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How great a change this is when compared with the state of things which existed when I wrote my long despatch to you only eighteen months ago it is unnecessary to point out. Whether so sudden a development of steam can take place at a profit remains to be seen, but I may venture to say that I think it justifies the course which I have so steadily advised of preserving a healthy competition between the two companies and giving a monopoly to neither. I understand that it is the intention of both the companies to run their large steamers at a high speed, and to aim at a regular fortnightly service. The "Tongariro," indeed, has just made a splendid run of a little over forty days' steaming. This means, of course, a consumption of coal which it will take a large trade to pay for, and, moreover, while there was little difficulty in filling at short intervals sailing ships of from 1,000 to 2,000 tons, it will be a very different thing to fill steamers of 5,000 tons every fortnight. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Immigration, Wellington. F D. Bell.
No. 28. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister of Immigration Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 3rd January, 1884. The New Zealand Shipping Company suddenly advertised their steamer "Euapehu" to call in at Hobart. As she is to carry a number of immigrants, I required the company to give me an undertaking that, if any immigrant left the ship while in a Tasmanian port, the half passagemoney paid here should be returned. The Shaw-Savill-Albion Company immediately followed suit, and proposed to let their steamers call at Hobart, too. I imposed the like condition in their case, if their steamers should have immigrants on board. I shall be glad if you will let me know whether you would have any objection, subject to the condition in question, against steamers with Government immigrants calling at Hobart at all. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell rwrwi-iw 11 ■■ iufiw_-r_-,.f_ iii_iTr-r_ga_3M__n_-_____
No. 29 The Hon. the Minister of Immigration to the Agent-General. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, sth January, 1884. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth November (No. 318), transmitting the minute you had prepared for the consideration of the New Zealand Shipping Company and Shaw-Savill-Albion Company on the subject of temporary arrangements to be made for the conveyance of Government emigrants and freight during the period extending from the present time to the next session of Parliament, My letter of the 6th October will have placed you in possession of the views of the Government as to the course to be taken in giving effect to the resolution of the Joint Committee of both Houses of the Assembly I have little doubt that the difficulties which appear to beset the question will largely disappear in practical administration. I shall address you by the next mail as to the numbers that the funds at the disposal of the Government for emigration purposes will enable you to despatch in future. In the meantime it will be desirable to confine the assistance given to nominated immigrants only, and so to arrange the time of their arrival that the expenditure of those funds shall be distributed over the period of three years contemplated by Parliament more evenly than at present. At the same time it will, I think, be found that these numbers will not hereafter be greater than can be accommodated by the steamers. I have, &c, W Eolleston, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Minister of Immigration,
No. 30. The Hon. the Minister of Immigration to the Agent-General. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 2nd February, 1884. With reference to your letter of the 30th November (No. 348), which I received by the steamer " Aorangi," I now forward for your information copies of the under-mentioned correspondence with the New Zealand Shipping Company viz. (1.) Mr H. P Murray-Aynsley to Minister of Immigration, dated 18th January, enclosing two. (2.) Cable Messages from Chairman of New Zealand Shipping Company dated 9th and 12th January (3.) Minister of Immigration to Mr Murray-Aynsley, Ist February, 1884. W Eolleston, Minister of Immigration,
Enclosure in No. 30. H. P Murray-Aynsley, Esq., to the Minister of Immigration Sir, — N.Z Shipping Company (Limited) Wellington, 18th January, 1884. I have the honour to state, with reference 'to the interview you were good enough to grant to the directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited) to-day that we understood you to say that the Government had given no authority to the Agent-General to negotiate with the Shaw-Savill-Albion Company and the New Zealand Shipping Company for a joint alternate fort-