D.-l

8

4. I think that a first-class ship should be obtained in Canada at the rate of about £16 per adult for about 300 immigrants, it being an essential condition that the dietary shall be equal to that provided on board our English ships. 5. The port of destination will bo best fixed by the cargo which the ship would bring, but if it cannot be determined by cargo, then, I think, as the emigrants come from a forest country, part should be sent to Dunedin, and part to Wellington. From Dunedin they could be distributed to forest lands in Southland and South Otago ; and from AVellington to the forest lands on the west coast of this Island. If they wish to go to the forest lands of Auckland, or any other part of the colony, provision will be made to send them to the nearest port by steamer. 6. Letters have been received here from persons in Miramichi, who are willing and anxious to emigrate. And it is believed that in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick there are many persons, well suited for a colonial life, anxious to come to New Zealand. Possibly Dr. Potts might communicate with persons in those provinces, so that the best possible selections might be made. I need not add that this is an experiment, and it will depend on the class that comes here whether any assistance will in future be granted to persons desiring to emigrate from Canada to New Zealand. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Robeet Stout. P.S.—lt is believed that Mr. AVilliam Sinclair, of Chatham, New Brunswick, a shipbuilder, would also be willing to form one of the party, and assist in selecting suitable persons. —R. S.

Enclosure in No. 12. The Hon. the Peemiee to the Agent-Geneeal. (Telegram.) AVellington, 10th November, 1878. Canadian immigrants—Arrange Potts select shipment three hundred. Cost not exceeding sixteen pounds adult. Details by next mail. A rogel, London. Geet. ___________________-*_—BMM^-amnmntmam-wMMX^Ms^a

No. 13. The Hon. the Ministee for Immioeation to the Agent-Geneeal. Shi, Immigration Office, AA'ellington, N.Z., 22nd November, 1878. Adverting to that portion of my letter of the 3rd ultimo* respecting the demand for labour, I have the honor to inform you that applications are still being received. The Rangitikei Highway Board, in a letter dated the 9th October, calls the attention of the Government to the great scarcity of labourers in that district, aud ask for 300 to be sent there. I have caused a reply to be sent, informing the Secretary to the Board that I would communicate with you upon the subject, but that the Government does not consider it advisable to further increase the number of immigrants ordered for the current year. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Robeet Stout.

No. 14. The Hon. the Ministee for Immigration to the Agent-Geneeal. S IE) Immigration Office, Wellington, N.Z., 30th November, 1878. I have the honor to transmit copy of a telcgramf which was despatched to you on the 28th instant, requesting you to send additional immigrants to Port Chalmers, Lyttclton, AVellington, and Taranaki. As the demand for more labour for these portions of the colony is almost unlimited, judging from the repeated applications which arc made to the Government by the local bodies and individual employers of labour, the Government hope that you will be able to take advantage of the strike amongst the English agricultural labourers, and send a large number of immigrants from that class to the colony, so as to arrive before harvesting is over. I have, &c., The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Robeet Stout.

No. 15. The Hon. the Minister for Immigeation to the Agent-Geneeal. Sic, Immigration Office, AVellington, N.Z., 4th December, 1878. Adverting to previous letters respecting the demand for labour in tho colony, I have the honor to forward for your information an extract from the Taranaki Herald,X containing a report of a deputation which waited upon the Hon. Mr. Sheehan at New Plymouth, on the 25th ultimo, in reference to this subject. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Robeet Stout. . , ' — ■ —' —■ »i * Paragraph 4, D.-IA., 1878. t See Enclosure No. 2iu No. 17. % November 26th, 1878.