D.—2

15

Under ordinary circumstances, I should offer it to a magazine to reprint, as is often done with papers read at institutes, and I do not doubt it would be accepted: but it has occurred to me that it would serve a better use if printed for distribution from this office. I have constant evidence of the desire for information concerning New Zealand later and less bulky than the Official Handbook. I have great pleasure in placing the paper at the disposal of the Government. The fact that it is written by me personally will relieve the Government from being identified with any of the opinions contained in it with which they may disagree. I subjoin a memorandum as to terms on which the printer is willing to publish it. If you will telegraph me the word " Institute," I shall understand you wish me to have it printed for the Government. I have, Ac., The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 16. Estimate for Eeprinting Paper on New Zealand (consisting of 3 sheets, demy Bvo., and wrapper). 1, 2, and 3, Oxford Court, 109 a, Cannon Street, E.C., 27th March, 1878. Printing 3,000 copies, and doing up in wrapper, £23 17s. Ditto 5,000 ditto, £36 Bs. Terms, cash net. Pro Unwin Beothees, J. W. WILTSHIEE.

No. 17. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. (No. 410.) Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., Ist May, 1878. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department for the past month of April. On the 26th of April I received your telegram instructing me that the first ships conveying emigrants for this year should arrive in the colony in October, and that you had concluded shipping contract with the New Zealand Shipping Company, leaving the contract for the shipping required from the Clyde to the Albion Shipping Company. I have communicated with the New Zealand Shipping Company on the subject, and have given them notice that I shall require ships, at the following dates, for the under-mentioned ports:— June 28 ... ... A ship for Wellington. July 10 ... ... ~ Auckland. „ 12 ... ... „ Hawke's Bay. ~ 17 ... ... „ Canterbury. „ 26 ... ... „ Nelson, Westland, Marlborough, and New Plymouth. I have also communicated with the Managing Director of the Albion Shipping Company, and have ascertained that the Company, while now unprepared to take emigrants at the rates named in their tender, are willing to do so at the rates accepted for the conveyance of emigrants from London and Plymouth. I shall propably arrange for a vessel to convey emigrants to Otago, sailing from the Clyde on the 10th July. Pending the receipt of your instructions by mail, I have abstained from issuing any application forms, as the conditions attached thereto might have to be altered as regards the immigration for the present year. I have, however, instructed Mr. Holloway to make his arrangements at once for visiting and obtaining emigrants in some of the agricultural districts. I do not anticipate much alteration in the circumstances usually attending the obtaining of emigrants. Although, at present, there is want of employment as regards a very large number of working men in tho United Kingdom; yet, as a rule, they do not belong to the classes required in New Zealand. Strikes in the North place a large number of artisans employed in cotton manufacture out of employ, and the decrease in the demand for iron manufactures creates a scarcity of employment amongst the ironworkers ; but these are not the emigrants required. As regards farm labourers, the present prospects of the English harvest, both hay and grain, are very favourable, so that the demand for their labour in this country will probably not be less than in previous years. The wages of domestic servants of experience are not any lower than they were. In the advertising columns of the Times I observe cooks requiring places naming from £20 to £30 a year as their rates of wage, so that the inducement held out by New Zealand by way of higher wages is not very strong. I shall, if not otherwise instructed, continue to offer free ships' outfits and free passes to the port of embarkation to single women who are domestic servants. Letters via San Francisco, dated up to the 2nd of March, were delivered at this office on the 16th of April. I have, Sea., The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.