AGENT-GENERAL, LONDON.

D.—No. 1

49

heard of the Colony, and others associated it with Maori cannibalism. One day last summer, the gentleman in question entered a respectable house in the County of Ross, in wliich he found an aged couple, with grown-up sons and daughters, in complete idleness and very poor, their whole worldly possessions consisting of a few articles of furniture and a solitary cat. Accepting of their hospitality for a night, he requested the neighbours to be collected, that he might give them information about this Province and the Colony in general. They were greatly surprised when told of the climate, tho price of land, and the comforts enjoyed by the poorest here; and declared, with one accord, that they would emigrate as assisted passengers, but were totally at a loss how to obtain the necessary instructions. Many thousands are in the same position, and my informant recommends that the agents be supplied with Gaelic tracts for distribution among the people of these northern counties. But the great barrier to emigration from hence is the want of funds to defray their expenses to the port of embarkation. Nearer the centres of industries, he found considerable prejudices existing against the Province, no doubt in consequence of the discouraging letters sent occasionally to the newspapers, Last week a few Highlanders who deplore the condition of many of their countrymen, many of whom are in indigent circumstances, met privately, and it was thought desirable to send a memorial to the General Government, praying for the same conditions being granted to poor Highlanders as to Scandinavians. It was also suggested that a Highland Society be formed here, for the purpose of rendering assistance in clothing, and defraying their expenses to the port of embarkation. In the meantime, it was suggested that the matter should be ventilated in the Times, and your able assistance obtained to advocate the cause. I am, &o, Old Identity.

Enclosure 2 in No. 42. To the Honorable Mr. Reeves, Minister of Immigration and Public Works for the Middle Island. The Petition of the Undersigned, Humbly Sheweth,— That your petitioners, settlers in Otago, from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, would beg respectfully to bring before you the great desirability of including emigration from the Highlands and Islands, in the general scheme, and on a similar footing, as that from Scandinavia. To enable it to be carried out successfully, it would be necessary to appoint an agent to those parts, wdio could speak the Gaelic language, and who has been resident in the Colony for some time, in. order to set forth the advantages New Zealand offers to emigrants. While there is no doubt many would emigrate at their own expense, if the advantages which the Colony displays were properly represented, it is certain thousands of suitable emigrants would avail themselves of assisted passages. The Highlanders are well known to be good labourers and farm servants : the Islanders excel as fishermen, sailors, and crofters. Your petitioners would beg to bring before your Honor the anxiety which exists, among Highland proprietors, to have the people removed off the lands ; and there is reason to believe that if the Generai Government would call attention to the matter, Highland proprietors would not only co-operate with the agent appointed, but also would materially assist intending emigrants. That it is now well known that our coasts abound with an endless variety of edible fishes, and therefore the Islanders would find lucrative employment at their old calling, and thus materially help to develope a grand colonial industry, and thereby not only enrich the Colony, but also enable it to export largely that necessary article of food to foreign markets. Your petitioners, therefore, humbly suggest that your Honor would take the matter into consideration, for the introduction of this most desirable class of immigrants. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Duncan McColl, and 77 others.

Enclosure 2 in No. 42. Mr. T. W. Maude to Mr. D. McColl and Others. Office of the Resident Minister for the Middle Island, Gentlemen,— Christchurch, 11th June, 1872. I am directed by Mr. Reeves to acknowledge the receipt of your petition, relative to including emigration from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the general scheme, and on a similar footing as that from Scandanavia, and to inform you that the attention of tho Agent-General has already been directed to that part of North Britain which is pointed out by you, and he has been requested to offer such facilities for emigration from those parts as may appear to him to be required. I have, &c, Thomas W. Maude, - Secretary.

No. 43. Memorandum for the Agent-General, London. (No. 89,1872.) Public Works Office, Wellington, 6th July, 1872. In my memorandum of the 13th May, No. 55-72, I promised again to address you in reference to shipping matters, after receiving further information from yourself. In your letter of the 7th March, No. 175-72, you have reported the contract entered into with Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co., of London ; but up to the last advices no final arrangement has been come to as regards the emigration from Scotland. 13