40

D.—3

The passengers were regularly mustered on board the " Brodick Castle " during the voyage, in accordance with the Queen's Order in Council of the 7th January, 1864. We have, &c, H. Ellis. T. M. Philson, M.D. The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. I. J. Burgess.

No. 59. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to' the Agent-G-eneeal. (No. 118.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 2nd May, 1876. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relating to the ship " Pomona," which vessel arrived at the Bluff upon the 14th ultimo: 1. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Certified list of births and deaths during the voyage. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure in No. 59. Commissioned' Eepobt on Ship " Pomona." The immigrant ship "Pomona" arrived at the Bluff Harbour on the afternoon of the 14th instant. Being reported clean she was inspected on the loth instant. The health of the immigrants during the voyage appears to hare been singularly good, which was fortunate, as the surgeon-superintendent, Dr. James O'Brien, died on the 7th March, and indeed, from what could be gathered on this point, was ill when he went on board to take charge. There were only two deaths —a child under twelve months, from diarrhoea-, and the doctor from consumption. The compartments were clean and airy. The requirements under the charter as regards hospitals, baths, closets, &c, were complied with, though the fixings were not so satisfactory as in the " Waitara ;" and the Commissioners have again to notice that the divisions between the bunks in the married people's compartment were not sufficiently high to secure decent privacy, and that the single women slept two in a bunk instead of separately, the impropriety of which arrangement has been pointed out in previous reports. The block system of laying off the sleeping bunks was adopted in the " Pomona," and consequently the ventilation was good. The store-room was commodious and well placed. The dispensing of the stores gave satisfaction during the voyage. The supply of water was ample, and the condenser had worked well. The arrangements in connection with cooking the food, baking, &c, were remarkably good. The conduct of the immigrants in each compartment had been very good. There were no complaints made against the conduct of the officers of the ship : all the immigrants expressed themselves thoroughly satisfied with their treatment, and in terms of praise of the captain. The total number landed at the Bluff was 143 souls, equal to 129| adults, the balance, as per statement annexed, electing to go on to Dunedin in the ship —namely, 20 souls, equal to 18 adults. The Commissioners have much pleasure in recommending the payment of the usual gratuities to the captain, officers, constables, &c, entitled to receive them, and cordially accede to the recommendation of the captain, in the absence of the surgeon-sunerintendent, that an extra sum of ijl should be paid to the matron, Mrs. M., who appears to have been more than ordinarily fitted for the discharge of her responsible and onerous duties ; as also the sum of £2 extra to the surgeon's assistant, who appears from the first, owing to the doctor's illness and subsequent death, to have had a large degree of responsibility^ thrown upon him, and to have acquitted himself admirably in its discharge. The Commissioners desire to express their satisfaction with this shipment of immigrants, who appear physically and morally to be a valuable addition to the population, one which promises to fulfil in a greater degree than ordinarily the requirements of the colony. We have, &c, Wm. P. Gtrigob. Thos. Thomson. Invercargill, 25th April, 1876. Walter H. Pearson.

No. 60. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-General. (No. 123.) Sir, — Immigration. Office, "Wellington, 3rd May, 1876. I have the honor to forward copies of the following documents relative to the ship " Terpsichore," which arrived at Wellington upon the 18th March ultimo : —l. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Surgeon-superintendent's report. 3. Letters of immigrants and constables making certain complaints, with remarks of the captain and surgeon-superintendent thereupon. 4. Certified list of births and deaths. You will note that the Immigration Commissioners ascribe the acceleration of the disease (typhoid fever) on board this ship to the bad quality of the provisions and water supplied to the emigrants; and, after very careful consideration of the facts of the case, so far as they can be ascertained from the