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and South of Ireland, via London, Plymouth, and the Clyde, respectively, and to thank you for the same. This return shows that the Clyde is the most convenient port for emigrants coming from the North, and Plymouth the most convenient for those coming from the South of Ireland. I have therefore to request that you will arrange to send as many as possible from the South of Ireland by way of Plymouth, and from the North of Ireland by way of the Clyde, from which port most of the Scotch emigrants will no doubt also sail. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. D. Eeid.

No. 35. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General. (No. 97.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 21st May, 1877. Eeferring to your letter of the sth February last on the subject of the Belfast agency, I have the honor to request that you will be good enough to make arrangements for conducting the Belfast agency under the directions of Mr. Ottywell, as proposed in your letter, and for shipping the emigrants from Ireland at the Clyde and at Plymouth respectively. I have, &c. The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. D. Eeid.

No. 36. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General. (No. 103.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 25th May, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th April ultimo, .No. 302, enclosing extract from a telegram addressed by you on the same day to the Hon. the Premier, asking for instructions on the subject of immigration. In reply, I now enclose copy of that portion of a telegram sent to you by the Hon. the Premier on the 19th instant, which relates to the subject of immigration. I need not inform you that there is no more desirable class of immigrants to this colony than single women if judiciously selected. The demand for female servants is the one point upon which there is a generai agreement in the reports from all parts of the colony, and I hope you will do what may be m your power to supply to some extent this demand, by sending as large a proportion as possible of suitable single women. In addition to the particulars mentioned in the telegram already sent you, it maybe desirable that you should note some of the points referred to by the Immigration Officers in different places. In Auckland it is reported that there is some demand for bricklayers, masons, carpenters, painters, shepherds, and ploughmen, as well as for a few men accustomed to the coarse potteries. In Wellington difficulty has been found in disposing of married men with families. This no doubt arises partly from the want of accommodation for the families when the men are employed on road work; and it is desirable that as few families of young children as possible should bo sent to Wellington unless they happen to be nominated. In Hawke's Bay the demand is chiefly for single men and women, and it is recommended that the number for this part of the colony should be sent in two ships to arrive in the months of November and December. Iv Dunedin there is a good demand for farm servants, and to a limited extent for carpenters and bricklayers. It is desired that the first ship for Dunedin should arrive as soon after the middle of September as can be arranged. The Immigration Officer at Nelson asks for a supply of twenty-five female servants every three months. With regard to Canterbury, I enclose a copy of a careful statement made by the Immigration Officer there, showing the classes of immigrants that he recommends, and the times suggested for the sailing and arrival of vessels. This statement is based on an estimate of 2,000 immigrants ; but it will assist you in determining the proportions of the different classes. In conclusion, I wish to urge the great desirability of sending nominated immigrants in preference to all others. The suitability of the persons sent out seems more likely to be insured by this system than by any other means, aud I hope you will use every effort to obtain as large a number of nominated immigrants as possible in proportion to the whole number sent out. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Lealand, London. D. Eeid. P.S. —The times of sailing of the ships should be so arranged that none shall arrive in the colony later than February, unless the passengers are nominated.

Enclosure 1 in No. 36. Copy of Telegram, dated 19th May, 1877, Wellington, sent by the Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. Wellington, 19th May, 1877. Send during year five thousand emigrants. Auckland, four hundred ; Taranaki, one ; Wellington, four ;