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Enclosure 4 in No. 20. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation to His Honor the Supeeintendent, Westland. (No. 20.) Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, Ist March, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 35, of 22nd ultimo, respecting immigration to your province, wherein you ask my attention to the fact that the number of immigrants you have received has been very limited, and at the same time express the opinion that foreigners, such as the Italians lately sent down, are very undesirable, and that the classes required are domestic servants and single labourers, and but a limited number of families. With regard to the number of immigrants you have received, I regret that the supply has apparently not been sufficient for your requirements, but I have to point out to your Honor that since the 30th April last—the date from which the last emigration order to the Agent-General took effect— fully 400 immigrants have been landed in Westland out of the 400 adults ordered for the year ending 30th April proximo, and that this number might have been larger had it not been for the apparent inability of the province to take more than a limited number at a time. Upon more than one occasion immigrants of a good description have been available, but have been declined by the Immigration Officer upon the ground of having previously received a supply. It is certainly to be regretted that the instruction to the Agent-General to endeavour to select a number of families specially for the Jackson's Bay settlement should have been attended with so little success, for which I am unable to account, but, as I informed your Honor in my letter No. 15, of 15th ultimo, I have recently brought the matter again to his notice. By advices lately received, I have reason to hope that the full number of 400 adults will have been dispatched for Westland before the expiration of the year above mentioned. I agree with your Honor that the Italians who arrived by the " Herschell" were an undesirable class of immigrants, the sending of whom to the colony has been a matter of great regret to the Government. I have telegraphed to the Agent-General to stop all such shipments for the future. These people, however, had to be disposed of, and as far as possible to places where there was most chance of their becoming absorbed, and with the accounts of the urgent demand for labour in Westland, it was reasonable to suppose that there would be no great difficulty in finding work for the number sent down. lam glad to observe, from the report of the Immigration Officer forwarded by your Honor upon the 16th ultimo, that they have all now left the depot, the presumption being that they have obtained remunerative employment. With regard to your representation as to the demand for female domestic servants and single labourers, I desire to repeat the assurance that I will take every opportunity of carrying your wishes into effect. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Hokitika. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 21. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Genebal. (No. 64.) Sib,— Immigration Office, Wellington, Bth March, 1876. With reference to memoranda by His Honor the Superintendent of Hawke's Bay upon the report of the Immigration Officer for the last quarter of 1875, and the Immigration Commisioners' report upon the " Hudson," copies of which are forwarded to you by this mail, I have to request that, in accordance with the wishes of His Honor, you will suspend immigration to Hawke's Bay, with the exception of nominated persons and single women, until November next; but that you will despatch, a ship with a complement of about 150 adults, so as to arrive early in each of the months of November, December, and January. The immigrants should, as far as possible, be of the classes described by His Honor—viz , single men and women, and married couples with small families. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Copies of Minutes eefeeeed to. 1. Minute upon Immigration Officer's Quarterly Report. Me. Fannin's report fairly states the condition of the labour market. I would recommend that immigration to Hawke's Bay from now until, say, next October, should be limited to nominated immigrants and single women, but that three full ships should be ordered to arrive at Napier, say, end of October or beginning of November, December, and January. These ships should bring a large complement of single men used to farm work, single women, and married couples with as small families as possible. Employment and good wages will be certain if the people arrive at the time I have named. 24th February, 1876. J. D. Obhond.

2. Minute upon Commissioners' Report on Ship "Hudson." The immigrants hy the " Hudson " appear to be generally of a good class, and the arrangements of the ship are reported as very satisfactory. As I anticipated, these immigrants have not been absorbed as quickly as former shipments. All the single girls (and many of them were mere children) found ready employment, and did not near supply the demand ; also the single men found immediate employment at good wages; also the married couples without families have been easily provided for, but a few large families still remain on hand. I think, with the exception of single women, who are