17

D.—2

No. 19. The Hon. Dr. Pollen to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 283.) Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 18th December, 1873. I herewith forward copies of telegraphic and other correspondence with the Superintendent of Hawke's Bay relative to the ship " Hovding," which arrived at Napier upon Ist December ; also the report of the Immigration Commissioners and that of the Immigration Officer, covering notes of a meeting of the immigrants held before the Commissioners ; also a memorandum by the surgeonsuperintendent, and extract from his diary. From the correspondence with His Honor, you will observe the very great embarrassment under which the Government has been placed, owing to the want of information with regard to the arrangements under which the ship was despatched. The Government received subsequently to the telegraphic correspondence referred to, a copy of the charter-party from the Immigration Officer, who it is to be presumed was allowed to copy it from the original in possession of the captain of the ship. I will defer my remarks upon the character of the contract until the next opportunity. The reports of the Commissioners and Immigration Officer do not call for any special remarks : they will no doubt receive your careful consideration. I would observe, however, that a very defective system of management and inspection must be assumed when, amongst other irregularities, widows with children are shipped as single girls, and when a single girl is shipped so far advanced in pregnancy as to have been confined on board three months after sailing. I have, Ac, Daniel Pollen. The Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

Daniel Pollen.

Enclosure in No. 19. His Honor J. D. Oemond to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 9th December, 1873. I have the honor to enclose letters connected with the immigrant ship " Hovding," which arrived here on the Ist instant. Tou will gather from the letter of complaints lodged by the immigrants that they considered the food supplied them insufficient, and short iv some cases of the quantity to which they were entitled. As, however, it has been decided to take no steps against the ship, it is unnecessary for me to enter further into the case. From the extract made by Mr. Friberg from the doctor's journal, it appears that some of the children were not in a healthy state when they left Christiania, and it is entirely among the children that mortality has taken place. Generally the immigrants appeared in good health on their arrival here, and certainly had no appearance of having been badly or insufficiently fed. I beg to call attention to that part of the journal of the doctor of the ship which refers to a lunatic being a passenger, and also to the report by Dr. Hitchings confirming this from observations here. I also would ask you to remark what Mr. Fannin reports as to women with children entering as single women, the children being temporarily adopted by married immigrants and brought in the vessel. The objection of course is that on arrival in the Colony the women have to take charge of their own children, and are unable to support them. Taking altogether the immigrants by the "Hovding," they are a good useful class of people, and have readily found employment. At the same time it is right to remark that there is more difficulty in placing in employment immigrants who cannot speak a word of English, than would be met with in the case of our people. I have, Ac, J. D. Ormond, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent. Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 19. Commissioners' Report on Ship "Hovding." Sir, — Immigration Commissioners' Office, Napier, 9th December, 1873. I have the honor to inform you that the "Hovding," commander, Captain Nordby, arrived in the Ahuriri roadstead on Monday morning, the Ist December, after a passage of 110 days. The Commissioners, whilst engaged in examining the provisions, Ac, were informed that passengers were desirous of laying a complaint against the captain for short and bad food supplied to them during the voyage. After listening to their complaint, the immigrants were directed to bring their grievance before the Commissioners, in writing, on the next day, in the immigration barracks. On examining the provisions, the Commissioners found, generally speaking, that they were good, but the flour was bad and musty; some bread, however, which was tasted, seemed sweet. The immigrants looked healthy and clean. Eleven deaths and five births occurred during the voyage ; the deaths were children between 1 month and 3 years, principally from dysentery. The Commissioners, on the day following arrival of " Hovding," having heard the complaint (copy of which is herewith enclosed), directed the Immigration Officer to institute proceedings against the captain for breach of " The Emigration Act, 1855." These proceedings the Commissioners regret that officer was unable to carry out, owing to no provision having been made to bring the captain under the jurisdiction of the Emigration Act, and would beg to suggest that the Agent-General be advised to have such a provision inserted in any future agreement or charter. 3-D. 2.