D.—No. 3.

No. 35. His Honor I. E. Featiiekstox to the Hon. W. Gisbobxe. Sin, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 27th January, 1871. In accordance with the terms of clause 41 of " The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870," I have the honor to request that arrangements may be immediately made for the establishment of a system of assisted immigration to this Province. By assisted immigration, I mean the introduction of persons from the United Kingdom or elsewhere, nominated either by their relatives resident in this Province, or by employers of labour who are willing to bear a portion of the cost of their migration. It is hardly necessary for mo to dwell upon the advantages of such a system of immigration,—it is sufficient to say that by it a guarantee is provided to the Government that the persons introduced are likely to prove good Colonists, while the Government is relieved of any responsibility either in the selection or in the settlement of the new comers on their arrival in New Zealand. I may also refer to the fact that for many years the Provincial Government of Wellington, under special arrangements with Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co., provided facilities for this class of immigrants at a minimum cost to the Province, and with the most satisfactory results. The practical experience thus gained leads me to suggest the following simple plan for the acceptance of the Government. By a communication addressed to the New Zealand Commissioners, while in England, by Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co., and which is a record in the Public Works Office, it appears that this firm is prepared to bring out immigrants to Xew Zealand at a cost of from £12 to £13 per statute adult. As this amount was based on the supposition of a large Colonial emigration from the United Kingdom, the cost of the limited number required under the present arrangement would probably be increased to £14, and, considering the creditable manner in which that firm has hitherto performed their engagements, I should recommend the acceptance of this higher rate if they demand it. Persons desirous of introducing immigrants, whether relatives or labourers, should, on application at the Immigration Office, be required to deposit a sum equal to one-half the passage money charged by the contractors, or say £7 for every statute adult; such deposit or payment to be the only charge upon the applicant or immigrant for the cost of his passage, the other moiety, or the balance of tiie passage money, whatever it might be, being defrayed by the Government. If however, by any accident or otherwise, the person nominated should not avail himself of the passage provided, the deposit of £7 should be returned to the depositor. On payment of the required deposit, the applicant should receive an order on the contractors for a free passage to Wellington from London, every possible information being afforded by the applicant as to the names, ages, sexes, and occupations of the intended immigrants, and of the time when they would probably be ready to sail from England; not, however, that the applicant should necessarily be restricted to the selection of the particular individuals named, but simply that the contractors should receive some information as to the demands likely to be made upon them for passenger accommodation. I cannot too strongly urge that the contribution required from the friends of intending immigrants should take the form of a final payment in advance, even although by a system of promissory notes the Government might hope to obtain a larger contribution to the cost of the passage. The experience of the Provincial Government has been that the latter system is troublesome and vicious in the extreme, and that practically a more satisfactory result is obtained, and at a less ultimate cost, by a small payment made in advance. Moreover, the deposit of a sum of money in advance is the best possible guarantee of the hondfides of the applicant, and of his ability to receive or employ the immigrant on arrival in the Colony. Should the Government decide to accept the offer of Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co., and agree to the suggestions I have made, I should be prepared at once to call for applications for assisted immigrants, and should be glad to confer with you with a view of arranging the details necessary for giving practical effect to my proposals. In conclusion, I may state my belief that a liberal system of assisted immigration, such as I have the honor to propose, will be very largely availed of by all classes of residents in this Province. I have, &c, The Hon. W. Gisborne. I. E. Featherston, Superintendent.

No. 3G. His Honor W. Fitzherbert to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sic,— Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 25th May, 1871. In compliance with the provisions of clause 39 of " The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1871," I have the honor to request that arrangements may be made for the introduction into this Province, during the next twelve months, of the immigrants enumerated in the Memorandum enclosed herewith. I have, &c, William Fitzhebbeut, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Superintendent. 6

WELLINGTON.