D.—ld

24

Benjamin Witney, single men's compartment, 14th September. Michael Binney, „ „ „ John Barrolt, water-closets, 18th September. And though at first they found their duties strange, had plenty of time to become acquainted with them, and discharged Ihem actively and attentively, duly superintending the cleaning of the various compartments, the serving out of provisions, &c. There was no occasion to appoint a cooks assistant, the emigrant cook with the man shipped as cook's mate being all the galley would accommodate. The provisions and water have been regularly served out, and have been of excellent quality. I have taken every opportunity of having the bedding on deck : the bottom boards being fixtures could not be brought up. The decks liave been scraped or holystoned every day, and wind-sails used. Scuttles opened whenever the weather permitted it. I have also regularly visited 'tween-decks ; more especially the married compartment, several times a day. My regular times were before breakfast (between 7 and 8 a.m.), afterwards, and in the evening at 7 p.m., adhering to these times as strictly as the large amount of sickness on board would allow me. The portion of deck underneath the bunks was whitewashed throe times during the voyage, and would have been more frequently done, but the amount of lime was only sufficient to do it that number of times ; disinfectants were freely used, and especially I would record my approval of Calvert's Carbolated Lime Powder, which w;is of valuable assistance to me. Except during rainy weather I had little diffieultv in preserving dryness in the 'tween-decks. Then the necessary traffic up and down the ladders gave some trouble. However, by the occasional use of swing stoves and powdered holystone (sand was all us.'d for holystoning), they were kept as dry as possible. Muster and divine service has been held every Sunday, weather permitting. In the warm latitudes the captain had awnings spread, and in bad weather weathercloths to protect those who were able to be on dick. Continual attention has been given to secure the separation of the single women from the cither passengers ; and as the ship had no poop, a double rope was stretched across from rail to rail, with an interval between. School was not held for some time, as, owing to the amount of sickness, I wished the children to be on deck as much as possible. Mr. Malcolm also had a severe attack of h.rmorrhagic diarrhoea, which prevented him from holding school from Bth to 24th of November. This will account for the deficient attendance marked in his book. The watch bill and list of sweepers have been regularly made out and the duties discharged. I have reason to speak highly of the schoolmaster, matron, and constables. Owing to the head of each family being legally allowed to form a mess, the messes have been much more numerous than seems to me advisable, and consequently the difficulty of cooking much increased. I may say I have had no sickness among the single women, and have constantly endeavoured to carry out the various regulations with regard 1o them, so much so that it would be only amongst them that I should deem I was held as much in dislike as respect. The medical comforts have been regularly issued, in accordance with my instructions; my last injunctions from the Medical Inspector at Gravesend being that they were intended to be used, and I have expended them freely. I have also had from the captain preserved meat in lieu of salt, for many of the sick, and several tins of essence of beef from the cabin stores, an article —or at all events " Liebig's Extract " in lieu of it—which would be a useful substitute for some of the preserved soup in the medical comfort list. The baggage was brought on deck five times during the voyage. Of course I feel that the experience I have gained in this my first charge of an emigrant ship has been of much service to me— that there have been occasions (hiring the voyage when such experience would have rendered my taskmuch more easy to be performed ; Imt 1 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 'tweendecks, 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. Jameson John Macan, Surgeon-Superintendent, ship " Chili."

No. 41. Mkmoeanuum No. 20, 1873, for the Agknt-Geitebal, London. 1 fouwahd herewith copies of correspondence with the Immigration Officer at Auckland with reference to a nominated passage order in favour of Miss Catherine Montague, which it is stated had not been received by you. On inquiry, I find that Auckland nominated passage order No. 129, forwarded to you with Public Works Office Memorandum No. 2, 1873, of the 17th June last, was in favour of the immigrant above referred to. Lands and Immigration Office, G. Maubice O'Eoeke. Wellington. New Zealand, 24th January, 1573.

Enclosure in No. 41. Dr. PqKiKH to the Hon. the Minister for Imiikiuation. 8m, — General Government Offices, Auckland, 13th January, 1873. 1 linve the honor to enclose copy of a letter from Miss Bridget Montague, complaining that her sister had not been able to obtain a passage to Auckland under the regulations. Miss Montague's application was numbered 129, and wan sent from this office on the Gth May last, ■with my letter No. 388, to the Under Secretary for Public Works. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Daniel Pollen.