IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND.

Evening Star, Issue 3471, 8 April 1874, Page 3

IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND.

(From the ‘ European Mail.’) It is clear that New Zealand means to be a great country. Ihe ships which have already sailed for the several Provincial ports during the last five weeks are the William Davie, for Otago, with 294 souls City of Glasgow (from Glasgow) for Canterbury, 250; Dorethe, Auckland, 315; Wennington, for Wellington. 291; Apelles, for Canterbury, 301; Golden Bea, for Wellington, 367 ; Asia, for Otago (from London and Queenstown), 320; Veruna, for Canterbury (from Glasgow),- about 300 ; Schiehallion, for Hawkes Bay, about <2OO ; and the screw steamer Atrato, with over 700* Eighteen other emigrant ships are laid on to follow during this and the next month. The Atrato was ready to start on February 5, the day fixed, but a dense fog prevailing on the 6th and the 6th, she was unable to quit the docks until February 7, when this noble steamship steamed down the river, adjusted her compasses at Greenhithe, and finally set sail for IN ew Zealand on February 10. Great interest is attached to this majestic ship, as she carries nearly 1,000 souls all told,, and is expected to make a short run. This vessel will offer shippers an opportunity of sending back a cargo of wool, and, I am told, it is not unlikely - If sufficient inducement offers at Canterbury—that she may be “laid on ” as a regular trader to that port. 'jhe Ballochmyle is another fine ship also for Canterbury, and she will leave Plymouth about February 28. A select and large body of Oxfordshire farm laborers, about 200 in number, with their wives and children, have been procured for this ship, which, with other emigrants, will make up her complement to almost 400. This vessel is quite new, and is chartered by the .New Zealand Shipping Company. 'Mr Leggett, the secretary of the National and Oxford Laborers’ Union, goes out in charge of the 200 emigrants. : He is assisted by the AgentGeneral, and intends to settle in Canterbury. A few days ago a large meeting of laborers took place at Islip, which was addressed by Mr C. R. Carter, Mr Heid, and Mr Leggett. The result was that a large number o£ applications were made by the farm laborers present for passages especially to go out in the same ship as Mr Leggett. Since then lam informed that the large agricultural village of Islip, mostly inhabited by farm laborers, has had its population still further thinned by others of the rural class who have decided to go out in the Ballochmyle. Never before have our Colonies had such a pick of agricultural laborers. No doubt good prospects await them, for it would be unwise to send for them if the New Zealand authorities were not assured that they had the. means of well and fully employing this large accession of labor.