D.—2.

38

with the bedding during embarkation, causing it to be very damp, and giving rise to a great number of cases of diarrhoea and bronchitis amongst the children. One of the infants died in harbour of double pneumonia, probably caused by the damp sheets. The class of emigrants is very good. The arrangements for berthing were very well adapted for comfort, free ventilation, and cleanliness. The after part of the married people's compartment should have wider alleys at the side of the ship. These ought to have been fully as wide as the alleys of the fore part, the arrangement of which was very good. The matron's cabin ought to be beside the foot of the ladder from the after-hatchway, permitting her a better opportunity for keeping the girls away from it at night. The construction of the after-hatch was bad. I would suggest that it should open towards the cabin door, that the ventilating half should be in front, and that the forward half should be carried upwards to the height of six feet in front and at the sides. The present construction permits the intolerable nuisance of the sailors on deck lounging upon the ventilating part of the hatch, and in consequence, renders it impossible to keep the girls away from the ladder. The drugs were excellent in quality and sufficient in quantity. The medical comforts were excellent in quality. They were sufficient in quantity with one exception, that of preserved meats. I make this exception with diffidence, as the children and the nursing and pregnant women were so many in proportion to the number carried, and as there were several young and married women who were unable to retain the salt meats. This accounts for my store of preserved soups and meats running out so soon, and the necessity for supplementing them with the ordinary preserved meats. The provisions were of excellent quality, and were served out according to scale. They were amply sufficient, with the single exception of eggs. The eggs were good at the first, but at the end of five or six weeks those which were not decomposed had a bitter taste. I would suggest that half the supply be fresh and the other half condensed eggs. The sand should be twice the quantity supplied. The hospitals were well arranged. It w-ould be well to have a bath in the married people's hospital, for the use of the women and children. The water-closets answered very well with the exception of the single women's. In this, the seat did not accurately fit on the pan, so that when the water was let on, and the ship either rolled or was upon her side, it ran over, causing the deck to be very wet. This was remedied. The plumbing was also bad in this water-closet, there being a leak where the supply pipe was joined to the pan. This was searched for many times by the ship's carpenter, but was not discovered till the day the ship arrived in harbour. The regulations worked very well. The conduct of the passengers was, on the whole, very good. The exceptions are duly noted in my diary. The passage was a good one, and the weather was fine throughout. The ship is dry and free from vermin. Sickness was almost wholly confined to women and children. Whooping cough was the only infectious disease which broke out: it affected nine children, none seriously. Trusting that the people have been cared for to your satisfaction, and that this report will receive your favourable consideration, I have, Ac, Immigration Office, Christchurch, W. G. Ross, Canterbury, N.Z. Surgeon-Superintendent, Barque "Dilharric"

No. 38. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Agent-General. (No. 75.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 9th April, 1874. Herewith I have the honor to transmit copies of reports by the Immigration Commissioners and the Immigration Officer at Napier upon the ship "Invererne." In forwarding these reports, His Honor the Superintendent remarks, " The immigrants by the ' Invererne ' had a very large proportion of young children, and were consequently more difficult to provide for than former shipments. The men readily found employment, but there is difficulty in housing the families. If a larger proportion of single women and single men could be sent in future shipments it would be better." I shall be glad if you will, as far as possible, give effect to His Honor's wishes. I would also draw your attention to the last paragraph of the Immigration Officer's report, in which it is stated that a nominated immigrant by this vessel is both deaf and dumb. I have, Ac, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel.

Enclosure in No. 38. Commissioners' Report on Ship "Invererne." Sir, — Immigration Commissioners' Office, Napier, 17th March, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that the " Invererne," Captain Foreman, cast anchor in Hawke's Bay on the Bth instant, and was boarded that evening, after it had been ascertained that there was no contagious sickness on board. On the 9th instant the examination of the ship and immigrants took place. In accordance with your instructions, the Commissioners examined, and found the condition of the vessel to be most satisfactory, and the provisions the same. The immigrants expressed themselves satisfied with the treatment they had received from the officers of the ship. Altogether, the Commissioners were perfectly satisfied with the appearance of the sljip, Ac. I have, Ac, E. T. Fannin, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. (for the Commissioners).