100

D.—l

questions to each class in their respective compartments, viz.:—How were you getting on during the voyage ?—Very well. Did you get your provisions and water ?—Tes. Were they properly cooked, and served out at the proper times ?—Tes. Have you any complaints to make ?—None whatever. We admit that the married people's compartment was somewhat damp, but on inquiry as to the cause the occupants informed us that on account of the stormy weather encountered on making the land, a sea broke in on the ship's quarter, by which some water got down the hatchway, and that the compartment had no time to get dry since. With respect to what Dr. O'Donoghue asserts as to the compartment being dark and comfortless, we are satisfied that it was equally comfortable and well-lighted as that in other ships, there being a large hatchway and a large ventilator through the deck, with a large skylight on the top, the latter of which also lighted and ventilated the hospital. From the general expression of satisfaction on the part of the whole of the immigrants with the treatment they had received, the Commissioners were satisfied that the provisions of the Passengers' Act were fully complied with. We may be permitted to say that it would tend greatly to regularity in the proceedings of the Commissioners and in the framing of the reports on the several ships, if Dr. O'Donoghue would accompany the other Commissioners on every occasion when making their official inspection of the ships, and be a witness to the answers given to the questions asked, on which the reports must necessarily be founded. Colin Allan, 7 n ■ • Wm. Thomson, j Commissioners. The Under Secretary, Immigration Office, Wellington.

No. 109. Memorandum No. 135, 1873, for the Agent-Geneeal, London. In reference to your letter No. 188, of date the 31st March, adverting to the question of the distribution of the emigrants you collect, among the various Provinces, I have the honor to inform you that it is the desire of the Government that you should adhere to the instructions conveyed to you in the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse's Memorandum, No. 27, of 27th November, 1872, and in my Memorandum, No. 79, of April 22nd, 1873, and take care that the proportion of emigrants allotted to the several Provinces should be as nearly as possible as directed by the Government. The cost of immigration being now borne by the Colony, instead of by the Provinces, it would be manifestly unfair to allow too great a preponderance of immigrants to be granted to any particular section of the Colony at the expense of the whole. My own opinion is, that you will not, during the current year feel your operations restricted by carrying out the wishes of the Government. In the present aspect of the flow of emigration to New Zealand, it would be exceedingly gratifying were you to report that you had shipped the number of emigrants that was ordered for even one or two of the larger Provinces, even though you were consequently obliged to close the door upon further applications for assisted passages to such Provinces, until the issue of fresh orders by Government at the close of the year. It is not the desire of the Government that you should attempt to divert the stream of emigration away from any particular Province; but if you have fulfilled your orders for specific Provinces, there does not appear any hardship in requiring subsequent applicants either to pay for their passages, or to give promissory notes for the amount, as you may think fit, or accept assisted passages to Provinces where there is an opening. I cannot agree with you that it is immaterial at what port the immigrants are landed, as custom proves that, almost invariably, the Province where immigrants arrive continues to be their permanent residence. In the case of single men, there is a tendency to be more or less nomadic, in pursuit of either new gold fields or of employment such as they cannot find in the neighbourhood of their homes. Immigration Office, Wellington, Ist July, 1873. G. Mattbice O'Eoeke.

No. 110. Memorandum No. 136, 1873, for the Acent-Genebal, London. With reference to your letter of the 18th March last, on the subject of the cost of maintaining your present staft' of officers, I addressed you briefly on the 4th June last. But on a reperusal of your letter, I find questions raised by you to which I feel it necessary to more fully advert. In your letter under reply you divide your officers into two classes —those appointed by the General Government and yourself ; and having thus classified them, you endeavour to prove that of the total cost of both sets of officers, considerably more than half—viz. £3,700 per annum—is to all intents and purposes wasted, and that practically, were it not for the interference of the General Government in appointing unnecessary, or, as at other times you designate them, "costly and useless" officers, you would have been able to conduct your Department at an expense of £2,600 per annum. Tour language is: That of the total amount of expenses, £6,300, " a sum of £3,700 has been incurred by the General Government, without any reference to myself, by the creation of offices in which I had no voice, and which, in my judgment, were in the majority of cases wholly unnecessary." It is not an ordinary state of affairs for a Government to have to defend itself from the attacks of its own officers; but seeing that you take credit to yourself for whatever is economical in the conduct of your agency, whilst you attribute all its waste and extravagance to the Government, it is right to consider whether your apportionment of praise and blame is correct. In the first place I will refer to the case of Mr. Morrison, to whom, as you state, you paid the sum of £600, in accordance with your instructions, as compensation for the abolition of his office, and at once reinstated him at the same charge per annum —with this difference, that you substituted the term