D.—No. Ia

8

CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE,

from his estates there to Canada. This was done in so kind and generous a manner that no evil feelings were stirred up and no hardships entailed. Many proprietors might not be able to do so much as he did, but some at least would be willing to give a certain amount of assistance. This must be gone about kindly and cautiously, as the scheme would be well nigh, ruined in its working were it to be thought that the proprietors were very anxious to send away the people from the country. Eor the people have been rendered somewhat suspicious by things which may have been to some extent necessary, but which were not well or wisely gone about, such as e.g., the Sutherland clearings many years ago, and some smaller clearances since. But while some properties have been " cleared " far too much, others have far too many people residing on them. And lam sure that 10,000 could live better in Skye than 20,000, which is about its present population. I do not know the Orkney and Shetland Islands, and I cannot say how the 60,000 inhabitants live there. But I saw lately in a newspaper that 500 people had left Shetland at one time lately. I may add that the people are Scandinavian Scotch, without much of the Celtic element, and that they speak English and not Gaelic. There is also a Mr. Thos. Corbett, who has taken much interest in Glasgow charities and reformatories. He seems to be specially interested in the Home and Emigration Scheme for Destitute Children, to which he has been recently giving large benefactions. He has or had some years ago a brother in the medical profession. He will be found at 85, Gracechurch Street, E.G., London, and it might be well to communicate with him. In Edinburgh there are several philanthropic men whom it might be desirable to see, such as Rev. Dr. Guthrie, William Anderson, Esq., of the Courant, author of several works on how to care for destitute children ; A. B. Fleming, Esq., &c. 6. I have only further to say that it might be well for Dr. Eeatherston to visit various parts of Scotland soon, especially Edinburgh, Inverness, and Skye ; and if he had time he might go round by Aberdour House, Aberdeenshire, where my brother would be glad to see him, and to render him airy assistance in his power. ■.;<..-..„.-.

Enclosure 4 in No. 4. Dr. Featheeston to Alessrs. Winqe and Co. Gentlemen, —- Christiania, 17th October, 1871. I beg to state the terms and conditions on which the New Zealand Government will, for the present, assist emigration from Norway to New Zealand. The emigrants to consist of unmarried females, accustomed to domestic service, between the ages of 16 and 35 years, of young married couples, with not more than from one to three children under 12 years of age to each couple, and of a limited number of young unmarried men. All these emigrants must produce certificates of good moral character from the clergyman of the parish in which they reside, and of the religious denomination to which they belong; they must be selected from the rural districts, and the men must have been employed as agricultural labourers. All emigrants must be in good health, of sound constitution, and have been vaccinated ; no person is eligible who is above 45 years of age. All emigrants will be required to pay the cost of their outfit for bedding and mess utensils, which will not exceed per adult 255. (English money) ; they will also bo required to pay the expenses of their journey to Christiania, and the cost of a between-deck passage from Christiani a to the port of embarkation for New Zealand, which, for the present will be either Hamburg or London, as the Agent-General for New Zealand may decide. No emigrants will be allowed to embark unless they have provided themselves with suitable and sufficient clothing for the voyage. The single females will be taken free of charge from the port of embarkation (Hamburg or London) to New Zealand, and will, on their arrival there, be maintained at the expense of the Government until they have procured engagements. Each married couple will be required to pay towards the cost of their passages, either in cash £10, or if the whole in promissory notes, £20 ; or, if partly in cash and partly by promissory notes, in proportion to the above, that is, each married couple will have to pay in the way above stated the sum of £10 if all in cash, £20 if all in promissory notes, and in proportion if partly cash and partly in promissory notes, and will have to pay in the same proportion towards the passage of their children, two children between the ages of one and twelve years being reckoned as equal to one adult. Infants under twelve months go free. For children in excess of the number of three, the whole amount of the passage money will have to be paid under any circumstances; adult children having their parents on board pay like the parents. Single men will each be required to pay in cash £8, or in cash £4 and give promissory notes for £8. The promissory notes will be made payable in the Colony on demand, but payment will only be required by four equal three-monthly instalments, the first of such instalments to be paid three months after arrival in New Zealand, unless the emigrants should propose to leave the Colony, when payment of the whole amount then unpaid of the promissory notes will be enforced. The Agent-General for New Zealand reserves to himself the right from time to time to alter and modify the terms and conditions above specified, and also to determine any contract he may enter into for emigration from Norway to New Zealand, on giving to the contractor six months' notice. The contractor is also to have the power to determine any such contract, on giving to the Agent-General two months' notice. The charge for agency (to include all charges and expenses whatsoever) to be fixed at one pound sterling per adult, and to be paid by the Agent-General on arrival of the emigrants at the port of embarkation for New Zealand.