8

D.—4a

been informed that their nominees must find their own way to No. 7, Westminster' Chambers, and provide themselves with interpreters if they are unable to speak the English language. As there has not been sufficient time for the Immigration Officers throughout the colony to communicate the decision of the Government to all persons who had applied for passages for their relations and friends, only a limited number of nominations can be sent by the present mail; but I have no doubt a larger number will come forward for the following mail. It is not intended, however, to exceed the vote taken for immigration purposes, and it is not probable that any number of passages will be required after the receipt of the applications which will reach you by the December mail. Although the local officers in the colony have been instructed to exercise the greatest care in accepting applications for passages, you are not bound in the slightest degree to provide a passage in any case where, in your judgment, you may not consider it desirable to do so either in the interests of intending immigrants or of their friends in the colony. It is desirable that the immigrants should arrive in the colony as soon as possible after you receive the nomination lists, and I shall be obliged by your immediately placing yourself in communication with the nominees, and, if possible, making arrangements for them to arrive before the coming harvest. I have, &c, Thomas Dick. The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. For the Minister of Immigration.

Enclosure 2 in No. 2. Sic,— Immigration Office, Wellington, 28th October, 1881. Eeferring to my letter of the , in reply to yours of the , applying for passages under the nominated regulations for the persons named in the margin, I have now the honour to inform you that the Government has decided upon instructing the Agent-General to provide passages for a small number of carefully-selected immigrants within the limit of the vote of last session for immigration. The order in which the applications for passages will be considered will be as follows: (1) Cases where wives and families are separated from their husbands and fathers ; (2) cases where blood-relations, such as brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, &c, wish to have passages provided; (3) cases where persons who have succeeded in the colony wish to have passages provided for their acquaintances who are specially qualified, in their opinion, for colonial life. In the case of your wife and family they will accordingly come within the first of the above classes, and I shall be obliged by your filling up the enclosed nomination-form and transmitting it to the Immigration Officer at , who has received special instructions as to dealing with the form. In transmitting the form to the Immigration Officer a short statement should accompany it, setting forth the present position of the nominator, and the probabilities of his being able to provide for his friends on their arrival. In all cases it must be distinctly understood that passages will only be granted on the AgentGeneral in London being satisfied that the persons are physically and in all other respects qualified for colonial life. Of course the regulation requiring payment of £5 for each statute male adult will have to be complied with before the nomination is sent to the Agent-General. I have, &c, H. J. H. Eliott, Under- Secretary.

No. 3. The Undee-Secbetaby, Immigration, to the Agent-Geneeal, Memorandum for the Agent-General. Immigration Office, Wellington, 20th February, 1883. The accompanying copies of correspondence which has taken place between Signor de Cesare and the Government relative to the proposed emigration of a party of Maltese to New Zealand is forwarded for the information of the Agent-General, who is requested, should application be made to him, to grant passages to the extent of, and within the terms of, Mr. Bollestoa's letter of the Bth February, 1883. H. J. H. Bliott, Under-Secretary.

Enclosure 1 in No. 3. The Hon. the Minister of Lands to M. S. de Cesaeb. Sic, — Crown Lands Office, Auckland, Bth February, 1883. In reference to what passed in conversation at the interview I had with you to-day on the subject of immigration from Malta to the Province of Auckland, I have now the honour to inform you that this Government is not prepared to assist any general scheme of immigration from Malta to New Zealand, as such a scheme would not come within the scope of the appropriation made by Parliament for the purpose of immigration. The Government will, however, be willing, in accordance with what I understood to be your proposal to-day, to give assistance towards the introduction of a limited number of Maltese into New Zealand on the following conditions : (1.) The number not to exceed, say, thirty. (2.) The immigrants to be carefully selected in accordance with the general conditions applying to Government