3

D.—2

Enclosure in No. 3. Memorandum : Immigeation Commissionebs' Eepoet on Inspection of Ship " Dover Castle." The Commissioners reporting on the above vessel state that no sickness occurred during the voyage J that the emigrants arrived in good health and spirits ; that the provisions were of good quality, and had been served out with regularity ; that the immigrants spoke most favourably of the treatment they had received; that the various compartments were creditably clean ; and they conclude their report by remarking that they have pleasure in recommending the payment of all gratuities. The Immigration Officer, in his report upon the immigrants, remarks that they were a good class, and readily found employment. The entire results of the voyage were therefore wholly satisfactory ; the condition of the vessel, the conduct of the officers, and the character of the immigrants, were all approved. But the Commissioners express their dissatisfaction with several of the arrangements on board. I proceed to notice the objections in the order in which they appear in the report:— " The compartment allotted to the single women was especially devoid of sufficient light; the plumber's work in connection with the bathroom and closet was so defective that the latter could not be used the whole passage. The usual hospital accommodation was omitted altogether." The number of women who were berthed in this compartment was twenty-two only ; they were all placed near the after hatch, which was reserved for their exclusive use. Several scuttles were cut in the sides of the ship, and an iron ventilating funnel was (if I mistake not) fixed in the booby hatch after the ship left the dock. I did not remark that there was insulEcicnt light, and I venture to think that the Commissioners may have been mistaken on this point. The plumbers' work was, to all appearance, completed satisfactorily while the vessel remained in dock, and no complaints of the ill-working either of the bathroom or closet were made up to the time when the inspection of the vessel was completed at Gravesend. It is unfortunate that the engineer employed to work the condenser was unable to perform the repairs which were required. Under the existing contract, the contractors are required to provide two hospitals only. It is however within my knowledge that the area of the two hospitals was largely in excess of that required by the Passengers Act. 2. " The matron was unable to sleep in her cabin owing to leakage, and berthed with the single women." No complaint on this head was made to me by the matron, who must have occupied her cabin two nights, at least, before the final inspection at Gravesend; and as, in the interval, the decks must have been washed more than once, it is fair to conclude that the leakage did not occur until after the commencement of the voyage. It ought not to have been a matter of difficulty to caulk the deck at the spot at which the leakage occurred. 3. " The hospital for married people was dark and ill ventilated." This hospital was constructed and ventilated on precisely the same plan as that adopted in the Canterbury ships under former contracts; and Ido not remember that Dr. Bickards (the surgeonsuperintendent) or Dr. Humphries (the inspecting surgeon) considered it necessary to provide any additional means of ventilation. Additional light might have been admitted by means of a " deck-light" let into one of the main-deck planks. The ship's carpenter would be quite equal to this work. 4. " The medicine chest supplied for the use of the emigrants was not furnished by the Apothecaries' Hall, and was by no means so complete as heretofore." "Under the present contract, the purchase of medicines by the contractors is not restricted to any particular house. In this instance, Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co. obtained the drugs from Mr. Moore, of St. Mary Axe, who has for some years furnished the medicine chests for the Queensland ships. The attention of the contractors has been called to the alleged deficiency, in order to prevent a recurrence of any complaint on this head. It would have aided in this object if the Commissioners had requested Dr. Eickards to state in what respects the supply of medicines to his ship was deficient. Albeet B. Otttweli, Emigration Officer for the Agent-General. 7, "Westminster Chambers, London, 22nd August, 1872.

No. 4. The Agent-G-eneeal to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. (No. 448.) 7, "Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 16th September, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Memorandum No. 86, of 6th July, in which you state that " The age fixed for married men should be extended in cases where the intending emigrant is the father of a suitable family accompanying him to the Colony." lam glad to be able to inform the Government that the practice recommended is one which is frequently adopted in dealing with the applications of large families. I have not thought it advisable to make any alteration in the letter of the regulation, as printed in the prospectus, in order that I may continue, as at present, to restrict the concession to specially eligible families. I have, &c, I. E. Feathebston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, "Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.