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Copy precis contract forwarded you through Reuter. Government instruct you give effect contract described in precis, and cordially work with Company. If disagreement arise refer to Colony. Dietary scale according Saville's first contract. If anything extra desirable, supply at Colony's expense. " Wild Duck," " Parsee," " Woodlark" arrived. Former unsuitable : drugs bad ; medical comforts deficient. Let ship's doctor inspect hospitals, drugs, medical comforts, some days before starting. Julius Vogel.

No. 98. The Hon. J. Vogel and the Hon. E. Bichaedson to Dr. Eeatherston. (Telegram.) Wellington, 4th June, 1873. Government and Now Zealand Shipping Company have entered into agreement, to take effect upon your receipt of this, extending to thirty-first January, 1874, for carriage of all cargo and immigrants, Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Port Chalmers, exceptions being existing contracts, ships from Clyde for Scotch emigration and cargo ; New Zealand Freight Company's ships to Auckland, and steamers direct to any port. Contract same as Saville's, March 1872, except dietary of children, medical comforts and medicines —these on scale of March last. Limitation of one ship per month withdrawn. London port of departure. Emigrants may embark Plymouth. Company to despatch ships on six weeks' notice, stating approximate number emigrants, description and quantity of cargo; Minimum number of emigrants each ship one hundred and fifty adults, maximum four hundred. Eate, fourteen pounds ten shillings per statute adult, payable in London. Ships may be sent direct to Nelson and Bluff at same rates, if reasonable number emigrants and cargo available. One ship to Napier and one to Tauranga if possible—forty shillings extra per statute adult. Eate cargo, dead weight, twenty-five shillings ; measurement forty to forty-five shillings. Special cargo by arrangement. Napier cargo ten shillings extra. Half freight payable upon signing bills of lading, balance on arrival. Primage five per cent. Submit to Company's agent all contracts in force. Optional to Company within fourteen days to decline contract if these interfere with agreement. Edwaed Bichabdson. Julius Vogel.

No. 99. Memoeandum No. 116, 1873, for the Agent-Genebal, London. Herewith is forwarded report of the Immigration Commissioners upon the ship " Wild Duck," which arrived in Wellington upon 20th May ultimo ; also report upon the same ship by the SurgeonSuperintendent, and memorandum by the Immigration Officer at this port. I regret to observe that these documents are simply repetitions of many which have been sent in by Immigration Commissioners and other officers of the Department for some time past, and disclose the continued and apparently habitual disregard of anything like real inspection of either emigrants or ships at the port of London. In the case of the " Wild Duck," the ship herself was manifestly unfit for the conveyance of emigrants, and was fitted and provisioned with that regard for strict economy, and carelessness for the health and comfort of the passengers, which distinguish Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co. The leakage of the top sides, to be expected in so old a wooden vessel, kept the beds in the married people and single women's compartment almost constantly wet; and with regard to the hospital arrangements, no one who has inspected them can avoid agreeing with Dr. Diver, when he says (vide his report herewith) that he was " quite disgusted with them," and that " they were not fit for the purpose at all." The Government entirely coincide in the views expressed by the Commissioners and the Immigration Officer, a copy of whose memorandum to the Under Secretary has been specially directed to be forwarded to you; and they desire that you should take the matter into your very serious consideration. It is evident that the selection of the ship was in the first place most injudicious, and that there has been a positive neglect of duty on the part of the officer or officers who were supposed to inspect the arrangements for the berthing, victualling, and despatching of the emigrants. The medical inspection would appear to have been of the feeblest kind; and, as in the case of the " Charlotte Gladstone " and other vessels, many persons physically incapacitated for work have been forwarded to the Colony. You will be good enough to cause an inquiry to be made, and report to the Government the name of the Despatching Officer in the case of the " Wild Duck," and any particulars which it may be in your power to afford relative to the medical inspection of the emigrants. In conclusion, I would impress upon you the fact that letters written home by immigrants who have been made miserable throughout the passage by causes entirely remediable, do more to retard emigration than all the costly advertisements, peripatetic lecturers, and highly paid agents do to advance it. Immigration Office, Wellington, 4th June, 1873. G. Matteice O'Bobke.

Enclosure 1 in No. 99. Bepoet by Immigration Commissioners on Ship "Wild Duck." Sib, — Wellington, 27th May, 1873. We have the honor to report the arrival of the ship "Wild Duck," at midnight on the 20th inst., with 84-j statute adults, Government immigrants ; one emigrant having died on the Bth May. Early on the 21st the vessel was visited and the emigrants mustered for inspection. We regret to say that on the whole the appearance of the immigrants did not favourably impress us; many