to the people themselves; but these people are differently circumstanced; a large majority of them have been accustomed to in-door work only, and would probably be incapable at first of performing any considerable amount of hard labour out of doors. Others have been employed in out-door, though not absolutely agricultural labour, and these might be expected to be at once useful; but the numbers of the whole class are so great and comprise so large a portion of women and children, that some doubt must be felt as to the possibility of their ready absorption by the Colonies, even irrespective of their previous employments.

If, however, it should be decided to encourage or assist the Emigration of any portion of those people, it would be of great importance to Her Majesty’s Government to know accurately to which of Her Majesty’s Colonial possessions their Emigration might be directed with the best prospect of advantage to the people themselves and to the Colony. The information at present at my command does not enable me to answer this question with confidence. I think it better, therefore, to refer at once to you, and to request you to furnish me with the best information in your power upon the subject.

You will understand that the people are destitute, and that they must therefore earn their living by working for wages, not by occupying or cultivating land on their own account. It is obvious that land is of no use to men who have not the means of living till they can raise a crop. In reporting on the subject I would request you to state what is the opening in the Colony for each class of the persons to whom I have referred; that is for married men with families, who have been accustomed to out-door, though not agricultural labour; for the same class who have been employed in in-door labour only; for single men of average health and strength who have been employed in out-door and in-door labour respectively; and for young women of good character who have been employed in the mills, but who may have had some experience of domestic service, or might seem capable of undertaking it.

You will of course, however, not restrict yourself to the above points, if there are any other matters connected with the subject which it appears to you important that Her Majesty’s Government should know.

I need hardly add, in conclusion, that I should be anxious to receive your answer to this despatch at your earliest convenience.

I have, &c.,

NEWCASTLE.

Governor Sir George Grey, &c., &c., &c.

[Republished from the New Zealand Gazette, 22nd July, 1863.]

A PROCLAMATION

Appointing certain Districts under the "Marriage Act Amendment Act, 1858."

By His Excellency Sir George Grey, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty’s Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, &c., &c., &c.

WHEREAS by the "Marriage Act Amendment Act, 1858," it is enacted that it shall be lawful for the Governor at any time, by Proclamation in the "New Zealand Gazette," to divide the Colony of New Zealand, for the purposes of the said Act, into such and so many Districts as he may think fit, and that every such District shall be called by a distinct name, and shall be a Registrar’s District; and it is provided that the Governor may at any time revoke the whole or any part of such Proclamation, and issue a new Proclamation dividing the Colony, or any part of it, into Districts, or increasing the number or altering the boundaries of Districts as from time to time he may think requisite.

Now, therefore, I, Sir George Grey, Governor of the said Colony of New Zealand, in pursuance of the power and authority in me vested by the said recited Act, do hereby revoke every Proclamation at any time heretofore issued appointing or dividing Registrar’s Districts under the said Act, so far as such Proclamations relate to Districts within the Provinces of Otago and Southland respectively; and do hereby proclaim and declare that the said Provinces shall be and are hereby divided for the purposes of the said Act into eleven Districts in the Province of Otago, and three Districts in the Province of Southland, the names and boundaries whereof respectively shall be as follows:—