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I have already, in my telegram of 7th May, and in my letter No. 129, of 7th May, placed you in possession of the views of the Government with regard to the appointment of Mrs. Howard, and the action taken by that person. As I presume that long before this you have dispensed with her services, it is not necessary that I should make any further comments. I am glad to receive your assurance that the returns about to be forwarded to me will show that a fair proportion of Irish emigrants have been secured. I have, &c., The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel.

No. 80. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Agent-General. (No. 160.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 12th June, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 1185, of 17th April, 1874, enclosing copy of a communication addressed to you by the Honorary Secretary of the British Ladies' Female Emigrant Society, in which an application is made for a grant of money in aid of the funds of the Society, and also the 25th Annual Report of the Society. I have read with much interest your letter and the enclosure ; and fully recognizing the very valuable character of the work of the Society, I have great pleasure in authorizing an annual subscription of 100 guineas, in accordance with your recommendation, so long as emigration to this Colony continues upon the present large scale; and I desire that you will convey to the Society the thanks of the Government of New Zealand for the beneficial influence exercised in the conduct of female emigration. I observe with regret, in the Annual Report, that the Plymouth and Stonehouse Auxiliary branch of the Society has been dissolved, principally, it would appear, owing to the fact that for some time past1 the ladies of the Plymouth Committee and their agent had been refused admission into the depot. This was probably before the Government had anything to do with the depot; but in the event of the branch being re-organized, I trust you will give positive instructions that the ladies and their agent shall have at all times free access to the emigrants. I have, &c., The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel.

No. 81. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Agent-General. (No. 162.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 13th June, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 1203, of 17th April, 1874, in which you refer to my letter of 6th February relative to Mr. Carter's meeting in Oxfordshire, explaining the action you have taken with regard to the several Agricultural Labourers' Unions. I am glad to hear that you have been in constant communication with the Executive Committees of these bodies, and have lost no opportunity of enlisting their interest in New Zealand as a suitable field for emigration. I look for the happiest results from the settlement in the Colony of respectable labourers from the agricultural districts of England. I have, &c., The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel.

No. 82. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Agent-General. (No. 164.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 15th June, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 1145, of 16th April, 1874, referring to the s.s. " Atrato," and explaining the reasons which induced you to charter that vessel, notwithstanding her unlucky antecedents. Whilst perfectly satisfied with your explanation that you were justified in taking up the " Atrato" by the official report of the Secretary of the Board of Trade, I still think that her reputation renders her an undesirable ship for future employment in the conveyance of emigrants to this Colony. I have, &c., The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel.