29

D.—l

No. 43. The Hon. J. Ballance to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— Immigration Office, Wellington, N.Z., sth May, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 199, of the Ist March last, and to thank you for the information therein afforded, and I shall look forward with some interest to the decision of the Board of Trade regarding the inquiry as to tho unsatisfactory official inspection of emigrants embarking at Plymouth. Your action in this affair, as well as regards the Welsh emigrants, meets with approval. I have, &c, J. Ballance, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. (for the Minister for Immigration.)

No. 44. The Hon. J. Ballance to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— Immigration Office, Wellington. N.Z., 7th May, 1879. Referring to my letter of the 2nd instant, I have the honor to inform you that Mr. Clayden, having represented that the expense of travelling in the United Kingdom would more than absorb the sum of £200, which it was proposed to allow him as remuneration for promoting emigration to the colony, it has been decided to increase the amount to £250, which sum you are requested to be good enough to pay Mr. Clayden, upon his fulfiling the terms of his engagement as reported to you. I have, e&c, J. Ballance, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. (for the Minister for Immigration.)

No. 45. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— Immigration Office, Wellington, N.Z., 9th May, 1879. Referring to my letter of the sth March last, I have the honor to enclose copy of a further communication from Mr. A. J. Burns with reference to sending out coal miners to this colony, and to request that you will be good enough to give effect to Mr. Burns's wishes in this matter. I have, e&c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Robeet Stout.

Enclosure in No. 45. The Geneeal Manages, Westport Colliery Company, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sib,— Westport, 28th April, 1879. Referring to my letter of the Ist March, and your affirmative reply of the 6th March, I would suggest that you give instructions to the Agent-General that, in addition to the number of miners intended for us, that a small number, say ten or twelve miners, should be sent by every ship leaving London or the Clyde with immigrants, to Dunedin, Lyttelton, Auckland ; also to Wellington, for distribution to the Coast, or to Nelson for the same purpose. We have very great difficulty just now in getting these men to give a fair day's work for a fair day's wage, therefore, unless the supply be kept up, this difficulty will increase, and end in stoppage of works. Also the men are not to be had, if we require more than we have at present. Men are wandering about who call themselves coal-miners, but when given a trial, wo find they know nothing about the work, so they either leave or we are compelled to discharge them as useless. I trust this suggestion will be approved of. Plenty of men of this class will only be too happy to leave Britain just now. I have, &c, A. J. Buens, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. General Manager. No. 46. The Hon. J. Ballance to the Agent-Geneeal. Sic,— Immigration Office, Wellington, N.Z., 15th May, 1879. _ ' This letter will be handed to you by Mr. George Kennerley, who is about visiting the United Kingdom, and who is desirous of offering his services gratuitously in procuring suitable immigrants for this colony. I shall be glad to hear that you have availed yourself of this gentleman's services. I have, &c, J. Ballance, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. (for the Minister for Immigration.)