D.—3

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No. 86. The Hon. W. H. Eeynolds to the Agent- Genebal. (No. 87.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 6th April, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 47, of the 22nd January, in which you remark upon the Immigration Commissioners' report upon the ship " Gutenberg." I note your explanation as to the insufficient separation of the berths of the married people's compartment, and I am glad to observe that you have insisted that in all other vessels a proper division shall be made. I have, &c, William H. Eeynolds, (in the absence of the Minister for Immigration). The Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 87. The Hon. W. H. Eeynolds to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 88.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 6th April, 1875. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relative to the ship " India," which arrived at Auckland upon the 3rd ultimo : — 1. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Certified list of births and deaths. I have, &c, William H. Eeynolds, (in the absence of the Minister for Immigration). The Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

Enclosure in No. 87. Immigeation Commissionebs' Eepoet on Ship "India." Sic, — Immigration Office, Auckland, Bth March, 1875. We have the honor to report the arrival of the " India " on the 3rd instant, ninety-eight days from London, with 163 Government immigrants. Very little sickness had been experienced on the voyage, and the passengers as a body expressed themselves favourably in respect to the treatment they had received. Two deaths occurred among the immigrants —a single man, twenty-one years of age, of phthisis ; and a child, eighteen months old, of diarrhoea. There was one birth. With the exception of the single men's compartment, the immigrants' quarters were found to be in a cleanly condition, and ventilation was fairly attended to. The circumstance that the single men's compartment was open to the bulk-head forward, between which and the hatchway there was considerable traffic in conveying rope, tar, coal, and similar stores on deck from time to time, may partly account for the less satisfactory state in which that compartment was found. But irrespective of this, it was complained of by the surgeon-superintendent that a portion of the single men were unwilling to properly exert themselves in carrying out his instructions, and doubtless this contributed not a little to the absence of neatness and order only too observable in this part of the ship. To enforce discipline, the rations of about half a dozen of the men were stopped on several occasions by direction of the doctor and captain conjointly, and this has since been made the subject of complaint by these immigrants to the Immigration Officer. The matter was inquired into on board the ship, and subsequently more minutely by the Immigration Officer, and from the information obtained we are satisfied that no more was required of the immigrants in this instance than was just and reasonable. The refusal on the part of two or three single men, who had paid their passage out, to engage in their turn to draw fresh water from the tanks, and carry a little coal for the supply of the condenser's engine, if allowed to pass with impunity, was calculated to set a bad example, and the steps taken to enforce discipline in this and one or two other instances were, we think, justifiable under the circumstances. The provisions of all kinds were of excellent quality, and the supplies in this department were abundant, with the exception of butter, which article is reported to have run short about ten days before arrival. The supply of medical comforts also, in several instances, was scarcely sufficient. Preserved milk, sago, arrowroot, and wine became exhausted more than a week before the close of the voyage. There was a plentiful supply of fresh water. The usual issue of preserved onions and carrots took place regularly, and these provisions appear to have been appreciated by the immigrants. On the whole, the importation by this ship bespeaks a fair selection to have been made among the several classes of labour represented, and there is every prospect that nearly all will speedily obtain employment. We beg to recommend payment of the usual gratuities to the surgeon-superintendent, and to the master, mate, and purser. We have, &c, H. Ellis, Immigration Officer. T. M. Philson, M.D., Health Officer. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington.