D.—2

28

compartments dry. They have had to pass through tho plumbers' hands nearly every week since we. left. The bottoms ought either-to be made of wood or very much thicker metal, and there ought to be proper stands provided for the cans, to prevent them moving about when tho ship rolls. The passengers came to embark on the 6th (a very wet day), and were kept waiting several hours till lodgings were found for those who had no friends to go to in London. A great many had severe colds in consequence. When the workmen finished it was dark, and they carried off all the wood that had been put on board, and all the scrapers except three. All these evils would be avoided if the passengers were to embark at Plymouth, where there is proper accommodation for them to wait till the ship is ready. They would also be saved the miseries of the passage down Channel. The provisions were of good quality and sufficient in quantity, except in a few of the messes where there were a number of children. When there is such a large proportion of children as we had in this ship, I think that the adult ought to commence at nine years instead of twelve years, as at that age they eat as much, if not more, than an adult. On Saturday they have only half allowance of meat: when this is cooked and the bones removed it is ridiculously small, and caused a great deal of grumbling. They also grumbled about the quantity of soft bread that they got for their flour : they think that it ought to gain in weight when made into bread. The baker says that when made with flour and yeast alone it does not gain. lam unable at present to decide the question. In the contract ticket it says that the children are to be allowed arrowroot, and either fresh or condensed eggs. Now there was no arrowroot put on board except that for medical comforts, and that would only have lasted them one-third the voyage. The eggs put on board were packed in salt, and nearly one-half were either bad or broken, and there was no condensed egg to supply their place. In future it would be well to supply condensed egg for at least half the voyage, and the quantity of that and other children's stores ought to be regulated by the number of children, and not by the number of adults. For instance, the number of eggs is 500 for each 100 adults : but in that 100 adults there may be fifty children or there may be only ten, and the quantity supplied is the same. The wording of the contract ticket and Acts of Parliament is not very clear. It says there that the meat is to bo issued in the cooked state, and they think that it means that they are to have 1 lb. of cooked meat. It would be well to word it more clearly. The quantity of sand supplied for cleaning is not sufficient: it ought to be at least twenty instead of four bushels. We unfortunately got hooping-cough on board, and have had over thirty cases, and three deaths. We had also an outbreak of scarlet fever after being fifty-four days out from Plymouth. How it originated rather puzzles me, as all my reading and teaching have led mo to believe that scarlet fever does not originate de novo, and that the period of incubation is from three to fourteen days. However, there it is, and that theory falls to the ground. We had them isolated as completely as possible, and for three weeks had no more cases, but yesterday another case showed itself. The arrangements of this ship are good, especially the bunks, being in blocks instead of arranged endways against tho side of the ship. The ventilation is thus much improved, and there is more privacy. T. B. Hay, Surgeon-Superintendent. P.S. —I believe there is a rule that every emigrant must have a certain quantity of clothing before they can embark. This rule was not enforced in this ship, as several were allowed to come on board with only what they had on. All emigrants ought to be made to show that they have got the required number of changes of clothing before they can come on board.

T. B. H. No. 31. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 45.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 12th March, 1874. Herewith I forward]copy of report with enclosure, of Immigration Commissioners upon the ship "Isles of the South," which arrived at Lyttelton, upon the 3rd February, ult. Tou will observe that complaints are made as to the leakage of the ship's side, the position of the matron's cabin, and the defective character of the plumber's work of the closets. These are matters to which I desire that you will call the attention of your despatching officer. The dietary of the children, as in many previous instances, appears to have been most carelessly attended to, and to have given rise, not unreasonably, to very great dissatisfaction amongst the emigrants, who, upon this and other alleged causes of complaint, held a meeting on board the ship at sea, and forwarded a report thereof to the Immigration Officer upon arrival, a copy of which forms one of the enclosures referred to above. A very serious charge has been made against the surgeon-superintendent, of having sold medical comforts, and he has been committed to take his trial at the Supreme Court. Extracts from the official log, bearing upon the case, are appended to the Commissioners' report. I should wish to be informed upon what recommendations the officer was appointed. I have, Ac, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel.

Enclosure in No. 31. Commissionees' Repoet on Ship "Isles of the South." The Commissioners, on visiting the above ship, found the immigrants all in good health. Three deaths