D.—No. 12

No. 1. Circular to their Honors the Supebintendents of Peotinces and the Chaieman of the Countt Council of Westland. (No. 20.) Sic, — Public Works Office, Auckland, 22nd January, 1872. Having in view tho large demand for labour caused by the railway and other public works now being undertaken in the Colony, and the difficulty experienced in inducing a sufficient European immigration to supply that demand, the expediency of allowing railway contractors to employ Chinese labour to a limited extent has been suggested. Before adopting such a course, or taking any steps to carry it into practical effect, I shall be obliged by an expression of your Honor's opinion as to the general expediency of such a proposal as affecting your Province, and as to the extent to which Chinese labour should be introduced. I may state that it is already evident that the want of labour will prove a serious hindrance to the economical and rapid development of the public works scheme, and unless every available means of obtaining labour be temporarily adopted, until a sufficient flow of European immigration shall have been established, great difficulty and vexatious delays will be experienced in the execution of railways and other important works. I have, &c, J. D. Oemond, Minister for Public Works.

No. 2. His Honor T. B. G-illt.es to the Hon. J. D. Oemond. (No. 366.) Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 27th January, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular No. 20, of the 22nd instant, inviting an expression of my opinion as to the general expediency of allowing railway contractors to employ Chinese labour as affecting this Province, and as to the extent to which such labour should be introduced. In reply, I beg to state that I can see no good reason why railway contractors should be precluded from employing Chinese labour in the construction of public works if they think fit. The evidence taken by the Chinese Immigration Committee last Session, shows the Chinese to be an industrious, frugal, hard-working, orderly body of men. ISo doubt they will not become colonists, but the class of ordinary " navvies " are not likely, as a rule, to make good settlers. The objection that when the Chinese leave they abstract from the Colony their accumulated savings, is I think more than counterbalanced by the saving of capital to the Colony in the cheapened construction of works, enabling more works to be performed, and thus rendering the Colony a more eligible place of settlement for the real colonist who comes desirous of making a home for himself and his family. I quite agree with you, that if the proposed public works are to be carried on only by the introduction and employment of European immigrants, economical administration and rapid development of the public works scheme, which are so essential to its success, will be almost hopeless. I have, &c, Thomas B. Gillies, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Superintendent.

No. 3. His Honor E. A. Caeeington to the Hon. J. D. Oemond. (No. 391.) Sib, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 13th Eebruary, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular No. 20, 22nd January, 1872, in reference to allowing railway contractors to employ Chinese labour to a limited extent; and you ask my opinion on the matter, and, if assented to, " the extent to which Chinese labour should be introduced." In reply, I beg leave to say that, after consulting those who are best informed on the subject, and those who are interested in the well-being and prosperity of this Province, the general feeling is against the introduction of any large number of the Mongolian race. There is, however, no objection to a limited number being brought here, say to the extent of 100 or 150. I have, &c, Ebed. A. Caeeington, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. Superintendent.

PAPERS RELATING TO THE INTRODUCTION OF CHINESE LABOUR INTO NEW ZEALAND.