servants would readily meet with engagements at good wages.

QUEENSLAND.

The labour market is, generally speaking, sufficiently supplied for the present.

The Executive Council of the Colonial Government in a minute (March 1866) observe that "it cannot be too often repeated that as a general rule, and with the exception of a few professional men such as lawyers, doctors, surveyors, and civil engineers, only two classes of persons should emigrate to Queensland, viz.: (1) Capitalists large and small; and (2) Labourers, that is men and women accustomed to work with their hands." All others, it is added, will be doomed "not only to almost certain disappointment, but also to severe hardships." All persons emigrating with the expectation of procuring employment in the Government service, through the letters of recommendation which they bring with them from England, are especially warned of the futility of such expectations. It is added that "admission to the junior grade in the Civil Service of Queensland is to be procured only by competitive examinations, and future promotions are regulated by seniority and personal merit, proved by actual service."

Any person of good character, who is able and willing to work, can generally obtain employment of some kind or other; but if once a man is unfortunate enough to establish for himself a notoriety for loafing, by remaining idle when employment is offered him, perhaps at a lower rate of wages than he considers he is worth, his services are never much in demand while other labour is obtainable. It does not take long for a skilled mechanic, or industrious labourer, to gain for himself a reputation with employers, who find it to their interest to pay every man what he is fairly entitled to receive according to the current rate of wages.

VICTORIA.

The following is the report of Lesley Alexander Moody, Esq., Immigration Agent at Melbourne, dated 29th November 1871.

"The demand for labour has varied considerably during the past 12 months. In many parts of the colony, employment is abundant and labour of all kinds in much request, while in Melbourne, in consequence of the strong inclination of immigrants to hang about town and their reluctance to go into the country, and at Ballarat, where a great many have been thrown out of employment in consequence of the decline in the produce of gold and the partial cessation of working by the mining companies, which has affected all trades, there has been, to some extent, a want of constant employment.

"Good agricultural labourers are still in request, especially in the Ovens, Gipp's Land, and the Western District.

"Although every immigrant may not, immediately on arrival, find suitable employment, if he is desirous of working, and is sober, persevering, and industrious, and does not seek too high a remuneration at first, he is pretty sure, if his health remains good, to succeed in the long run.

"There is still a scarcity of good female domestic servants. A great many females emigrate to this colony without any pretentions to be classed as above, never having had any experience of domestic duties, and of these there is an abundance. a good female servant who knows her work can always, and at once, command employment at good wages.

But

There has for some time existed a considerable mercantile depression through all the colonies, and this has, to a certain extent, re-acted on trades which are more or less dependent on commercial success; but a very favourable season, a heavy clip of wools, with good prices, and a promise of an abundant harvest, together with the increase of production in the colony of a great many articles which have hitherto been imported from abroad will, it is hoped, give a stimulus to all kinds of trade and afford ample employment to all.",

The Immigration Officer, who boards all vessels on arrival, can be applied to by all classes of immigrants who may desire advice, or have any com plaints to make of the treatment on board ship. His office is in La Trobe Street, Melbourne.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

The Colonial Government strongly recommend gentlemen agriculturists, governesses, clerks, shopmen, and all in quest of salaried situations in public or private employment, not to emigrate to the colony, unless they are going to join relatives or friends who can assist them.

The Governor, in a despatch, dated 21st May 1870, states that "the Government of the Colony do not at present propose to adopt any measure for the encouragement of immigration. The recent slight diminution of the adult male population has been caused by the expectation of finding in the neighbouring colonies a better return for labor or for small capitals; and yet frequent applications have been of late made to the Government for employment by persons out of work. Moreover, the chief industries of the Colony have been somewhat depressed by the recurrence of bad seasons in quick succession, and the Government and Parliament have thought it unwise, in these circumstances, to add artificially to the laboring class."

"To encourage the immigration of ordinary laborers from Europe into the northern territory would at present be a mistake; that region, though promising a liberal return to the investment of capital either in the cultivation of tropical crops or in stock farming (of horned cattle), being entirely unsuited to the general out-door labor of Europeans."

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

In a report from the Colonial Secretary, dated Perth, 1st February 1872, it is stated that "There is an increasing demand for skilled labour of every kind. Carpenters, tailors, masons, shepherds, grooms. agricultural servants, blacksmiths, farriers, engineers, sawyers, brewers, and domestic servants are in great demand, and are certain of meeting with constant and remunerative employment.

The formation of railways within all the settled districts of the colony and of roads through the districts hitherto exclusively occupied by natives, has created a large demand for labour, principally of the agricultural class, but not wholly so. For single women there is always a constant demand both for domestic and dairy work.

Young men of no particular profession and without capital fail to procure employment; and those brought up to mercantile pursuits are equally unsuccessful. From September to April is the best season for arriving in New Zealand, and from May to August the least favourable. The colony is very healthy at all seasons, but the weather is boisterous and rainy during the last-mentioned period, although it has been less so lately than in former years.

Hong KoNG.

The Hon. J. Gardiner Austin, Colonial Secretary, in a communication dated 26th October 1871, confirms previous reports that "The demand for native labour is great," and that "The large number of steamers employed on the coast, and in connexion with the port, give regular employment to engineers."

The carrying trade coastwise is now done almost entirely by steamers.

FALKLAND ISLANDS.

Extract from the Report of J. R. Longden, Esq., Colonial Secretary, dated 12th November 1858, which appears, from a Report of the present Colonial Secretary, dated 29th December 1871, to be still applicable:

In a country like this, almost exclusively adapted for grazing farms on a considerable scale, little labour is required in proportion to the extent of land occupied. The repairs of shipping frequenting the Port of Stanley would often employ many more artificers than are resident here, but that employment is, by its nature, very precarious, and, in the intervals, it would be difficult to find work. Three

or four ship-carpenters and a blacksmith or two, with fair knowledge of their trade, would, I think, find employment at wages varying from 6s. or 7s. a day to 15s. or 16s. when there is a press of work.

"The colony being, however, established and held solely for its geographical position in regard to the commerce of England with her colonies in Australasia and on the north-west coast of America, emigrants cannot be recommended to come and

settle here with the view of providing for themselves from the soil, as in the case of our wheatgrowing colonies, having a territorial value of their own, and a soil and climate which give the cultivator a safe hope of success.

"The attractions for emigrants are very small; and labour, though high (ranging from 4s. to 6s. a day), is not in much demand. Vegetables grow almost as well as in England, but their sale is limited."

Clothing and most provisions are imported, and are therefore generally 30 to 40 per cent. above English retail prices. Beef is from 3d. to 4d., and mutton 6d. per lb. The fuel used is peat cut and dried. Labourers can earn from 5s. to 6s. a day, and carpenters from 88. 4d, to 20s. a day, according to the demand, which, however, is somewhat uncertain, and fluctuates according to the casualties at sea in the neighbourhood of the islands. There are no banks in the colony.

There were in January 1871 two surgeons in the Colony connected with the Government Departments, and allowed private practice.

In a despatch dated 3rd July 1867, Governor Robinson reports that "As the business of the port increases, so does the demand for all kinds of garden produce; but the high price of labour keeps back the cultivation of the soil, and places the employer at the mercy of the employed. Unskilled workmen will not take less than 5s. a day, and at times their wages rise to extravagant rates. Very indifferent female servants earn from 201. to 351. per annum. Men servants command from 487. to 60%.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, in a Report, dated Cape Town, 5th February, 1872, says:

"The demand for labour at the Cape of Good Hope is not such as to lead the government to hold out any inducement to intending immigrants who will depend upon daily labour for subsistence."

NATAL.

Major the Hon. D. Erskine, Colonial Secretary at Natal, in his Report dated 5th February 1869 says:

"There is no demand for artizans, or field and house servants at the present time. All British field and domestic servants have to compete in the labour market with the numerous colored inhabitants working for small wages. Small British farmers who have been accustomed to labour themselves, and have a little capital, might find it profitable to emigrate to Natal, where they can purchase or rent small farms near markets, and live at little cost for necessaries."

MAURITIUS.

In a despatch from the Colonial Secretary, dated the 17th December 1869, which is stated to be still applicable, it is said that "to keep the island in its present state of cultivation, an annual introduction of from 2,000 to 3,000 male Indian emigrants is considered necessary to make up for departures, and for withdrawals from work, by timeexpired emigrants. There is no demand for European Immigrants."