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No. 81. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 69.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 11th March, 1875. I have the honor to forward herewith the following documents relative to the ship " Michael Angelo," which arrived at Nelson upon the 22nd January ultimo: — 1. Immigration Commissioners' report and explanation of certain remarks therein by the Immigration Officer. 2. Surgeon-Superintendent's report. 3. Certified list of births and deaths. Under the circumstances of the conduct of the late Captain Luckie, and the consequent greatly increased responsibility and trouble entailed upon the surgeon-superintendent and the chief officer, as reported to me by the Immigration Commissioners, I authorized an extra gratuity of £10 to be paid to each of those officers. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure in No. 81. Immigeation Commissionebs' Eepoet on Ship " Michael Angelo." Sic, — Immigration Office, Nelson, 28th January, 1875. The ship "Michael Angelo," with 263 immigrants, equal to 224J adults, and six military settlers and their families, 30 in number, for Wellington, equal to 20 adults, making together 293 souls, equal to 244£ adults, arrived here on the 22nd of January, after a favourable passage of eighty-one days. On boarding her in the outer anchorage, where she brought up, we learnt that measles in a mild form broke out among the children shortly after the vessel got to sea, but by judicious treatment the disease was prevented from spreading, and soon got under. The deaths during the passage were five in number, four children and one adult, the latter a married man, who died of rheumatism and disease of the heart. We found the vessel iD a highly satisfactory state, and admirably adapted for carrying emigrants, the only complaint made against her being a leakage of the deck on the starboard side, which caused discomfort to the occupants of the berths underneath, and the customary complaint from mothers of families, that the food furnished had been unsuitable for young children. In some measure an otherwise agreeable passage was made uncomfortable by the misconduct of Captain Luckie, who did not live to reach Nelson, but was found dead in his cabin on the afternoon of the 18th of January, having expired suddenly of disease of the heart. Painful though it be to censure the dead, we should fail in our duty did we pass over silently the behaviour of Captain Luckie during the passage. Addicted to drink, he kept mostly within his cabin, and gave the surgeonsuperintendent, Mr. J. M. Booth, little if any assistance in controlling the immigrants. But, worse than this, Captain Luckie promoted intemperance to a considerable degree among the immigrants, particularly the single men, by selling them liquor, and many of these landed penniless, through having been tempted to squander the money they took on board in getting intoxicated. The surgeonsuperintendent, we believe, did all in his power to stop the evil, by remonstrances and threats, but was powerless to put a stop to it. We have reason for saying that nearly £100 worth of spirits were sold to the immigrants by the captain during the voyage. Considering the number of lives in charge of the captain of an emigrant ship, the command is too often intrusted to men whose habits unfit them for the duty. Out of the four vessels with immigrants sent to Nelson within the last few months, two of the captains ought not to have been intrusted with command. The attention of the Agent-General should be directed to this subject, and measures taken to insure for the command of emigrant ships men of sober habits. The customary captain's gratuity of £25 having, as we are informed, been withheld, we recommend its distribution among the other officers of the vessel, including the surgeon. We have great pleasure in recommending Dr. Booth for future employment by Government, should he desire it. With a less capable man in medical charge of the " Michael Angelo " the consequences might have been serious; unsupported by the captain, he was the only person to put down broils, which the captain was the means of creating ; and even in matters affecting the safety of the ship, he alone could approach Captain Luckie, and make him amenable to reason. We have, &c, Leonaed Booe. C. Elliott. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. James S. Ceoss.

No. 82. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 81.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 16th March, 1875. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relative to the ship " Oamaru," which arrived at Port Chalmers upon the 17th ultimo : — 1. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Certified list of births and deaths upon the voyage. I have, <fee, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.