EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE AGENT-GENERAL).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1879 Session II, D-02

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Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE AGENT-GENERAL).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives, ivith the leave of the House.

The Hon. the Peemier to the Agent-Geneeal. (Im. 79-833.) Wellington, 9th August, 1878. Send one thousand additional immigrants, chiefly Canterbury. Bails mentioned memorandum thirty. Tender Macpherson Company, Invercargill, accepted —six thousand four hundred and sixty-four pounds. Agent, Edw 7ard Buchanan, of Leith. Vogel, London. Geet.

The Hon. the Pbemieb to the Agent-General. (Im. 79-833.) Wellington, 15th August, 1878. Send three hundred emigrants Timaru direct. Vogel, Loudon. Geet.

The Hon. E. Stout to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 145.) Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, New Zealand, 16th August, 1878. On the 15th instant the Hon. the Premier despatched the following telegraphic message to you :—" Vogel, London. —Send three hundred immigrants Timaru direct.—Gret." —And I have tho honor to request you will be good enough to comply with the instruction therein contained. I have, &c, • The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Eobert Stout.

The Hon. the Pbemieb to Sir M. Hicks Beach, Bart., Colonial Office, London. (Telegram.) AVellington, 15th February, 1879. New Zealaud Government regrets greatly distress in mother-country. It respectfully informs Imperial Government that six thousand able-bodied emigrants could at once find permanent and profitable employment in New Zealand, in addition to large numbers whose passages are beiug paid by colony. Agent-General directed to place services at disposal Imperial Government should it desire to forward unemployed and families to colony. He will indicate classes labourers in demand, who may, by industry and perseverance, become their own employers. Sir M. Hicks Beach, Loudon. Geet.

The Hon. the Pbemieb to the Agent-Geneeal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 15th February, 1879. Impeeial Government informed, should they desire send unemployed to New Zealand, we can absorb six thousand able-bodied adults: that you will indicate classes labour in demand, and give services in matter. Agricultural labourers, miners, tradesmen, domestic servants mucli needed. Will telegraph distribution when numbers known. The Agent-General, London. Geet.

The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-Geneeal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 28th February, 1879. Immigrants.—Supposing Colonial Office decline recent offer, increase by 2,000 the number ordered for the year. Lyttelton and Port Chalmers, 575 each; Wellington, 550; Auckland, 100; Napier, 200 —provided passage-money there reasonable ; otherwise ship Napier's number to Wellington. The Agent-General, London. Grey, I—D. 2.

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The Hon. J. Ballatcce to the Agent-Genebal. (Im. 79-32.—N0. 59.) Sib,— New Zealand, Wellington, Ist March, 1879. I have the honor to transmit the following copy of a telegram which was despatched to you yesterday, and I shall be obliged by your at once arranging for despatch of this additional increase of immigrants: —" Vogel, London.—lmmigrants—Supposing Colonial Office decline recent offer, adhere increase by 2,000 the number ordered for the year. Lyttelton and Port Chalmers, 575 each ; Weilington, 550 ; Auckland, 100; Napier, 200—provided passage-money there reasonable; otherwise, ship Napier's number to Wellington. —Geet." I have, &c, J. Ballance, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. (for Minister for Immigration.)

The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Pbemieb. London, 4th April, 1879. Colonial Office decline to assist emigrants, but refers your telegram to Boards of Guardians. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Vogel.

The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigration. (Telegram.) London, 4th April, 1879. Peemieb's telegram of 28th February, ordering more emigrants, implies order for this year's immigrants has been sent. Have not received it. Is it coming, or can I infer it from other sources. Minister for Immigration. Vogel.

The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 7th April, 1879. Eeferring to the Hon. the Bremier's telegram of the 15th February, in which I am informed that the Imperial Government have received from the New Zealarrd Government a communication relating to the emigration to New Zealand of a number of the unemployed in this country ; and also to his telegram of 2nd March, in which I am directed, in case ihe Colonial Office decline the offer made to the Imperial Government, that lam to increase tire number of emigrants for the year by two thousand, I have the honor to transmit copy of a letter which, afrer waiting for some communication from the Imperial Government, I addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and his reply thereto. Tou will perceive by this correspondence that the Imperial Government are not disposed to give any assistance towards the passages of emigrants to any of the colonies; and that, as regards the cablegram they had received from New Zealand, they had communicated to the Local Government Board (who, in their turn, communicated to the Boards of Guardians) the fact that New Zealand was prepared to absorb six thousand able-bodied men. The result of this action on the part of the Imperial Government is evidenced by the newspaper extracts which I herewith transmit, and by the fact that a number of applications for passages to New Zealand are coming in from unemployed persons recommended to make such application by the Boards of Guardians, to whom they applied for relief. I need scarcely remark that these people are not, with possibly a very few exceptions, the description which I understand the New Zealand Government wish to have sent out, even though a part of their passages may be paid out of the poor rates of this country. I shall be able to send out the number which the Government may instruct me to despatch during this year without in the least requiring any assistance from the Boards of Guardians to obtain them. In no previous year has there been so large a number of applications from all classes of people as are pouring in at this present time. Upwards of five hundred letters are received every day at this office, the principal portion of which are from persons applying for free or assisted passages, or for information respecting the colony. Although a large number of these are from persons who do not appear suitable, yet I have no doubt that from amongst them can be selected all that you may order to be sent out. Your timely concurrence iv the proposal made in my monthly report, dated Ist November, has proved of much advantage, and I have already a number of intending emigrants approved for the first ships of the ensuing emigration season. The instructions corrtained in the Hon. the Premier's telegram of 2nd March were not clear to me, as, in directing me to " increase the number of immigrants for the year by two thousand," it seemed to imply that I had already received definite instructions as to the main number of emigrants which the Government intended should be sent out during the present year. Not having received any such instructions, I thought it right to send a cablegram (copy attached) to yourself respecting the matter. I also despatched a cablegram (copy attached) informing you that the Home Government refused to aid emigration. I have, Ac, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Agent-General.

The Agent-Geneeal to the Right Hon. the Secbetaey of State for the Colonies. Sib, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 20th March, 1879. I have the honor to forward to you the copy of a cablegram received from the Premier of New Zealand. Had it not been for illness from which I have lately suffered, I should have asked you to grant me an interview, in order that I might be able personally to advocate the wishes of my Government.

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I perceive from the cablegram that you have also one to the same effect. If Her Majesty's Government are prepared to relieve the unfortunate distress which prevails throughout this country by assisting some of the unemployed to emigrate, I shall be happy to place my services at your disposal for selecting such of the number as you propose to send to New Zealand. You are doubtless aware that for some years past the New Zealand Government have assisted annually a large number of persons to emigrate to the colony. I have no difficulty in obtaining as many emigrants as tho means at my command enable me to send, in fact, the number of applications is many times in excess of that which I can entertain. It is unhappily the case that there prevails throughout the country a frightful amount of distress, owing to there not being sufficient employment offered to the working-classes. This is constantly under my notice through the communications I receive from different parts of the country. The Government of New Zealand are evidently under the impression that Her Majesty's Government must be aware of this unfortunate condition of affairs, and that they would be willing to remedy it by lessening the number of the unemployed by finding passages for them to a colony where their labour will be in request and well remunerated. The demand to which I have already referred for passages to New Zealand is so large that it must be well worth the while of Her Majesty's Government to co-operate with the Government of the colony to find the means to remove persons who are starving here for want of employment, to a country where their future will be secure. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, Agent-General for New Zealand. The Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Mr. E. Wingfield to the Agent-General. Sib, — Downing Street (no date). I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant, transmitting the copy of a telegram received by you from the Premier of New Zealand, stating the ability of that colony to absorb 6,000 able-bodied adults from the unemployed working-classes. Orr the receipt of a similar telegram from Sir George Grey, the suggestion of the New Zealand Government was communicated by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to the Local Government Board, for the information of the Boards of Guardians, who have the power of promoting the emigration of poor persons at the cost of the rates at their disposal. The Secretary of State does not, however, anticipate that any considerable number of desirablo emigrants would be likely to be sent out in this manner, and, as at present advised, Her Majesty's Goverirment do not propose to take any special measures for promoting emigration to the colonies. I have, &c, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G. Edwabd Wingfield.

Exteact from the Manchester Evening Neivs, 27th March, 1579. " TnE Clerk (Mr. Macdouald) said Mr. Basil Caire, Local Government Board Inspector, had informed him that he had received a copy of a depatch addressed to the Colonial Office by the Government of New Zealand, to the effect that 0,000 men were required in the colony, arrd that their passage out would be paid by the Colonial Government. The Chairman thought the information should be widely circulated, and the Clerk was instructed accordingly."

Extract from the Liverpool Mercury. Bad Times. —The Liverpool Mercury says, —"Owing to the 'bad times,' the usual May-day dinner will not be giveir to the Corporation carters this year. At the Health Committee on Thursday a proposal to distribute £100 among tho men was rejected by six votes to four. Another sign of ' bad times' is a statement made at the meeting of the Liverpool Workhouse Committee on Thursday, that the number of wants relieved last week was believed to be the highest on record. It was reported at the meeting of the Manchester Board of Guardians on Thursday that 3,932 persons had received outdoor, and 3,941 indoor, relief during last week. The Clerk said the Local Government Inspector had informed him that 6,000 men were required in New Zealand, aud that their passages w7ould be paid by the Colonial Government.

Exteact from the Manchester Evening News, 27th March, 1879. Manchester Board of Guardians. The weekly meeting of this Board was held this morning at the Workhouse, New Bridge Street, Mr. H. J. Leppoc presiding. The following are the relief returns for the week ending Saturday last: —Outdoor, 1,159 cases, 3,932 persons, aud £312 7s. sd. irr cost; being a decrease on the previous week of 73 cases, 208 persons, and £31 9s. 9d. in cost, and an increase on the corresponding week of last year of 625 cases, 2,390 persons, and £203 4s. Id. in cost. —Indoor —Workhouse Hospital, 1,091; Crumpsall Workhouse, 2,193; Swinton Schools, exclusive of 138 belonging to other townships, 709: total, 3,941 ; last week, 3,930 ; corresponding week last year, 3,591. —Vagrants, 261 ; last week, 211; corresponding week last year, 228.—Fever patients, 1 ; last week, 2 ; corresponding week last year, 7. The Clerk (Mr. Macdouald) said Mr. Basil Cane, Local Government Board Inspector, had informed him that he had received a copy of a despatch addressed to the Colonial Office by the Government of New Zealand, to the effect that 6,000 men were required in the colony, and their passage out would be paid by the Colonial Government. The Chairman thought the information should be widely circulated, and the Clerk was instructed accordingly.

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The Hon. the Pbemieb to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) AVellington, Bth April, 1879. Telegbam twenty-eighth February cancelled. Ship one thousand immigrants ; arrive winter months. Proportion according cancelled telegram. Geet. Vogel, London.

The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigeation. (Im. 79-583.— Via San Francisco, No. 309.) 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., Sib,— 18th April, 1879. Eeferring to the exact copy herewith from the Hon. the Premier's telegram of tho Bth instant (received ou the same day), instructing me to send out one thousand emigrants, to arrive during the winter months, I have the honor to inform you that I at once took steps for carrying the same into effect. I had already arranged to despatch the ship " Napier" with about 220 statute adults to Otago ; and also the ship " Orari," to Lyttelton, with about 240 statute adults, being about 140 for Canterbury, aud 100 for Wellington and other ports. With respect to Wellington and Auckland, the telegram (copy attached) of the 2Sth February, as it came to hand, ordered 100 emigrants to be sent to AVellington, and 550 to Auckland, and, in accordance therewith, and with the teiegram of the Bth instant, I at once gave notice to the Shipping Company that I should require a ship to convey 270 emigrants to Auckland, fixing 28th May as the day of embarkation. Notices were also sent to a large number of persons nominated for Auckland that they could go by a ship sailing on that date, and a number of applicants for passages to Aucklaad, both nominated and otherwise, whose applications were complete, were informed that they could avail themselves of the same opportunity. As regards the number (50) which the telegram indicated as required for AVellington, the number to be sent by the " Orari" would, I presumed, be sufficient; but, in giving notice to the Shipping Company of my requiring a ship to carry about 150 statute adults (the least number for which I can require a ship) to Hawke's Bay, I mentioned that, should the vessel conveying them proceed ou to AVellington, probably a few emigrants for AVellington would be also sent by it. By the letter now received by the incoming San Francisco mail, and which contains copy of the telegram of 28th February, I find that the telegram as it came to hand was incorrectly given, and that, iirstead of 100 for AVellington and 550 for Auckland, the number should have been reversed. Under these circumstances, as I had taken steps which would render it very difficult to take off the ship which I had engaged for Auckland, I decided to diminish, as far as possible, the number to be sent by her, which probably will not exceed 150, unless an unusually large number of nominated persons respond to the notices which have been sent to them. I have now given notice to the Shipping Company that I shall require a ship to take about 250 statute adults to Wellington, and also have asked them whether they will lay on a ship direct for Hawke's Bay on the ordinary contract terms ; but, if I am unable to make any satisfactory arrangement in the latter case, I will, as you direct, send the Hawke's Bay emigrants via AVellington. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. 19th April, 1879. Immigeation.—Wire number required this year exclusive thousand already ordered. AVhat vocations besides agricultural labourers and female servants. Premier, New Zealand. Vogel, London.

The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (Via San Francisco, No. 315.) 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., Sib,— 22nd April, 1879. I have the honor to transmit copy of a telegram which I forwarded on the 19th instant to the Hon. the Premier. The applications which were coming in from all parts of the United Kingdom were increasing to so large a number (as many as from 900 to 1,000 communications being received in one day) that 1 felt that 1 should be placed in a position of some difficulty in dealing with them, did I not ascertain from the Government what number of emigrants they wished me to send out for this year. A large number of applications have come in from others besides farm labourers and domestic servairts, arrd tlrese, I not being able to absolutely decline, I have asked to renew their inquiries, and during next month, as the usual season for despatching emigrant ships to New Zealand will be drawing near, a number of these applicants will irr all probability again apply. The vocations to which I allude are carpenters, bricklayers, blacksmiths, shoemakers, tailors, &c. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (Via San Francisco, No. 321.) Sib— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 23rd April, 1879. Since writing my letter of the 22ud instant, relating to tho number and vocations of emigrants required for this year, I have received the Hon. the Premier's telegram of the 22nd instant, which, with reference to immigration, instructs me to " arrange for, during year, 2,000 additional." I understand this to be a reply to my telegram of the 19th instant, a copy of which is attached to my letter of the 22nd.

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In consequence of the very extraordinary number of applications which have already come in, I have already a sufficient number of suitable persons approved for passages to meet at least two-thirds of the total number thus required, and I must therefore take steps to stop the flow of applications so far as I possibly can. I had already, prior to the receipt of the telegram of yesterday's date, given directions to withdraw all the advertisements (except those in a few of the metropolitan papers for domestic servants), and I must now issue an advertisement giving notice that, in consequence of the enormous number of applications for free passages to New Zealand, for the present, further applications are not invited. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (Via San Francisco, No. 653.) Sib, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., Bth August, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd June, No. 132, in reply to my communications of Ist and 7th April relating to emigration matters. I have to thank you for the permission given to me to engage the services of a shorthand reporter, and I will advise you of the terms of the engagement as soon as I obtain the services of a suitable writer. I have, &c, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

Authority: George Didsbuby, Government Printer, "Wellington.—lB79.

Price, 6d.]

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