REP0RT OF THE SECOND BOARD OF ENQUIRY ON THE 'GANGES.'

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2401, 31 March 1865, Page 8

REPORT OF THE SECOND BO ARD OF ENQUIRY ON THE 'GANGES.'

* , Auckland, Mfufeb; 21, 1865. Sib, — In accordance with the "instructions contained in your Honor's Litter of; the 11th. current, we have the honour to report that we have made due inquiry into the causes of mortality on board the ship ' GingisV during the voyage from Queenstown to Aucfilari'd^j'-.and from the f evidence' adduced we find:— %" - 'rJ&V, ' That" the appears to have been overcrowded. There' w~ere twenty statute adults' more than the law allojvs^and it appears to have been the intention of the agents iv EnglaVd |o, have shipped twenty more than 'did actuallyjSembark ; as that mimber is detailed on the passengej||list as actually short-shipped. -"ts^gjEt -. , That the ventilation was deficient. 1 The openings were less than 1 the minimum prescribed by law ; and even after an extra opening had been made at the surgeon's request, some weeks 'after the commencement of -the voyage, on approaching *the tropics, the area of the openings remained less' than that minimum. That the sago and arrowroot required by law to be put on board as "general stores" were not shipped. Tha-limited supplies of the^e article*, shipped as — . "medical comforts," were consequently issued iuslead, and were soon exhausted. c>The J great mortality amongst the children, whggpere dependent on such farinaceous foodjtpiook- place after the issue of sago and arrowroot ceased. That j;he cooking appa'atus and attendance (appaiently barely sufficient for so , large a numbei) wei c not available for the requirements of the sick children, who of course could not partake of the ordinary rations. That the medical stoics, placed by the regulations under the control of the ship's officers, were not issued solely on the surgeon's lequisition ; and instances weie brought under our notice where the oiders of the surgeon for the issue of such comforts to the sick were not complied with till after serious delay. There appears to have been a large amount of disinclination on the pait of Ihe passengers to ribey the orders issiied to them as to remaining on deck, and as to "permitting -.the fiee chculation of , air below. Bus nothing*li%3,been adduced to lead us to blame the captaitf',or^fie l surgeon-supeiintendent for nny of the causes^Hiich 1 le'd'to the unusual amount of disease and mortality 'that occurred on board the vessel. Both these "officeis appear to have dischaigoil their duties to the best of their ability. 'We regret that we canuot apply the same commendation Wth'e puiser. But the responsibility appears, from the evidence befoie us, to lie mainly with the several authorities in Great Britain, who permitted the ship to leave port with— 1. Too many, passengers. 2. Insufficient provision for ventilation. 3. Deficieut and, in some respects, bad stores ; ' and, 4. Considering the number of children, insufficient means of cooking »nd attendance. We have only further to remark that, during^ our investigation, which was conducted in the most-J public manner, the captain and some of th« officers >• of the ship were present. The captain was represented by counsel, who intimattd his intention of advising his clients to withdraw. They remained, however, and counsel watched the inquiry, and cross-examined some of the witnesses. We called special attention to the insl ructions attached to the contract under which the ship was chartered, which provide that — ' "An investigation will in every case be made on the ariiviil of the ship, by the Government, as to the conduct of the officers, the tre»tment and behaviour of the emigrants, aud generally the events of the voyage ; »ud the payment of -the gratuities both to the captain and surgeon will depend on the Colonial Secretary being satisfied that their duties have been honestly and conscientiously performed ;" but the captain and the purser declined to au»wer any questions or recognise the inquiry. /Ihe surgeon afforded us all the infoimation^.at his command. rS^lljWe forward herewith the minutes of evidence taken. — We have, &c, ' Thomas Beokhajt, War. Weaver, Jas. H. Grawfobd. His Honor the Superintendent ■ ' of Auckland. ' ' -