D.—No 3.

No. 49. His Honor A. P. Seymoue to the Hon. W. Gisboene. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Blenheim, Ist March, 1871. In reply to your circular letter of the 24th January, requesting information as to the introduction of immigrants into the Province of Marlborough, under the provisions of Part V. of " The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870," I have the honor to state that the Provincial Government of Marlborough desire to afford facilities to residents now in the Province to send for their relatives and friends, upon some arrangement with the Province for the repayment of one-half of their passage money. There is no land in the Province which could be made available for the settlement of any large number of immigrants, neither do the circumstances of the Province warrant such introduction. I shall therefore have much pleasure in co-operating with the Colonial Government in bringing out those immigrants whose friends here nominate —the Colonial Government defraying the cost of their passage, and charging the one-half thereof to the Province, in terms of the 44th clause of " The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870." I have, &c, A. P. Seymoue, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 50. The Hon. W. Gisbohne to His Honor A. P. Seymoub. Sir,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 18th April, 1871. I do myself the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter, of the Ist March, in which you state that your Government desire to afford facilities to residents now in the Province of Marlborough to send for their relatives and friends, upon some arrangement for the repayment of onehalf of their passage money. The Provincial Government of Wellington having made arrangements to introduce a similar class under similar conditions, I do myself the honor to forward for your information, copy of the regulations, &c, which have been approved in its case, and to inform you that the Government will be happy to co-operate in giving effect to similar arrangements as respects the Province of Marlborough, or such modification of them as may be considered desirable. Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co. last year offered to enter into an emigration contract, at about £13 per statute adult; but as this was based on the supposition of a large emigration to all parts of the Colony, it is not probable that a less price will be charged under present circumstances than £14. As the numbers for Marlborough will necessarily be small, the immigrants will probably be sent out in vessels bound for Wellington or Nelson, and additional expense for transhipment incurred. The Government will be prepared to instruct the Agent-G-eneral to make the best possible terms in London for a fixed through-price, and in the meantime £16 had better be taken as the whole cost. You will learn from the Wellington regulations that each applicant is required to deposit at the time of making his application one-half of the passage money for each adult, and in proportion for children.* This amount will have to be paid by the Provincial Immigration Officer to the Colonial Treasury, and particulars of the names, ages, addresses, and callings of the immigrants, transmitted to the Minister for Public Works. The Agent-General will be informed thereof by each mail; and to prevent the delay of a mail in any case occurring, your Honor can be authorized to communicate to that officer the same particulars direct. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Marlborough. W. Gisboene.

No. 51. His Honor A. P. Seymotte to the Hon. W. Gisboene. Sir,— Superintendent's Office, Blenheim, 15th May, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th ultimo, enclosing a copy of the immigration regulations of the Province of Wellington, which have been agreed to by the Colonial Government, and expressing your willingness to approve of similar regulations for the introduction of immigrants into this Province. I will, at an early date, forward regulations of a similar nature for the approval of the Ministry. I have, &c, A. P. Seyhotjb, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent. * These terms, requested by Mr. Superintendent Featherston (No. 35), were afterwards reduced to £5 an adult on the request of Mr. Superintendent Fitzherbert (No. 36).

MARLBOROUGH.