D.—l

56

Enclosure 1 in No. 57. Immigration Officer's Eepoet on the Ship " Himalaya." Bate of Arrival.— 3rd March, 1873. 19 families = 48 statute adults. *26 single men = 26 22 single women = 22 „ 117 souls =96 „ Number 'Engaged. —Of this shipment, only seven families, fourteen single men, and ten single women were open for engagement, the others went to friends. Situations were at once found for all the single women, and for all the single men with the exception of one, an engineer, and he will probably be engaged to-morrow. The married men have all found employment with the exception of one, Samuel Hagan, who wishes to join his friends in Otago, to which Province he states he applied to be forwarded. Character of Immigrants. —The immigrants in each compartment were well selected and suitable to the requirements of the country, and their conduct has been good throughout, with the exception of the matron to the single women, who was suspended by the captain and surgeon during the passage for gross misconduct. She appears to have been quite unfitted for the position in which she was placed. What Wages were given. Married Couples, £60 to £70, and found. Married Men— Farm servants, £75 per annum, house only. Farm servants, £40 to £50 per annum, and found. Labourers, £35 to £40 per annum, and found. Single Men— Ploughmen and farm labourers, £35 to £40 per annum, and found. Grooms, £35 per annum and found. General labourers, £30 per annum, and found. Boys, £10 to £18 per annum and found. Tailors, Bs. per day. Eopemakers, 7s. per day. Miners, 7s. per day. Engineers, 9s. to 10s. per day. Single Women— Housemaids, £25 per annum. General Servants, £20 to 30 per annum. Nurse girls, £10 to £12 per annum. Present Demand of Labour Market. —The harvest being now over, the demand for farm labourers is not so great as it was, but it is still in excess of the supply, ploughmen especially being much needed. The men accustomed to mining work found ready employment, as did also the ropemakers, the latter especially being in great demand. There were no carpenters by this ship ; a considerable number would have at once met with engagements at good wages. Masons, plasterers, and painters are also much wanted, as a considerable amount of work in the building trade is now being carried on. * Similar remarks to those made on previous shipments still apply as to the demand for single women ; more than six times as many applications were received as there were single women for engagement by this ship. J. E. Maech, Immigration Office, Christchurch, 13th March, 1873. Immigration Officer.

Enclosure 2 in No. 57. Commissioners' Eeport on the Ship " Himalaya." The Commissioners report that on their visit to the " Himalaya " they found the immigrants in good health. Whooping-cough (seven cases) had occurred on the voyage, having broken out shortly after sailing, and had disappeared a fortnight before arrival. Two births had taken place on board, and two deaths, both infants. The compartments, with the exception of the single men's, were not so cleanly kept as is generally the case. Some reason was given for this in the single women's, from one of the ports having been left open on the night before arrival, and a quantity of water having entered, making the deck sloppy. The class of immigrants, on the whole, appeared very well suited to the requirements of the Province, their physique being good, and conduct generally throughout the voyage satisfactory. The Commissioners regret, however, to report that the matron appointed in London had, on the night of 24th December, grossly misconducted herself by having illicit intercourse with one of the passengers upon the ladder leading into the single women's compartment. The captain and surgeon-superinten-dent, having inquired into the matter, very properly disrated her, and appointed in her place Sarah A. Hulme, who performed the duties of matron satisfactorily to the end of the voyage. The Commissioners instituted an inquiry, taking the evidence of several witnesses of the occurrence, and found the charge fully substantiated. They have also to remark that a boy, aged thirteen, was domiciled with the single women. The provisions were good, and had been well cooked and regularly served. The condenser (Normandy's) had worked well, distilling 250 gallons in twelve hours. There had been no scarcity of water on board. * One of these single men arrived per ship " Cissy."