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No. 15. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, Ist October, 1879. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of September : — I have arranged to withdraw the special ship advertised to sail for Auckland in November, the persons who have already taken passages in her being provided for in an ordinary passengership sailing about the same time. A good proportion of nominated persons are still applying for passages, and, except in a few cases, they do not raise any serious objection to the payment of £5 per male adult, which I have required to be made in all cases where forms were issued on or after the Ist September. As your instructions, received by letter by last mail via San Francisco, do not contain any direction to add to the number of emigrants already ordered for this year, I shall continue, with few exceptions, to entertain applications for passages from those only who are nominated. At the present rate there are a sufficient number of this class of emigrants coming forward to fill about three ships a month. Mr. Clayden and Mr. Berry have continued their lectures during the past month. The latter-named gentleman terminated his engagement on 30th September, and proceeds, I believe, to New Zealand some time during this month. I consider that Mr. Berry has rendered very good service to the colony, and have pleasure in recording this opinion. Mr. J. Bathgate has proceeded to Scotland, and is engaged in promoting emigration of suitable persons to the colony. I have arranged to give passages to and from New Zealand to Mr. Grant, Mr. Grant, jun., and Mr. Foster, the representatives of a large number of farmers, principally of Lincolnshire, who intend to proceed to New Zealand in case Messrs. Grant and Foster's report is favourable. Messrs. Grant and Foster proceed in the steamer " Norfolk," which will be despatched from London on the 18th instant. The number of inquiries at this office for information from farmers and others contemplating emigration to New Zealand are still numerous, and large numbers of persons paying the cost of their own passages are proceeding to the colony. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. A gent-General.

No. 16. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sißj— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 3rd October, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 170, of the 16th August, transmitting further lists of nominations. Referring to your directions that I am to exercise as much discretion as possible as regards enforcing the payment of the £5 for male adults in the case of persons nominated prior to the decision of the Government communicated in your letter No. 165, of 14th August,* I have already informed you in my monthly report for August that I commenced on the Ist September to issue forms of application for passages to nominated persons on the condition that male adults were to pay £5 towards the cost of their passage. A few of the applicants have made representations that they did not expect to have to pay this, and in such cases I have decided to take promissory notes for the payment. I do not think it necessary to make any other exception, and shall therefore, in accordance with your direction to make the actual number of free passages to be granted as low as possible, continue to require, as regards all applicants to whom forms have been issued on or after Ist September, the payment of £o per male adult irrespective of the date at which the nomination may have been made. I have, &c., Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 17. The Agent-Gbneral to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir,— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 3rd October, 1879. I am informed by Mr. Arthur Clayden that a Mr. John Press is organizing a party of from thirty to fifty persons to go to New Zealand by the ship " Maraval," which sails shortly for Wellington. Mr. Press is anxious to obtain for his family and friends the temporary use of the immigration depots at Wellington and Auckland, some of his party proposing to remain at Wellington, and some to go on to Auckland.

* D.-l, Sees. 11., 1879.