body of colonists. They are taking with them, 1 believe, a considerable amount of capital, and will in all probability be the means of inducing many other similar suitable people to follow them. I shall, of course, discontinue to entertain any further applications for assistance towards the passages of persons by these special ships. Probably, however, now that the system of sending ships with only one class of passengers (which I consider is one important way of promoting emigration to New Zealand of persons possessing moderate capital) has been successfully initiated, the shipping companies will continue to lay on ships from time to lime offering similar advantages. I have, &c, Julius "Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, "Wellington. Agent-General.

Vide D.-l, Sess. 11., 1879.