THE EVENING SITTING.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2117, 16 October 1875, Page 2

THE EVENING SITTING.

This day.

The Immigration Statement. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Atkinson made his immigration statement. The number of immigrants arrived in the colony to the present was 61,000; 19,700 were married, 13,900 single men; 9600 single women, and 17,000 children. To show that our immigrants did not leave us, but that the colony actually gained from other colonies, there was a balance of arrivals over departures last year of 2695. The nationalities were — English, 34,000; Irish, 11,900; Scotch, 9000; Foreigners from different countries, 5,400. The hon. gentleman quoted largely figures to show that the percentage of worthless immigrants, bad characters and lunatics was exceedingly small, and the House appeared to agree with his statements iv that respect. As a proof of the success of immigration he instanced that during the last three winters there was no cry "out that there was a want of work, and recently in Dunedin over six hundred new arrivals found work iv about a" month, though a meeting of so-called unemployed had been got up by the well- a known Grant and McLaren. The statement was received with general commendation as to the way immigration had been carried out. All the estimates in the Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Act were passed after a good deal of discussion, Mr O'Connor taking most rigorous exception to the amount for the Mikonui waterrace as money wasted. The House adjourned at 4.35.