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Enclosure in No. 58. Immigeation Commissionebs' Eepoet on Ship "Hydaspes." Sic, — Immigration Office, Auckland, 28th November, 1874. We have the honor to report the arrival of the " Hydaspes " on the 6th instant, with 340 Government immigrants on board, eighty-seven days from London. On arriving alongside and putting the customary questions before proceeding to inspect the ship, it was discovered that scarlatina had been among the passengers, and that six deaths had occurred from this cause, all of children under four years of age; there were also six deaths from diseases not infectious, chiefly infants or very young children, with one exception, that of a girl of fifteen years, named Mary Long, who died of brain fever. Two births occurred upon the voyage. The last case of scarlatina having occurred thirteen days before the ship's arrival in port, the Health Officer deemed it prudent to send the "Hydaspes" into quarantine, and the order to this effect was given accordingly. After undergoing the necessary cleansing, the vessel was admitted to pratique on the 14th instant, when the customary inspection took place. We found everything on board in a very satisfactory condition; the 'tween-deck accommodation is of a superior order, and the supplies of all kinds provided for the use of the immigrants on the voyage we found to be of the best of their kind. The duties of the ship's officers, including the surgeonsuperintendent, appear to have been very satisfactorily performed throughout, and we have much pleasure, therefore, in recommending the payment of the usual gratuities. We have, &c., H. Ellis. T. M. Philson, M.D. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. I. J. Buegess.

No. 59. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 377.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 22nd December, 1874. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relative to the " Howrah," which vessel arrived in Port Nicholson upon the 30th November ultimo : — 1. Commissioners' report. 2. Surgeon-Superintendent's report. 3. Certified list of births and deaths upon the voyage. 4. Copy of a minute by His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington upon the Commissioners' report. Prom the latter document you will observe that His Honor coincides with the opinion expressed in my letter of 19th ultimo, that no private passengers be allowed on board the emigrant ships to this colony. I desire, therefore, that you will, unless the Hon. Mr. Vogel expressly directs to the contrary, insist, in all future charter-parties, that the whole passenger accommodation of emigrant ships is to be at the disposal of the Government. These instructions are, of course, not intended to preclude persons approved by you as suitable emigrants, and paying their own passages, in order to take advantage of " The Immigrants Land Act, 1873," proceeding to the colony as Government emigrants. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure in No. 59. Immigeation Commissionebs' Eepoet on Ship " Howrah." Sic, — Wellington, 15th December, 1874. We have the honor to report the arrival of the ship " Howrah " on the evening of the 30th ultimo, with 314^ statute adults on board; ten deaths, equal to two and a half adults, occurred during the voyage. On inspecting the vessel we were pleased to find her in a very good condition. The immigrants were comfortably located, as usual; —the single girls under the poop, with a direct entrance into their compartment; their bunks were in blocks, and they had plenty of light, space, and ventilation. The married people had the after and main hatches ; their compartment was also very comfortable, the bunks being in blocks, with alley-ways. This, we consider, by far the best arrangement, and every surgeon and captain who has had the good fortune to bring out emigrants who have had alley-ways around their compartments agree with us. Another important point was the position of the dispensary, which was under the poop. The issuing-room was under the main hatch. The hospitals were very conveniently situated —two of them being in the stern cabins, and one on deck. The galley and condenser were good. No little inconvenience and annoyance was caused by some single men who had paid their own passages, but found themselves treated as ordinary immigrants. We think that the practice of allowing private passengers in emigrant ships should be discontinued. In conclusion, we append a short report by the surgeon-superintendent; and beg to recommend the payment of all gratuities, the immigrants having expressed themselves as in every way satisfied with Captain Greaves and Surgeon-Superintendent Easton. We have, &c, Alex. Johnston, M.D. John Hollidat. His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington. H. J. H. Eliott.