D.—3

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moiety, and all other liberal assistance possible in getting discharge of the machinery, with every influence they can bear to load the vessel homeward, so that there may be an encouragement to continue in the trade. At present, the outward freight with home prospects will not pay all expenses. Coal (the heavy item) at the Cape at 70s. per ton, or higher rate, with the liberal way the vessel has been supplied with every needful provision, is so much heavier than sailing vessels, and is as well a sure guarantee of what we may continue to do, should there be the encouragement given that steam requires for this trial voyage, as well as in a liberal rate for emigrants for the future. You will remember that we could have got good employment after our promise to send this vessel to New Zealand, and offered the Agent-General £1,000 to cancel his engagement. At the time, we thought it hard it was not done, as no expenses had been incurred by Dr. Featherston; nevertheless, on the ship's part, everything has been done on the most liberal scale to command success. , I have, &c., J. Morrison and Co. Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co., Leadenhall Street.

No. 80. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1069.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 10th March, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 21st November (No. 262), and to inform you in reply that Mr. Seaton was paid up to the 31st May last, when his connection with this department came to an end. I therefore know nothing of any services performed by Mr. Seaton after that date. Mr. Seaton made no application to this office for his passage money, or it would have been advanced to him in accordance with instructions. I have, &c., I. E. Featherston, The Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.G., Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 81. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1083.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 11th March, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 18th December, 1873, No. 282, forwarding the report of the Immigration Commissioners at Wellington, upon the ship " Helen Denny," and calling my attention to various suggestions contained therein. I observe that a short allowance of flour was served out during the voyage, and that certain articles of the dietary scale for children were short shipped; that a claim was made by the Government, upon the agents of the ship, for the value of the flour; but that, finding that the captain supplied the short-shipped articles of dietary, or substitutes for them, from his own stores, you have made no claim upon this account. The attention of the Despatching Officer has been directed to the report upon this vessel, and to the short supplies complained of, in order that he may provide against similar defaults in the case of future vessels. I have, &c., I. E. Featherston, The Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.G., Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 82. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1083.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, "Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 19th March, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of Bth January, 1874, covering copies of the reports of the Immigration Officer and Commissioners at Auckland, upon the ship " Hindostan," which I am glad to find are of a satisfactory character. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.G., Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.