D.—No. 3.

removed to the hospital but she became so rapidly worse that I felt it my duty, on the 19th, to represent to the Captain in writing, the ship then lying in the Downs, the urgent necessity of having the woman removed from the ship, as a measure of security for the rest of the passengers ; and the next day, after receipt of telegram from your Hon. Board to that effect, wrote him that the ship could not proceed to sea while the woman was on board, upon which she was at once removed to the shore, together with her husband and two children, four souls in all, equal to three, statute adults. Towards evening of the same day, ship was visited by an Officer of your Board, together with Dr. Sparks, Government Medical Officer, who approved of what had been done. The same day, Mrs. Grundy, a married emigrant, was delivered by me, with the aid of instruments, at l-30 p.m., having been in labour since the previous evening at 8 p.m. The case presented very great difficulties, and the child was born dead ; but the mother has done and continues to progress remarkably well, although I have not yet dared to put her into the hospital, notwithstanding it has been well cleaned, ventilated, and washed with disinfecting fluid. I am happy to say that, speaking generally, the emigrants are in good health, although the great majority are suffering from sea sickness. I have, &c, Jonas King, New Zealand Government Emigration Board. Surgeon-Superintendent. No. 4. New Zealand Emigration Board to the Coloniax Secretary, Auckland. Office of the New Zealand Government Emigration Board, 3, Adelaide Place, London Bridge, London, E.C., Sih,— 19th November, 1864. We have the honor to enclose you herewith copy of correspondence we have had with Messrs. Houlder Brothers & Co., shipbrokers, of the City, who have been very jealous of the present contractors for the conveyance of emigrants to Auckland. We need make no comment on this correspondence, further than merely state, that we were not disposed to give our reasons to the above firm for extending our contract with Messrs. Shaw, Savill & Co. We are, &c, ¥m. S. Grahame, John Morrison, New Zealand Government Emigration Board. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Auckland, New Zealand. Enclosure 1 to No. 4. Houxdee Brothers & Co. to the New Zealand Emigbation Board. Dear Sirs.— 146, Leadenhall Street, London, 24th October, 1864. About the end of June last, having heard that you would shortly be taking steps to encourage an extensive emigration to Auckland by offering free passages to eligible persons, we had the pleasure of communicating with you, and expressed our desire of placing some of our ships at your disposal for the purpose of conveying a portion of the emigrants from London to Auckland; when we were informed by you, that in due time, when the arrangements were more complete, we should be communicated with on the subject, in order that we might have an opportunity of tendering for the service. Not hearing from you as promised, on the arrival of the " Light Brigade " we waited upon you, and to our surprise were informed that you had arranged with Messrs. Shaw, Savill & Co., for two ships, which would supply your present wants ; and when we reminded you of your expressed intention of communicating with us before engaging any ships, and repeated to you that, as brokers of longer standing and greater experience, as well as being owners of several large vessels specially adapted for the passenger trade, we could do the business at least as well as any other house in London, you admitted that our anticipations were well founded ; that you had intended to take one ship of us, and one of Messrs. Shaw, Savill & Co., as the two brokers engaged in the Auckland trade, but, on considering the matter, had decided to take the first two ships from one firm, and had selected them accordingly. We then stated that we could not pretend to dictate to you the course you should pursue, but presumed that, as Agents of the New Zealand Government, you did not desire to give to one firm in the trade an advantage over another, but that, acting in a public capacity, you would give to each a fair distribution of the business, or at all events an opportunity, as before suggested, of tendering for the service, as it must be evident, upon the slightest reflection, that if the business were solely intrusted to one house —and that, too, without any opportunity being afforded to any other to share in it—it would virtually, as far as the New Zealand Government is concerned, create a monopoly in the Auckland carrying trade by destroying the wholesome checks of competition, greatly prejudice the interests of those engaged in making shipments to that port, and thus and in many other ways, seriously affect the welfare of the Colony. After a farther conversation on this matter, you assured us you would communicate with us before making arrangements for any more ships, and we were therefore not prepared, on waiting on you again a few days ago, in consequence of having heard nothing from you on the subject, to be informed that you had made a contract with Messrs. Shaw, Savill & Co., for such ships as you might require to the end of the year. After again expressing our surprise and regret that we should have had no opportunity afforded us of tendering for the business, notwithstanding the assurances (again not denied at this interview) that it should be given us : and feeling that while if it had been a private undertaking we should not have been at liberty to trouble yofi further, nevertheless, as it was a public undertaking, disbursed by public funds, we might with reason urge the matter upon you, and were therefore glad to receive at

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CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO DESPATCH