33

D.—3

Enclosure in No. 53. Immigeation Commissionebs' Eepoet on Ship " Star of India." Sic,— Wellington, 19th November, 1874. We have the honor to report the arrival of the ship " Star of India " on the 10th inst., with 294 J statute adults ; six deaths, equal to two adults, having occurred during the voyage. Two of these deaths were caused by a man named Salter jumping overboard with his child on the night of the 14th September. This circumstance is fully detailed in the official log of the ship. We inspected the vessel and immigrants, and found everything in a very satisfactory condition, and the immigrants as a whole a good lot of people; the compartments were fitted as usual, and we again draw attention to the advantage of alley-ways, which were not in this vessel. The whole of the 'tween-decks] were well lighted and ventilated, and the immigrants expressed themselves as well satisfied with the voyage. The entrance to the single-girls' compartment should have been direct from the poop. This could have been easily arranged, as there was a convenient skylight through which the ladder could easily have been taken. All the hospitals, matron's cabin, and bath-room were particularly good, being well ventilated and convenient in every way. The dispensary, however, was inconveniently placed under the main hatch, and was badly lighted. In our opinion, the dispensary and hospitals should always be on deck. The galley and condenser were good. Again we bring under notice the great want of sand and charcoal, also the inferior character of the water tins. In conclusion we append a short report from the surgeon-superintendent, and recommend the payment of all gratuities. Captain Holloway and Dr. Wilson seem to have worked very cordially together, and earned the goodwill of all the immigrants under their charge. We have, &c, Alex. Johnston, M.D. H. J. H. Eliott. His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. John Hollidat.

No. 54. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 364.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 18th December, 1874. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relative to the " Ocean Mail," which vessel arrived upon the 7th ultimo at Nelson : — 1. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Surgeon-Superintendent's report. 3. Certified list of births and deaths upon the voyage. You will be pleased to read that the Commissioners report so favourably of the immigrants, and the arrangements made by the surgeon-superintendent, captain, and officers for their health and comfort during the voyage. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure in No. 54. Immigeation Commissionebs' Eepoet on Ship " Ocean Mail." Sic, — Nelson, 3rd December, 1874. The ship " Ocean Mail," 1,032 tons, arrived here on Saturday, the 7th of November, after a favourable voyage of seventy-eight days. She brought up in the outer anchorage, where we visited her. Having little cargo for this port, Captain Watson would not allow his ship to enter the harbour through fear of losing his crew before he reached the Bluff, his port of destination. The immigrants (a remarkably fine body) and their luggage were landed by means of a steamer on Monday morning. Although carrying 332 souls, there had been only three deaths on the passage, and these were infants. All the arrangements on board for insuring health and comfort were highly satisfactory, the vessel's great height between decks being an important advantage. There were no complaints except from a few married women, principally from towns, who disapproved of biscuits for their children, and who would gladly have exchanged some of these for flour. The biscuits on examination proved perfectly sound and good. There will always be a difficulty in meeting the wants of young children in an emigrant ship where the food must necessarily be different to what they have been accustomed, and we believe a partial exchange of biscuit for flour might be made for children with advantage. There is another subject regarding the health of the immigrants by the " Ocean Mail " which should be noticed. A considerable number were from Shetland, and many of these suffered much from the voyage, and were landed in a debilitated state. Previous hard living in an inclement climate had not made them indifferent to the confinement and heated atmosphere of an emigrant ship. Their food, while in most respects better than they had been accustomed to, was very different. Immigrants who have been in the habit of using oatmeal as a staple article of food would be better for a liberal supply of it while at sea, at the expense of other articles of the regulation dietary. It is worth remarking that among the Shetlanders, were an old couple, Benjamin and Barbara Courts, who emigrated with their children; the husband seventy-nine and the wife seventy years of age ; probably the oldest couple who ever left England in an immigrant ship. Both landed in excellent health, the husband stronger than when he went on board. 5—D. 3.