PAPERS RELATING TO IMMIGRATION.

43

D.—No. 3

No. 75. The Hon. J. Vogel to His Honor J. Macakdeew. Sic, — Custom House, Dunedin, 21st December, 1870. I am in receipt of your Honor's letter of the 19th instant, enclosing copy of a Memorandum addressed by you to the Executive Council of the Province, but not approved of by them. I am greatly interested by the Memorandum, and I very much regret that your Honor's Executive have not been able to consider it except by the light of the resolutions passed by the Provincial Council. I may be allowed to express the hope that your Honor will be able shortly to consider the whole of the questions connected with " The Immigration and Public Works Act" upon their own merits. Meanwhile lam not able to see what effect can. be given to those parts of the Act as to which the preliminary recommendation of your Honor is required ; for the 94th clause makes it necessary that where an Executive exists, the Superintendent shall act with their advice. With respect to those parts of the Act as to which the recommendation of the Superintendent is not required, it will, of course, be open to the Government to take such steps as may be deemed advisable. The recommendation at present in question is one which the Act requires to be made by the Superintendent, and therefore by the Superintendent with the advice of his Executive. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. J. Vogel.

No. 76. His Honor J. Macandeew to the Hon. W. Gisboene. Sic,' — Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 9th May, 1871. Eeferring to the personal interview which lately took place between the Agent-General of the Colony (Dr. Featherston), the Provincial Executive, and myself, I have now the honor to forward, enclosed herewith, copy of minute on the subject of immigration to this Province, as agreed to by the Executive Council and concurred in by myself. In the event of His Excellency's Government agreeing in the first of these proposals, I would suggest that the Immigration Department here should at once publicly notify its readiness to provide passages for applicants on payment of £5 per statute adult, such payment to be lodged in the Provincial Treasury and passed over to the Colonial chest so soon as advice of the shipment of the immigrants shall have reached the Colony. It will be observed that we propose to retain the services of the present Otago Agency, not with a view of interfering with the operations of the Agent-General, or of in any way competing with him in the matter of immigration, but rather for the purpose of co-operating with him, and inasmuch as that the agency is now of nearly twenty years' standing, has worked very successfully, considering the means at his disposal, and possesses a considerable connection throughout the United Kingdom. I have, &c, J. Macandeew, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent. P.S. —With respect to the proposed charge of £5 per statute adult, I understand from your telegram that the fixing of the amount would be left to each Province to determine for itself. I submit however that if there shall be a variety of rates it will lead to one Province competing against another, and would suggest that there shall be one uniform rate for New Zealand.—J.M.

Enclosure in No. 76. Exteaci from Minutes of Provincial Executive Council of Otago. sth May, 1871. 1. That the General Government be requested to provide, in terms of the Immigratiou and Public Works Act, for the transport to this Province of such, immigrants from Europe as may obtain passage orders issued upon the application of friends in the Province, or as may be selected by the Agents of the Provincial Government in Europe, in accordance with instructions sent from hence. 2. That the assistance of the Agent-General for the Colony be requested in the promotion of a special settlement or special settlements on Stewart's Island, consisting of families from the Shetlands, Orkneys, and North of (Scotland, or from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, who might be induced, by low rates of passage and free grants of land, with the condition of years' residence, to combine under the auspices of Home associations or companies in the formation of such settlements. 3. That the assistance of the Agent-General of the Colony in Europe be requested in promoting special settlements iv this Province of congeries of families engaged in particular industries —such, for instance, as Welsh flannel makers, stocking-loom workers—to be planted on suitable blocks of land, and townships specially set apart for them, with individual grants of acres of land to each head of a family, acres for each single man or woman, and acres for each child, who should join in such settlements and contribute to work in the same for years at the particular industries with which they are connected. J. Macandeew, Superintendent of Otago.

No. 77. The Hon. F. D. Bell to His Honor J. Macandeew. (Telegram.) Wellington, 27th May, 1871. Adteeting to your Honor's proposals on the subject of immigration and the formation of special settlements, the Government will cordially assist in giving them practical effect; but I wish to point out that