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Array
(
    [entityType] => ITEM
    [entity] => Array
        (
            [contextId] => aims
            [description] => Array
                (
                    [0] => This agency was created by Archives New Zealand to describe the records it holds that relate to immigration to Blenheim.
                )

            [id] => ACFR
            [idSort] => ACFR
            [name] => Immigration Department, Blenheim
            [custom] => Array
                (
                    [custom1] => This agency description was compiled as part of a project to capture the finding aids created prior to 1987 into the GAIMS system.  Agency start and end dates are derived from dates of holdings.

Further research is required to establish the organisational structures within this agency.
                    [custom2] => Department of Internal Affairs, 1953, "A Guide to the Dominion Archives".  Government Printer, Wellington, New Zealand.

Department of Internal Affairs, 1990, "Family History at National Archives".  Allen & Unwin New Zealand Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand.

Scholefield, G.H., 1950, "New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840-1949".  Government Printer, Wellington, New Zealand.

Simpson, T., 1997, "The Immigrants".  Godwit Publishing Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.
                )

            [identifier] => Array
                (
                    [priref] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => 1456
                        )

                )

            [agentControlRelation] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => Self-Governing Colony of New Zealand
                            [type] => controlled_by
                            [hasBeginningDate] => Array
                                (
                                    [normalizedValue] => 1876-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => approximate
                                            [1] => yearOnly
                                        )

                                )

                            [hasEndDate] => Array
                                (
                                    [normalizedValue] => 1882-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => approximate
                                            [1] => yearOnly
                                        )

                                )

                            [itemType] => Organisation
                            [relationHasSource] => A0005
                        )

                )

            [agentHierarchicalRelation] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => Immigration Department, Head Office
                            [type] => controlling
                            [hasBeginningDate] => Array
                                (
                                    [normalizedValue] => 1876-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => approximate
                                            [1] => yearOnly
                                        )

                                )

                            [hasEndDate] => Array
                                (
                                    [normalizedValue] => 1882-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => approximate
                                            [1] => yearOnly
                                        )

                                )

                            [itemType] => Agency
                            [relationHasTarget] => ACFQ
                        )

                )

            [agentMandateOther] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Immigration and Public Works Act 1870
                    [1] => Immigrants Land Act 1873
                )

            [agentType] => Record group
            [authorityRelation] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => Depot Master
                            [type] => controlling
                            [hasBeginningDate] => Array
                                (
                                    [normalizedValue] => 1876-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => approximate
                                            [1] => yearOnly
                                        )

                                )

                            [hasEndDate] => Array
                                (
                                    [normalizedValue] => 1882-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => approximate
                                            [1] => yearOnly
                                        )

                                )

                            [itemType] => Series
                            [relationHasTarget] => 8239
                        )

                )

            [digitalRecordInArchive] => 
            [hasBeginningDate] => Array
                (
                    [type] => YearStart
                    [normalizedValue] => 1876-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => approximate
                            [1] => yearOnly
                        )

                )

            [hasEndDate] => Array
                (
                    [type] => YearEnd
                    [normalizedValue] => 1882-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => approximate
                            [1] => yearOnly
                        )

                )

            [history] => 
The Immigration and Public Works Act of 1870 provided for the financing of an ambitious public works programme and the introduction of large numbers of immigrants, mainly from the United Kingdom, by borrowing money from overseas markets. The new immigrants would be employed on the public works until they were able to fend independently for themselves. The public works would create prosperity in the short term by spending money within New Zealand and in the longer term by opening up land to settlement and development. 

The Immigration Department was established in 1871 as a result of Sir Julius Vogel's public works and immigration policy. Previously immigration had been the responsibility of the Provincial Governments and independently organised schemes. Marlborough Province had been established in 1859 when it acquired its independence from Nelson [1]. The main port was Picton, but Blenheim was the principal city in the region. 

An establishment date has not been ascertained for an office in Blenheim, although it is known that there was an Immigration Secretary in Blenheim from 1865-1872, and an Immigration Officer of the Immigration Department from 1872.  Archives New Zealand only holds records of the later Immigration Officer dating from 1876-1882. These records refer to an immigration depot in Blenheim. The immigration depot was apparently some kind of temporary accommodation where new immigrants were housed on arrival and given daily rations until they left to take up service or employment. 

Footnotes:
[1] Scholefield, p203.
            [isAssociatedWithPlace] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [location] => Blenheim, Marlborough
                        )

                )

            [itemType] => Agency
            [rdfType] => agent
            [recordIsMissing] => 
            [setSpec] => agency
        )

)