D.—3

30

5. The number of local agents appointed may appear to the Government extremely large, but, as a matter of experience, it is found that labourers who want to emigrate will not go far to look for an agent, and while in a state of uncertainty, are secured by some other competing body and lost to us. In fact it is almost necessary to have an agent, as it were, at every door, —or at any rate in every country village. The local agents are not however appointed at random, or without reference to their qualifications. In every case, before making the appointment, references are demanded, and the appointment depends on my obtaining satisfactory replies thereto. Immediately on the appointment of an agent, he receives printed instructions for his guidance and assistance, in the form of the enclosure marked " B." On the application of an intending emigrant, who is prima facie eligible, the agent issues to him the prospectus and printed form of application marked "C" If it should appear to the local agent, on the return of the form duly filled up, that the applicant is eligible, he issues to him the form of certificate marked "D." This is cither brought or forwarded by post to this office, and on my being satisfied of the genuineness of the signatures, &c, the form of approval (marked E) is filled up and handed to the applicant. It will be seen, therefore, that although in these cases the transaction lies chiefly between the applicant and the local agent, the ultimate decision is really in my own hands. If on receiving the form of application " D," it should be found that any deception has been practised, or that the applicant is in some way disqualified, he is further informed by letter that he is not deemed eligible, and that his application has been rejected. And even after an applicant has been passed at this office, he may be finally rejected on the ground of false representations or general unfitness. Clause VIII. of the printed regulations, you will observe, provides that— " If any false statement or false signature shall be found in the form of application or the certificates, or if the applicant shall fail to embark at the time and place required; or if, upon appearing at the place of embarkation, any emigrant shall be found to have any infectious disorder or any bodily or mental defect, contrary to the statement in the application, such emigrant will not be allowed to embark, and will forfeit any deposit which may have been made on account of his passage money or outfit cost." 6. I may remark that although Mr. Carter and the Rev. Mr. Barclay are the only emigration agents who have been for any time resident in the Colony, yet many colonists of standing have given very interesting lectures; for example, Messrs. Ecclcs, McAdams, Comiskey, Tinne, and others. All this has had the effect of disseminating useful information relating to the Colony and its resources. 7. I most thoroughly agree with you that there should be depots for the reception and maintenance of the emigrants in anticipation of the ships by which they are to be forwarded to the Colony. But it is a matter of some difficulty, and hitherto I have been unable to obtain either a suitable building or a site for one in London. I had the promise of an excellent site at Tilbury, opposite Gravesend; but when I came to make arrangements with the Railway Company, they found out that the lease of the ground was about to expire. This matter shall, however, have my most earnest attention. Although the arrangements at the depot at Plymouth are really as perfect as they can be, yet emigrants, unless they actually reside in the Southern Counties, object to the long railway journey, notwithstanding that they thereby avoid the Channel. 8. You will already have been advised by cablegram that ships have been laid on from Queenstown and Belfast, and I shall continue to despatch ships from those ports occasionally if emigrants can be procured. The objections raised by shipowners is that they cannot get cargo from these ports. From Glasgow, ships will henceforth proceed, not as hitherto to Otago alone, but to other ports in the Colony. Messrs. Patrick Henderson and Co. have a fleet of eight fine ships now building expressly for the New Zealand trade. 9. I am gratified to learn that you are having a pamphlet prepared, and that you intend to edit it yourself. Although Mr. Barclay's pamphlet has been of great service, both in the United Kingdom and on the Continent, yet, having regard to the rapid progress of the Colony, it is very desirable that I should be in a position to disseminate the very latest information. On receiving your pamphlet, I shall lose no time in having it translated into both German and Norse, and I am quite sure that it will be a valuable aid to me in the way of procuring emigrants. 10. I entirely concur in your suggestion as to placing on board each ship a quantity of spare stores in the shape of medical comforts, and shall adopt this course in all cases where there is a considerable number of children to be provided for. Much, however, depends on the judgment of the surgeon-superintendent in not making a lavish use of them. For it must be borne in mind that the supplies are put on board for a voyage of 150 days, whereas the average voyage is about 90 days. Therefore the supply ought, as a rule, to be amply sufficient. 11. With reference to the permission you give me to offer certain assurances to emigrants, Ido not think it is a power that will require to be frequently exercised. At any rate, I feel that it will have to be used with extreme caution. 12. With regard to the limitation as to the number of children in a family, you will observe that in the printed regulations I have stated that " the Government will not give free passages to more than three children between one and twelve years of age, in each family; but parents who have more than three children may make their application; and the Agent-General will determine in each case whether the passage applied for can be granted." Of course the limita-