RAILWAY AND IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE.

Southland Times, Issue 1833, 19 December 1873, Page 2

RAILWAY AND IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE.

♦ A meeting cf the Railway and I;nm\gration Committee took place in !'..« Council Hail on Tuesday ni^ht. Sever?.] communications were read, amongst ■which were a telegram from Mr Vo^el, intiinatinq that he had handed over the control of immigration to Otngo to the Provincial G-overDment, and a latter from Mr Henri, protesting against the pupils of the Grammar School a10r.9 being allowed to travel free by railway, and expressing a wish that his pupils might be placed uion an equal footing with those attending the Grammar School. The following letters from the Chairman to His Honor the Superintendent and the lion. Mr Yogel were read : — Invercargill, Bth November, 1873. His Honor the Superintendent, Ot-i^o. Sir, — By resolution of the Railway and Immigration. Committee, passed at their meeting on the sth inst., 1 am requested to acknowledge and thank you Tor your courteous letters of the 20th aud 28th ult. I am at same time to state that notwithstanding the conduct of immigration since reunion may have been entirely under the control of the Coloriil 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 bo shown that its utmost esertions have h-iea 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 Briti-Oi agent of the Province, wherein you authorise him to pay, if necessary, an extra rate for the landing of immigrants at Bluff 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. I am further to urge the desirability of placing immigrants from the Dominion of Canada upon an equal footing with those from the United Kingdom. The Agent-General is now authorised to offer statute adults freo passages. Mr Al'LeoJ, who is about proceeding to Canada,, ehould also be empowered to make similar overtures, otherwise his mission cannot reasonably be expected to meet with much success. It may ba that this is a Colonial rather than a Provincial matter, but if so the necessary powers will, I have no doubt, be readily granted to Mr M'Leoi were your Go eminent to take tlie subject in hand, and strongly represent to the Colonial authorities the importance and necessity of his being empowered to offer free passages to these hardy and most desirable emigrants. I have, &c, John W. Mitchell; Invercargill, 15th November, 1873. The Hon. Julius Yogel, Wellington. Sir, — By resolution of the Railway and Immigration ConJknictee, I am requested to convey to you their thanks for the courteous and prompt attention shown to their communications generally, but particularly in the matter of immigrants for Southland. I am especially to thank you for having by telegram directed the Ag^emt-G-eneral in Britain to send a shipload of emigrants to Bluff Harbor direct. Tne Committee feel and acknowledge that direct immigration is the only effectual means of meeting the wants of this district. The long voyage from -home renders people impatient to get ashore, and disinclined to undertake another sea journey, however short. This is evidenced by the manner of execution of your recent order to the Dunedin authorities, that 100 immigrants ex first ship should be sent here — only 37 having been persuaded by the Provin ;ial Executive to venture on th« short coast d voyage to Bluff Harbor. I ara however requested to express a desi-e thit you will instruct the Dunedin Immigration Offices to send us say 50 ex every emigrant ship that comes 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 preaent praiseworthy exertions to introduce considerable numbers ot emigrants into the Colony to determine (by commission or otherwise) which portions thereof possess the greatest inducements to retain and permanently attach to tha soil the people so intraduced. The extensive tracts of level fertile land and vast forests of Southland, point out this district as one peculiarly adapted to the permanent and prosperous settle runt, of a large population, so that suitable people once introduced will be likely to remain in it. — I have the honor, &c , JoHtr W. MiTCHStc Chairman, Railway and Immigration Commit cc. Sub- committees were appointed to prepare reports on several subjects, and instructed to have the said reports ready for next meeting, which is to take placa on the sth January.