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No. 13. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Agent-General. (No. 261.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 20th November, 1873. Herewith I forward copies of reports by the Immigration Commissioners and Immigration Officer upon the barque "Adamant," which vessel arrived at Lyttelton on the 17th ultimo. Copies of the evidence taken by the Commissioners, with reference to complaints made by tho immigrants respecting the short issue of provisions, are also enclosed. Tou will observe in the case of this ship, as well as of the " Punjaub," that the Captain had in his possession two dietary scales, one, that of the Passengers' Line of Packets, the other, that of the New Zealand Shipping Company, and that he gave the officer entrusted with the duty of serving out the provisions the former scale: a mistake which does not seem to have been discovered for nearly a month. The Immigration Officer at Christchurch, under my direction, made a claim for 7s. Bd. per statute adult against the Company on account of this short supply of rations. The Company at once admitted the claim. I have, Ac, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel.

Enclosure 1 in No. 13. Commissioners' Report on Barque " Adamant." The Commissioners report that the immigrants appeared all in good health. The compartments were fairly clean. Three deaths (infants) occurred early on the voyage. In this ship, as in the " Punjaub," the ration list used by the officer serving out stores differed from the scale on the contract tickets, and, as shown by the accompanying papers, was a fruitful source of discontent. The rations for children's dietary promised on contract tickets did not appear to have been put on board. The store-room was inconveniently placed, and as the passengers could not see their supplies weighed, doubt and discontent ensued. The immigrants all testified to the kindness of the captain. The bath of the single women was so fixed as to run under a bunk in the hospital, —a very objectionable arrangement. The class of immigrants appeared highly satisfactory. The Commissioners recommend that the usual gratuities be paid. Wm. Donald, A J. F. Rouse, ,~ . . Fredk. D. Gibson, f Commissioners. J. E. March, J Lyttelton, 21st October, 1873.

Enclosure 2 in No. 13. Memobandum for' the Undeb Seceetaey. I take the earliest opportunity of forwarding, for the information of the Government, copy of the evidence taken by the Commissioners on the arrival of the ship " Adamant." It appears the captain had in his possession two dietary scales; both are printed alike, and certainly look alike: one is the dietary scale of the " Passengers' Line of Packets ;" the other the "New Zealand Shipping Company's " scale. The captain gave to the officer entrusted with the duty of serving out the stores, the former scale, and it would appear that the mistake was not discovered until about a month after leaving. It seems somewhat singular that a similar mistake was made in the case of the " Punjaub." The surgeon has informed Dr. Donald that the error with them was discovered in the Channel, and the captain at once gave instructions for the back allowance to be issued. This does not appear to have been done on board the "Adamant." The cheese put on board was new, and in the tropics all became soft, and then putrid. After I received your telegram re " Celestial Queen," I thought it my duty to explain to the immigrants by the " Adamant " that they could recover damages; that the Government were determined to hold the contractors strictly to their agreement; and if they had not received what they were entitled to on the passage, the Government would secure the best legal advice, and enable them to obtain redress. I now only wait your instructions in this matter. J. E. Maech, Immigration Office, Christchurch, 22nd October, 1873. Immigration Officer.

No. 14. The Hon. Dr. Pollen to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 267.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, Bth December, 1873. I have tho honor to forward copy of the report of the Immigration Commissioners at Lyttelton upon the ship " Cardigan Castle," and also of the report addressed to the Immigration Officer by the surgeon-superintendent, both of which I am glad to observe are of a very favourable character. I have, Ac, Daniel Pollen, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. (for Minister for Immigration).