WITH THE AGENT-GENERAL.

D.—No. Ic.

5

most useful in going through the people and explaining matters, writes that in his opinion a very great muster will go during the ensuing year, i.e., after letters are received from those going now. From that I went to Sir John Stuart's (the Vice-Chancellor), at Court Hill, Loch Carron. The old man was much interested in the scheme. At his village I had a very large meeting, to whom I spoke as usual for one hour and a half or so. Here I appointed Mr. Macrae, Postmaster, as agent. I should mention that I had provided myself with Messrs. W. and A. K. Johnston's guinea map of New Zealand, which was duly hung up in churches, school-halls, &c, wherever I went. I consider this a great help, especially among such populations as those to whom I went. The following day I addressed a large school in the same village, at Sir John's request, and thence went to Strome Ferry, to join the Skye steamer. At Portree the steamer arrived about 8 p.m. I saw Mr. Macdonald, the bank manager there. He is also agent for the chief proprietors in Skye, and I had formerly been given to understand that he was the only person who would be suitable as an agent in this largo Island. The steamer for Stornoway left soon after midnight, and arrived there next morning. On Sunday I had two services in a very large church, and called attention to New Zealand by a short address on church work. On Monday I had a meeting of about 800 in Stornoway, and during the week had five other meetings, with one exception (where there had been a blunder in intimating it), all very largely attended. This was the more noteworthy because, except in Stornoway, I had always to speak through an interpreter. Drs. Miller and Macrae, the medical men in Stornoway, were appointed agents, upon strong recommendation. The Island is very large, perhaps 600 square miles; but as a very great proportion of it is irreclaimable peat moss, as a great part of it is unfitted for anything save deer-forests and inferior sheep-walks, and as the climate is most uncertain, its population of 24,000 is too great. Sir James Matheson, who is sole proprietor, would gladly help any emigration scheme, but he must act very cautiously, as, if the people, who are very unwilling to leave their misty island, thought he wished them to go, they would be still more set against emigration. The Highland clearances, often cruelly carried out about forty or fifty years ago, have not been forgotten, and have rendered the people very suspicious of all emigration schemes. Thence I came by mail steamer to Ullapool, where I could only take advantage of a church service on the evening of a week-day to address some people. In winter the coach to Garve being only three times a week, and Ullapool not being a likely place, I thought it needless to wait, though it seemed advisable to ask Mr. James Munro, sub-factor to Sir James Matheson, to act as agent. Thence to Garve, 32 miles, by coach. Here, in the train, I met Sir John Stuart, from whom I learned that Sir Kenneth McKenzie was not at home (Conan House, near Dingwall). I had intended to consult him about emigration from Gairloch, his West Coast property, so I went on to Inverness, where I met him; also Mr. Matheson, M.P., and a Mr. Fraser, of Kilmuir, in Skye. Since then I have had a letter from Sir Kenneth, in reply to one from me asking more definitely on what terms he would assist some of his people to emigrate. His reply I sent to the London office. I acknowledged his letter, and asked him to make known those terms to Dr. Robertson, agent in Gairloch. After a good deal of correspondence, and conferring with Mr. Sinclair, factor on Invermoriston, and a lecture at Nairn, fifteen miles east of Inverness, I returned to Edinburgh about the 15th February. There I resumed writing my New Zealand pamphlet, which, from having to attend to correspondence at the same time, and from an earnest desire to make it truthful and impartial, took me much longer to write than I expected it would have done. Five thousand copies were printed, and a second 5,000 have just been printed. As soon as it was through the press, I left for Aberdeenshire, about 10th April. There I had meetings at Cruden, Ellon, Mongubritter, and Aberclurder (in Banffshire), Turriff, and New Deer; all very well attended. At Ellon, Aberclurder, Turriff, and New Deer, I appointed agents, and supplied them with bills, &c. I also made arrangements for the sale of my pamphlet in every place I went to. It was published by Menzies, in Edinburgh, who supplies many booksellers, great and small, also railway and book-stalls through the country. On the 30th I had to run up to Edinburgh, as a venerable and much-loved relative died suddenly on the 27th. I left again, on the 11th May, for Inverness, to meet Mr. Morrison, from London, where also I met Mr. Seaton, from Otago. Being desirous to see Mr. Matheson, M.P., specially in regard to his desire that I should reside in Inverness and not in Edinburgh, I waited there till Friday. On "Wednesday, however, I had a capital meeting at Ferintosh, in the Black Isle, near Dingwall; a small meeting at Invergordon ; then on Friday a small meeting at Auldearn, near Nairn, where an uncle of mine had been clergyman for many years. Thence to Old Deer, in Aberdeenshire, nearly 100 miles, on Saturday. On Sunday, I had two services in two separate churches, and on Monday a meeting which was very good, in spite of heavy rain. On Tuesday I drove ten miles to St. Fergus, on the coast north of Peterhead, where I had a meeting. Thence through Strichen, where I did some work but had no meeting, to Aberdour House to rest. Here I remained with my brother two days, going on Saturday sixty or seventy miles to Banchory, on Deeside. There I had service on Sunday, and held a meeting on Monday. On Tuesday I went by train and gig to Farland, where I had a very small meeting. At all these places I appointed local agents. On Thursday I came to Aberdeen, where I had a long conversation with Mr. Cook, the agent, and also inquired at various advertising agencies how we could give greater publicity to our scheme. On Friday I went to Auchterless, my native parish, near Tarriff, and had a capital meeting, a good many ploughmen being present, a class whom it is difficult to get to come to meetings of any kind. However, first to last, I have had a good many present at these meetings. On Sunday I had service at Tarriff, and on Monday a meeting at King Edward to the north. I. came again to Edinburgh on Thursday, 6th June, and have since been writing up correspondence. I have also received the translation of my New Zealand pamphlet into Gaelic, and have put it into the hands of Maclachlan and Stewart, who do nearly all the Gaelic printing here. There will be 1,000 printed at first, and the types will stand for a month or six weeks. It will be given away by the agents in Gaelic districts, and I shall advise them to give with discretion. It has been translated by F. Macdonell, at