£.—2.

2

No. 3. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 20th May, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th March, No. 85.* I note that the Government do not consider it desirable to encourage the emigration of men who have received discharges from Her Majesty's service. I am pleased to find that my action in regard to the complaint made by Mr. Brereton has met with approval. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 4. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 2nd Juno, 1879. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of May :— The applications for free passages' have somewhat fallen off since the withdrawal of all advertisements, but large numbers (in large excess of those received in previous years) are still being received. These, of course, I am declining, at all events for the present. In a few instances the applicants offer to pay half the cost of their passage, and in such cases, where they belong to suitable occupations, such as carpenters, bricklayers, farm labourers, &c., I have entertained the applications. A large number of communications have been received during the past months, asking for information respecting the colony, and applying for the pamphlet which I am about publishing, giving information as to farming and mode of acquiring lands, and other particulars respecting New Zealand. I have reason to believe that the number of full-paying passengers who will proceed to the colony this season will much exceed the average. The arrangement made with the New Zealand Shipping Company for the despatch of the two special ships which I mentioned in my last report, is attracting much attention, and will, I believe, be the means of obtaining some very suitable colonists. I propose to arrange with the Shipping Company for a special ship to proceed to Auckland about November, on the same terms. I have instructed Mr. Berry to use every effort in bringing the resources of the colony under the notice of persons having capital and experience in farming, and he assures me that he has every reason to think that he will be successful in inducing a number of persons of that description to proceed to New Zealand. I have extended his engagement for another three months—namely, from July to September (both inclusive). Mr. Reed proceeded to Belfast in the early part of this month, and has opened an office at No. 2, Customhouse Square, in that city. He reports that he has received a large number of applications for information, and that his time is fully occupied in dealing with them and with applications for free or assisted passages. Mr. Holloway has been employed in selecting the coal-miners required for Wcstport. He has selected for my approval about twenty from the Forest of Dean, and will proceed to Lancashire and Yorkshire for the purpose of making inquiries and reporting to me as to the desirability of selecting the remainder from the coal-miners in those counties. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 5. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 14th June, 1879. Referring to the Hon. the Premier's telegram of the 21st ultimo (copy herewith), I have the honor to inform you that I at once was able to give it circulation throughout the United Kingdom through Reuters telegram office. I attach herewith copy of it. I have, &C, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

* No. 36, D.-l, Seas. 1., 1879.