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1893. NEW ZEALAND.

EMIGRATION OF SMALL FARMERS, ETC., TO NEW ZEALAND (CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE AGENT-GENERAL RELATIVE TO).

Beturn to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated 13th July, 1893. Ordered, " That there belaid before this House copies of any correspondence between the Government and the Agent-General; (1) On the subject of the encouragement or assistance offered to small farmers and others possessed of some capital to emigrate to Now Zealand ; (2) On the subject of the guaranteed debentures, and of the £450,000 of Treasury bills authorised to be issued under section 2, " The Public Act, 1892 " ; (3) As to the Imperial Institute."—(Hon. Mr. Rolleston.)*

No. 1. Extract, from Letter from the Agent-General, dated 18th March, 1892, addressed to the Premier. I now propose to offer some remarks with regard to three classes of persons, to each of which I consider the colony offers special attractions. They are : (1) Tourists, (2) persons in receipt of fixed incomes, (3) practical farmers with small capital. 1. Tourists. I attach considerable importance to bringing New Zealand more under the notice of the travelling public as a desirable place of travel, and as a sanatorium. The only part that I can play in this is to co-operate with the various tourists' agents in advertising the colony as a wonderland and health resort, and I am pleased to bear testimony to the fact that Messrs. Cook and Son lose no opportunity of calling the attention of the public to New Zealand. lam now in communication with them with the object of seeing whether they cannot arrange some special circular tours embracing New Zealand during the year of the World's Fair at Chicago. A certain amount of advertising has already been done by means of the New Zealand map posters, which are beingexhibited at a number of the principal railway stations in this country, but more advertising is required. One of the best means of accomplishing this is to furnish guide-books, maps, &c, to places of public resort, such as hotels, reading-rooms, and other similar places. The various magazine articles, contributions to the papers, and lectures given by persons acquainted with the colony, are excellent means of educating the public, and attract many visitors; and it is to be hoped that literary contributions from the colony descriptive of scenery and travel will largely increase. The lantern slides we have in this office are frequently made use of for illustrations, and photographs are also in request for this purpose. The ability to lend a batch of photographs to a contributor to a magazine is often the means of inducing an article to be written, and I hope that you will see that I am supplied with a few albums of photographs descriptive of scenery, industry, and colonial life generally. While on this point, I desire to express the opinion that the contributions to provincial newspapers of the personal experiences of persons who have settled in the colony are widely read, and are a capital means of circulating desirable information. Provincial newspapers seem to readily publish such articles, although the metropolitan newspapers, as a rule, will not do so. I often find that inquiries regarding the colony have been instituted through the reading of these oolonial sketches. The affording of improved travelling facilities and arrangements for the comfort of tourists rests with the Government and Eailway Commissioners; but, perhaps, I may be allowed to express an opinion that the colony has much to do in the way of promoting the convenience and comfort of tourists. I have lately asked Messrs. Cook and Son to make inquiries as to whether tourists travelling through them have any complaints to make with regard to the travelling facilities in the colony, and I shall address you further on this point on another occasion. 2. Persons with Fixed Incomes. This is a class of persons to which New Zealand offers many attractions. To a man of a fixed income of a few hundred pounds I know no place which offers so much. The cheap living, combined with educational and social advantages, renders New Zealand a most desirable place of residence to a very large class, who, for climatic and other reasons, cannot reside in England, and who prefer the society of Englishmen to that of foreigners. In a previous communication I have suggested for your consideration the question of removing the Customs duty on personal effects (other than new goods), which is quoted as a serious impediment to this class. Under the present

* This correspondence complies with No. 1 only of the motion ; return to No. 2, nil ; for return to No. 3, vide H.-25, -f t—r

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