SWELLING THE POPULATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3437, 31 January 1912, Page 5

SWELLING THE POPULATION.

MAMARI BRINGS RECORD BATCH. DOMESTICS AND FARMERS PREDOMINATE. [SPECIAL TO TIMES.J AUCKLAND, Jan. 30. The Marari coming into port last night brought out a record crowd of 533 immigrants, of whom 490 , were assisted. The batch of immigrants, to judge from outward appearances, are of an unusually good stamp, and should make good citizens in their new home. The majority are from Scotland and Ireland, rather than from England, and farmers are numerous, especially among the Scotch. Almost half of the entire party is composed of housewives, with and without families, coming to join husbands who have already .made their way in this country, and this fact renders the work of the labor officials considerably lighter than might, be expected, as the necessity for finding employment is absent in these cases. The number of wives coming to meet their husbands is 51. Of the 143 male passengers all but one have given their occupation as farming, though it might be doubted in some cases that this is' a perfectly correct statement of their case. The exception is a solitary “laborer.” A proportion are bringing their families with them, but the greater part are unattached, and possess the necessary £lO capital, but no more. An exception is one farmer with a capital of £3OO. Unattached girls classed as “domestic” number 100, and are under the charge of a matron and an assistant matron., the majority of these having a capital of under £5. Some have come out to the. care of friends, while others are anxious to get into service as early as possible. They are generally a good stamp, and should have no difficulty in finding employment. A small proportion have been engaged in advance, while 31, or nearly one-third, have booked for Auckland. A total of 39 classed as farm hands intend to make their home in this district, and a large number of wives and families are landing for this part of the country. The party for Taranaki left for New Plymouth by the Rarawa this afternoon, and those for Westport, Lyttelton and Dunedin leave by the Talune, and those foi 1 Gisborne and Napier by the Tarawera. The Wellington party left by to-night’s express. In all 151 adults and 99 children were nominated by relations in the Dominion, and 215 adults and 25 children were approved by the High Commissioner.