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deferred payment, the detailed regulations in connection with which were therein given, I have now the honor to request that, until further instructed, you will exercise the most extreme caution in committing the Government to any action under the regulations above mentioned. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, Esq., Heney Sewell. Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

. No. 4. The Hon. H. Sewell to Dr. Feathebston. (No. 102.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sib,— Wellington, 28th September, 1872. With reference to the Memorandum No. 110-72 of the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, dated 31st August, I have now the honor to inform you that the following immigrant vessels have since arrived, viz.:— Friedeberg at Lyttelton, 31st August; City of Auckland at Auckland, 3rd September; Hovding at Napier, 15th September ; Ballarat at Napier, 15th September ; Hydaspes at Otago, 21st September ; St. Leonards at Lyttelton, 23rd September. The immigrants by all these ships have arrived in good health, but there has been some sickness among those per " Hovding " since landing. I have not yet received from the various Immigration Officers the whole of the reports of the inspection and landing of the immigrants by the above vessels ; but I take this opportunity to send you copy of the Commissioners' report on the arrangements of the " Friedeberg," to which I direct your special attention, and also of the Immigration Officer's report of the engagement of the immigrants by that ship. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Henet Sewell.

Enclosure 1 in No. 4. Ship " Fbjedebebg." Commissioners were highly impressed with the suitability of this vessel for immigration purposes. They found the various compartments commodious, sufficiently ventilated, and in fair order; the fittings generally well arranged, especially the bathroom for the use of the single women, but there was no closet for females between decks, which the Commissioners consider a grave error. The health of the immigrants had been good throughout the voyage; the only death that occurred was an infant ten months old, from marasmus. All spoke, well of the treatment they had received from the captain, surgeon, and officers of the ship. The provisions had been served out regularly, but the quantity of meat (as per scale) was complained of' as insufficient, especially in cues of largo families ; the biscuit was not white bread, and was said to have been frequently mouldy. The quality of the water was decidedly bad, the greater part being carried in casks. The Commissioners cannot too strongly recommend that in all future ships a distilling apparatus should bo required. The medicine-chest placed on board was quite inadequate to the requirements of so large a number of emigrants ; it was in fact just such a one as ships carrying no surgeon would have, and the supply of many of the more important medicines was quite exhausted before the completion of the voyage. Special appliances, according to Schedule B, were altogether omitted. The surgeon-superintendent reported that much unnecessary trouble had been given him through no matron being appointed to take charge of the single women, who were destitute of any employment or amusement, neither books nor needlework having been provided for them. No schoolmaster had been appointed, although the. number of children by this vessel was unusually large. The surgeon-superintendent complained that his diet and accommodai ion were only such as are customary for second-class passengers. One serious case of breach of discipline was reported—two of the single men having gained access to the single women's compartment by night. After careful investigation the Commissioners think this was more a case of frolicsome mischief than anything else, but this scarcely could have occurred had this compartment been in charge of a matron. "VV'ith this one exception, the conduct of the emigrants generally had been good. It was represented to the Commissioners as unadvisable to send Scandinavian and German immigrants by the same ship, as, owing to their national antipathies, a want of harmony has existed during the voyage. "William Donald. Fbedk. D. Gibson. John It. Eoijsk. Lyttelton, 3rd September, 1872. J. Edwin Maech.