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required, that immigration to Napier should stop for the present, but be continued in the spring. A full ship arriving early in each of the months of November, December, and January would suit the requirements of the district, and the immigrants would meet with ready employment and good wages 24th February, 1876. J. D. Obmond.

No. 22. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 67.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, Bth March, 1876. I have the honor to transmit, for your information, copy of a letter addressed by Mr. Thomas Johnson (patentee of the new plan for berths on board ship) to the Superintendent of Canterbury, and forwarded to me by His Honor. I believe the plan has been tried upon two or three occasions in our ships. In the case of the "Lady Jocelyn," mentioned by Mr. Johnson, I find that both the surgeon-superintendent and the Immigration Commissioners reported very favourably upon it. Without doubt you have given the matter some consideration previously, and I shall be glad to hear your opinion as to its more general use in our emigrant vessels. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure in No. 22. Mr. T. Johnson to His Honor the Stjpeeintendent, Canterbury. 38, Canton Street, Stainsby Eoad, Poplar, London, E., Sic,— 23rd November, 1875. I have the honor to forward, for your inspection and approval, my specification and drawings relating to a patent for improvements in ships' berths, granted to me in October, 1874. I beg to say last year the ship " Lady Jocelyn " had a few of my improved berths placed on board as a test, and on the arrival of the ship the report furnished to the Christchurch Press stated that, whilst there had been a good deal of sickness in various parts of the ship, there had not been a single case of sickness in any of my berths. On the return of Dr. Pearde a most favourable report was furnished to the Agent-General. Since that period one ship, the " Carisbrook Castle," sailing from Belfast, has been fitted with a few of the berths described in the specification forwarded. The Agent-General for South Australia is having all ships taken up by him fitted up with the improved berth_s, and the report from the colony is of a most satisfactory kind. I beg to enclose you a report of the sailing of the " Lady Jocelyn " and her fittings. Though there has been a great deal of opposition shown against the general adoption of my patent, and allegations made as to the extra cost, I have to say the extra cost, inclusive of royalty, amounts on the entire ship to Is. 6d. per statute adult over and above the price now paid by the brokers for the ordinary open berths. I shall feel obliged if you can supplement the previous recommendation from the colony to the Agent-General by urging the adoption of the improved berths, which give to the married people complete privacy, better ventilation, enforce cleanliness, and provide a greater area of deck space by day. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. Thomas Johnson.

No. 23. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Genebal. (No. 70.) Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, Bth March, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 921, of 23rd December, 1875, with reference to the case of three families by the " Helen Denny " to Napier, who upon arrival had to be sent to their friends in Taranaki. I cannot say that I regard your explanation as entirely satisfactory. I think that, upon the information being afforded that the applicant had several sons in the colony, some endeavour should have been made by your officers to ascertain the whereabouts of these, whereas it would seem the emigrants were put down, without much consideration, for Hawke's Bay. Neither do I think the fact of these people omitting to name a more definite destination than " New Zealand," can be held to be any justification of the course adopted, as it is impossible to expect any specific knowledge of the colony in persons in their class of life. It is evident that the immigrants must have had some correspondence with their friends out here before making application for passages, which, if it had been submitted to your office, would no doubt have been of service in determining the best port for shipment, under the certainty that they would wish to join their relatives upon arrival. I have to express the opinion that it is desirable you should impress upon your local Agents the necessity of obtaining full information from intending emigrants as to whether they have friends in the colony ; if so, in what province or district they are resident, whether they wish to join such friends, and other particulars of a like nature, which could be easily elicited upon the spot, and would enable you in many instances to make arrangements by which much after trouble and expense would be saved. It is quite clear to my mind, from the many cases similar to those in the correspondence now under acknowledgment, that not only the majority of the emigrants, but many of your local Agents also, have no proper appreciation of the different districts or provinces of the colony, or of the means of communi-