IMMIGRATION TO SOUTHLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 3758, 10 March 1875, Page 2

IMMIGRATION TO SOUTHLAND.

t The claims of Southland for direct immigration, so persistently urged by the Immigration Committee of that district, have received recogmtion at the hands of the General Government. Writing under date February 25, Mr Undersecretary Haughton writes:-‘I sin instructed to inform you that one of the objects of Mr Vogels visit to England was to settle definitely the several matters in which the instructidhfc of the Government have not been carried out with regard to tlm conduct of immigration. Major Atkinson desires me to say that he should under other circumstances have felt it his duty some months ago to take such steps as would .-have ensured the orders of the Government, s6 frequently reiterated, being given effect to. With, regard te the fact mentioned by you, that s hips whose ultimate destination has been the Bluff have been chartered by tho‘Agent-Gcneriilfor conveyance of emigrants to other places': %is did not escape the notice of the department, : and a letter was addressed to jtlie AgentGeneral upon the subject by the January nihi] in which great disappointment was expressed by the Minister that these vessels had not-been made available for. emigrants to -the Bluff. Finally, upon of your, letter under consideration, and of oqe from his .Honor the Superintendent to ‘the same 'effect, a further communication was addressed to the Agent-General in which . positive instructions are. given that in any future contract he may make for the conveyance of emigrants to Otago he is to insist-upon the‘ arrangement that one out of every three ships so chartered shall: disembark her emigrants at the Bluff. It ip only fair to the, Provincial Government to say that they’have repeatedly brought this matter under the consideration of the General . Government, and .that they might have fairly supposed that the distinct orders given, to the Agent-General would have been carried out.” The letter df the Minister of Immigration to the Agent-General is dated February 15, and reads thus “ Lobserve by the public ..Press:that.great and increased dissatisfaction existsjn the southern districts of Otago at the small number of immigrants which have been dispatched'direct to the Bluff, whilst several ships have recently arrived there with .■cargo, having disembarked immigrants at other porta. I think these complaints are very reasonable, and* you will pleftse to consider it a positive instruction that m hny contract you make for the conveyance of emigrants to Ot«go, jiou will insist-upon the arrangement that one out of, every three ships so chartered shall' disembark her emigrants' at