D.—2.

16

No. 13. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 425.) Sic, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 21st May, 187 S. I do myself the honor of renewing the representation which I have more than once previously made as to the expediency and practicability of promoting from this country the emigration of a most useful class of colonists —persons possessed of moderate capital and of a knowledge of farming, and prepared to devote both their capital and ability to agricultural pursuits. I am convinced that, if facilities were offered to persons of this class to obtain land before they leave, on easy terms of payment, and to procure passages to the colony of a somewhat more comfortable nature than those provided to ordinary emigrants, numbers would avail themselves of the opportunity. There is another class of persons, of whom the number is very large, to whom the colony might be a favoured home. I allude to the growing youths of this country whose parents are unable to find for them a career here. Persons of moderate capital or with fixed incomes of even a considerable extent are unable to know what to do with their sons, for the demand for employment here in almost every class of life is less than the supply. Besides, to the manly youths of Great Britain outdoor life, such as that of farming in New Zealand, possesses incomparably more attraction than sedentary occupations. Ido not see why the Government should leave to private speculators the profits of special settlements when it might itself do all that is required. As what I have written before may not have been sufficiently precise, I now venture to submit a more detailed plan. Let the Government put apart a tract of good agricultural land of from 30,000 to 50,000 acres in extent —it need not be in one block; several blocks would answer equally well. Let the land be surveyed, and authorize me to dispose of this land to emigrants of a desirable character. I feel sure I could procure suitable emigrants. In fairness to the people already in the colony, I am of opinion that a larger price should be paid for this land by purchasers here than they would have to do if they risked a visit to the colony before purchasing. I think so much an acre should be added to the price which would have to be paid in the colony. These payments should be deferred, on the usual rates of interest, and the terms might be made to include passage-money. Eor example, a family desires to emigrate, and wants 200 acres. The cost of the land, with deferred payments, let us say, represents X, and the cost of the passage, say, T. These added together, after deducting the cash payments, could be divided over a term of years, or it might be required that the passage be paid in full, and a less cash deposit be required on the land. As the possession of capital to work the land would be a necessity, it might be stipulated that the emigrant should remit through the Government a certain amount, to be available for his use after his arrival. Under these terms some young men might be allowed to emigrate. To meet the case of young men possessing strength and capital, but wanting experience and knowledge, I venture to suggest, as an experiment, that a few, say, twenty, be received at the Agricultural School which is, I believe, to be formed at Canterbury, on terms which will comprise a payment for their education and for a piece of land at the end of the time, when they may have gained sufficient knowledge to practically deal with it. I should be glad to be placed in a position to carry out these views, because I am sure that I should be able by their fulfilment to benefit the colony. I have, Sec, Julius Vogel, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 19. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 419.) Sic, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 21st May, 1878. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th of March. It is, of course, a subject of great regret to me that you find the emigrants sent from Scotland during the last year were not equal to those sent in former times. I gather from your letter that the emigrants from Ireland have not shown themselves equal to those from Scotland. Since the amalgamation of the Scotch and Irish immigration, nearly the whole of the Irish immigration has been of necessity sent to Otago, as, with two exceptions, the Scotch vessels proceeded there. lam sorry to say that the Irish agents do not exercise that caution in the selection of emigrants which they might and ought to do. It would be impossible for me to say one word against the Irish people, of whose warm-hearted temperament and great natural ability I have been all my life an admirer, and amongst whom I count many intimate friends. But, as I have said, the agents are not sufficiently cautious and sensible of the responsibility devolving on them. There is something to be urged in their defence ; their task of selection is unusually difficult, because of the fact that, during the last two years, Ireland has been so prosperous as to offer great inducements to its most valuable population to remain at home. It has for some time been a common remark that the only two European countries in a prosperous condition are France and Ireland. Tou will readily see how much the inducements within a country militate against obtaining as emigrants the best of its population, and narrow the range of selection. I propose, as soon as the loan arrangements are concluded, to visit Scotland, and personally promote an increase of the emigration from thence. Meanwhile lam doing what I can from here in this direction, as also in that of promoting the best class of immigration from Ireland. I beg to enclose a memorandum on the subject from Mr. Andrew and Mr. Ottywell. There is no doubt truth in what they say about the difficulty interposed by the season we select; but you will recognize