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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4147, 6 July 1874, Page 2

Among the returns already presented to both Houses of the Assembly there is one of an elaborate character relating to immigration during the period commencing in July, 1873, and ending 31st May, 1574. The return shows the number of immigrants, assisted and nominated, the charterers, rate of passage, amount paid by assisted immigrants prior to leaving England, the amount of notes given by the same, and the amounts paid in cash or bills towards passages of nominated immigrants. The particulars are too many and minute for us to quote at length, and an intelligible summary cannot easily be framed. We subjoin, however, some of the salient figures, such as those relating to the distribution of the immigrants over the different Provinces and the countries from which they have come. The distribution of the immigrants has been : Since July 1, Total 1873. to date. Auckland ... 1,731 souls. ... 2,773 souls. Taranald ... 27 „ ... 42 „ Hawke'aßay... 1,063 „ ... 1,870 „ Wellington ... 2,889 „ ... 4,107 „ Marlborough... 57 „ ... 198 „ Nelson ... 35 „ ... 44 „ Westland ... 72 „ ... 90 „ Canterbury ... 3,771 „ ... 5,654 „ Otago ... 5,457 „ ... 7,527 „ Total ... 15,102 „ ... 22,005 „ The nationalities of the above are— English ... 9,167 souls. ... 13,445 souls. Irish ... 2,502 „ ... 3,603 „ Scotch ... 2,257 „ ... 2,942 „ French ... 178 „ ... 178 „ Germans ... 221 „ ... 592 „ Danes ... 473 „ ... 878 „ Swedes ... 212 „ ... 223 „ Norwegians ... 18 „ ... 559 „ Othew ... 74 „ ... 105 „ 15,102 „ ... 22,605 „

Considerable agitation seema to have been excited at the several mining centres 'in the Grey Valley, by the proposition or resolution on the part of the Nelson Executive to carry out certain reductions by the abolition of the local wardenship and other offices. Meetings were held, interviews appointed, and a series of committees formed, for the purpose of having the action of the Executive rescinded, or their intentions modified. By a telegram from a member of what is called the Central Committee, which was formed at Ahaura, we are informed that the " changes by the Executive in the Grey Valley will be numerous. The Clerk to the Court has had notice, and a constable is to do his work." It is added by our correspondent be removed, the sittings of the District Court here will have to be abolished. These changes were not mooted in the Provincial Council, and our representatives have protested. £I4OO was received here last Eriday"—our informant, we piecume, referring to the amount of revenue received in the district. It is not improbable that some of the questions raised by the contemplated reduction of which the residents complain may be brought before the General Assembly. There are several, involved in the connection between the duties of Warden and Besident Magistrate, in the method in which the salaries of such officers are fixed and paid, and in one matter referred to, of a Provincial officer discharging duties associated with the work of the District Court.

A Bill/ has been introduced in the House of Commons, under the auspices of the Government, which abolishes all exceptions, and fixes the hour for closing of licensed houses in London at half-past twelve o'clock—half-an-hour after midnight; half-past eleven p.m., for towns which have over ten thousand of population ; and eleven o'clock p.m. for the rest of the country. Publicans may take out licenses to enable them to close an hour earlier, and receive a J. roportionate reduction in the amount of their license fee.

It would appeal-, from a paper on " Out-door Belief," lately read before the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, in London, that the condition of the poor is becoming a very serious problem at home. There are now, it would seem, not fewer than from eight hundred thousand to a million persons in England who aro receiving relief from the Unions, and of these one-fifth are indoor paupers. The latter cost the country a million and-a-half sterling per annum, and the former about three millions and a hult It was argued by the lecturer that the existing system had done much to demoralise the people, "pauperising the recipients of relief, and training them to become the fathers and mothers of another pauper generation."

Fuoii a return now before ns we see that in the quarter ending 31st March, last, twentyfive vessels wore despatched from England by the Agent-General for New Zealand. These ships had on board passengers numbering 9298. Of these 73674 were British, and 191 i foreigners. There were 2101 single men, 971 single females, and 326'J adults named in the Colony. Of the 9298," the largest share was for Canterbury, the contingent for that Province numbering 3288. Otago followed with 2738 ; Wellington next, with 1469 ; then Auckland, with 1301 ; and last, Hawke's Bay, with 502. A companion return shows that from the 30th of August of last year, to the 31st of March last passed, the emigrants comprised 9313 persona of English birth; 1783 Scottish, 2567 Irish, 06 Welsh, 269 Germans, 137 Danes, 3 Swedes, 18 Norwegians, and 502 natives of other countries.