45

D.—3

No. 71. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (Telegram.) London, 20th February, 1874. Three shipping firms combine, demanding £16 adult, payable here 250 guaranteed, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, 150 other ports. Had previously arranged ten March ships, £14 10s., fair rate. Firms will provide April ships, March rates pending decision Government. If offer accepted new rate commence Ist April. Ships sailed 10th, passage money £15, money payable Colony. Companies require whole paid here. • ****** ****** Vogel, Wellington. Featherston. The remainder of this telegram refers to matters unconnected with immigration.

No. 72. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1026.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 20th February, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 15th December (No. 279), covering copy of the report of the Immigration Commissioners at Port Chalmers, upon the ship " Zealandia," and to express my gratification at receiving so satisfactory an account. I have, &c., I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 73. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1027.)' 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 20th February, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 15th December (No. 278), forwarding copy of the report of the Immigration Commissioners at Port Chalmers, upon the ship " Jessie Readman," and to express my gratification therewith. I have, See., I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 74. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1034.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 20th February, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 24th December, 1873, No. 295, and to make the following observations on the subject thereof. It has been found extremely difficult at all times to obtain the complement of emigrants for any ship laid on for Auckland; and I fear, therefore, it will be almost impossible to carry out your instructions as to getting a reserve in advance of the ship. As pointed out in my letter of 13th January (No. 892), it is a matter of some difficulty to obtain a depot in London, or a suitable site for building one; and although I have made every exertion, I have hitherto failed to obtain what I require. I am in hopes, however, that I shall succeed in obtaining from the Admiralty a hulk, which will be fitted up as a depot and moored off Gravesend. The only plan at present is to place the emigrants in a lodging-house on shore, but there are many considerations, which will be at once obvious to you, against such a course. Not only are the emigrants, when thus lodged, removed from proper control, but there are many temptations to which they are exposed, especially in the case of young girls. Apart from this, there is always a liability of their contracting contagious and infectious diseases. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.G., Wellington, N.Z, Agent-General, 7.—D. 3.