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No. 88. The Hon. W. H. Eeynolds to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 97.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 9th April, 1875. Eeferring to former correspondence relative to the ship " Scimitar," I now forward for your information copy of a correspondence which has taken place between the Under Secretary of the Department and Dr. Hosking, with regard to the discrepancies in that officer's statements before the Eoyal Commission in Dunedin and yourself in London. I may state that I have sent all the papers herein to the gentlemen who formed the Commission, for their remarks, which upon receipt shall be duly forwarded to you. I have, &c, William H. Eeynolds, (in the absence of the Minister for Immigration). The Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

Enclosures in No. 88. Dr. Hosking to the Undeb Secbetaby for Immigeation. Sib,— " Dallam Tower," Wellington, 22nd December, 1875. As I find that some misconception has arisen with regard to my evidence before the Eoyal Commission on the ship " Scimitar," and also in the matter of the statements I may have made before the Agent-General relative to the same ship, I have the honor to request that you will kindly favour me with the points upon which you require further information in writing. I will then endeavour to be as explicit as possible, and will gladly afford any information which the Government may require. 1 should esteem it a favour if you would cause me to be supplied with a copy of my evidence as taken down by the clerk at the time of the inquiry both here and at Home, together with any other papers and letters bearing on the subject which have not yet been supplied to me. I have, &c, William H. Hosking. C. E. Haughton, Esq., Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. The Undee Seceetaey for Immigeation to Dr. Hosking. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 23rd March, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd instant, in which you allude to a misconception you understand to have arisen with regard to your evidence before the Eoyal Commission upon the ship " Scimitar," and your statement relative to the same ship made before the Agent-General for the Colony in London, and request to be supplied with copies of your evidence as taken down by the Secretary of the Commission, and at the inquiry at Westminster Chambers. In reply, I am instructed by the Hon. the Minister for Immigration to enclose you copies of those portions of your evidence before the Commission, and of your statement before the Agent-General in London, which appear upon the face of them to be conflicting, and to request that you will afford an explanation, more especially with regard to your sworn evidence that " after the inspection by Dr. Eccles you had a long conversation with him as to the propriety of sending so many infected people, and also expressed your opinion that they should have been detained if practicable for isolation and treatment ashore until the epidemic had passed ; but that this was deemed by him and Mr. Smith as impracticable, and it was further urged that the mortality afloat would be no worse than if they remained ashore." I have, &c, W. H. Hosking, Esq., M.E.C.S., Wellington. C. E. Haughton. Dr. Hosking to the Undee Seceetaey for Immigeation. Gosford House, Mulgrave Street, Sic,— Wellington, 3rd April, 1875. I beg to render you my thanks for your letter and the copies of evidence therewith enclosed. With regard to the last part of your letter, requesting me "to afford some explanation respecting a portion of my evidence relating to a conversation after the inspection by Dr. Eccles," I will proceed to do so. That statement was made upon oath, or rather to the best of my belief at the time when it was made, nor do I wish to depart from it, except so far as to explain certain terms which the Government have, I fear, somewhat exaggerated in a direction contrary to what the actual words used imply, or as I intended them to be understood. It is true that I expressed an opinion that the emigrants should have been detained if practicable, more especially those proceeding per " Mongol," amongst whom it was well known that there had been several cases of fever—three on shore in the depot, and one family, at least, sent back from the ship ; but up to the time of the " Scimitar's" people going on board not one case was discoverable, and I was among them twice daily until they were embarked. The above suggestion was made or expressed after I knew that a suspicious case of scarlet fever had been discovered and removed from my ship by the Inspector, Dr. Eccles; and, though hopeful of getting away to sea with my people free of infectious disease up to this time, it was then that I, knowing that I had the unusual number of 165 children on board under my care, naturally enough gave utterance to the expression or opinion. At the same time it must be borne in mind that the only alternative was either to go to sea, or keep 750 people (ours notably clean, and the " Mongolians " notably the reverse) cooped up together in a close, damp, badly drained, and altogether unsuitable