CONNECTED WITH THE SHIP "ENGLAND."

35

G.—No. 3.

EVIDENCE TAKEN AT MASTERTON BEFORE A. EOLLETT HALCOMBE, COMMISSIONER. John Swenson was duly sworn as Interpreter. Claus Petersen Maii, being sworn, said: — lam a German. I come from North Schleswig. I left for New Zealand about the 18th November last. I went from my home to Copenhagen, where I stayed at a seamen's boarding-house. From Copenhagen, I went to Kiel in a steamer, between decks, with all the Danish emigrants; at Kiel we went straight from the steamer to the train, which carried us to Hamburgh. At Hamburgh we had a meal, but did not sleep there. We went on board a steamer for London. We came to the Dock, and were landed with our things. A man met us there with a horse and cart, and we walked by the cart which was loaded with our baggage, and in about half an hour reached the ship " England." I slept on board the ship the same night, and continued to do so till she sailed. Ido not know the date of the " England's " sailing, but it was either three or four days after we arrived in London. The day we started from London we got to Gravesend. At the time I started for New Zealand from Schleswig, I was living, and had been for six years, in a house alone with my family. Neither I nor any one of my family had been sick for years, nor am I aware that there had been any sickness in my neighbourhood, for some time before I left. I did not know of any small-pox in the village I came from, except one case, that of a fellow-countryman who came from France after the war between France and Germany was over. This man was ill about three weeks, and was up and walking about nearly a month before I came away. This was not a bad case, and though I knew the man personally, I was not with him at all. About seven days after I came on board the " England," some spots came out on my face ; they were about the size of a threepenny-piece, and high, much in shape like a big pea, and white in colour ; they itched very much ; there was matter in them, which I squeezed out. Dr. Leigh saw them, and said they were the effect of foul blood. The people on board told me I had small-pox, and that was the reason I went to the doctor. By people, I mean my fellow-countrymen; but I cannot remember which of them said so, though I distinctly remember the fact. I asked the doctor, Dr. Leigh, if it was small-pox, but he said it was not. Ido not remember how long they lasted; some w rent away, and others came. I think it was about twelve days before they all disappeared. These spots were only on my face and head, not on any other part of my body, and I felt no illness while they were upon me, but two or three days before the pimples came out I had a slight cold and cough. I remember the inspection at Gravesend. I went with the rest of the immigrants upon the poop, and passed close by the gentlemen who inspected us. The gentlemen stood close by the ladder which goes down from the poop to the main deck. The interpreter who came with us from Copenhagen stood beside the Inspector ; but I was not spoken to. I have been vaccinated, but not since I was a little child. The marks are clear on my arm. Friday, 3rd May, 1872. John Knowles, being duly sworn, saith as follows ; — I am the Under Secretary for the Public Works Department, and as such have possession of certain correspondence from the Agent-General with reference to the immigrants who came out by the "England." I produce a list of these. For Wellington there were 87 souls, equal to 69 adults ; and for Hawke's Bay 15 souls, equal to 12 adults. The total number of immigrants who appear on this list is therefore 102 souls, making 81 adults. I give this information from a list enclosed in a letter signed by the Agent-General in London (Dr. Featherston). The official number of the list is P.W. 72—305. I am well acquainted with Dr. Featherston's handwriting, and I know the signature to the letter accompanying the lists to be his. I also produce a copy of the instructions given to Captain Harrington, dated sth December, 1871 (marked N) ; copy of the instructions to the surgeon, dated 7th December, 1871 (marked O) ; copy of instructions to the matron, Mrs. Hall (marked P) ; and the like to the mess-constable (marked Q). The two latter without date. Tho lists of the immigrants above referred to are certified to by Captain Harrington and by Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co. I produce a letter from Dr. Featherston, dated 12th December, 1871, in which he advises the shipment of the immigrants, which letter concludes with the following remarks : — " When the ship was inspected at Gravesend on the 7th instant, by Her Majesty's Emigration Officers, I was present, and satisfied myself as to the general comfort and well-being of the emigrants." This letter is signed by Dr. Featherston. (Letter produced and marked E.) Geoege Henry Harrington, being recalled on this date, says:— I received the letter of instructions addressed to me, and a copy of which is now produced (marked N.) ; as also the instructions given to the matron and mess-constable, copies of which, marked O and Q respectively, are now produced to me. These are correct copies. I did not receive the surgeon's instructions, nor did he ever show them to me. John Thomas Leigh recalled. I received the letter of instructions, a copy of which (marked E) is now produced and read to me. The journal (marked I), formerly produced by me, is the journal referred to in Dr. Featherston's letter. I have, I believe, got the list of passengers there referred to, unless I have torn it up. I cannot say whether it was in the journal or not. I did not show the captain my instructions, nor have any conversation with him about it. I now produce the list of passengers, marked S.