THE AGENT-GENERAL, LONDON.

11

B.—No. 1b

I only arrived here this morning, and start in a few hours for Christiana, having just been advised by telegram that the " Hodvig" will be ready to sail on the 30th inst., with, I understand a full complement of Norwegians. She will proceed direct to Napier. Mr. Moeller, of the firm of Messrs. Galbraith & Co., of London, will meet me at Christiana to make further shipping arrangements for sending the emigrants direct from Christinia. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. I. E. Featheeston. P.S.—Mr. Horneman is very indignant at the complaints of the Danish immigrants by the " England," and promises the proofs of their utter untruth, referred to in his note, of which a copy has been sent you by this mail.*

* let received.

Enclosure in No. 10. Mr. C. E. Caetee to Agent-Geneeal for New Zealand. 7, Westminster Chambers, Sib,— London, S.W., 22nd May, 1872. I have the honor to report to you my proceedings in various parts of England in the selection of emigrants from the laboring men who had sent in applications to be employed by John Brogden and Sons in New Zealand. There being a strike for higher wages amongst the agricultural laborers in Warwickshire, it was thought desirable that I should proceed to the head quarters of the agitation at Leamington. In conjunction with Mr. A. Brogden, I proceeded there, and attended the'great gathering of farm laborers which took place in the Town Hall of that town on the 29th March last, but the excitement about the " Union" was so great that, I regret to say, these sturdy and well behaved laborers could not be induced to attend a meeting we had called to explain to them the benefits to be derived from immigration to New Zealand. A Canadian lecturer, offering free grants of land, was equally unsuccessful. However, next day we made arrangements for a future meeting, and after all I was able to select twelve adults for the " Schiehallion." Two days after this, on the Ist April, in conformity with your expressed wish I visited Falmouth for the purpose of securing a further and larger number of emigrants to make up the complement required for the ship " Schiehallion," fixed to sail on the 9th April. Out of the number who applied at Falmouth I selected sixty adults, who were examined and passed on the spot by a thoroughly competent surgeon, engaged and paid by the Messrs. Brogden. I may be allowed here to remark that the men assembled had come from various towns and villages near Falmouth in Cornwall. The extreme poverty of the great majority of these people was apparent. They had been accustomed to receive such low rates of wages that, as they informed me, the majority of them were utterly unable to save money. They had food and raiment it is true, but in a very scanty degree. They could not pay £1 for their bedding and cooking utensils, nor provide an outfit and pay their railway fare to London. They and many more were willing to emigrate on the conditions laid down by the Messrs. Brogden if the latter would provide their " kit," outfit, and fare to London. This the Agent of the Messrs. Brogden agreed to do, and it was entirely owing to this pecuniary arrangement that I succeeded in obtaining the number of persons I did. From Falmouth I went to Plymouth, where the Agent had selected a few more under similar arrangements. I then returned to London, and a small number from there, with about a dozen from Staffordshire, made up the number required for the " Schiehallion." The Messrs Brogden being desirous of sending a number of men out in the " Halcione " to sail on the 26th April. I was instructed by you to return to Warwickshire, where at Leamington I selected fifty two-adults who sailed in the last named ship. A still larger number of men being required to proceed to Auckland under engagement to Messrs. Brogden I was directed by you to at once proceed to such places as they might indicate as stations where they would cause the men to be assembled. I accordingly left London on the 6th May, and arrived at Burslem in Staffordshire, where, in the evening of the same daylapproved of twenty adults, the first of the large party to sail in the " City of Auckland" for Auckland on the 28th May. On the same night I left Burslem and crossed the country to Plymouth, in which town I next day, the 7th May, selected fifteen married couples, thirteen single men, which with sixteen children, made a total of fifty-one adults. On the Bth I was in Falmouth and accepted thirty-two adults. During the evening of the Bth I went to Truro and arranged for a meeting in the Town Hall there. Next day, the 9th, I proceeded to Eedruth, a small country town, where I secured fifty-four adults. Late in afternoon of this day I returned to Truro, and in the evening held a meeting in the Public Hall, and was enabled to pass and accept twenty-six adults. The total number thus accepted was 183 adults. On the following morning, the 10th of May, I returned to London, having each day previously informed you by telegram of the daily results of my endeavors.. After my return from the last journey just named, I had your instructions to go to the North of England, and during last week I visited Ulverston, in Lancashire, and Whitehaven, in Cumberland. The result of this visit was that I approved of about sixty adults—the most of whom I have arranged should go in the June vessel to such port as you and the Messrs Brogden may decide on. In addition to these I have selected about thirty-two in London. I give below an analysis of the emigrants I have selected, arranged in a tabulated form.