1856 - Fitton, Edward. New Zealand: its Present Condition, Prospects and Resources - CHAPTER XIII. LABOURING CLASSES.--ASSISTED EMIGRATION.

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CHAPTER XIII.

IT may without hesitation be asserted, with respect to the prospects of labouring persons emigrating to New Zealand, that whatever hopes they may entertain, of a speedy independence and comparative affluence to be acquired for themselves in their new country, have a more certain foundation than those of any other emigrant. It is, nevertheless, a well known fact, that however poor his home may be, the English labourer is, of all classes--chiefly from his ignorance as to what he may expect on his arrival --the most reluctant to try his fortune in a new country. Yet a sufficient argument in his favour is, that such establishments as workhouses, poor rates, or settled parishes for claimants for relief, have absolutely no existence in the colonies either of Australia or New Zealand.

In fact, except among the crowds at the gold diggings, where emigrants of all classes have occasionally suffered grievously, I never heard of a person in absolute want of the means of subsistence in any of the colonies.

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The usual modes of life have been already described, and the most recent current rate of wages in several parts of the country have been mentioned in treating of the different settlements: and, notwithstanding the fluctuations of markets and of the resources at the command of the employers, it may readily be imagined, that, in a country where almost every thing is performed by hand labour, the workman must at all seasons be able to ensure good pay.

Carpenters, smiths, and wheelwrights, and builders' journeymen generally, may rely upon finding plenty of occupation, and liberal wages, not, perhaps, on their arrival a few months hence at so high a rate as during the periods from which I have drawn my averages, but certainly at much higher rates than in England. They will also probably find more certainty of regular employment, because among fewer competitors, than in Australia. For masons alone there is but little employment, as from the fear of earthquakes but very few buildings are constructed of bricks or masonry.

Sawyers, also, find full employment in the numerous forests bordering on the sea coast, and they make large sums by felling timber by contract. This employment however requires some

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experience, and is generally followed by a roving class of men, who, when the timber is cleared away in one locality, go off and take up a new abode, wherever they can find employment, either in the same settlement or elsewhere.

Shepherds and stock-keepers wages are high in New Zealand; about £40. a year with house room and rations, being the usual average for a shepherd and his wife on a station; the wife often serving as cook to the whole establishment. £30. a year is about the usual sum for a single man.

The average rate of day labour is now about 7s. a day, and in some parts even higher: however, owing to the rapid importation of labour, this very high rate will, the employers hope, very speedily be reduced. It will probably be a long time before the rate of a day's labour falls below 5s. a day in any part of New Zealand. Many good labourers, by working extra hours at piece work in ditching and trenching land for its first crop, earn much more than they could do by mere day work or at fixed board wages.

In fact one of the earliest complaints of an English labourer after his arrival in the country is,--not that he cannot get work to do--but, that it costs him so dear to get any help in

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cultivating the land he has been able to hire, or perhaps to purchase outright.

For women there is always an opening, as domestic servants, and all may expect soon to be at the head of a household of their own. For this class, I mean females of the rank of labourers who are desirous of an opportunity of marrying comfortably, New Zealand certainly offers less anxious prospect for their future life than England.

It is seldom, indeed, that a young woman, who has emigrated with her family, cares to leave her own household, and to engage herself as a maid servant. When at home she can be of great assistance in carrying on the household affairs, perhaps managing a garden--cooking--milking the cow--and so forth; and of those who are willing to go out to service, the greater number prefer to the ordinary housework of female servants in a colony a situation in a dairy, in which they are frequently allowed to possess a cow or two purchased out of their accumulated wages, as a provision for any future establishment of their own. The owner of the dairy, in case of such an arrangement, makes use of the milk of the cow belonging to his servant, to remunerate him for its keep, and for allowing it to run with his

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herd: while the cow and any calves she may bear, being the sole property of the servant, may at any time be sold, or removed from the herd.

Much assistance is now offered to female domestic servants desirous of emigrating, towards their outward voyage to New Zealand;--and their wages and prospects generally are certainly very favourable in all parts of the colony. The whole or a portion of their passage money will be paid out of a fund specially set apart for promoting the emigration of female domestic servants to the Canterbury settlement, as already mentioned in Chapter VIII.--in Mr. Harman's circular.

Some further information on these points, and also with reference to assisted passages for labouring people generally, are given in the remaining portions of this chapter.

ASSISTED EMIGRATION TO THE VARIOUS SETTLEMENTS.

TO become an actual possessor of land in the country which he inhabits, is one of the earliest aspirations of an intending colonist. This is more especially a characteristic of the immi-

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grant who commences his career as a labourer, and his first impulse, after finding himself in his new country in possession of a small sum beyond what is necessary for his daily expenditure, generally leads him to purchase a few acres of land, on which he may begin life as an independent man.

I have already alluded to the liberal wages, in addition to other advantages which almost always fall to the lot of all persons of the labouring class now going to New Zealand. And, as many of these may be desirous of obtaining assistance to reach so promising a country, I propose in the remainder of this chapter to set before them the means by which they may obtain Assisted Passages to the several settlements.

Almost every part of New Zealand has during the last twelve or eighteen months, suffered severely from the want of a sufficient number of hands to gather in the harvest, as well as for other equally important operations affecting the improvement of the resources of the country.

The result of this general scarcity of labour has been that, in each of the six settlements, the Provincial Council have voted a portion of the revenue for the purpose of importing

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labourers free of expense, either from England, or from the crowds of unemployed visitors attracted to the neighbouring colony of Australia.

Of the different provinces thus endeavouring to obtain an increase to their labouring population, I believe that the colonists at Canterbury alone have despatched an agent from New Zealand to England, for the express purpose of encouraging emigration to the colony of which he is a member, and with authority to pay in advance a portion of the passage money of labouring people and domestic servants, who may be going to the Canterbury settlement under his approval.

I have elsewhere mentioned that the colonists of Auckland and also of New Plymouth, have endeavoured to obtain labourers from Melbourne. In addition to the money thus expended, some funds have been sent to England for the payment of Assisted Passages to these as well as to other parts of New Zealand.

As however labouring people going to Canterbury, may, if they choose, avail themselves of the personal information of Mr. Harman the emigration agent, in addition to obtaining assistance for their passage out, I have in this chapter

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reversed the order in which the six settlements have hitherto been mentioned, and shall direct attention to the prospects of labourers in Canterbury, before noticing the means of obtaining assisted passages to the other provinces of New Zealand.

A sufficient account of Canterbury has already been given to convince the English labouring servant, of the vastly greater opportunities for accumulating money afforded him in that settlement than are to be found in any part of England. And since there is not in New Zealand, 1 as has lately occurred in Australia, any overwhelming attraction to induce vast crowds to congregate in any one particular district more than another; the labourer and the female domestic servant, emigrating to New Zealand may, for several years to come, rely with confidence on finding a most encouraging scale of wages, and advantageous terms of service open to them.

There can be no doubt that this will continue to he the case, notwithstanding the efforts made by the colonists to reduce the present enor-

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mously high standard of hired labour within reasonable limits, by encouraging immigration as much as possible. Persons desirous of obtaining assistance in their outward voyage to Canterbury, are required to make personal application at the office, 32, Charing Cross, London, where they can obtain every information respecting the colony and the means of reaching it.

I can only repeat here, from my own knowledge, that female domestic servants, of whom there are in Canterbury very few now in service, may depend upon finding situations in that settlement; where not only they may obtain high wages, but where also the labours of a really good servant are more thoroughly appreciated than in many houses in England, in which the domestics are treated with consideration and kindness.

For information respecting price of provisions and the current rate of wages, at the most recent dates from the colony, I refer the reader to the description of Canterbury already given.

The following are the regulations published by Mr. Harman, the Canterbury Emigration Agent, from his office, 32, Charing Cross, London.

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Regulations for Assisted Passages to the province of Canterbury, New Zealand.

1. Assisted passages will be granted by the Provincial Government to bond fide labouring men, country mechanics, their wives and families, and female domestic servants only.

2. The Provincial Government will provide one half the passage money.

3. The remaining half must be paid by the emigrants, in cash in England; or, in special cases where they may be unable to pay in cash, and the emigration agent shall be satisfied of their entire respectability, part payment may be made in bills, which the emigration agent will receive in lieu of the amount which the emigrants may be unable to pay in cash. These bills will be made payable on demand to the provincial treasurer for the time being, but will be accompanied with an understanding that the payment of the bills will not be required within one year after the arrival of the emigrant in the colony, unless he shall sooner attempt to leave the province, in which case, payment will be immediately enforced, or sufficient security required for payment when the twelve months shall have expired.

4. Bills drawn in the colony to the order of the provincial treasurer, and approved by the superintendent, and which have been transmitted to England, will also be received by the emigration agent in lieu of cash payment.

5. The rate of passage money will be £22. per adult. Children under fourteen years to pay one-half passage money. Infants under one year are not charged for.

6. No person will be allowed any assistance in his

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passage to the settlement until he shall have been approved of by the emigration agent. No person above the age of fifty years will receive an assisted passage.

7. Persons of all classes may obtain passages to the colony by undertaking the whole of the passage money. 2

REGULATIONS to be observed in respect to emigrants who have been selected to receive assisted passages to the province of Canterbury, New Zealand.

1. The emigrants must pay all their own expenses to the port, and up to the period of embarkation. Funds must be provided to meet the expense of dock charges for luggage, which may be assumed at from 1s. to 2s. per package.

2. Emigrants will not be permitted to embark unless provided with a sufficient supply of clothing and other necessaries for the voyage. Their supply will be inspected by an officer at the port of embarkation. The following articles are the least which will be deemed sufficient:--

For each Bed.	For each Person.
1 mattress.	6 towels.
1 bolster.	3 pounds of marine soap.
2 blankets.	A knife and fork.
6 sheets.	A deep tin or pewter plate.
1 coverlid.	A spoon.
	A pint drinking mug.
	A hook pot.

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CLOTHING.

For Males.	For Females.
6 shirts.	6 shifts.
6 pairs of stockings.	2 flannel petticoats.
2 pairs of shoes.	6 pairs of stockings.
2 complete suits of outside clothing.	2 pairs of shoes.
1 hair-brush and comb.	2 gowns.
	1 hair-brush and comb.

It must be understood that this is by no means sufficient to secure comfort. The more abundant the stock of clothing, the better it will be both for health and for comfort during the voyage. The usual length of the voyage to New Zealand is about four months; and at whatever season it is made the emigrants have to pass through both very hot and cold weather, and should therefore be prepared for both.

3. Provisions for the voyage, cooking utensils, medicine, and medical attendance on board ship will be supplied.

4. The whole luggage per each adult emigrant must not measure more than ten cubic feet. It must be contained in two or three boxes, well packed, which should be distinctly marked with the name of the owner and the port of destination.

5. Each person or family must be provided with two canvas clothes bags, as the boxes will be put away in the hold of the ship, and access to them will only be obtained every three or four weeks.

R. J. S. HARMAN, EMIGRATION AGENT,
32, Charing Cross, London.

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The Isabella Hercus left the St. Katherine's Docks for New Zealand on the 8th of September, having on board 118 assisted emigrants for the Canterbury settlement. The Provincial Government have now despatched to the settlement, through their agent, Mr. Harman, 530 emigrants from England (of whom 220 were able-bodied men), since the commencement of the present year, 1855.

ASSISTED EMIGRATION. WELLINGTON.

There is not, at the present time, any Agent specially appointed in London for granting assisted passages to Wellington, but a large sum has probably been granted during the late session of the Provincial Council for the purpose of importing labour into the province. Applicants for assisted passages from England to Wellington may gain information as to the sailing of ships, and also the amount of assistance which will be granted to them and their families, on application to Messrs. F. and H. Young, 9, Adelphi Terrace, and 74, Cornhill, London, who have been appointed Emigration Agents by the Government.

His Honour the Superintendent of Wellington, in his address at the opening of the Provin-

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cial Council on the 21st of December, 1854, made the following observations in reference to the immigration which had taken place during the past year.

I quote his remarks for the purpose of drawing attention to the fact, that, at the commencement of the present year, the number of unemployed labourers in Port Phillip was so great, that the colonists of New Zealand expected to be supplied with labour from Australia. This is of itself a sufficient proof of the comparative advantage of New Zealand over Australia as a sure field of occupation for labouring emigrants.

The following are the observations alluded to:--

"With reference to immigration during the past year, the results of the efforts of the Government are, that 261 persons have been sent for from England, and contracts have been made for the introduction of nearly 300 from Port Phillip; an agent having been despatched to make a proper selection, and to ascertain to what extent Port Phillip may be relied upon as a market for the supply of labour. Judging, however, from the latest accounts of the sufferings and privations of the labouring class in Melbourne, there seems little doubt that if

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steam communication be established, and the passage money be advanced by way of a loan, that almost any amount of population might be imported during the next 12 months. It is satisfactory also to know, that already, without any assistance from Government, a tide of immigration has set in so steadily to this province, that the excess of immigrants over emigrants during the past year amounted to 497 persons."

The following are the Regulations recently published respecting assisted passages to Wellington:

Provincial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, June 29th, 1854.

The Provincial Government having completed arrangements for a line of emigration from Great Britain to Wellington, persons desirous of availing themselves of it on behalf of relatives, friends or labourers to be nominated in England are requested to make early application at the office of the Provincial Secretary particularising the names, probable ages, and place of residence, of the proposed emigrants.

REGULATIONS.

1. Repayment of the passage money to be secured by promissory note, signed by the applicant and one other party approved by the Government, payable on demand, and of which payment will be required by two instalments, at twelve and twenty-four months respectively after the arrival of the emigrants in Wellington, except in case of applicant or surety leaving the colony,

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when immediate payment will be required, or provision must be made for the same.

2. As a further security, and to protect the parties on whose application the emigrant is brought out, the emigrant himself (or head of a family where there are women and children) will, before embarking, be required to give promissory notes, payable on demand, which will be forwarded to the Local Government.

3. In case of any emigrant not presenting himself for embarkation at the time and place appointed by the agent in England, after having accepted the offer of a passage, and so being left behind, one half of the passage money will be forfeited, and must be paid to the Provincial Government on demand, by the applicants in the Colony; for which the first mentioned promissory notes will be a security.

4. In order to secure punctuality, and prevent disappointment, a special clerk will be employed by the shipping agents in England, who, on receipt of requisitions from the Provincial Government, will communicate with the intending emigrants, ascertain when they will be prepared to start, give notice in duplicate of the port and day of departure, and make all the arrangements necessary to facilitate embarkation. A depot, or other provision for temporary board and lodging will be provided at the ports of embarkation, at the expense of the agent, in case of the ship not sailing to the day.

5. Emigrants and their personal baggage will be landed free of expense.

6. All ships under this arrangement will make Wellington their first port.

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7. Rate of passage money:--

Adults - £20. per head.

Between 7 and 14 - £10. per head.

Between 1 and 7 - £6. 13s. d. per head.

Under 1 year, no charge.

8. Personal baggage in the following proportions:--

Adults ----- 1/4 ton, per head.

Not adults, but above 1 year old ----- 1/8 ton, per head.

9. All ships employed in this service will be under the provisions of the Passenger Act, and every means be used to secure the comfort and welfare of the passengers.

10. To secure attention and good conduct on the part of the captains and medical officers, a gratuity, at the rate of £50. for every 100 passengers, will be paid to each by the Provincial Government, on the satisfactory completion of the voyage, but withheld on well established grounds of complaint.

Further, in order to promote the instruction as well as comfort of the passengers, arrangements will be made for the establishment of a library for their use on board each ship during the voyage; and also a school, whenever the number of emigrants shall render it practicable; for which latter purpose, a schoolmaster will be selected, who will be entitled to a free passage, in consideration of his services.

WILLIAM FITZHERBERT,
Provincial Secretary.

Shipping Agents--F. Young and Co., 74, Cornhill, and 9, Adelphi Terrace, London.

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Messrs. Frederick Young and Co., to whom I applied for information on the subject of assisted emigration to the settlements other than Canterbury, have kindly furnished me with the following particulars, dated--

"New Zealand Colonists' Rooms, 9, Adelphi Terrace,
" June 6th, 1855.

"We regret that up to the present time, the arrangements under which a few emigrants have been sent out, have been merely temporary and indefinite. For instance, Wellington only undertakes through its provincial legislature to write home for parties whose relatives in the colony make application for their transmission, giving guarantee to the Government for the payment of the passage money, which payment is required within two years after arrival in New Zealand.

"No fund has yet been provided for bona fide assisted emigration: we are, however, making every effort on our parts, to induce the various Provincial Governments to carry out a real and liberal system of assisted and free passages."

The Australian and New Zealand Gazette, for the 21st of March, 1855, contains the following remarks in allusion to the recent departure from England of assisted emigrants to the settlements of Wellington and Canterbury.

"The colonists of Wellington have recently adopted measures for introducing labour to their province.

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"The Council has not as yet voted any sum for the purpose; but as the Provincial Government has sanctioned a plan for introducing labour by this means, the sanction of the Council will no doubt be forthcoming. The Wellington plan is, for the English emigrant, to pay one-half of the passage money, whilst the Government will pay the other half on arrival of the emigrant, looking to him for the repayment at the expiration of a period, which, with the wages to be earned, will render repayment easy. This plan differs in some respects from the Canterbury plan; the Provincial Council of that settlement having voted £10,000 for the purpose of defraying half the passage money of the emigrant who may pay the other half either in money before starting, or in a bill, to be repaid in the colony, at the expiration of twelve months.

"Messrs. Willis and Co. have despatched a ship on these conditions to Canterbury, and Messrs. F. Young and Co. have done the same to Wellington. In the case of the vessel which sailed last week to Canterbury, a most gratifying circumstance occurred in the payment of a considerable portion of the passage money by the colonial friends and relatives of the emigrants; those who thus provided the means having themselves been, three or four years ago, free emigrants, sent out by the Canterbury Association. This is a certain proof of the success with which steady labour has been rewarded at Canterbury, and of the good feeling which prompted the anxiety on the part of the successful colonists, that their friends in England should participate in their good fortunes."

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The same newspaper for May, 1855, contains the following paragraph:--

"IMMIGRATION.--The Colonial Government at Wellington are advertising for persons willing to contract for the periodical introduction from Melbourne, Adelaide, or Sydney, of passengers of a class suitable to the requirements of the labour market of that province. Payment of the passage money to be made to the contractors in Government debentures bearing eight per cent. interest per annum.

ASSISTED EMIGRATION TO NELSON.

Arrangements have lately been made by the local Government of Nelson with Messrs. Fell and Co., the Nelson agents of Messrs. Willis and Co. 3, Crosby Square, Bishopsgate Street, London, for bringing out from England to Nelson settlement, persons whose passages have been applied for by their friends in the Nelson Province. Persons desirous of obtaining assistance in their voyage to Nelson should apply for information to Messrs. Willis, at 3, Crosby Square, Bishopsgate.

A recent number of the Nelson Examiner contains the following remarks respecting the local arrangements for assisting emigration to the province:--

"An opinion, we learn, has gone abroad that the local Government has ceased to receive applications for

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assisted passages, and many persons who are desirous of getting their friends out from England, and who are willing to enter into engagements for the purpose, have in consequence been deterred from making the necessary applications. This is altogether a mistake, for the Government has no intention of discontinuing the system of immigration by assisted passages, but will continue to forward home the names of persons for whom passages are sought, by every opportunity."

The Nelson colonists appear, from the following extract from the Melbourne Argus, to have followed the example of other settlements in endeavouring to obtain a supply of labour from the neighbouring colony of Australia.

"The 'Marchioness' schooner that has been trading between this Port and New Zealand, has been taken up by the Government of that country for the purpose of conveying mechanics and agricultural labourers to New Zealand free of charge. The 'Alexander' has been engaged for a similar purpose, and we are informed that other vessels will be speedily laid on. The 'Zingari' steamer left the Port for Nelson, New Zealand, about half past three in the afternoon, with a full complement of cabin and steerage passengers."

Such paragraphs as the above, even if discouraging to the intending labouring emigrant, by shewing him that the colonists are taking active measures to provide for the necessary cultivation of their lands, ought at least to

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convince him, that he will find in New Zealand fully as lucrative a field for his exertions, as in the more brilliant but over crowded Port towns of Australia.

ASSISTED EMIGRATION TO OTAGO.

I have not been able to ascertain that any agent has been appointed in England for granting assisted passages to Otago. In case any sum were transmitted to England for such a purpose, information would probably be sent to Messrs. F. and H. Young, 74, Cornhill; and to Messrs. Willis, 3, Crosby Square, Bishops-gate Street.

The Otago Witness for September, 1854, which has probably some authority for its remarks, contains the following notice of the possible expenditure of Government funds upon immigration. After mentioning that owing to the want of labourers in the colony a sum of £2000, applicable to the making of roads, could not be made use of, the writer continues:--

"If, then, consequent upon the scarcity of labour in the colony, our surplus revenue cannot be turned to profitable account in the formation of roads, it becomes a question worthy of consideration, whether such surplus should not be advanced for the introduction of labour, and made a first charge upon the immigration fund as soon as any exists.

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"In addition to the £2000. already adverted to, we are given to understand that a further sum of about £1000., secured under an arrangement of the association, will become available for the purposes of immigration as soon as the Council is convened. These two sums would forthwith provide for the passage of at least one hundred adults, with an equal number of children; and which, although to a limited extent, would alleviate the difficulties that are at present experienced for want of labour, and would thus facilitate the expenditure of any surplus revenues in the formation of roads."

The following advertisement, in reference to the payment of the passage money of assisted emigrants after their arrival in Otago, has also been recently published in the Otago Witness, by a mercantile firm in the colony.

"ASSISTED IMMIGRATION.--Having found that many parties have been deterred from bringing out their friends to the settlement, in consequence of the passage money having been payable immediately on arrival, the undersigned beg to intimate that in cases where the parties are unable to provide the whole passage-money immediately on arrival, they are prepared to advance to respectable persons such portions of the amount and for such periods as may be arranged.
"JAMES MACANDREW & Co., Otago."

A document recently published, in reference to assisted emigration to Otago, is given below. No agent, however, that I am aware

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of, has (October, 1855) been appointed in England.

"Rules to be observed by the Agents for Otago in regard to Emigration.

"SELECTION.--The agents shall carefully satisfy themselves that the parties are of sound mind and body, healthy, skilful in their callings, of industrious habits, and good moral character. The certificates of their possessing these qualifications to be transmitted along with them.

"Parties producing letters from kinsfolk or friends in Otago, and whose names are also upon the list sent home, if found qualified as above, to have a preference over all other applicants.

"A preference also to be given to married couples with families, if otherwise qualified as above.

"In general, selection to be made in such way as that there shall be an equal number of both sexes. Young unmarried females, not members of families, to be placed under the guardianship of the heads of a family or a matron.

"Each party of emigrants to be selected with a view to the supply of the kinds of labour in demand in the settlement, as the agents shall be advised.

"EXTENT OF AID.--Parties having sufficient funds of their own shall not be entitled to aid from the immigration fund. And parties aided shall give obligation to repay the sum advanced on their account by such yearly instalments, in number and amount, as shall be arranged between them and the agents.

"SHIPS.--The ships to be chartered from ports most

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convenient for the bulk of the passengers; to be uniformly first class; and in victualling, accommodation, and otherwise, to be at least equal to other passenger-ships between London and New Zealand.
"Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, Dec. 28, 1854."

NEW PLYMOUTH--ASSISTED EMIGRATION.

The colonists of New Plymouth have not, of late, attempted to introduce labourers from England at the expense of the provincial revenue. There certainly is, however, a great want of labour in the settlement, as the colonists have lately endeavoured to obtain labourers from Australia, which is distant not more than ten or twelve days in a direct voyage from the roadstead of Taranaki. The following extracts, from speeches delivered at a public meeting held at New Plymouth, in October, 1854, to consider the means of procuring a supply of labour from Melbourne, may interest the reader; not only as shewing the class of men who might be expected to avail themselves of opportunities for emigrating from Australia to New Zealand, but also, as answering in some measure the complaints so frequently caused by the difference between the market prices in a colony, previous to and subsequent to the arrival of a vessel with emigrants.

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Mr. Leithwaite said, "he had recently arrived from Melbourne. There were of course a great number of the worthless class about that place, but he did not think there need be any fear, they were just the men who would not be inclined to come, and at any rate be easily discriminated by an intelligent agent. He believed that this province might now be supplied with labourers from Melbourne; he would not say agricultural labourers, but strong men willing to work, and not belonging to the vicious classes. They might be principally chosen from the new arrivals while suffering under the difficulties that now beset them on landing, and who are generally desirous of returning to England. Many of those who came out with him would have been glad to take advantage of this offer, and it must be recollected that the principal part of these new arrivals are free emigrants; he believed that they would have been glad to have repaid the money. It would not pay to bring a vessel over without a guarantee for fifty, which would be £500, the vessel could bring many more, and he did not doubt if this arrangement were accomplished to the extent of fifty, many others able and willing to pay their passages, might be found ready to take advantage of it."

"The Rev. G. Bayley suggested the system of advertising in the Melbourne papers as likely to bring men of better character and qualifications, whom the inducement of high wages might tempt to pay their own passages. And that the advertisements should state a fair price of labour and food. It was objected that it would be impossible to do this without opening a door for complaint, that the price of food was sure to fluctuate, and that their

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wages mould come down, and men would say that they have been deceived. Mr. Leithwaite did not think that such a system would answer, nor did he think there was any fear that the vicious would desire to take advantages of the assisted passages proposed. There were artizans of every kind, men used to labour, who would prove useful to the place and benefit themselves."

From the following paragraph it appears that the formation of a company to import labour from Australia was the result of the meeting above mentioned.

"The extreme scarcity of labour in New Zealand continues to be a great drawback to its progress. The superintendent of Nelson is despatching a vessel to Melbourne to bring 200 labourers from that place. At New Plymouth, also, a company is being formed for the same purpose."--Australian and New Zealand Gazette, February 24th, 1855.

AUCKLAND--ASSISTED EMIGRATION.

Information as to assisted passages to Auckland may he obtained from Messrs. Willis, 3, Crosby Square, Bishopsgate Street, and also at Messrs. Young's New Zealand Colonists' Rooms, Cornhill, and Adelphi Terrace.

There does not, however, at the present time,

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appear to be any considerable sum in England, available for the payment of assisted passages of emigrants to Auckland.

The Messrs. Young have lately devoted much attention to the promotion of free and assisted emigration for labouring persons from England to all parts of New Zealand, but the only labourers imported at the expense of the provincial revenue of Auckland, as yet, have been a few very recently from Melbourne; and also those persons in England whose passages had been applied for in Auckland;--their friends in the colony entering into an agreement for the repayment to the Government of their passage money, within a stated period after their arrival in the province.

The following passages from the address delivered by the Superintendent at the opening of the second session of the Provincial Council of Auckland, on the 25th of October, 1854, have reference to immigration: --

"The subject of immigration, second only in importance to that of the waste lands, and intimately connected with it, will not fail, I feel assured, also, to engage your earnest attention. Under Sir George Grey's land regulations of the 4th of March, 1853, and under instructions subsequently issued by his Excellency, a

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certain portion of the land receipts is set apart as a fund for promoting immigration by means of assisted passages. A sum of £5,690. 12s. had, up to the 30th of September, 1854, been paid into the provincial treasury on account of this fund; and, it is also calculated that, under the existing arrangement, this sum will be increased to £10,000. at the close of the current year. Assisted passages for 633 individuals have been applied for. The Land and Emigration Commissioners have been requested by the general government, through the Secretary of State, to provide passages for 535 of that number, some of whom may be expected to arrive immediately from London. Considerable delay arises from entrusting business of this description to the Land and Emigration Commissioners, who despatch the emigrants only when a number can be collected sufficient to authorise them to charter a ship. With a view to prevent a recurrence of this delay, a sum of £800. being half the amount required for the passage of 80 individuals--not included amongst those sent for through the Commissioners--has been remitted by the provincial government to an agent in London, with instructions to provide, for the persons designated, passages to Auckland as early as possible, and on the most favourable terms that can be obtained. No payment on account of immigration having been made by the general Government, the amount of liabilities incurred cannot be calculated with accuracy; but if (which, however, is not probable) all those who have been sent for should come out, the whole of the funds that will be available for this purpose up to the 1st of January next, will be absorbed."

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The following statistics of emigration for 1854, though not exclusively referring to New Zealand, may be interesting to the reader. The extract is taken from the Times, of July 19th, 1855:--

REPORT OF THE COLONIAL LAND AND EMIGRATION COMMISSIONERS, July, 1855.--This report has just appeared in the form of a readable blue-book of 200 pages. From the general preliminary observations we gather the following particulars:--The total number of persons who emigrated in 1854 amounted to 323,429, being less by 16,095 than the average of the last four years, and 45,335 less than the emigration of 1852, the largest that has yet taken place. Of these 323,429 emigrants, 43,761 proceeded to British North America, 193,065 to the United States, 83,237 to Australia, and 3366 to other places. In 1853, 329,937 persons emigrated --34,522 to British North America, 230,885 to the United States, and 61,401 to Australia; while in 1852, 368,764 persons emigrated--32,873 to British North America, 244,261 to the United States, and 87,881 to Australia. The great decrease, it will be seen, is in the emigration to America, for, although there was a considerable increase in that to the British North American provinces, yet the whole number who went to America in 1854 was 28,581 less than in 1853, and 40,308 less than in 1852. The emigration to Australia, which reacted in 1853, recovered itself in 1854, and is now, the Commissioners hope, in a healthier condition than ever. Turning to the general emigration to Australia, it appears that in 1854, 152 passenger-ships, carrying

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35,949 passengers, sailed for that colony, besides 371 "short-ships," carrying 6223 passengers. 2768 persons emigrated to New South Wales, 35,384 to Victoria, 1333 to South Australia, 37 to Western Australia, 1990 to Van Diemen's Land, and 860 to New Zealand. There are signs of the commencement of the same system of remittances from Australia as has prevailed for several years from America, and these remittances will probably introduce a somewhat different class into the emigration. The facility with which money is acquired in Australia, makes it probable that the sums sent home will be quite as large in proportion to the number of persons by whom it is sent as from America, although, from the greater cost of the outfit, it will have less effect upon the emigration. The results of the emigration carried on through the instrumentality of the board at the Government expense for the last eight years is, that £3,400,000. has been expended in the removal of about 580,000 souls. The Government emigration to Australia included 41,056 persons. On this emigration there is little to record, except that it was larger in 1854 than in any previous year. 11,789 proceeded to New South Wales, 15,907 to Victoria, 10,324 to South Australia, 444 to Western Australia, 2322 to Van Diemen's Land, 3190 to New Zealand; 472 emigrated to Jamaica, 1928 to Guiana, and 687 to Trinidad. It appears that in the first four months of 1855, 41 ships have been despatched to Australia, carrying 13,196 persons--viz, 6064 to New South Wales, 3088 to Victoria, and 4044 to South Australia. The total number of emigrants to all parts, during the first three months of 1855 amounted to 36,677 against 49,756 in 1854, and 60,867 in 1853. It appears that,

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while the emigration to Australia has exceeded that of any previous years, that to the United States is scarcely more than half what it was in 1854, and two-fifths of what it was in 1853. The decrease is amongst the Irish, Scotch, and foreigners. As regards the Scotch and Irish, the decrease is attributable to their improved condition and prospects at home. The emigration from the United Kingdom during the 40 years from 1815 to 1854 included 4,116,958 souls, being an annual average of 102.223 from 1815 to 1854, and 305,600 for the eight years ending 1854. 1,114,997 of these emigrants went to the American colonies, 2,481,531 to the United States, 455,477 to Australia, and 57,956 to all other places.