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(6.) The High Commissioner's Responsibilities. —Upon the High Commissioner iv Loudon devolves the whole of the arduous work and responsibility of selecting the emigrants, and of making known the resources of New Zealand by advertisements liberally distributed throughout the United Kingdom, by issuing pamphlets and leaflets setting forth the advantages New Zealand offers, and by arranging for lantern exhibits and lectures wherever advisable. The High Commissioner also insists upon the emigrants being of good physique, and healthy in body and mind. In passing I would mention that he has been eminently successful both as to the class of emigrants sent from the shores of Great Britain and in their general physique and high character. That New Zealand has benefited very largely by the High Commissioner's judicious selections the following statistics will show: — Statement showing the Number of Persons who have received Passages at Reduced Rates for Twelve Months from Ist April, 1905, to Slst March, 1906. —Number of souls, 2,469; number of statute adults, 2,076; capital in possession of passengers, £110,204; income derivable by passengers, £1,960; amount of money contributed by Government to shipping companies, in addition to sums paid by passengers, £8,304. This is supplemented by a detailed statement attached hereto, giving, for each steamer, the same particulars as are given in the above statement. Subjoined is also a summary showing the number of persons approved by the High Commissioner to whom assisted passages would be granted, under the separate headings of "farmers," "artisans," and "miscellaneous," totalling altogether 3,291 souls. The number accounted for as having actually embarked for the same period is 2,469 souls, leaving a balance of 822 persons who either changed their minds or embarked at a later date. Navvies for New Zealand. Much has been written in the public Press upon the subject of granting assisted passages to navvies. It is therefore interesting to note that for the past financial year the High Commissioner approved of 150 applicants and declined 170, whilst only 44 actually embarked. Assisted Passages gkanted to Relatives. For some considerable time it has been made evident that help was needed to enable families to reunite in New Zealand. Husbands who had preceded their families, and who were making good progress, though finding it naturally uphill work at first, were anxious to bring out their wives and children. Brothers wished to bring out brothers, and other relations were anxious to be reunited. The Government therefore decided that these persons should be allowed to pay either the £10 or £12 for each adult (according to the berthing accommodation required) to the Undersecretary for Immigration at Wellington, furnishing at the same time the full names, ages, and addresses of their relatives. The High Commissioner is then advised to grant them assisted passages, provided they are in good health. In many cases where the whole amount could not be deposited owing to lack of means, amounts have been received upon account, and undertakings accepted to pay the balances at stated times. These promises, I am glad to say, have all been honourably kept. Passages for 120 statutory adults have been sanctioned under this arrangement, the amount deposited with this office in Wellington being £1,175 18s. 6d. General. In January last the Chairman of the Emigration Committee of the Imperial Government, Mr. Henry Lambert, arrived upon a short visit to New Zealand after having made an extensive tour of the several States of Australia. An endeavour was made to make his visit as pleasant as the short time at his disposal permitted, and also to enable him to obtain a general idea of the colony's capabilities as a field for emigration from the United Kingdom. Mr. Lambert's visit also led to the sending to the Emigration Office, London, of a larger amount of useful information. Second Edition of " Immigrants' Guide and Settlers' Handbook." The first edition of this work having been found very serviceable, a second edition, on difierent lines, is now in print and will shortly be ready for issue by the Lands Department. Some 15,000 copies will at once be sent to the High Commissioner for distribution in the United Kingdom.