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11. The treatment of the invalids appears to have been as good and careful as possible under the circumstances. No complaint is made of any of the officers of the ship ; and the captain did his best to meet all the suggestions of the surgeon. The passengers appear to have had confidence in the surgeon, and he certainly devoted himself to his duties conscientiously and laboriously. Owing to ill health, and consequent depression, he was inclined to bo nervous about the state of health of the ship, and we think he failed in maintaining the strict discipline necessary ; but his medical treatment of the cases on board appears to have been good, and he spared no exertion, so far as his health would allow, in attending to his patients. The conclusions we have arrived at, after considering the evidence before us, is, that the system of shipping emigrants in England for New Zealand is faulty, and that most of the evils that have occurred in the case of the " Charlotte Gladstone," are attributable to the faulty system. In the first place, there ought to be a depot at the place of embarkation, where the emigrants should be collected at least a couple of days before they go on board, where the surgeon should take charge of them, and where they could be thoroughly inspected. If this depot could be established at Plymouth, and the emigrants put on board ship after the passage down the Channel, it would bo a great advantage, as ships always leave the docks more or less in a state of confusion. Under no circumstances should cabin passengers be allowed to be carried in emigrant ships. The presence of a different class of passengers interferes with the discipline necessary when so large a number of people are collected in a small space, and withdraws an undue proportion of the space required for exercise and hospital accommodation. JS ro hospital should be between decks. The best place for hospitals is under the poop, or in a deck-house. The absence of cabin passengers would obviate all necessity for carrying live stock, except a few sheep and poultry for invalids. Pigs ought not to be taken on board at all. More berth room should be allowed to each emigrant. In the case of married people the accommodation supplied is not only scanty, but is not sufficient for decency. The emphatic testimony of a respectable witness, who was an old settler in Otago, and who came out as a passenger in the " Charlotte Gladstone," is corroborated by what we have heard from other emigrants. He stated that friends of his, respectable married people, who wished to emigrate, declared, when they saw the arrangements for married people, that nothing would induce them to undergo such an ordeal; and he was satisfied that no respectable married woman, if she knew what was before her, would ever emigrate so long as the accommodation was such as is now provided. We believe this, and beg to urge upon the Government the advisability of providing at a slightly increased cost, a separate compartmant or cabin for each family. The cost need not be great, and the advantage of such an improvement would be incalculable. Finally, we beg to suggest, that so long as emigrants arc sent out by a private firm to meet the requirements of public works, they should be sent out separately from the emigrants nominated in the Colony or selected by the Agent-General. The former are gathered up from all quarters, without inquiry into their antecedents, and belong very often to the lowest classes of the community at home; whereas the latter generally belong to a respectable class of people, and suffer very acutely from indiscriminate association with a class beneath them in every respect. We have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Chas. C. Bowen. AVellington. James P. Maitland.

No. 72. Memoeandtfm No. G4, 1873, for the Agent-Geneeal, London. I foewaed herewith copy of a letter from Mr. ~F. A. Krull, agent for the ship " Brechin Castle," now in this port, in which he offers that vessel to the Government for charter to bring emigrants and cargo from London. As this ship has every facility for the accommodation of passengers, the Government request that you will give the offer (should it be repeated in London) your favourable consideration. Immigration Oißce, Wellington, New Zealand, G. Malice O'Koeke. • 14th April, 1873.

Enclosure in No. 72. Keull and Co. to the Undeb Seceetaet for Immigeation. Sib— Wellington, 9th April, 1573. The general dissatisfaction -which the service of Shaw Saville's line is giving, and the means that firm is reported to use in preventing other owners of vessels coming to these waters, has induced Captain Smith, of the splendid vessel the " Brechin Castle," 1,000 tons register, to offer his ship to load in London for any port of New Zealand on the following terms, viz.: —To bring 400 emigrants at £14 10s. per adult, and £2,000 freight for 900 to 1,000 tons of measurement and weight of goods which she carries. The superiority of the " Breehin Castle " over any vessel which has hitherto arrived with passengers is so palpable that it needs no comment. As Captain Smith has telegraphed to his owners his acceptance of a charter from Lyttelton, it would be necessary for him to telegraph in case of your accepting his offer, as otherwise the owners, Messrs. Gregor, Turnbull, and Co., Glasgow, might make other arrangements for the vessel. We have, &c, The Under Secretary, Immigration Department, Ketjll and Co. Wellington.