D.—2.

52

despatches as a relation disqualifying the person who occupies it, if he be under sixty years of age, and have paid the cost of his passage, and satisfied me of his desire to settle upon and cultivate land in New Zealand, from being entitled to a free grant of a piece of land. I have little doubt that if I were to raise such a frivolous plea in one of the Courts of this city, in the event of my being called upon to show cause for not fulfilling my duty under the Act in the case of an emigrant who happened to be father-in-law of any person whatsoever in the colony, that I could only expect it to be treated with either suspicion of my motives or doubt of my capacity. I have, &c, I. E. Featiieeston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 93. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (No. 1989.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,— 23rd December, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 320, dated 27th October, 1874, forwarding copy of correspondence with His Honor the Superintendent of Otago, upon the subject of a claim of £40, made by Messrs. Cargill, Gibbs,and Co., for demurrage of the ship " Mairi Bahn," and remarking that a reasonable allowance for lay-days should be made in all charter-parties of emigrant ships. The Government is aw pare that I have always recognized and provided for this necessity. The charter-party under which the "Mairi Bahn" was despatched was entered into between Mr. Auld and Messrs. Patrick Henderson and Co., the agents in Glasgow for the Albion Shipping Company. As stated in my letter No. 1911, of 17th December, 1574, I am now in communication with the Otago agency with the object of securing, at Glasgow, the adoption of the form of charter-party in t use in London. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 94 The Agent-Geneeat, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigbation. (No. 1991.) 7, "Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, "Westminster, S.W., Sic, — 23rd December, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 294, dated 12th October, 1874, forwarding copy of the Immigration Commissioners' report upon the ship " Parsee," which you inform me arrived at Port Chalmers upon the 4th September. I note that the Commissioners approved the fittings and general arrangements of the vessel, with the exception of the passengers' galley, which they considered " was scarcely large enough for cooking for so many people." I observe, also, that one of the immigrants, named "Weir, presented a document, signed by eighty-two of the immigrants, complaining in general terms of the infraction of the Passengers Act, but making no specific charges as to what sections were infringed; that the complainants were requested to specify, in writing, the grounds of their complaint, but had failed to do so up to the date of the Commissioners' report. I notice, also, that the Commissioners recommend that a better quality of biscuit should be supplied to the immigrants in future ships from the Clyde, and that a baker should be appointed as in London. These recommendations shall receive due attention. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 95. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (No. 1993.) 7, "Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, "Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 23rd December, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No 312, dated 23rd October, 1874, forwarding the understated documents relative to the ship " Merope," which you inform me arrived at Lyttelton upon the 27th September:— 1. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Surgeon-superintendent's report. 3. Certified list of births and deaths upon the voyage. I notice that the Commissioners report favourably upon the general arrangements on board the vessel, and upon the character of the emigrants. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.