D.—3

44

No. 67. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1016.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 19th February, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 255, dated 19th November, 1873, forwarding a copy of the Immigration Commissioners' report upon the ship " Hydaspes," which vessel you inform me arrived at Auckland on the 19th October. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.G., Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 6S. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1017.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 19th February, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 252, dated 18th November, 1873, in which you inform me that the Government have decided to permit, under certain circumstances, nominations by trade or calling to be made by persons desirous of availing themselves of the services of friends at home in the selection of emigrants for specific employment. I have also received copies of the applications and schedules authorized in such cases. , I have, &c., I. E. Featherston, The Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.G., Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 69. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1018.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 19th February, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 261, dated 20th November, 1873, forwarding copies of reports by the Immigration Commissioners and Immigration Officer upon the barque "Adamant," and copies of the evidence taken by the Commissioners with reference to complaints made by the immigrants respecting the short issue of provisions. I observe that in the case of this vessel, as well as in that of the " Punjaub," the captain had in his possession two dietary scales—one, that of Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co., the other, that of the New Zealand Shipping Company —and that he gave the victualling officer the former scale, a mistake which docs not appear to have been discovered until the ship had been at sea about a month. I am glad to learn that the Government claimed and recovered from the Shipping Company a sum of 7s. Bd. per statute adult on account of this short supply of rations. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.G., Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 70. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1019.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 19th February, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 251, dated 18th November, 1873, in which you refer to your previous letter No. 224, of 22nd October, and forward copy of further correspondence with Messrs. Levin and Co., agents for Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co., respecting the short supply of arrowroot and other stores to the immigrants on board the ship " Douglas." I am glad to learn that the Government have determined, in every similar case, to enforce strictly the terms of the charter-parties, and to require payment for all stores short supplied, in addition to taking such steps as they may be advised for breaches of the provisions of the Passengers Act. I have, &c., I. E. Featherston, The Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.G., Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.