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No. 79. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (No. 119.) 7, AVestminster Chambers, A rictoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sic,— Gth March, 1873. Referring to my letter No. 66, 1573, dated sth February, I have tho honor to send enclosed further lists of cancelled (nominated) applications for free and assisted passages. And I have to request that you will have the goodness to direct tho usual refund to bo made to the persons by whom money has been deposited with the Government in respect of the passages applied for. I have, Ac, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 80. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. (No. 120.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir — 6th March, 1873. I have the honor to advise tho sailing of the ship " AVoodlark," on the 25th ultimo, for Auckland, with 117 assisted emigrants, equal to 100 l statute adults. I send enclosed the certified list of the passengers, also the ship's book, furnishing the usual details respecting the emigrants, and the originals of the promissory notes. The gratuities payable on the recommendation of the Inspecting Officers, indorsed by the Government, are the following, namely:—To Captain AVood, £25 ; to Dr. Goold, £50, and_los. per adult on the number of emigrants landed; to the chief officer, £10 ; to the officer who serves out the provisions, £5; to the matron, Mrs. Ford, £5; constables for water-closets, £5 ; constables, ordinary, £2 each. I have, Ac, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. A gent-General. P.S. —The sum of £10 has been advanced to Dr. Goold to enable him to purchase the requisite instruments. A similar sum should therefore be deducted from the amount payable to him if the Inspecting Officers should report that his duties have been efficiently performed.

No. 81. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. (No. 121.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, AVestminster, S.W., Sic,— 6th March, 1873. With reference to my letter No. 81, of 6th February, reporting the sailing of the ship " Edwin Fox," and the particulars of the disaster which subsequently befell the vessel, I have tho honor now to resume the narrative of events from the date at which that letter was despatched. 1. I informed you that on the 6th instant Mr. Montague H. AVelby had been appointed as surgeon, in place of Mr. Langley, deceased. Mr. Welby, whoso testimonials are most excellent, had previously been employed as surgeon-superintendent of emigrant vessels, and was for some years in practice in New Zealand. Shortly after Mr. AVelby's departure from London, I despatched Mr. Edward Smith to Brest to represent this office during the refitting of tho vessel at that port. I w-as advised by Mr. Walcot and Mr. Cooper (Under Secretary of the Immigration Board) to appoint Mr. Smith, who has previously acted at Southampton as Despatching Officer for the Commissioners. Mr. Smith reported that the emigrants were located some in hotels and some in private houses in the town, and were well cared for. 3. On the 17th February, Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co. forwarded to me copy of a letter signed by several of the emigrants, in which Captain Johnson was charged with immoral and unseamanlike conduct. The matron, Mrs. Stewart, was also charged with connivance in the misconduct attributed to tho captain and single women. A letter was also received from one of the single women, in which those charges were repeated. Immediately on receiving the letter first referred to I telegraphed Mr. Smith to the following effect: — " Emigrants Parsiow, AViddowson, Bennett, Bcale, and Moore charge Captain Johnson with grave immoral misconduct with tho single women, and unseamanlike behaviour; they also accuse the matron of connivance. Institute an immediate investigation, and do it in conjunction with Consul. Letter by to-night's post. Do for the emigrants whatever you regard necessary ; provide clothing or whatever else." On the 21st, tho underwritten telegram was received from Mr. Smith, viz. :—" Evidence closed ; captain acquitted ; repairs finished Saturday; embark Monday, possibly Saturday; bedding ready;" and a few days later the official report of the inquiry, together with the evidence, was received. I enclose copies of these papers. The Government will observe that, although the matron appears to have been chargeable with indiscretion in some respects, the grave charge of immorality, or connivance at immorality, is wholly unsupported by any reliable evidence ; and that the charges against the captain are also groundless. 4. While the inquiry into the alleged misconduct of the captain and matron was proceeding, a telegram, of which the following is a copy, was received from Mr. Smith on the 19th February : —