D.—2

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly, by Command of His Excellency. No. 1. The Agent-G-.enebaTj to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (No. 530.) Report for Month of May. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,— 7th June, 1877. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of May. The undermentioned ships were despatched with emigrants during the month: — On May sth, the ship " Waikato," from Plymouth to Port Lyttelton, with 143 souls, equal to 127 adults. Of these, 93 were single women, the remaining number comprising 11 families, two of whom were to be forwarded to Wellington. On May 4th, the ship " Columbia," conveying 26 souls, equal to 20J- adults, for Hawke's Bay, via Auckland. About 48 souls, equal to 38 adults, selected through the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation, will be despatched to Wellington via Port Lyttelton by the ship " Waimate." Some difficulty was experienced in obtaining shipping from the New Zealand Shipping Company for these emigrants, as the direct ship, the " Orari," was engaged to take a larger quantity of deadweight than the Despatching Officer approved, and also a consignment of Government cartridges were waiting for shipment to the same port. I therefore found it expedient to make a special arrangement for the conveyance of these emigrants to Wellington, particulars of which I give in a separate letter. The Premier's telegram, giving me instructions as to the amount and description of emigration for this year, was received on the 21st May. As, from the fact that emigration operations had almost entirely ceased for the last five months, it was of great importance that the intelligence of tho resumption of emigration should be circulated as speedily and widely as possible, I at once, by means of Eeutor's Telegram Office, procured the insertion of a paragraph giving the substance of the telegram in nearly all the newspapers of the United Kingdom. This was all the more important as, on account of the comparatively late date at which the instructions have been received, and the small number of classes of labour to which the choice of emigrants to be sent out is to be limited, much difficulty will probably ensue in obtaining the full numbers within the time mentioned, particularly as, now that the fine weather has commenced, and hay and corn harvest is fast approaching, the class and quality of labour most required in New Zealand will also be in great demand in the United Kingdom. I have inserted short advertisements, announcing that n.nigrants will be sent out during the summer and autumn months, in a large number of newspapers, and have also issued short advertisements more particularly addressed to domestic servants, farm labourers, &c, in the country newspapers. The Local Agents have also been informed that they can send in applications, and the persons nominated are being communicated with as speedily as possible. The result of these and other steps taken has shown itself by my receiving a largely increased number of applications, of which only a percentage can be regarded prima facie as eligible. Much valuable time is taken up, as you may imagine, by applications for all kinds of appointments, »which the applicants consider will become necessary on account of the resumption of emigration. In selecting emigrants for this year, I intend, except under very exceptional circumstances, to give free passages only to those persons whose vocations are those named by you, and also to limit the number of children (including infants) under twelve years of age to three to each family, except, in accordance with your directions, where they are nominated from the colony. As regards the shipping arrangements, I have to report that, after some negotiation, the Albion Company have undertaken the emigration from the Clyde to Port Chalmers and the Bluff. I give below a statement showing the approximate dates of sailing, destinations, and ports of embarkation, and to which I intend to adhere as far as possible. The vessels put down as starting I—D. 2.

1878. NEW ZEALAND. EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (LETTERS FROM THE AGENT-GENERAL.)