D.—2

6

that " the terms of the present contract except rate " remained in force. I have now advised Messrs. Henderson that certain modifications have since been made, and that I shall request them to accept the charter-party in its amended form. The draft of the formal agreement with the New Zealand Shipping Company which you forward has been carefully examined, and I have to call your attention to the following points in connection therewith: — Three ships, the " Waitangi " for Canterbury, the " Invercargill " for Otago, and the " Waimea " for Wellington, have already been despatched, and stores wero placed on board sufficient to meet requirements of the old dietary scale, and payments have been made on account of the passage moneys in accordance with the rates mentioned in the telegram of April 21st. The agreement, however, having been made in the colony, it will be open to the Government and the New Zealand Shipping Company to make such arrangements as they may think fit before making payment of the balance of the passage moneys of the " Waitangi " and " Waimea." A question has arisen in connection with the alterations made in the dietary scale. Nearly one thousand emigrants have been accepted and have paid their outfit moneys, having been virtually assured that they will be victualled during the voyage in accordance with the dietary scale set forth in the conditions (copy attached) which are sent out to every intending emigrant. Having in view the probable discontent which would arise when the emigrants discovered that this dietary scale is reduced, I felt that I had no alternative but to keep faith with these people on behalf of the Government, and to arrange that the ships sailing up to the end of August should adhere to the dietary scale hitherto in force. This I shall probably effect by adhering, as far as the Shipping Company is concerned, to the agreement made with them, and by placing on board at the expense of the Government such extra stores as under the circumstances may be required. As regards the ships sailing after August, and for which a large number of application forms with the attached conditions have been already issued, I intend to send to every emigrant, when approved, a notice that a passage is offered to him subject to the dietary scale being altered, and shall also furnish him with a copy of the amended scale. I have directed the Despatching Officer to prepare a careful report on the alterations made in the charter-party, and I shall forward a copy to you so soon as he has prepared it, when I shall probably make some further observations on the matter. I may mention, however, that in the new dietary scale the quantity of two articles (suet and raisins) is less than that required by the provisions of the Passengers Act—namely, 3 oz. and 4 oz. respectively, in lieu of 6 oz. and 8 oz. I will, however, see that this deficiency is made good. Again, in the draft of the formal agreement forwarded by you, Schedule D, being list of medicines, is struck out without any substitute. I have obtained, however, from the Manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company a copy of the agreement as finally printed in the colony, in which I find an amended list of medicines attached. On examination I find that in many items it does not meet the requirements of tho Board of Trade's medical scale for passenger ships. I must, therefore, make up the deficiency by placing on board, at the expense of the Government, the extra medicines, &c, required. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, , W. Tyrone Power, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 7. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 556.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 25th July, 1876. Referring to my letter No. 519, of the 6th instant, respecting the steps taken by me as regards the shipping arrangements, I have the honor to inform you that I have caused extra stores to be placed on board the " Orari," which has sailed for Auckland with emigrants, so as to meet the requirements of the old dietary scale, and have informed the captain of that vessel that such proportion of surplus stores as are due to the Government must be handed over to the immigration authorities in the colony. Extra medical stores were also put on board the same ship for the purpose of meeting the requirement of the Passenger Act, and were packed in a separate case, and such portion as is not used is also to be handed over to the immigration authorities. Similar arrangements will be made as regards the vessels despatched from London up to the end of next month, after which the new dietary scale will be put into operation, with the exception of the items " suet " and " raisins," extra quantities of which will have to be put on board in order to meet the requirements of the Passenger Act. On communicating with Messrs. P. Henderson and Co., that firm expressed their willingness to agree to the new form of charter-party, but proposed, as regards the extra stores required for the ships up to the end of August, that, to avoid complication, they would put on board the extra stores required, and charge the rate mentioned in the Premier's telegram of April 21st instant —namely, £13 17s. 3d. per adult, and £7 16s. for children between one and twelve years old. As this arrangement would be more advantageous to the Government than placing the stores on board at their own expense, I have thought it right to adopt the same. As in the case of the London ships, the new dietary scale will come in force for ships sailing after next month, with the exception already mentioned. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, W. Tyrone Power, Wellington. Agent-General.