D.—No. la.

12

CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE

Ship on the day named for embarkation on the Contract Ticket. As all boxes are put into the Hold of the Ship, and those marked " Wanted" can be got at about once a month during the voyage, the Emigrant should keep a supply of linen for immediate use in a canvas bag, which he can keep in his berth. I. E. Featheeston, 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., Agent-General for New Zealand. February, 1872. N.B. —No notice will be taken of any application, nor will any answer be returned to any inquiries, until the " Form of Application " is returned to this office, properly filled up and signed.

No. 9. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. (No. 149.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,-- Bth February, 1872. While I am very confident that a stream of emigration will, within the next three or four months, be commenced not only on the scale at present contemplated by the Government, but capable at any time of large and almost indefinite extension, there is one matter with respect to which I am not so sanguine—l mean a material reduction in the rate both of the emigrants passage and of the freight of the railway plant. The Government are aware that nearly the whole of the emigration to New Zealand from London has been for many years in the hands of Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co., and that Messrs. Henderson and Co. have, almost ever since the foundation of Otago (with the exception, I believe, of an interval of two years), conducted the emigration from Glasgow to Dunedin. This monopoly has enabled these two firms to charge whatever they thought fit, whether for emigrants or cargo. With the prospect of a large emigration and of the shipment of large quantities of railway plant, and with the certainty that almost all (if not all) the ships despatched to New Zealand will secure return cargoes, it seems unreasonable that the past rates should be maintained. All attempts (and they have been many) hitherto made to break up the monopoly have failed. No sooner does a firm start, or propose to start, a line, than Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co. either buy them off, by undertaking to charter their vessels, or induce them to abandon their opposition by threatening to reduce the freights to a rate that could not possibly pay. They have done this more than once since my arrival in England. It is only right to add that the two firms I have mentioned have performed the emigration service so efficiently and satisfactorily, that I have felt myself bound to use my best endeavours to induce them to continue the service on terms demanded by the change of circumstances. The concessions they are disposed to make I deem wholly inadequate, or rather, no concessions at all. I have, therefore, recently visited Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Bristol, explained to leading firms in each town the large operations in which the New Zealand Government are engaged, the resources of the Colony, and the magnitude of the trade now being developed, with the view of inducing them to enter into the field. Some of them have promised to send in tenders for the conveyance of both emigrants and railway plant. What the result may be remains to be seen ; but I think you will agree that, considering that the Government will be in a position to give every vessel a full complement of emigrants, as much dead weight as she can carry, and a considerable quantity of measurement goods, in the shape of locomotives, carriages, &c, I should not have been justified in entering into a contract with Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co., and Messrs. Henderson and Co., of Glasgow, without making every possible effort to induce other firms to take up the service. I am assured by Mr. A. Brogden that he will cordially co-operate with me in my endeavours to effect a reduction. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. W. Gisborne, Wellington, New Zealand. Agent-General.

No. 10. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. (No. 168.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 7th March, 1872. During my recent visit to Hamburg, I succeeded in definitely arranging, after some difficulty, the emigration contract with Messrs. Louis Knorr and Company, and have now the honor to forward a copy of it. Mr. Slomon, one of the wealthiest merchants and the largest shipowner in Hamburg, has made himself personally responsible for its due and faithful execution. Two ships, each capable of carrying from 300 to 350 adults, are already advertised to sail in the month of May, and I have promised to inspect the first vessel myself. Tou will observe that the Contractors are at liberty to send out the whole 2,000 emigrants as soon as they may find it convenient, but that they are bound to send out at least a number equal to 1,000 adults during the present season. I have, &c, I. E. Featheeston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, New Zealand. Agent-General.