D.—2

6

I wish to point out that in my opinion emigrants would be much better satisfied with the diet sheet if the allowance of flour were increased. Oatmeal and biscuits are not valued so highly. It was a constant expression of opinion, in ihe married quarters particularly, on board the '* Douglas " that the children had not sufficient, bread. The issue of bread on alternate days amounted to ten or eleven ounces per statute adult. This, considering the usual habits of the class of people from which emigrants are obtained, where bread forms the principal portion of their diet, appears to me to be but a small quantity. I am quite sure a more liberal allowance would be appreciated. In mixing the preserved milk for the infants, I found the addition of a small quantity of lime water a very valuable adjunct, particularly in the tropics : it tends to regulate the bowels and check summer diarrhoea, which usually prevails during some portion of the voyage. John Tuck, Surgeon-Superintendent of the " Douglas."

No. 6. . The Hon. J. A togel to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 226.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 21st October, 1873. Herewith is forwarded the report of the Immigration Commissioners upon the ship " Celestial Queen," which arrived at Lyttelton on 4th October. « I have to call your attention to the remarks relative to the condenser, which was apparently almost useless, and to the bad quality of the cheese supplied to the emigrants. This appears to have been of a very inferior description, and to have been uneatable from an early period of the voyage. I have, Ac, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel. Enclosure in No. 6. Commissioners' Report on Ship " Celestial Queen." The Immigration Commissioners report that the immigrants by the above ship arrived in good health, and expressed themselves grateful for the care and kindness of the captain and surgeon-superintendent of the ship. No death had occurred during the passage ; one birth off the port. No disease had prevailed. The fittings generally'frere well arranged, but the closet in the single women's compartment was useless the greater part of the passage, owing to defective plumber's work. Tho compartments were well lighted, sufficiently ventilated, and creditably clean. The condensing apparatus (Normandy's) was an old one, and had worked indifferently throughout. The Engineer reported that it would only produce 200 gallons in twenty hour's under favourable circumstances, and the water was frequently brackish. All the provisions with the exception of cheese, which was uneatable from an early period of the voyage, were reported good, and had been regularly served out. Amongst the single men was berthed a free passenger, evidently a monomaniac, whose presence caused considerable trouble and annoyance to the surgeon-superintendent and passengers. The Commissioners recommend the payment of full gratuities to the officers of the ship. AVm. Donald, A Fredk. D. Gibson, l n ■ ■ John F. Rouse, f Commissioners. J. E. March. ) Lyttelton, 7th October, 1873.

No. 7. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Agent-General. (No. 241.) Sir,— Immigration Office, Wellington-, 27th October, 1873. With reference to your letter No. 424, of 13th June, 1873, wherein you remark on the Hon. Mr. O'Rorke's Memorandum re the ship " Charlotte Gladstone," I desire to state that you appear to have altogether mistaken the character of the document forwarded therewith, which was not, as you quote, the "Report of the Immigration Commissioners," but the report of a "Royal Commission" appointed specially to investigate certain statements made by the surgeon-superintendent. The report which you criticise so unfavourably was, therefore, not an expression of opinion by the Immigration Commissioners, but the conclusions arrived at by two experienced Resident Magistrates, after a long and careful investigation of the circumstances of the case. I have, Ac, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel. ■

No. 8. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Agent-General. (No. 242.) Sir,— Immigration Office, Wellington, 29th October, 1873. I have the honor to forward, for your information, copies of reports by the immigration Com-