A—No. 3

Enclosure 1 in No. 72. EXTRACT FROM A REPORT OS IMMIGRATION, BY COLIN ALLAN, IMMIGRATION AGENT, WHICH WAS rt'IiLISHtD IN THE OTAGO PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, DATED NOVEMBKU IiTH, 1861. Immigration Department, 14th October, 1861. Sir,— I beg respectfully to forward to jour Honor the following Report on the state of the Home Immigration Scheme. 1. State of the Labour Market. About the end of July and the mouth of September the ships " Storm Cloud," "Pladda" and "Robert Henderson," arrived with an aggregate number of 963 passengers of whom 609 were assisted immigrants. (After alluding to their sanitary condition on arrival, the following paragraph, to which attention is directed, occurs) "The Immigrants themselves were of a good class and admirably suited to the requiremento "of the Colony. Though the former ship arrived at a time when the excitement consequent on " the discovery of the Tuapeka Gold Fields had well nigh drawn away the male population of the " town, and matters were in a most unsettled state," and the " Pladda" when thousands were pouring in like a flood from the neighbouring Colonies, yet the demand for such labour as the homo ships bring us seemed greater than ever, and the living freights of both were soon disposed of. Very few went to the diggings, the great bulk having taken service in town and country. I may here notice that farmers and run-holders entertain a prejudice (from what cause I am unable to say) against engaging immigrants from the other Colonies as shepherds and farm servants; the preference being always given to those from the Mother country. I have, &c, Colin Allan, His Honor the Superintendent, Immigration Agent* Otago.

Enclosure 2 in No. 72. Superintendent's Office, Southland, 17th December, 18GI. Sir, — I have the honor to request that you will proceed to lay on a vessel of sufficient capacity to carry about two hundred passengers, to sail from the Clyde, about May, for New River (where, by the time she arrives, I trust a powerful steam tug will have been established), or, if she will not come into the New River, then to the Hluff. It has been determined that the Immigrants shall be shipped, as far as practicable, in the following proportions, viz : — Ist Four-tenths to be persons whose friends here guarantee their passage money. 2nd. Three-tenths of those who pay half the passage money in Britain, and give a promissory note for the remainder here. 3rd. Three-tenths of those who pay their own passage money, and are consequently free im migrants. Of the second class, passages should be given only to families, as far as possible (of whom large families, consisting chiefly or largely of females, will have a preference) and females of good character. The surgeon and matron must be selected with caution ; firmness and good character being indispensible, in both cases, to protect the female passengers from the demoralizing influences incident; to an immigrant ship. I have to request also that due notice of the intended departure of the vessel shall be published in several newspapers in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Perth, together with the accommodation, destination, fares, &c, &c. About nine hundred and fifty pounds will be sent by next mail, in case you may not find charterers willing to accept payment on the arrival of the vessel here. Those who are willing to do so, other things being equal, will of course receive a preference. It is necessary that all promissory notes granted by immigrants should be made payable, within twelve months after the arrival here of the vessel, to Nathaniel Chalmers, Esq., Provincial Treasurer, at the Bank of New South Wales here, in order to ensure their validity, I enclose original certificates, duplicate copies of which will be presented to you or your agents by intending Immigrants, for sundry Emigrants, whose friends here have guaranteed their passage money, one being a second cabin passage ; and, as a precautionary measure, a detailed account of all certificates granted will be forwarded to you by auy mail succeeding that by which original certificates have been sent you. I have, &c,, James R. Menzies, John Morrison, Esq., Superintendent, London.

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