COMPLAINTS BY AN IMMIGRANT.

Evening Star, Issue 3568, 30 July 1874, Page 3

COMPLAINTS BY AN IMMIGRANT.

To the Editor,

SlR,—I have seen an article on the Mairi Bhau in your very pepular paper, and on the whole the statements are correct, as far as a single individual could judge, hearing both sides of the question. In most cases there is a right and a wrong ; and I must say that the statement in your yesterday’s impression is neither one way nor the ot'-er. Tru , there are, I have not the least doubt, many complaints in ships arriving wi?h immigrants, and the things they most complain about are thought trifles by those that have to hear the said complaints. The inspector, Mr C. Allan, heard the complaints very patiently, but he, I must say, instead of listening silently to the grievances, seemed when ask ing me if I had anything to complain about to have very grave doubts on the truth of what he was hearing However, by his report I see that both sides are rolled up like bread and butter, and given to the Government to eat. The digestion of so learned a body must he very remarkable, to out so many “confiding” slaves, smuggled out of the land of the heather by false statements in almost every newspaper. Work at present- is not to be had. But to the point. “ With regard to the general treatment the immigrants received on board, the single women had nothing to complain about ” Ne ! how could they ? When off the >n \res the purser had a paper in his charge, either drawn out by him or at his instigation, or something of that sort. Eight men were sent out to canvass for names to the paper in charge of the purser, headquarters being iu the young women’s hospital, where the fl -ur, meal, &c., were kept. Some got meal, some flour and sugar, &c. One immigrant would not sign the paper about° the good treatment unless she got flour &0., which she got. There is no mistake wt might have got bur dues according to our contract tickets, and have nothing to to complain about. You mention “that the dietary scale for the children had been departed from in, several essential particulars was flatly denied by the Doctor.” Did th • Doctor see the rations given out ? I may safely answer that by saying, no. If in the negative, how could he deny anything of the sort? Instead of being attentive, he proved himself otherwise, especially to those who required his skill , and did,' not get it ; but “we wull lat that flee stick taethe wa’. ’ I ask if the people of New Zealand would credit the report of two individuals, viz., a Captain and a Doctor, when 400 souls could, if asked, prove otherwise ? Was it honorable for any one to get np a paper in favor of himself? That was the point that made it “both sides of the question.” All that is past now, and things cannot bs worse on board than what they appear on shore, “No work ”is the song of all. I mist conclude, for fear that 1 am obtruding on your valuable space.—Yours, &c., J. N. G., Gridiron Hotel, Dunedin, July 27.