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The Commissioners consider the double berths in the single women's compartment objectionable; and desire to express their opinion of the insufficiency of the immigrants' galley, both on account of size and want of protection to the deck from fire. Wm. Donald. John F. Eotjse. Fredk. D Gibson. Lyttelton, 30th December, 1871. J. E. March.

No. 38. Memorandum No. 4, 1873, for the Agent-General, London. Referring to my Memorandum No. 41, of the 17th ultimo, respecting the contract entered into by you with Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co., I have to inform you that charges amounting respectively to £108 4s. 6d., demurrage for six days on the ship " Christian McAusland," and £212 155., demurrage for twelve days on the " Palmerston," have been sent in. Under the existing charter-party, the Government has no option but to admit these claims; but I take the opportunity of again impressing upon you the desirability of increasing the number of lay days in cases of quarantine to at least fourteen days from the date of arrival in port, in all future contracts with shipowners. G. M. Waterhottse, (for the Hon. Minister of Immigration). Immigration Office, Wellington, 10th January, 1873.

Enclosure in No. 38. Mr. C. Allan to the Under Secretary, Immigration. Sib, — Immigration Office, Dunedin, 20th December, 1872. I forward by this mail a claim sent in by Messrs. G. G. Eussell and Co., agents for the ship " Christian McAusland," amounting to £108 4s. Cd., for demurrage at the rate of 4|d. per ton per day. Having seen a copy of the charter-party as between Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co. on the one hand, and the Agent-General on the other, I am in a position to state that the claim must be acknowledged. The same document also provides that in the event of the ship being put in quarantine, the charterers have to provide for the immigrants for five clear days, after which the provisioning devolves on the Government. As this is the first charter-party I have seen in reference to the conveyance of emigrants to New Zealand, and as you may not have a copy beside you, I have thought it my duty to inform you that such^a document was in existence. To say the least of it, it is very favourable to the charterers. I have, &c, Colin Allan, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Immigration Officer. Wellington.

No. 39. Memorandum No. 5, 1873, for the A gent-General, London. Herewith I forward for your information copies of the reports of the Commissioners appointed to board immigrant ships on their arrival in this Colony, viz.: —Ship " Chile," Napier; "Agnes Muir," Auckland, and Immigration Officer's report on " Agnes Muir." G. M. Watertiouse, (for the Hon. Minister for Immigration). Immigration Office, Wellington, 11th January, 1873.

Enclosure 1 in No. 39. Eepoet by the Immigration Commissioners on the Ship "Agnes Muir." Sib, — General Government Offices, Auckland, 27th December, 1872. "We have the honor to report the arrival on the 24th instant of the ship " Agnes Muir," from London, with 135 passengers, of whom seventy-eight souls, equal to sixty-seven adults, were Government immigrants. Two births in this class occurred during the voyage, making the total eighty souls. Shortly after her arrival we visited the ship at the Heads, and the usual inquiries by the Health Officer having been satisfactorily answered, went on board and made inspection of the several compartments in which the immigrants were lodged. We found these compartments clean, well arranged, and ventilated. We found the surgery to be conveniently situated, and sufficiently supplied with medicines, &c. the bathroom in the single women's compartment, in good working order, and the hospitals roomy and comfortable ; the water-closets also clean. The cooking stoves we found to be sufficient. But there was no condensing apparatus ; there was however, a sufficient supply of water. The provisions were examined, and found to be of excellent quality. The immigrants being mustered, were asked if they had any complaints to make; the answer