3

D.—2

Enclosure in No. 3. Commissioners' Report on Ship " Columbus." The Immigration Commissioners report that on visiting the ship they found the immigrants were in good health, and expressed themselves pleased with the treatment they had received, and grateful to the surgeon-superintendent for his care and attention, and also to the officers of the ship. The provisions generally were good, but attention was again drawn to the absence of provision for the dietary of the younger children. The surgeon reported that there was no desiccated milk, no condensed egg, and only one small keg of eggs, of which a large number were broken. Three casks of cheese had been condemned as unfit for food. There had been no matron appointed before embarkation, and no enclosed berth had been provided for her use. The condenser was an old machine, worked out, apparently, and finally broke down shortly before termination of voyage. The class of immigrants appeared very satisfactory. The several compartments were clean. Two deaths had occurred, one an infant and one from exhaustion from dysentery. The presence of intermediate passengers had been a great causo of trouble, and interfered with the discipline of the ship, and the Commissioners regret that any had been permitted to embark. The surgeon-superintendent reports that some of the stores (including water) were stowed in the after hatchway, which was only accessible through the single women's compartment. The Commissioners recommend the payment of all gratuities, and the further employment of the surgeon-superintendent (Dr. AY. AY. Dunkley), should he desire it. AVm. Donald,"*) J. F. Rouse, > Commissioners. Lyttelton, 18th September, 1873. J. E. March, )

No. 4. Memoeandum No. 213, 1873, for the Agent-Geneeal. Herewith are forwarded reports, which I am pleased to observe are of so satisfactory a character, from the Immigration Officer and Commissioners at Auckland, upon the ship " St. Leonards," which arrived on the 26th ultimo, with 1591 statute adult immigrants. G. Maurice O'Rorke. Immigration Office, AVellington, Bth October, 1873. Enclosure 1 in No. 4. Immigration Officer, Auckland, to Under Seceetaey for Immigeation. Sir, — Immigration Office, Auckland, 28th September, 1873. I have the honor to report the arrival of the "St. Leonards" on the 26th inst., with 1591 statute adult immigrants. The inspection of the ship by the Commissioners took place immediately she arrived, and the immigrants were landed on the morning of the 27th. I landed the single girls first, and took them to the barracks, and handed them over to the matron, who had everything comfortable for them. I personally superintended the landing of the immigrants and their baggage. Everything that was possible seems to have been done for their comfort on board, and nothing in tho shape of a complaint was heard. I am happy to be able to report that, with the temporary assistance of Mr. Appleby, whom I have employed by the week as barrack-master in place of Mr. Butler, everything was in readiness for the immigrants when they arrived at the barracks : their dinners were cooked and divided into messes, and the rooms all told off for the different families. I always felt convinced there was no reason why one man could not do this duty. I have visited all the rooms in barracks to-day (Sunday), and there is not a shadow of complaint. One of the married women arrived very ill with dropsy : the Health Officer directed her removal to the hospital. I hired a cab for this purpose, and sent her to the Provincial Hospital yesterday. One child died on the voyage : she was only a month old, and was erroneously deducted from the number of adults in the Commissioners' report. The return will bo sent by next mail. I have, Ac, Edward L. Green, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. (for Immigration Officer). Enclosure 2 in No. 4. Commissioners' Report on Ship " St. Leonards." Sir,— Auckland, 26th September, 1873. We have the honor to report that the ship " St. Leonards," Captain Petherbridge, arrived here this morning with 193 passengers, equal to 170 statute adults, of whom 1591 are Government immigrants. We boarded the ship at the North Head. The Health Officer having ascertained that all were well, we proceeded with the inspection.