✨ Immigration Report
REPORT OF IMMIGRATION OFFICER.
October 21st, 1864.
Sir,—I have the honour to lay before you the annexed analysis of the immigrant population of the Province, as to their ages, country, whence they came, &c.
Your Honor will observe that it embraces the whole from the arrival of the first immigrant ship, till that of the Arima lately.
I thought it desirable to furnish this for the purpose of having a connected and condensed record of the whole from the beginning.
It is gratifying to be able to report favourably of all the vessels except the Sir William Eyre. I have had no complaints since, and the last ship that arrived, the Arima, Captain Smith, from Glasgow, was found on inspection to be a model of cleanliness, comfort, and order. I was informed by several of the passengers that this was the rule during the voyage.
It is also gratifying to be able to report favourably of the passengers by this ship, and the same remark applies to all the immigrants as a rule since I have had charge of the department.
I may here remark that Mr Morrison of London, the Emigration Agent deserves the gratitude of the landowners and others of the Province of Southland for the judicious and careful selection he has made. He has taken every precaution to secure a respectable and valuable class of people.
The moral character of the assisted immigrants is so carefully inquired into and so many certificates from clergymen, magistrates, and householders, required, that it is not an easy matter for an unworthy character to obtain an assisted passage.
Notwithstanding the supposed excess of assisted immigrants, I am not aware of any considerable reduction in the wages given to agricultural and domestic servants, that of the former ranging from £40 to £50 and the latter from £25 to £40.
Of the fifty-six young women by the two last vessels I know only of three or four who are not in situations at the above rate of wages, except a few of the nominated who are with their friends.
The best index to the moral character of these young women is the circumstance of so many of them getting soon and respectably married. Thus, also not only making room for an equal number of successors, but increasing the demand as they themselves in turn become employers of labour.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
DUNCAN M’ARTHUR,
Immigration Officer.
His Honor the Superintendent.
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Southland Provincial Gazette 1864, No 34
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🛂 Report of Immigration Officer
🛂 Immigration21 October 1864
Immigration, Population Analysis, Ship Arrivals, Passenger Feedback, Wages, Moral Character
- Captain Smith, Captain of the ship *Arima*
- Morrison (Mr), Emigration Agent in London
- DUNCAN M’ARTHUR, Immigration Officer