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means. But, as I said before, I altogether deny that there has been any real omission on the part of the General Government up to the present time. The truth is, that in all these matters where there is a divided responsibility, there is certain to be failure to some extent. It must come of necessity, without there being any fault at all; and certainly, as far as my experience goes, there has been every desire, both on the part of the General and Provincial Governments, all through, to do their utmost for those people who have been arriving in the colony in such large numbers. I say, myself, that I think a very great deal depends on the satisfactory settlement of the people. A man who has been one or two years in the colony is in an infinitely better position to take land than if we offer it to him on arrival; and I think he is much more likely to do good for himself than if he had been given land on the day he landed. Therefore Ido look Math very great confidence to the whole of these people being satisfactorily settled on the land, and really making homes for themselves in the country. Some attempts, too, have been made in the way of special settlements. The Feilding Settlement, to which my honorable friend the Native Minister referred, cannot of course in any way be regarded as a Government settlement; but I may say that it was a matter of arrangement between the two Governments and the Corporation which has been chiefly instrumental in bringing out the immigrants for that settlement. It would have been quite impossible for the settlement to have succeeded had not the Government rendered it every assistance in its power—and I may add that on many occasions it has given it very material assistance. That settlement is going on fairly, and I believe it will be a success; and Ido say that the Government may claim a very considerable amount of credit for the success of that settlement. There are at present, I believe, about 1,200 people resident at Feilding, about 770 of whom have been brought out by the Corporation. There is also the Stewart Settlement at Katikati, the first immigrants for which, as honorable gentlemen know, have just arrived : 280 of these people have gone to the settlement and selected their land. That settlement also, I believe, from the character of the people who have undertaken it, will prove a great success. Attempts have also been made to establish Scandinavian settlements in the Provinces of Hawke's Bay and Wellington; and these, lam glad to say, are progressing satisfactorily, the people displaying every desire to make homes for themselves. Another settlemeut has been established by my honorable friend the Superintendent of Nelson at Karamea, and reports laid on the table will, I think, convince the House that that attempt will show gratifying results before long. The Superintendent of Westland has formed a settlement at Jackson's Bay, in regard to which the highest expectations are formed, these expectations being justified by the reports laid on the table. In the Karamea Settlement there are 250 people. At Jackson's Bay there are not a large number at present. The last return only shows forty-eight people, but we are expecting a ship shortly, some of the families in which are to be sent there. Honorable gentlemen will see by the papers laid on the table that Sir Julius Vogel made proposals that we should introduce 25,000 immigrants this year, and intended to revert to promissory notes and assisted passages. The matter was considered by the Government here, and it was thought more; advisable to very considerably reduce the number, with a view of extending the balance of the money which this House has appropriated to immigration over a period of two years, and so as to be certain not in any way to run the risk of overdoing the labour market. "We therefore determined to continue free passages, to take no promissory notes, and to introduce only 13,000 immigrants during the year. The proportions which we propose to send to the various provinces are as follow :— Immigration Order tor Tear ending 30th April, 1876. Ordered. Despatched. Eemainder. Auckland ... ... ... 2,200 1,289| BlOf Taranaki ... ... ... 600 324| 275J Hawke's Bay ... ... ... 1,000 440 i 559^ Wellington ... ... ... 2,000 1,448 552 Marlborougli ... ... ~) Nelson ... ... 400 each 55 ■*■ 1,144 i Westland ... ... ) Dunedin ... ... ... 2,000 1,777* 222' Invenargill ... ... ... 1,000 506| 493^ Canterbury ... ... ... 3,000 1,249£ 1,750?,