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Enclosure No. 1 to No. 12. Sir,— Colonial Office, Downing Street, 20th March, 1886. I am directed by Earl Granville to acquaint you that it has been ascertained, during the enquiries that have been made into the condition and antecedents of the unemployed in London and other parts of the United Kingdom, that, among those now seeking work, there are many labourers, mechanics, and artizans of good character, who have, until recently, been in continuous employment, and have not been in receipt of parish relief. Such persons, with their families appear, to his Lordship, to be of the class from which emigrants to the Colonies have been selected ; and he will be obliged by your informing him whether your Government will be prepared to receive such emigrants, more especially married men with families, as may be approved by you as suitable, if satisfactory financial arrangements are made with Her Majesty's Government, and, in such case, what number of persons it is probable that you would be enabled to send out at an early date and during the current year. 1 am to enclose an extract from a letter from the Local Government Board, in which it is desired that information may be procured under certain specified heads, and Lord Granville will be obliged by your favouring him with the views of your Government as soon as you can do so. I am, <fcc, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Robert G. W. Herbert.

Sub-Enclosure in Enclosure No. 1 to No. 12. Extract from a letter from the Local Government Board to the Colonial Office, Dated 12th March, 1886. The Board as the result of enquiries which they have recently made of Boards of Guardians, and other local authorities, and of some of the trade societies, entertain no doubt that in many districts there is a considerable number of workmen, including mechanics, artizans and unskilled labourers, who are out of employment, and who at great personal sacrifice, are struggling to avoid having recourse to poor law relief. If the depression in trade continues, it appears to the Board that it may become necessary for the Government to make exceptional efforts with a view to relieving the distress, and among the various methods of relief which would suggest themselves, emigration naturally occupies a prominent place. Before attempting to formulate any plan by which the State might stimulate or assist the emigration of deserving members of the working classes, who might be reduced to great straits by the continuance of exceptional depression in trade, it is necessary to know how far the Colonies or any of them would be willing to co-operate with the Government of the Mother Country in such an undertaking. 1. Especially it is desirable to learn, if any, and which of the Colonies are desirous of receiving any considerable number of emigrants, in addition to the ordinary and normal flow of such emigrants. 2. What numbers, or about what numbers of assisted emigrants of the class above referred to any Colony would receive. 3. Whether all descriptions of laborers would be received, skilled as well as unskilled, and if not, what particular classes would be accepted. 4. Whether the Colonial Government would undertake any, and, if so, what responsibility for the reception on arrival and subsequent settlement of the emigrants sent out with the approval of the English Government. 5. What assistance or contribution in money towards the passage expenses, or in any other way, the Colonial Government would expect from the British Government in connection with the emigration on a considerable scale of the class of persons referred to herein. The Board suggest that if any Colony were willing to take considerable numbers of selected emigrants, and to assume the responsibility of starting them in their new life, Her Majesty's Government should consider with the Colonial Government what part each should bear in the preliminary expenses, and, in addition, the Board might prepare a scheme under which families of artizans and laborers who desire to emigrate, and who had never been subjects of poor law relief, might be recommended to the agents of the Colonies, and if approved by them, assisted to emigrate. Such a plan, however, could only be prepared after receipt of the views of the Colonies concerned.

No. 13. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 6th April, 1886. I telegraphed to you on the 27th March, saying that Mr. W. Courtney was really destitute, and asking whether I should continue making advances to him; and I received, in due course, your reply of the 2nd instant, directing me to continue the advances up to £250, including his passage back. Mr. Courtney, however, informs me that his return passage was paid for out of the amount contributed by the New Flymouth settlors. Copy of the telegram is annexed. 1 have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure in No. 13. Telegram to Treasurer New Zealand. Courtney destitute. Instruct whether shall continue paying. F. D. Bell.