IMMIGRATION.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 372, 17 May 1861, Page 2

IMMIGRATION.

We copy thft following 'Report of the Commissioners of Immigration of the Province of Nelson' from a Gazette dated May Bth•:— , :.. ' , In the Report laid before the Council by the Commissioners list year, it was stated that, authority had been forwarded to Mr. Tytler to advertise for and accept tenders for the conveyance of immigrants to this Province, that authority was carried out by Mr. Ty tier in a satisfactory manner, the tendar of Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co. ; was accepted at per adult, and the ships Bride and Wild Duck brought out immigrants under that contract. Shortly after this arrangement was concluded, the Commissioners weie informed of the appointment of Mr. John Morrison as General Agent for N»w Zealand, and an offer was made by that gentleman to conduct the .Nominated Emigration to Nelson for 5 per cent, on the passage money, and Mr. Tytler having recommended the acceptance of Mr. Morrison's services, Messrs. Shaw, Saville,-and Go. were served with a notice, which terminated their contract on the 26th December last, and the following arrangement was ♦otered into with Mr. Morrison, viz*:—1. That on receipt of schedules the agent to give notice to the persons nominated therein of their having been sent for, ascertain when they will be ready to sail, and advise and assist them generally. ■.'.'■: '"■•,',■ 2. That when a sufficient number are ready to embark, the agent to obtain tenders for their conveyance to Nelson from the Shipping Firms in the New Zealand trade, or by public notices posted at Lloyds and the Jerusalem, and when received the acceptance to'be subject to the approval jf Mr. Tytler. •• ■: ' ""' '"' "' •;: ■■'■■;' 3. It will be the duty of the agent to inspect all ships leaving with emigrants, and to see that the contract is properly carried out in every particular. 4. In the event of the ship not sailing on the day appointed the agent to see that the intending

emigrants are provided with suitable accommodation, and the proper allowance made to them. 5. Schedules of persons embarked must be forwarded in duplicate to the Immigration Secretary, Nelson, one copy being sent in .the vessel itself. 6. Copies of schedules transmitted from Nelspn must be retransmitted with a statement opposite the names of each person sent for, as to whether they have sailed or not, and if not the reason to be stated, and as often as an opportunity offers the agent will advise the Commissioners beforehand of the number and names of the persons about to proceed in any ...vessel, and the probable date of sailing. * ■:■.

7. When necessary proper bonds for securing the repayment of the passage money to the Commissioners or" any person whose passage lias not been guaranteed in"the colony, to be taken by the agent, and forwarded to Nelson in duplicate. 8. Certified lists of the npines and ages of persons actually embarked with the amount of passage money payable on account of same to be forwarded to Mr. Tytler and the Immigration Secretary, Nelson.

Lastly. Every precaution is to be taken by the agent to secure the comfort and well-being of the emigrants. During the past year applications have been for--warded for 136 persons, which added to the 109 ssnt for previous, to that date make a total of 305 souls; out of that number 97 had arrived per ships AnneLongton, Bride and Wild Duck, reducing the number to 208 souls, equal to about 186 adults, the cost of whose passage, at the present rate charged in England, would amount to £3*441, as shown in the statement of liabilities. The aboveestimate of the cost of passage money is made at £18 10s. per-adult; this is considered high, but by the last mail a letter was received by the Commissioners from Mr. Tyler, informing them of a general rise in freights of from 20 to 25 per cent.* and that passages could not be obtained for less thaii the amount stated.

On reference to the printed returns it will be seen that the total passage money repaid during the year amounted to £742, 14s. 9d., and that the balance in. hand is £2971 7s. 3d., the Commissioners will therefore, with the instalments coming due,'have sufficient'funds at their disposal to- enable.them to carry on the immigration requisite for the Province, without the assistance of vote from Provincial Funds.

J. P. Robinson, Superintendent.

The s. s. Storm Bird arrived at Wellington about half past 7 o'clock, on the night of May 3. bringing English News to the 26th Februaiy. The.- mail steamer-arrived at Nelson .about noon April 24 and was to leave Nelson on the 26th at II o'clock. After waiting 24 hours, the English mail was refused; <3apt. Malcolm: the Storm Bird left as soon as the Picton portion of it was ready. Mad the Wellington portion been put on board the Storm Bird on its arrival at Nelson, we might have had it here on Thursday evening. Through the courtesy of Capt. Malcolm and the Editor of the Nelson Colonist, we are enabled to give the following resume of English news, in anticipation of the mail— Spectator, April 27.