AGENT-GENERAL, LONDON. '

45

D.—No. I

On the former point, it is certain that the Government was first led to believe that these gentlemen intended to go home partly on private business, though subsequent correspondence shows that this was a misconception. It is likely, therefore, that Messrs. Birch and Seaton left New Zealand under the impression that they were engaged to act exclusively as agents for the Government. The object of the Government in engaging Messrs. Birch, and Seaton was to comply with the urgent request of the local authorities, and with a very generally expressed public feeling in favour of employing persons as emigration agents who, from their local experience, would be able to explain most completely the advantages offered to intending emigrants. I trust, therefore, you will assist the views of the Government by finding employment for these gentlemen, even if you have to displace some of those whom you had previously engaged to diffuse information by lectures, &c, on the Colony, but who must necessarily be comparatively wanting in local information. I have to request that you will pay these gentlemen on the same system as that adopted by you for other agents —viz., in proportion to the actual work done. The rate of remuneration will be left to your discretion, as you must necessarily be the best judge of the value of their services, and of the current rates for wliich you can obtain similar services in England. I must also ask you to determine whether it is for the public benefit that their services should bo retained for a longer period than say one year; and in the event of your decision being adverse to their continuance, you are authorized to terminate the engagement. In either case, you will please pay Messrs. Birch and Seaton their return passage money. W. Reeves.

No. 36. Memorandum for the Agent-General, London. (No. 70, 1872.) Public Works Office, Wellington, 6th June, 1872. The Government have received with much satisfaction your letter of the 4th April (No. 203), containing the first definite information of the number of emigrants you anticipate despatching, and their destination and date of sailing, during the months of April, May, and June ; and they trust to continue to receive as encouraging and precise reports, as early as possible, from time to time. The only observation it is necessary to make is in reference to the departure of two vessels for Napier (one from the Clyde and the other from Hamburgh) about the same date. As the barrack accommodation, not only at Napier but elsewhere, is necessarily limited, I would suggest that, wherever possible, at least a fortnight's interval should always be allowed to take place between the dates of departure for any one port. W. Reeves.

No. 37. Memorandum for the Agent-General, London. (No. 71, 1872.) Public Works Office, Wellington, 7th June, 1872. Enclosed are the conditions which have been proposed to His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington by Mr. G H. Engels, for planting a settlement of Dutch immigrants in tho township of Fitzherbert, in the district of Manawatu. The Government, being desirous of facilitating immigration and settlement in every suitable way, have informed His Honor that they will consent — 1. To pay £7 10s. towards the passages of the immigrants, and full passages of single women, in pursuance of clause 14. 2. To provide six months' employment on public works, in pursuance of clause 17. 3. To provide a cabin passage for a clergyman, should one accompany the expedition, in pursuance of clause 18. You will observe that, although Mr. Engels proceeds to Europe in the service of the Provincial Government, the emigrants he collects are to be subject to your approval. It would probably have been more satisfactory to you if Mr. Engels had been placed entirely under your control; but as the intended settlement of Fitzherbert is undertaken by the Province under " The Wellington Special Settlements Act, 1871," the Government had no power to do so. They have, however, assured the Provincial Government that you will cordially co-operate with Mr. Engels in carrying out the duties he has undertaken. W. Reeves.

Enclosure in No. 37. Mr. G. H. Engels to His Honor W. Fitzherbert. Sir,— Wellington, 23rd April, 1872. I beg to submit to your Honor the following proposal for introducing immigrants to colonize the township of Fitzherbert, Manawatu: — 1. Government shall set apart and reserve waste lands of the Crown in and about the township of Fitzherbert, Manawatu, to the extent of 2,500 acres, more or less, such lands to be hereafter more clearly defined. 2. Said land shall be reserved, under the provisions of " The Wellington Special Settlement Act, 1871," Part 2, for a period of eighteen months. 3. I understand that the block of land wliich the Government has at its disposal in the township of Fitzherbert, suitable for the purposes of the special settlers I propose, has been surveyed, and I request that I may be furnished with a plan, in order that intending immigrants may be made acquainted with the proposed subdivision. 12