25

D.—l

appears in the dietary table for children. I would call your very serious attention to these matters, and trust you will not allow another ship to leave for the Colony without most careful arrangements being made for the health and comfort of the young children by the liberal issue of nourishing food. Upon perusal of the printed copy of the charter-party, I fail to see that any provision whatever is made for insuring that a full supply of rations is put on board the ships. The example of Her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners might well be followed in this respect, and the favourite game of shipowners "running short " during the last few weeks of a prolonged voyage completely frustrated. The case of the " Bebington " proves how this is systematically worked, where we find in a voyage not beyond the fair average, not only the " medical comforts " exhausted, but the medicine chest empty, and the surgeon left without the most indispensable ordinary drugs. Under these circumstances, it is not difficult to conjecture what the result might have been in the event of any disease breaking out. G. M. Waterhouse, Immigration Office, (for the Hon. the Minister for Immigration). Wellington, New Zealand, 17th December, 1872.

No. 30. Memorandum No. 43, 1872, for the Agent-General, London. In my Memorandum No. 19, of the 23rd November, 1872, I had occasion to direct your attention to the class of ships employed for the conveyance of emigrants to this Colony, which in the opinion of the Government have been proved unsuitable to the requirements of the passengers for so long a voyage. The recent arrivals " Christian McAusland " and " Palmerston," both now in quarantine, confirm me in the conviction that under ordinary circumstances no ships should be chartered for the service which are not provided with ports or scuttles on the lower or immigrants' deck sufficient to insure thorough ventilation in ordinary weather ; and this is more especially necessary in vessels like the " Bebington," which have permanent bulkheads, which entirely preclude the circulation of air from hatch to hatch. Tou will therefore consider it a positive instruction that no vessel shall be eligible for charter which is deficient in thorough ventilation, and it should also be your special care that the provisions of the charter-party with regard to cooking and baking accommodation be carried out, the palpable defect in which had apparently a not inappreciable effect upon the lamentable mortality amongst the children on board the ship " Bebington." G. M. "Waterhouse, (for the Hon. the Minister for Immigration). Immigration Office, Wellington, 17th December, 1872.

No. 31. Memorandum: No. 44, 1872, for the Agent-General, London. Herewith is forwarded copy of a letter from Mr. Auld, of Glasgow, to His Honor the Superintendent of Otago, covering correspondence between yourself and that gentleman. I cannot but regret the absence of any desire to co-operate with Mr. Auld in the promotion of emigration from Scotland to Otago which this correspondence manifests. I trust that long before this reaches you, the emigration from Scotland has been placed upon an improved footing. It is not satisfactory to the Government, nor can it be to yourself, to find the Provinces expressing in the most emphatic manner their dissatisfaction with the existing system under the Colonial Government, and making provision for the renewal of immigration under Provincial administration. I refrain from saying more, because, after the very express instructions which have been forwarded to you as regards the conduct of immigration, and the practically unfettered power of relaxing existing regulations which in your opinion may be of a restrictive character, which has been conferred upon you, it would be unreasonable to anticipate that the expectations of the Government and the Colony will not be realized. G. M. "Waterhouse, (for the Hon. the Minister of Immigration). Immigration Office, 18th December, 1872.

Enclosure in No. 31. Mr. J. Auld to His Honor J. Macandrew. Sib,— Edinburgh, 3rd October, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your Honor's letter of 3rd July, and to state that the rocket apparatus for harbour use therein mentioned has been ordered from Messrs. Birt of London, and is ready to be despatched ; but as it is contrary to law to send such articles by a passenger ship, some weeks must elapse before a vessel can be got in London by which to forward them. Tour Honor's letter of sth June was received by the August mail and acknowledged in my absence. I was at the time abroad for a short period, but a copy of the letter was sent to me, and on my reaching Paris I wrote to the Agent-General in London, that on the second day thereafter I would wait upon him, for the purpose of considering the important contents of your Honor's letter. On calling at his office, however, 1 found that he was living at Boulogne, to which place I was informed my letter had been forwarded, and it was impossible for me therefore at that time to have a personal interview with him. Soon after my return here I wrote him of this date, with an extract from your Honor's letter, containing a full copy of it, with the exception only of that portion of it which instructs me what steps to 4—D. 1.