D.—l

13

and care has been taken to keep all the closets in good working order and regularly disinfected. The captain has inspected the ship with me daily (with two exceptions), and we have very rarely had to find any fault with the state of tho 'tween-decks ; two or three times a week lime has been thickly coated on the channels, and whenever any wet has beeu found sawdust or hot sand has been used. Saturday, 23rd. —A possible light has been thrown ou the outbreak of fever by the discovery of the fact that one of the G family had, a week or two before leaving England, been nursing a relation of the family, who was suffering from a "low fever." The boxes were last brought on deck on the 21st October; it seems possible that some infected article bad been kept there, and has given rise to tho illness, though it does not appear that any articles of dress belonging to the sick person were brought into the ship. Sunday, 24th.—Fever cases going on as before; kept up precautions for disinfection. December 3rd. —Found that three more immigrants were ill of typhoid fever: T and D married men; B , single man. December 4th.—E. B died. December 11th. —Mary G , single woman (one of the same family as tho mother and daughter sick of fever in the hospital), had her removed immediately. The occurrence of fever .amongst tho four different members of one family, in the different compartments of the ship, would point very strongly to a common origin of the outbreak in the members of it, as, since the first case occurred, there has been no communication between them. Sunday, December 15th. —Entered Wellington harbour, towed by the s.s. " Hawea " to Quarantine Station ; sent single men ashore. December 16th. —Sent all immigrants but the sick ashore. December 17th. —Sick landed. ******

Sub-Enclosure 2 to Enclosure 1 in No. 20. Exteacts from Captain Robeets' Loo of the " Heemione." November 20th.—There seems to be some sickness amongst the married people and children, which would seem to require some thinking out as to the cause, aud I place on record my views. The ship's deck ventilation seems to me to be all that could be desired, which has been proved by the fact of a larger number of people than now carried, viz., 461, iv first-rate health. There was this difference : the air had free course from one end of the ship to the other, instead of bulk-heads, which are now thought necessary in order to separate the different sexes ; but it by no means appears to me that on that account it is necessary that such free current of air should be entirely obstructed, as the bulkheads might be left a little space clear at the top and bottom as was done in times gone by. This seems to me to be the state of the case for perfect ventilation : What is required is means for a constant supply of fresh air, and also for the exit of foul air. Now the ends of the ship is where this is carried on principally, as shown by the fact that with the wind aft, and the after cowl-heads turned open forward, the foul air rushes up there, and also at the after shaft —which is shown by the feel, and by the dust collected in these places; with the wind forward the contrary takes place, nearly. In the present case the midship portion of the ship is bounded by two bulk-heads fitted tightly at the top and bottom. It does seem singular that in a ship so well ventilated (as proved), and whore the lower deck is kept so clean, that sickness should break out at this late period of the voyage. ******

No. 21. The Hon. J. Ballance to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— Immigration Office, AVellington, N.Z., 13th January, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 21st November last, No. 1027, transmitting correspondence respecting the ship " Piako," which put into Pcrnambuco with her cargo on fire, and, in reply, to convey to you the thanks of the Government for your exertion in securing the co-operation of Her Majesty's Consul on behalf of the immigrants. I have, &c, J. Ballance, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. (for the Minister for Immigration.)

No. 22. The Hon. Colonel Whitmore tothe Agent-General. Sir, — Immigration Office, AVellington, N.Z., 29th January, 1879. I have the honor to transmit herewiih, copy of a letter received from the Secretary to the Rangitikei Highway Board, bringing under the notice of the Government the great demand which exists in that district for agricultural labourers. I have, &c. G. S. Whitmore, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. (for the Minister for Immigration.)