D.—3

22

The Government will, however, see that I would not ignore statements of a character so serious, and made by an officer appointed by me. To further elucidate and show the care taken in selecting the emigrants under Messrs. Brogden's contract, I have forwarded by this mail, Mr. Carter's report made in January last, and which appears not to have reached the Government. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 25. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 752.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 13th November, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Hon. Mr. O'Rorke's letter No. 171, dated 12th August, inquiring what means are provided to enable nominated persons residing in foreign countries, to reach the port of departure. In reply, I beg to state that hitherto the emigrants from Norway and Denmark have in all cases paid the expenses of their journey to London. Under the authority which has been given to me in this respect by the Government, I am of course prepared to advance the cost of the ship outfit and journey to London, in the case of nominated emigrants who are unable to defray these charges, taking the promissory notes of the persons to whom such advances are made. In the case of Scandinavian or German emigrants nominated for passages, I would suggest that the nominees should be recommended to place themselves in communication with the Agents of this office at one or other of the following places, viz.: — In Christiania —Messrs. Gunnestad and Co., Skippergaden, 27. In Copenhagen—Messrs. Horneman and Petersen, Nyhaven, 13. In Hamburg—Mr. August Behrens. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 26. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 757.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 14th November, 1873. I have the honor to enclose Mr. Carter's report on a meeting he attended in Oxfordshire, and certain arrangements made with Mr. C. Holloway to proceed to New Zealand. I have, &c., I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 26. Mr. Carter to the Agent-General. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, 13th November, 1873. I have the honor to report to you that, in consequence of Mr. Charles Holloway, President and Delegate of the Oxford National Labourers' Union, having applied to you to permit me to attend and lecture at a meeting of agricultural labourers to be held at a small village near Shipton, in Oxfordshire, and called " Milton-under-Whychwood," I, by your desire, attended the meeting in question. The meeting was held on the 4th instant, in a very large tent pitched in a field near the village. Mr. Holloway occupied the chair, and the audience, consisting of agricultural people (a few accompanied by their wives and grown-up children), assembled from villages far and near, to the number of between five and six hundred persons. The proceedings occupied nearly three hours, and were of the most orderly and cheering kind; and I am glad to be able to say, from what I saw here and elsewhere, that the prospects of obtaining emigrants are of a much more encouraging kind than I have known them at any time during the last two years. This is mainly owing to the flattering accounts sent to England by emigrants sent out through this office; and also by those I selected in this part of the country on account of John Brogden and Sons, particularly from those who were despatched to Hawke's Bay. After the meeting had closed, I received £17 for outfit for seventeen adults, who proceed to Hawke's Bay on the 19th instant. I also received, in conjunction with Mr. Holloway, applications from about eight heads of families, representing nearly thirty adults. In course of conversation with Mr. Holloway, I found him inclined to proceed to New Zealand in charge of two or three hundred emigrants to be selected by himself and Mr. Henry Taylor, the General Secretary of the Union. I reported this matter to you for your considera-