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The Board of Health having met, it was resolved that all the immigrants be removed from the ship to Quarantine Island, that the ship be thoroughly fumigated, and should no case of fever break out in the meantime, she would be admitted to pratique on the 19th instant. She having been accordingly released on that day, we boarded her, and report as follows: — Toung men's compartment: Fittings as usual. Compartment clean and well sprinkled with disinfectants. Ventilation by six side-lights, hatchway, and also through the foremast. Married people's compartment: well fitted, with ample room to move about. Chloride of lime freely used. Ventilation by twelve side-lights. Three ventilators, 3by 2, and hatchways. Single women's compartment very clean and well fitted. Ventilation by four side-lights on port side, and one starboard side-light and hatchway. The hospital, which was on deck, appeared to us commodious, and well situated for fresh air and ventilation. The cooking range did not appear to us to be sufficiently large enough, and, from its situation, the cook complained that the fires would not burn very well during the prevalence of a certain wind, from want of draught. The cooking ranges in every emigrant ship thould be fully tested, several days before her final departure. The " Mongol" had three distilling apparatus, one of which alone could distil 700 gallons per day. The infectious diseases which prevailed on the passage first appeared in the barracks at Plymouth, where the immigrants were lodged for fourteen days before embarking. There were thirteeen persons taken out of the ship after embarkation, who showed evident symptoms of disease. The immigrants, with very few exceptions, seemed to be satisfied with their treatment on the voyage. The matron, Miss Diggnis, deserves particular notice for her care and attention to the single females. We recommend that the captain, officers, matron, and constables receive the usual gratuities. We have, Ac, William Thomson, A David O'Donnoghue, > Commissioners. His Honor the Superintendent, Colin Allan, ) Chairman of Board of Health.

Enclosure 2 in No. 34. His Honor J. Macandeew to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 16th February, 1874. I have the honor to enclose herewith copy of a letter addressed to me by Dr. Webster, one of the members of tho Health Board, with reference to the sickness on board the " Mongol," from which it would appear that there has been gross carelessness on the part of the Medical Officer who cleared the ship at home. I have, Ac, J. Macandeew, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent. Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 2 in No. 34. Dr. G. M. Webster to His Honor J. Macandrew. g IE • Dunedin, 13th February, 1874. As the Executive Member of the Government deputed [to act as one of the Board of Health of this Province, I proceeded, in company with Professor McGregor, tho Harbour Master, the Medical Health Officer, and Immigration Agent, alongside the steamship "Mongol," to inquire into the various circumstances in connection with the scarlet fever for which she had been placed in quarantine, and as many of them require investigation, I deem it my duty to bring them under your notice, viz.: —lst. That previous to embarkation several emigrants for the ships " Mongol " and " Scimitar," then living at the depot at Plymouth, were affected with scarlet fever, and that two for the " Mongol " had to be removed from it. 2nd. That on embarkation the medical superintendent of the "Mongol" found it necessary to disembark a whole family on account of their bad state of health consequent upon attacks of scarlet fever, and on account of the risk their fellow passengers ran from contagion by their presence on board. 3rd. That the day after sailing, one case of scarlet fever pronounced itself, and which was evidently in existence some days previously. 4th. That from tho verbal report of the surgeon-superin-tendent of the "Mongol," it was quite clear to all the members of the Board, especially Professor McGregor and myself, that the prevalence of scarlet fever was pretty general among the children of the emigrants at the depot at the time those for the "Mongol " were drafted for embarkation. From the above facts, which I believe cannot be contradicted, I have no hesitation in stating that the Health Medical Officer whoso duty it was to examine into the state of health of the emigrants previous to embarkation, and to guard against a contingency such as that which happened, was guilty of gross carelessness, and merits the gravest censure, and I would strongly urge upon your Honor the necessity of moving the General Government to take immediate steps so that this flagrant breach of duty should not be passed over or allowed to occur again. I have, Ac, G. M. Webstee, His Honor the Superintendent, Dunedin. Secretary for Lands.