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Smythe having the sections ready, 1 then told F , S , and F to go and get a place cleared for their houses, and that the others would require to wait until the men came down from the Haast. I also put two pair of sawyers at work to cut timber for the houses, but when I went down I found that neither of the three above-mentioned parties had done anything towards clearing a space for their houses, and the reason given was that they did not understand about their boundary pegs. Of course that matter was easily settled, but I also found from M McP , the man in charge of the books, that their reason for refusing to work was that they objected to get their feet wet, and so put on their coats and left the work. 1 afterwards looked at the piece of ditching they were at, and really if it did go over their water-tights it is about all it would do. lam afraid they will make but indifferent settlers, and it is almost a pity that such good land should not have fallen into better hands. I have thrown open for selection twenty-eight sections besides the three already taken up, and I have appointed Monday, the 11th September, for receiving applications. By that time the others that live upon the Haast Track will be down, and they will then have no cause of complaint. lam putting up one uniform style of house —16 by 12, with 8-ft. wall, and shingle roof. Some of them wanted fourroomed houses; in fact, there appears to be no end to their wants, and with a happy indifference as to where tho money is to come from. Government at Wellington they appear to look upon as a special providence, and when any difficulty arises lam always referred to head-quarters. lam glad to report that Mr. Smythe has found nothing but fine country since he has been out. He is now camped up the Turnbull. I find that it will be necessary for me to visit the different points of settlement as often as I can, as a number of those people are almost like children. I have, &c, The Provincial Engineer, Hokitika. D. Macfarlane.
No. 16. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General. (No. 258.) Sm Immigration Office, Wellington, 14th December, 1876. I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of correspondence forwarded to me by Mr. Eolleston, with regard to the great demand for female domestic labour in Canterbury. Notwithstanding the completion of the emigration order for the year, I shall be glad if you will forward to Canterbury as many single women of good character who are suitable for domestic service as you can procure. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.
Enclosure 1 in No. 16. The Town Clerk, Christchurch, to W. Eolleston, Esq. Sir, City Council Office, Christchurch, Ist December, 1876. I have the honor, by direction of his Worship the Mayor, to ask you if you can say how many domestic servants are expected to come to Canterbury during the current year ? The want of female servants is grievously felt, and the supply hitherto has been wholly inadequate to meet the demand ; and his Worship would be glad to find that the Government have made liberal provision for the introduction of this class of immigrants. I have, &c, W. Haskins, W. Eolleston, Esq. Town Clerk.
Enclosure 2 in No. 16. The Immigration Officer, Christchurch, to W. Eolleston, Esq. Sir, — Immigration Office, Christchurch, sth December, 1876. Eeferring to the Mayor's letter to you on the supply of domestic servants, I think it right to mention that in every report of mine on the supply and demand of the labour market, 1 have prominently brought this subject forward. In my last quarterly report I stated, " Domestic servants are very much wanted, the supply being considerably short of the demand. I have applications now for over one hundred." From the letter I sent yesterday from the Agent-General, you will observe that there is great difficulty even at Home in obtaining good female domestic servants. It is true this letter was written some time since, but lam not aware that the difficulty has in any way diminished. Moreover, of the single women who do emigrate, only a small percentage are really domestic servants. I think it is well to look at these'facts, because I do not believe that the supply of female servants from Home is at all likely to be equal to the demand. A question often arises, what becomes of the large number of female servants introduced yearly ? No doubt a very large proportion of them marry and settle; this I proved some years ago from the Eegistrar's books. I ascertained then that for the three previous years 90 per cent, of the marriages had been from this class. I believe that a similar result would follow if the books were again examined. I have now applications for over 150 servants, and of those to arrive by the next ship (sixty in number) a large proportion are going to friends. I have entered somewhat fully into this subject, because I desire to lay before you the following points:— 1. The improbability of obtaining a supply of female servants from Home at all equal to the demand. 2. The necessity that exists for providing a supply. I need say nothing further on the first point. As
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