51

D.—3

No. 87. The Agent-General to the Hon. J. Vogel. (No. 1157.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 17th April, 1874. Referring to your letter of 6th February (No. 18), forwarding copy of a telegram from His Honor the Superintendent of Nelson, relative to a direct supply of emigrants for that Province, I observe that the Government desire that a ship with emigrants should be sent to Nelson every month, whose complement should be made up of the 150 required for Nelson, and the balance for Marlborough. Every effort shall be made to give effect to your instructions in this matter. I have already fixed the ship " Adamant" to sail with emigrants for Nelson on the sth May, from Plymouth, and I hope to be able to forward by this vessel about 250 adults. I have, &c., I. E. Featherston, The Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.G., Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 88. The Agent-General to the Hon. J. Vogel. (No. 1185.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 17th April, 1874. I have the honor to forward, for the consideration of the Government, copy of a letter addressed to me by Miss Perry, 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. I am glad to be able to report very favourably as to the character of the work done by this Society, in the selection of matrons for emigrant vessels, the supply of needlework materials at reduced prices for the use of single female emigrants, and in the gratuitous supply of clothing (in special cases) to necessitous families and single women. I desire also to acknowledge the valuable services rendered by the Secretary, Miss Caroline Tipple, who visits the emigrant ships both in dock and at Gravesend—frequently in very inclement weather; assists the matrons, some of whom are inexperienced persons; and otherwise exerts a very beneficial influence in the conduct of female emigration to the Colony. I shall be glad to learn that the Government is able to make a substantial contribution to the Society's funds. Probably a yearly subscription of 100 guineas during the continuance of the emigration would meet the necessities of the case. I have, &c., I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 88. Miss Perry to the Agent-General. Dear Sir, — 111, Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, December, 1873. I am desired by the Committee of the British Ladies' Female Emigrant Society to call your attention to the work carried on by them during the last twelve months, especially as regards the emigrants to New Zealand. No less than forty-one emigrant ships have sailed for New Zealand since Ist January, 1873, and the number will most probably be made up to forty-four before the end of the year. Nearly all of them have been visited two or three times by the Society's Agent, not in the docks only, but at Gravesend also, where she frequently spends the day going from one ship to another. The appointment of emigrant matrons has long been required as an essential element in any arrangements for the successful and satisfactory conduct of female emigration. But inasmuch as the New Zealand Government docs not employ permanent matrons, the Agent of the Society has generally been deputed to make the selection of the most competent from among the emigrants themselves. Upon her also depends the responsibility of instructing them in the duties of their office, —reading over the rules and regulations with them, explaining such parts as their ignorance of life on board ship makes it difficult for them to understand, and giving them such advice for managing them as her experience may suggest. All the materials for work are provided, and the boxes supplied, packed, and forwarded to the several ships, through the Society. The Committee beg it may be understood that they do not complain of the increase of work undertaken by them and their Agent—it was for such work the Society was originally formed, and it has been a pleasure to them to engage in it; but the growth of emigration, more particularly in connection with New Zealand, involves so great an increase in the expenditure, that the present funds are quite inadequate to bear it, and this must be their excuse for bringing the subject under your notice. It moreover should be borne in mind that it is the Colonies themselves, and not the mother