35

D.—l

Of course I feel that the experience I have gained in this my first charge of an emigrant ship h.is been of much service to me; that there have been occasions during the voyage when such experience would have rendered my task much more easy to be performed; but I can confidently hope that the highly creditable state in which the ship came in, especially considering the large number of children (nearly seventy) in the 'tween decks, with the universal good feeling and, on the whole, good state of health of the emigrants, will be sufficient to assure the Commissioners of my efforts in the discharge of my duties. James John Macan, Surgeon-Superintendent, ship "Chile."

No. 40. Memorandum No. 7, 1873, for the Agent-General, London. In forwarding to you the enclosed copy of the report of the Commissioners appointed to board Immigrant ships on their arrival at Lyttelton, on the ship " Crusader," the Government desires to direct your special attention to the several portions of that report which refer to the accommodation provided for the married people, the injudicious treatment of the single women by the matron, the inferiority in physique of the married people, the want of an hospital for the single women's compartment, and the defective cooking arrangements. As your attention has already been called to many defects and omissions of a similar nature in other ships, it only remains for me to refer you to my previous communications in which suggestions are made and instructions given for the better conduct of immigration to this Colony. Immigration Office, Wellington, G. M. Waterhofse, 13th January, 1873. (for the Hon. Minister for Immigration).

Enclosure in No. 40. Eeport of the Immigration Commissioners on the Ship " Crusader." The Commissioners have to report that on their visit to the above vessel they found the health of the immigrants generally good, the cleanliness of the various compartments creditable, and the arrangements well carried out, with one exception: in the married people's compartment was a sort of cul-de-sac between the end of the provision room and the vessel's skin on the port side, which was both dark and ill ventilated ; in this locality the children generally exhibited a cachectic appearance, and several had suppurating glands in the neck ; it is right, however, to state that the family appeared to have strumous proclivities. A few cases of hooping-cough existed. The provisions had been good in quality, well cooked, and regularly served out; the supply of water ample and good. The immigrants in all compartments expressed themselves as well satisfied, and spoke highly of the kindness of the captain, surgeon-superintendent, and officers of the vessel. The conduct of the immigrants had been generally good ; but in the single women's compartment the matron complained of various minor acts of insubordination on the part of the girls. The Commissioners inquired into the matter, and report that although such acts had occurred, the matron's treatment of those under her care had not been judicious, or such as to secure cheerful compliance to rule. The class of immigrants in the single men's and women's compartments was satisfactory. Of the married people, however, the Commissioners cannot speak favourably, as in physique generally they were much below most other shipments. The hospitals were well lighted, ventilated, and furnished, but between decks. There was none provided in the single women's compartment. The Commissioners again beg to draw the attention of the Government to the fact that the bringing of young girls suffering from severe indisposition among men, women and children is often extremely objectionable; it would be much better for the hospital for unmarried females to be in their own compartment, and a separate one for the married women, to be placed on deck, where a deck house exists. The bathroom was well fitted up, and had worked satifactorily ; the closets had acted well. The distilling apparatus (Chaplin's) had performed its duty satisfactorily, distilling 300 gallons in twelve hours. The cooking arrangements were defective, in that there was only one galley, of medium size, for both passengers and immigrants, giving very limited space for the cooking operations. ¥m. Donald. John F. House. Eredk. D. Gibson. Lyttelton, January 7, 1873. J. Edwin Marsh.

No. 41. Memorandum No. 8, 1873, for the Agent-General, London. Enclosed I beg to forward copy of the report of the Commissioners appointed to board immigrant ships on their arrival at Port Chalmers, on the admission of the ship " Palmerston " to pratique. Immigration Office, G. M. Waterhouse, Wellington, New Zealand, 13th January, 1873. (for the Hon. Minister for Immigration).