D.~No. 7.

4

MIDDLE ISLAND.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RECEPTION AND DISPOSAL OF IMMIGRANTS ON ARBIVAL. . A uniform system haß been adopted, whereby each ship is inspected by duly-appointed officers, and enquiries are carefully made as to the mode of treatment aud accommodation of the Immigrants on the voyage. The gratuities to the officers of the ship depend upon the favorable nature of this report. After the inspection, the Immigrants are conveyed to the Barracks, and accommodation is afforded them there for seven days. A uniform system has been adopted with regard to provisions, daily rations being supplied at a cost per statute adult of 5Jd in Canterbury, and s^d in Otago. The ration consists of lib. bread, lib. meat, lib. potatoes, joz. tea, 2ozs. sugar, and Joz. of salt. The cost of keep, therefore, of Immigrants in Barracks is very small, as the greater portion of them find employment a few days after arrival. It is the duty of the Immigration Officer for the province to endeavor to obtain suitable situations for Immigrants to arrive, and for this purpose applications are received by him from employers for some time previous to the arrival of a ship. It has not been found necessary at present to establish a regular system of labor exchange throughout the Island, but it may be found expedient to do so if the number of Immigrants is largely increased.

NOMINATED IMMIGRATION. The regulations for the introduction of Immigrants on the nomination of friends in the colony have been found to work satisfactorily. I forward returns of applications made during the past twelve months. (Enclosure Number 4.) I apprehend a large increase in this branch of Immigration. It affords me much pleasure to testify to the care and attention given to the working of the Immigration Regulations by the officers of the department throughout the Island. I have, &c, J. Edwin Maech, The Hon. the Eesident Minister. Chief Immigration Officer for the Middle Island.