D.—No. 1

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CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE

No. 41. Memorandum for the Agent-General, London. (No. 86, 1872.) Public Works Office, 6th July, 1872. In the memorandum No. 65-72, addressed to you on the sth June, I omitted to call your attention to Clause VII. of the " Form of Application " to be filled up by intending emigrants. The Government are of opinion that the age fixed for married men should be extended in cases where the intending emigrant is the father of a suitable family accompanying him to the Colony. J. D. Ormond.

No. 42. Memorandum for the Agent-General, London. (No. 88, 1872.) Public Works Office, Wellington, 6th July, 1872. Herewith are forwarded copies of a correspondence with Mr. A. G. Allan, of Dunedin, relative to immigration from the Highlands of Scotland. You will notice that Mr. Allan has been informed that his representation shall receive your attention. Also, copy of a letter from the Immigration Officer at Christchurch, covering rates of wages, and demand for labour, in Canterbury and Otago, together with the retail prices of provisions. J. D. Ormond.

Enclosure 1 in No. 42. Mr. A. G. Allan to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sir,— Green Island, 29th May, 1872. I do myself the honor of addressing you upon a subject of great importance to the Colony, viz., the desirability of introducing Highlanders and Islanders, on the General Government scheme, for the special settlements set apart in this Province, and also for labourers and farm servants. A Highlander's society has been lately formed here, the object of which is to promote the emigration of their countrymen by means of assisted passages. In order to carry out the project successfully, the society respectfully solicits of the Colonial Government the appointment of an agent who is conversant with the Gaelic language, in order to represent properly the advantages the Colony offers to emigrants, and who would at the same time be subordinate to and act under the instructions of the Agent-General. It is well known, the Highlanders and Islanders have proved themselves industrious colonists in Canada, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, and Prince Edward's Island, and it is certain their brethren proposed to be introduced here would prove no less industrious. The Islanders, if settled upon the coast, would soon resort to their usual occupation of catching and curing fish, at which they are most expert; and there is reason to believe that, ere long, preserved fish would become a valuable colonial export. From the price of labour now ruling in this part of the Colony, there is much discontent prevailing, settlers being unable to carry on agricultural work to any extent; therefore it is most essential to their success, that labour should be plentiful and at a reasonable price. Emigration from the Highlands would have the latter tendency, as thousands of them, excellent labourers and farm servants, work at the rate of one shilling a day. By last mail, a petition signed by Highlanders —settlers in Taieri and Saddle Hill—was forwarded by His Honor the Superintendent to the Honorable Mr. Reeves, and it is to be hoped the prayer of their petition will be granted. Should the General Government conform to the wishes of the settfers here, they earnestly desire, with the concurrence of the General Government, that I should undertake the agency. Although this would be at a considerable personal sacrifice, I would deem it my duty to undertake a mission which would be instrumental in getting out a select number of my countrymen, who, of a certainty, would contribute largely to the development of the resources of a colony, which is destined, if the colonial grand scheme is carried out in its entirety, to take a prominent position among those under Her Majesty's dominion. I have, &c, A. G. Allan, The Hon. Julius Vogel, Postmaster-General. Hon. Sec, Highlander's Society. P.S. —Appended, I enclose a letter, one of several letters which appeared on the subject of Highland emigration in the Otago Daily Times.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 1 in No. 42. Copy referred to in foregoing Letter of Mr. A. G. Allan. A Field for Immigration Agents. (To the Editor.) Sir, —A gentleman long resident in this Province recently arrived from Scotland, after sojourning there for fourteen months. Remaining only for a short time in his native place, he resolved to visit some of the northern counties, that he might ascertain the social, condition of the people, and their views on emigration to this Colony. On his travels he met with ample materials for colonization —crofters, fishermen, stout young men and v/omen, passing a semi-idle existence, and mostly in poor circumstances. In his journeys, the sight of fresh meat was a great rarity, the high price ruling for that commodity precluding the people from indulging in it. The staple necessaries of life were the inevitable oatmeal cakes, potatoes, and fish, and among the poorer classes little of either. Much ignorance prevails about New Zealand'and its resources. In some parts of Invernesshire, which he visited, many had never