45

D.—2

1. I have found in the course of correspondence with nominated applicants, that, in some cases, the names of persons are entered at the various Immigration Offices as probable emigrants, who have never, in their letters to their friends, expressed any desire to proceed to the Colony, and even intimate their great surprise at receiving invitations to remove themselves and their families thither. I enclose copies of a number of letters of this character received from nominees. 2. Notices in the form (enclosed) marked A are sent to all persons nominated for passages. In a very large number of cases no reply is returned to this communication. Doubtless in many instances —as shown in the foregoing paragraph—the invitation arrives without prior communication upon the subject between the nominator and his nominee, and the latter is unprepared to accept it. The lists of cancelled nominations forwarded to the Government monthly show that many persons decline the offers made to them. I have no doubt that a much larger number decline these invitations who do not trouble themselves to reply to my letters, and about whose intentions we are therefore left in doubt. lam now issuing a second notice (marked B, copy enclosed) to nominees who have not yet replied to the first intimation, and to others who may have replied, but have not communicated to me their final decision. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 87. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1946.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir, — 17th December, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 266, of 11th September, 1874, on the subject of the supply of female domestic labour for the Province of Westland. In the same letter you refer to the order for 500 emigrants per month for each of the Provinces of Otago and Canterbury during the months of August and September, which was despatched by telegram on the 7th July last, and express a hope that the message reached me in time to enable me to despatch the numbers required in August. I find, upon reference to the records of emigrants, despatched, that during the month of August I was able to ship to Otago only 355 emigrants, and to Canterbury 319. I have, &c.,I. E. Featherston, . The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 88. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Minister for Immigeation. (No. 1949.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir, — 17th December, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter. No. 267, of 11th September, 1874, on the subject of the conduct of nominated emigration at this office. I am glad to learn that the Government approve the arrangements made here for the working of that branch of my department. With reference to the arrangement made in July fpr the conveyance by the " Star of India," vid Wellington, of emigrants nominated for Canterbury and Otago, I regret that your telegram authorizing me to renew emigration upon a limited scale to the latter provinces did not arrive in time to enable me to alter that arrangement, so far at least as related to the Province of Otago. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeson, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 89. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministeb for Immigration. (No. 1956.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 15th December, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth September, No. 260, in which you earnestly and urgently direct my attention to the manner in which, as it seems to you, I have failed to understand " The Immigrants Land Act, 1873 ;" and in which, after again urging certain arguments and allegations, to which I have in good part replied in my letter of the 23rd. September, No. 1663, you ask me to consider the Act as one of very great importance, whose spirit and intention, as well as letter, it is desirable I should consult, having hitherto, in your opinion, failed to appreciate either ; but that you do not doubt further consideration will induce me to give the measure most careful attention in future. 2. I have been led by an expostulation so animated and serious carefully to review and examine all my proceedings in relation to the Act; to re-inform myself as to its purpose and provisions; to reconsider them in their various bearings; and to apply to their interpretation the explanations, suggestions, and instructions conveyed in your several telegrams and despatches referring to the Act, and especially those of 27th October, 1873, 10th April, -1874, and Ist July, 1874.