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Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 27th March, 1873.

Sir,—

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th February, in which you enclose copy of a Report from the Provincial Engineer relative to the Hutt road, and express the opinion that the Province should be authorised to expend the sum of six thousand pounds for the specific purpose named in that report; and in reply, to inform you that the Minister for Public Works suggests that, after the explanation he has given to your Honor personally, on the line, it will be advisable to allow the railway works to be proceeded with before arriving at a definite conclusion in reference to your letter. When the line is approaching completion, a better opportunity will be afforded for forming a correct opinion as to the probable effect of those works, and then will be the time to determine what further works the Government, as contractors of the railway, are bound to execute to ensure the greatest safety possible under the circumstances to the travelling public.

I have, &c.,
WILLIAM FOX.

His Honor the Superintendent,
Wellington.

Superintendent’s Office,
Wellington, 29th March, 1873.

Sir,—

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th instant.

I recognise the reasonableness of your suggestion to wait until the line is approaching completion, when certainly it may be expected that a more correct opinion as to the probable effect of the railway works may be formed.

I take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to the Minister for Public Works, for the personal explanation which he afforded me when visiting the line together.

I have, &c.,
WILLIAM FITZHERBERT,
Superintendent.

The Hon. W. Fox, Colonial Secretary,
Wellington.

M.

CORRESPONDENCE IN REFERENCE TO IMMIGRATION.

No. 59.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 4th December, 1872.

Sir,—

I have the honor to inform you that instructions have been sent to the Agent-General to ship from Great Britain for New Zealand an aggregate of emigrants equal to eight thousand statute adults during the course of the year 1873. Such number to be exclusive of nominated emigrants and those sent out under arrangements with Messrs. Brogden.

Of the eight thousand he has been directed to send one thousand to the Province of Wellington.

The Government are well aware that from the experience of the past year there will probably be little disposition to rely with confidence upon calculations affecting the future. They cannot, however, but believe that after that experience, and considering the very explicit instructions they have given as to the arrangements for the future carrying on of the service, there will be such an improvement in its conduct as to ensure the anticipations the Government entertain regarding the introduction of immigrants during the ensuing year being realized.

I beg to assure your Honor that any suggestions or observations upon the subject of immigration which you may desire to bring under the Government shall at all times receive the most careful consideration; and that it is the wish of the Government to co-operate to the extent of their ability with the Provincial authorities in carrying out the great Colonial policy of immigration, more especially as regards the care and distribution of immigrants on arrival, and the charge of the barracks and quarantine buildings.

I have, &c.,
G. M. WATERHOUSE,
For the Colonial Secretary.

His Honor the Superintendent,
Wellington.

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