D.—No. 3

The Government having now provided for the enlistment of immigrants from England, Scotland, and the Cape, does not propose action in any other quarter, believing that the required number can easily be obtained through the efficient Agencies employed, without resorting to other countries which might enhance the cost with only doubtful advantage. Of course these arrangements will not interfere with any you may have made or may see fit to make for the same purpose in Great Britain or Ireland. I have, &e., William Fox. The Hon. Eeader Wood, Care of John Morrison, Esq., 3, Adelaide-place, King William-street, London. No. 9. THE HOX. Sin. WOOD TO THE HON. THE COLOBIAI SECRETARY. Westminster Palace Hotel, London, March 22nd, 1864 Sis, With reference to the Governor's instructions directing me to " organise a system of emigi-a- --'" tion to the Northern Island of the Colony, with a view to locating settlers under the ' New Zealand "Settlements Act,'lß6B," I have thought it better, pending the receipt of the Memorandum on Emigration referred to in your letter of January sth, 1864, to make as full enquiries as the lime at my disposal would enable me to do, in order that there should be as little delay as possible in commencing operations upon the receipi of jrour full instructions by the next mail. I have seen Mr. Murdoch, one of Her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners, to whom 1 was referred by Mr. Chichester Fortescue, and he was good enough to enter upon the subject with me in full. It seems that the Emigration Commissioners have a complete organization throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland; they have eighty-two local agents in different parts of , the kingdom for the purpose of making selections ; they have the most complete arrangements with reference to shipping; and a thoroughly organised system, under responsible medical officers, for en.-uring order, decency,and regularity during the voyage. I entered fully into the views of the New Zealand Government with Mr. Murdoch, as to the class of persons we required, informing him that a great political objeel was to be gained in the present state of the Colony by the introduction of immigrants, and that the failure or success of our policy depended greatly upon the manner in which the emigration was conducted. He said that the Commissioners were in no way ambitious of undertaking the selection; that, however, they would do so if we wished, and would carefully follow whatever instructions were, given as to the class and kind of persons to be sent out. He added, they had often been accused of carelessness in selecting, but that there was no foundation whatever in the complaint; that when employed as I was suggesting, they had no other interest than to serve the Colony employing them, and that I might rely upon their doing their best. With regard to the shipping, lie said he was satisfied that ii. could be done -more satisfactorily by the Commissioners than I>\ private linns. Ifind that the expense per head if the Commissioners were employed would be about £14. Private firm* might be found to undertake it for £12 10s. But it appears to me that the saving of 20s. or 30s. per head in the passage money is nothing in comparison with tiie advantages which would be gained by the maintenance of that discipli der on the passage which is secured under the bj "pted by, and by the powers given to, Her Majei ion Commissioners. I. informed Mr. Murdock that Ihe appointment of persons in New Zealand to be sent to England for the purpose of selecting had been mooted, and might possibly, to some extent at least, be carried out. and I asked whether, in his opinion, such appointments would be of advantage. He said ho thought they would not; that in all probability the New Zealand agents would do nothing but go to the Commissio 'its, who could act quite as well without them. Prom all that 1 have been able to gather up to this time, I think that the best way of conducting the emigration to New Zealand, at least of that class of persons whose passages will lie paid by the Colony, would be by the employment of Her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners, both for the purpose ad shipping. I think that in this way i1 could be managed both better and in the end as cheaply, that the comfort of the emigrants themselves would be more certainly secured, and that on arrival ii» the Colony they would be more likely to be satisfied and contented than by the adoption of any oth< r plan. I have, &c, Bjeadeb Wood. The Honorable Colonial Secretary. No. 10. Till) HON. Ml!. WOOD TO THE HON. THE COLONIAL SIJCRETAKY. Westminster Palace Hotel, London, May 19, 1864. Sib I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt on Ihe 18th instant of your despatches Nos. 330, 331, and 832, of dates the 7th and Bth March, on the subject of emigration, and enclosing a Memo-

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