IMMIGRATION.

Evening Star, Issue 3633, 14 October 1874, Page 3

IMMIGRATION.

We visited the Barracks a week ago, and found that there were then 107 immigrants remaining in Mr Hesketh’s charge. Among these there were 11 single men, 1 female servant, and 19 families. Of the families there were 2 without children, 4 with one child each, 3 with 2 children, 3 with 3, 1 with 4, 3 with 5, 2 with 6, and 1 with 7. Great difficulty is found in placing those with more than one or two children, and although the men are able to get work, house accommodation not being obtainable there is no alternative but to allow their families to remain in the barracks (charging them for rations) much longer than desirable. The Government should push on the erection of immigrants’ cottages without delay, or there will be a very awkward fix before long. Latterly some complaints having been made of the manner in which the immigrants have been treated, we have made inquiries but cannot find that there is any foundation for them j but we have been surprised to learn that all, or nearly all, the immigrants have funds of their own ample enough to enable them to provide themselves with even better fare than the liberal allowance of the Government scale, and we were told of one woman who had L2OO to her credit in the bank, and who, nevertheless (her husband, too, being in employment as a shearer), remained in the barracks for some time, at the country’s expense, this is too bad, but here again the fact that there is no house to be had is pleaded in excuse. Yesterday, however, the barrack-master informed us that he had cleared out most of the inmates, some of them contenting themselves with the temporary shelter of tents. There remained yesterday in barracks only seven families, numbering in all forty souls. If more immigrants are sent here, they should be single men or female domestic servants, who are in great demand.—N'. 0. Times.