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•Enclosure 8 in No. 26. Consul Rainals to Earl Geantille. (No. 5.) My Loed, — British Consulate, Brest, 22nd February, 1873. By request of Dr. Featherston, Agent-General for New Zealand, I have jointly with his representative here, Mr. E. A. Smith, held an inquiry at the Consulate, and at the hospital of this town, relative to certain complaints and charges lodged by some of the emigrants on board the ship " Edwin Fox," against the master and matron of that ship. This inquiry, and taking the depositions of eighteen witnesses, has occupied four days, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., besides the time employed in having depositions of witnesses copied. By the table of Consular fees I can find no charge stipulated for holding such an inquiry, and I have therefore the honor to request that your Lordship will be good enough to cause me to be informed whether any fees are due to Her Majesty's Government beyond those charged for annexing Consular seal and signature to each paper of depositions of a witness, and copies thereof. And I have the honor to acquaint your Lordship, with reference to this inquiry, that Mr. Smith and I, after full and due consideration of all the evidence brought before us, have drawn up and signed a report to Dr. Featherston, expressing it as our opinion that the complaints and charges were unfounded, but we have recommended that one of the emigrant passengers, P. Moore, should not be allowed to proceed in the ship, he having been actuated by personal malice in bringing forward certain charges without the least foundation against the matron. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. H. Rainals.

Enclosure 9 in No. 26. Consul Raistals to Dr. Feathebston. Sib,— British Consulate, Brest, 10th March, 1873. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant, authorizing me to defray the expenses of the emigrants who were found destitute at St. Brienc. Enclosed herewith I beg also to transmit vouchers, so far as obtainable, for these expenses, and at foot you will find particulars. The amount due to me I request you will be good enough to pay to my credit to my bankers, Messrs. Drummond, London. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, Esq., Henbt Rainals, Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H.M. Consul. Expenses incurred on behalf of the following Emigrants ex " Edwin Fox," viz. : —Martin Hyland, Bridget Hyland, Nora Hyland, and Jas. Lee. Telegram from St. Brienc ... ... ... ... ... fr. 4.90 2.10 Expenses at St. Brienc voucher ... ... ... ... ... 13.50 Railway fare from, ditto to, St. Malo voucher ... ... ... 32.20 Fare per steamer from St. Malo to Southampton voucher ... ... 74.3>> Postages ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1.40 frs. 128.45 £5 2 10 P.S.—Since closing the above I have received your letter of the Bth instant. With regard to the emigrants in question, I did not authorize their being sent further than Southampton.

Enclosure 10 in No. 26. Mr. E. A. Smith to Dr. Featheestoit. Sib,— London, 14th March, 1873. I have the honor to report that, in pursuance of you instructions, I proceeded on the 11th of February to Brest, to superintend the refit of the " Edwin Fox," which had put into that port, after having been struck by a heavy sea, which carried away the whole of her starboard bulwarks, from the after part of the topgallant forecastle to the fore part of the poop, as also six stanchions on the port side, a large portion of the poop accommodation, part of the house on deck, booby hatches, emigrants' water closets, the two quarter boats, and two other boats which were stowed on the after skids. These latter in their fall broke the pumps, killed the surgeon-superintendent and an able seaman named Strawbridge, besides inflicting minor injuries on several of the seamen and emigrants, the boatswain having his leg so badly fractured as to prevent his going to sea again in the ship. On arrival at Brest, I found that the emigrants had been landed and were provided with board and lodging in five different houses, there being no building available where they could all have been accommodated together. A survey had beeu held on the ship by two competent English shipmasters. She had been towed into the Government arsenal, and was there undergoing the necessary repairs by the Government artificers. I carefully examined the ship myself, and found that, although a very large quantity of water had been shipped, the vessel had sustained no damage necessitating her being placed in dry dock, or her