D.—l

19

The mode adopted for dividing the people was as follows: —Mothers with very young children in the saloon, as far as possible, then iv lower after-hatch (which was left off), on the wheat bags. All the married women with children managed to get in these two places. The captain then kindly allowed a sail to bo rigged as an awning, under the skids, and another sail spread on deck, under the awning. On this area all the single girls slept, except about ten, for whom there was not room, and these last went with the matron and sub-matron down on to the half-deck, where they slept in bunks vacated for them by the apprentices. The married men went forward to the lower forecastle, and the single men slept iv the fore-hold and top-gallant forecastle. I appointed two men for each four hours of the night, from among the married men, to keep watch, one on each side of the deck, from the poop to the forward deck-houses, so that they kept watch over the single women, and over the after-hatch, and reported to the officer of the watch as usual, every half hour. Particular instructions were issued to all constables, indeed to all passengers, to guard against any one using matches, &c, below. All emigrants were in their respective sleeping places before 10 p.m. I forgot to mention that, after the biscuits were given out, a small amount of tea was served round to all; owing to the small size of this ship's coppers, much could not be made at once. The women first had some, then the men. I then went on the poop, and lay down on deck till about 12.30 p.m., when the second mate came on deck and offered me his berth, which I was glad to accept. November 12th. —This morning I had some sago boiled for those who are weak, and the infants, and the hospital assistant prepared milk as usual. Left orders last night with Leach, one of the emigrants, to kill a sheep this morning, which was done. The captain informed me that we must reduce the amount of biscuit used to-day, as he had not enough on board to last two more days at that rate, so served out one biscuit each for breakfast to all emigrants, and tea, about half-a-pint each. After breakfast, served out 2 quarts of water for each adult emigrant, and 1 quart for each child ;_ had three large casks, in which the water was put —one for the single men, containing 52 J- gallons, one for the married people, containing 40^ gallons, and one for the single women, containing 35J gallons. All the sheep, except a leg which we had in the saloon, was made into soup, the meat being served with the soup, so that each person received nearly a pint. This evening I got another tin of milk from the captain, and had it distributed among the infants. Concerning our treatment on this ship, I can only say that we could not have been more fortunate, receiving at the hands of the captain and officers every possible consideration and assistance. They all seem to be most anxious to do anything at all, no matter what trouble, to add to the comfort of our passengers —cabin and emigrants. The " Piako " has not been in sight all day. With regard to the emigrants themselves, they are all, as far as 1 cau find out, contented and thankful, and are all pretty well. Some of the children are weak, and have taken colds. Mrs. Forbes' baby is still very weak, and Mrs. D. Randol is improving fast. As far as I have heard, the emigrants unanimously, and I consider very justly, applaud the cool and untiring energy of the captain and officers. The boats were got out in good time, order, and condition; the fire was speedily got at, and though not at once quenched, it was not for the want of energy on the part of the captain, or those under him, but rather from the impossibility of getting to the real seat of the fire, and from the insufficiency of the fire-apparatus, only three engines, two hand, aud one steam, being available.

Enclosure 3 in No. 34. Suegeon-supeeintendent's Repoet, Ship " Piako." Gentlemen, — Annexed is a classified summary of the principal events which occurred on board the ship " Piako," and of the observations which I have to bring under the notice of the Immigration Commissioners. 1. The Ship and its Accommodation. —As far as I able to judge, the ship is in every way satisfactory, but some of the accommodation, I think, might have been better ; eg., the bakery is too small for the requirements of so many people, and the oven accommodation is so limited that the bread is seldom as well done as it ought to be. It has to be made in small batches, and each batch has to be hurried out of the ovens to make room'for the next. This also reflects on the emigrants' cooking those raw materials which are served out to them, for, as the ovens are required for bread baking, it is impossible for them to have tho use of them more than once a week; they were, therefore, under the dietary scale with which I was supplied at Plymouth, unable to use the flour issued to them, so that, by their own consent and wish, I substituted the scale on their contract tickets—viz., 12 oz. of flour daily instead of 10 oz., and 8 oz. once a week instead of 11 oz. twice weekly. The berths in the single men's and single women's compartments are conveniently arranged, but the same cannot be said of those in the married people's quarters, which are so arranged as to render it necessary to have at least five lanterns burning in order that each row of berths may have a little light. The lying-in hospital is almost underneath the main batch, and an occupant of one of its berths more exposed to cold and draught than iv her own berth. This, in high latitudes, constitutes in my opinion an unnecessary danger to patients. The bathing appliances for single women are sufficient, but there are none for married people nor children, nor for the single men. The last-named, however, can manage on deck with tubs, hose, &c. 2. Officers of the Ship. —On this head I have nothiug to say, except that I am much indebted to them all for their ready help whenever I have required it. At Cocoanut Island, Pernambuco, Mr. Banks, third mate, and Donaldson, the emigrants' steward, were with me all the time, and, beside supervising the cooking and giving out stores, &c, were of the greatest use in the maintenance of discipline and the preservation of order. 3. Provisions and Water received in London were very good, but those sent to Pernambuco from