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2

While this was pending Mr. Coster, Managing Director of the New Zealand Shipping Company, was unfortunately taken ill, and was for some days in a dangerous state, so that I could not have personal communication with him; and, as time pressed, it became necessary for me to settle without further delay the .method on which I should resume our emigration next month. I required the Shaw-Savill-Albion Company, before I would determine to continue their share of the Government business, to give me evidence of their intention to take their share in direct steam by forthwith proceeding with the building of the two steamers they had been contemplating; and it may now be announced that there will soon be five new steamships in the trade. The New Zealand Shipping Company did not think it necessary to consult me in any way as to the designs for their boats, but have been good enough to invite me to go and look at them while building. As to the Shaw-Savill-Albion Company's boats, I am to see the designs presently at Glasgow, and they are sure to be such as to carry out my own views as to what such boats should be, I shall be in a position shortly to describe what all the five ships are. Upon these matters reaching this stage, I proceeded to settle the method according to which the emigrants should be sent out between the present time and October next; and, this being done, the two companies have been called upon to provide the necessary tonnage in the manner and at the dates I have fixed upon. One leading condition I have had in view has been to give a reasonable number of people to every monthly steamer sent out by the New Zealand Shipping Company, but I have determined not to send more than three hundred, as a general rule, in any steamer. It has to be remembered that steamers will certainly carry a number of steerage passengers paying their own fares ; and it is most essential, for many reasons, that there should not be a great crowd of people on board, whatever the size of the steamer or her capacity for carrying them may be. I now begin to see my way better to the despatch to you which I have been contemplating for some time, on the general question of immigration. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 3. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Postmaster-General. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 29th June, 1883. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your two letters of the 20th April, F. 83-186, and 19th May, F. 83-244,* on the subject of the direct steam service. I learn with great satisfaction that the Government have decided to wait till Parliament shall have had the opportunity of again considering the whole question ; and I hope that, when the Legislature reviews what has been done, and examines the real causes why no tenders came in on the 30th April, your course in the future will be more clear. lam gratified to find that the steps I have taken myself, so far, have been approved; and I beg to be permitted to express the obligations I am under to you for the very generous terms in which that approval has been conveyed. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. F. I). Bell.

No. 4. The Hon. the Minister of Immigration to the Agent-General. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 21st July, 1883. My attention having been directed by Mr. Macandrew, M.H.R., to the advantages of "Isbister's great sectional ship," I have the honour to transmit for your information a copy of a pamphlet descriptive of the vessels which Mr. Isbister proposes 'should be built in future. If you can find an opportunity of bringing the pamphlet under the attention of shipbuilders or other competent judges I shall be obliged by your doing so. I have, &c, W. Eolleston, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Minister of Immigration.

No. 5. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister of Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 26th July, 1883. I received yesterday your telegram informing me that my letters on immigration business up to June (No. 5, F.-4, 1883) had been received; also instructing me that the question of immigration service and freights was before Parliament, and that I was not to enter into new engagements till further advised. I immediately returned a message stating that I should of course be ready to give effect to whatever Parliament might decide. Some days before receiving your message private cablegrams had been received here to the effect that it was most likely the Government would give a contract to the New Zealand Shipping Company for a year, leaving themselves free to deal with the steam question generally next session. This news arrived just when I had all but completed the letter which, as you know, I have been intending for some time past to send you, containing my own views on the immigration business. It is obvious, however, that* if you have given a contract in New Zealand to the New

* Nos. 16 and 19 of P.-2, 1883.