31

D.—2

The ship left the clocks on Monday, the 3rd instant, for Greenhithe, to adjust her compasses. While there a survey was held by several Board of Trade surveyors, assisted by two of Lloyd's surve}"ors, with instructions to report to the Board of Trade specially as to the lights which had been fixed in the sides of the ship for lighting the orlops ; and on Tuesday the ship left under steam for Plymouth, where she arrived on Wednesday, the sth instant. On Wednesday morning I received a letter from the Manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, informing me that the Board of Trade had served them with a notice that the " Stad Haarlem " was not to leave unless the side scuttles near the water-line were permanently and efficiently closed up, or until notice from the Emigratian Officer of the Port of London was received that the vessel may proceed. I immediately telegraphed this information to you, and also wired the Manager of the Company asking him to see you immediately relative thereto. The result of the special survey held at Plymouth by Captain Moodie, Mr. H. D. Grey, and Captain Sconce, was that the Board of Trade insisted on certain alterations, the execution of which I, by your directions, did what I could to facilitate; and, in consequence of the recommendation of the Surveying Officers, the "Stad Haarlem" was moved into the Cattewater on Tuesday, the 11th instant, for the purpose of closing the fourteen scuttles in the after orlop, enlarging the air shaft through the saloon, and putting prisms in the main deck wherever borrowed light could be made,, available. This work was completed on the evening of the 12th, and the ship was moved again into the Sound early on Thursday morning. The result of the alteration is, I regret to say, that there is not sufficient light in the after orlop, away from the immediate vicinity of the hatches and air shaft, to enable the people even to see the numbers on their berths, and I believe recourse must be had to artificial light during the whole of the day. The weather was very wet in the forenoon of Thursday, and prevented the embarkation of the people on that day. On Friday, the 14th instant, the medical inspection of the passengers by Dr. Eccles and Dr. Gibson commenced at 10 a.m. in the presence of Captain Sconce and Mr. Watson (Mr. Swanston, Assistant Secretary of the Board of Trade, Captain Moodie, and Mr. H. D. Grey, also watching the proceedings) ; and I superintended the embarkation of the people in the steam tender, as they were passed by the medical inspector. The steam tender being licensed only for 2GO people, she was obliged to make three trips, and the last batch were all on board by 1 p.m. I wont on board with the last, and, having seen everything completed, I delivered your sailing instructions and the despatches for the colony to the captain, and the ship steamed out of the Sound at 7 o'clock on Saturday morning, the loth instant, having on board 69G souls, equal to 592 statute adults, embarked under your orders as per surgeon's certificate herewith enclosed, and four cabin passengers —viz., three engaged by the New Zealand Shipping Company with your sanction, and Mr. Simmons, the Secretary of the Kentish Labourers' Union, for whom you provided a passage. I appointed Mr. Edward Armstrong as schoolmaster, and Mary E. Hartfield as sub-matron. I enclose the captain's receipt for the despatches to the colonial authorities, and the mate's receipt for a box forwarded to me from London by Messrs. Ilayter, and addressed to " The Hector, Normal School, Dunedin, Otago." I have, &c, Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., Edwd. A. Smith, Agent-General for New Zealand. Despatching Officer.

No. 45. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, Ist March, 1879. I have the honor to report as follows as to the proceedings of my department during the month of February. On the 15th February the steamship " Stad Haarlem " sailed from Plymouth for the Ports of Chalmers, Lyttelton, and Wellington with 696 souls, equal to 592 statute adults. The above-mentioned numbers include 346 adults, Kent and Sussex labourers and their families ; 95} adults, consisting of emigrants selected from other parts of the United Kingdom; and 150 adults, nominated emigrants. I am glad to be able to add that the " Stad Haarlem " was reported on the 24th ultimo as having arrived at St. Vincent, and that all were well on board. On the 25th February 21 souls, equal to lGi adults, embarked from London by the " Loch Dee " for Auckland. These emigrants were principally those nominated by their friends in the colony. Another small party of nominated emigrants will embark next week by the " Isle of Bute " for the same destination. With the exception of, probably, a small number of nominated people, no emigrants will be despatched during this and the succeeding month. I intend to send by the ship " Napier " (late "James Nicol Fleming"), from the Clyde, sailing early in May, for Port Chalmers, from 150 to 200 statute adults, to consist principally of nominated emigrants and single women. During the past month the number of applications for passages, and inquiries respecting matters connected with the colony, have been, for this time of the year, unprecedently numerous, over two hundred letters being sometimes received in one day. The number of applications from Ireland, more particularly from the southern district (although I am not advertising in any of the papers there, and decline to receive any applications through any local agents), continue to be very large, and appears likely to increase, and will necessitate my taking special steps in order to satisfactorily select the comparatively small proportion to whom passages can be offered during the ensuing emigration season.