D.—4a

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immigrants as to health and general suitableness. (3.) Those only to be taken who have special knowledge of olive- or vine-culture, or some other special industry adapted to the climate of New Zealand other than that of ordinary labourers. (4.) The Government of Malta to give £5 per head towards the passage-money of each adult, male and female, and the Government of New Zealand to provide the balance to an extent in each case not exceeding £10 per head. It will be understood that on their arrival in the colony the Government of New Zealand will afford the usual facilities of depot accommodation, &c, as afforded to ordinary immigrants, but no further responsibility can be adopted; and it must not be understood that the Government can pledge itself to any future liability in respect of the introduction of Maltese who may desire to join their friends in New Zealand. I have, &c, Wm. Eolleston, M. S. de Cesare, Auckland. Minister of Immigration.

Enclosure 2 in No. 3. M. S. de Cesaee to the Hon. the Ministeb of Lands. Sic,— Auckland, Bth February, 1883. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of to-day's date, whereby you inform me of the conditions on which the New Zealand Government would accept the proposal made by me in the conversation I had the honour of holding with you to-day. I shall communicate those conditions to the Malta Government, and I hope to be successful in inducing thirty Maltese emigrants, of the description desired, to emigrate to Auckland, where the climate is, according to my opinion, very much suited to them ; and that they might prove good colonists and so beneficial to the colony that the Government may not find any difficulty to make some further arrrangeinents for the importation to this district of a larger number of them afterwards. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Lands. M. S. de Cesaee.

No. 4. The Undee-Secbetaby of Immigeation to the Agent-Geneeal. Memorandum for the Agent-General. Immigration Department, Wellington, 20th February, 1883. The accompanying copies of correspondence which has taken place between Dr. Stephenson and the Government relative to the emigration to New Zealand of young persons trained in the Children's Home is forwarded for the information of the Agent-General, who is requested, should application be made to him, to grant passages to the extent of and within the limits of Mr. Dick's letter of the 15th instant. H. J. H. Eliott, Under-Secretary.

Enclosure 1 in No. 4. Dr. Stephenson to the Hon. Mr. Dick. Sib, — Auckland, 30th January, 1883. Eeferring to our recent conversation respecting the immigration to New Zealand of young persons trained in the institutions under my care in England, I beg to put before you the following facts : (1.) The Children's Home is a group of institutions for receiving, educating, and placing in suitable situations orphan or outcast children of both sexes ; they are received from all parts of the country, and without distinction of sect. (2.) They reside under our care for a period which, on the average, is from four to five years; they receive a sound primary education under Government inspection ; they are also trained in industrial pursuits, as, under competent instructors, farming, gardening, carpenters' work, shoemaking, printing, and other branches of work are carried on. On the average, therefore, each young emigrant represents an expenditure of from £60 to £80 in his training. (3.) For several years we have sent large numbers of our young people to Canada, and more recently some have been sent to the Cape Colony, Victoria, and New Zealand. Carefully maintained supervision, correspondence, and inquiry justify us in believing that not three per cent, have turned out badly. As I am wishful that larger numbers of our young people should come to New Zealand I beg respectfully to request that your Government will (1) communicate with the Agent-General, telling him that you approve of our young people being accepted as emigrants, and requesting him to do what he can to promote my wishes in the matter; (2) that you will grant free passages to a limited number of our young people, say, twenty per year ; (3) that, in any arrangements that may have to be made, you will grant to the emigrants from the Children's Home the most favourable terms and conditions granted to any class of emigrants. As I leave for England to-day I should be obliged if your reply was addressed to me as under. I have, &c, T. B. Stephenson, Address : Eev. Dr. Stephenson, Bonner Eoad, London, E., England. Hod. T. Dick. Wellington.