SOUTHLAND & IMMIGRATION.

Evening Star, Issue 3385, 26 December 1873, Page 2

SOUTHLAND & IMMIGRATION.

The Hailway Committee have communicated with the Premier and Superintendent on the above subject. The letter to his Honor reads : “ I may state that notwithstanding the conduct of immigration since reunion may have been entirely under the control of the Colonial Government, yet the Provincial Government is not thereby relieved from its responsibilities in seeing to the carrying out. in its integrity, of the compact in question, unless it can be shown that its utmost exertions have been made without result, in the endeavor to cause the General Government to respect the same, i have also especially to thank you for your letter to Mr Auld, the British Agent of the Province, wherein you authorise him to pay, if necessary, an extra rate for the landing of immigrants at Blulf Harbor. This, at a time when the Province is resuming its wonted energy in the matter of immigration, is viewed by us as an earnest that the special claims of this district will receive equitable consideration, lam further to urge the desirability of placing immigrants In an the Dominion of Canada upon an apial footing with those from the United Kingdom. The Agent-General is now authorised to offer statute adults fro ■ pa sages. Mi M‘ eod, who is anout proceeding to Canada, should also be empowered to qiake similar overtures, otherwise his mission cannot reasonably be expected to meet with much success. It may be that this is a Colonial r.-thcr than a Provincial matter, but if so the necessary powers will, 1 have no doubt, be readily granted to Mr M‘Leod, were your (Government to take the subject in iiaud, and strongly r< present to the Colonial in horities the impo tauce and necessity of ms being empowered to offer free passages to the so hardy and most desirable emigrants,” The following is the letter to the Premier

“ By resolution of tbe Bailway and Immi* < onimitee, 1 am requested to convey to you their thanks tor the courteou* and prompt attenti n shown to their communications generally, but particularly to the matter of immigrants for Southland. 1 am especially to thank you for having by teleirram directed the Agent-General in Britain to send a shipload of emigrants to Bluff Harbor direct. The Committee feci and acknowledge that direct immigration is the only effectual means of meeting the wants of this district. The long voyage from Home renders people inpatient to get ashore, and disinclined to undertake another sea jourm y, however short. 1 Ins is evidenced by toe in nmr ofexccidion of your rec- nc order to th • Dunedin authorities* that 100 immigrants cx first shin should be sent here—only 37 having been persuaded by the Provincial Executive to venture on the short coastal voyage to Bluff Harbor. lam however requested to express a desire that you will instruct the Dunedin Immigration Oflices to send us say 50 ex every emigrant ship that conics to Port Chalmers, until the cablegram referred to bears practical results. “I am further to state that it is felt that the Colonial Government will do well in their present praiseworthy exertions to introduce considerable numbers of emigrants into the Coiony, to determine (by commission or otherwise) which portions thereof possess the greatest inducements to retain and permanently attach to the soil the people so introduced. The extensive tracts of level fertile land and vast forests of Southland, point out this district as one peculiarly adapted to thfc permanent and prosperous settlement of a large population, so that suitable people oi ci introduced will be likely to remain