39

D.—2.

No. 39. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Agent-Genebal. (No. 78.) Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 7th April, 1874. I herewith enclose copies of the reports of the Immigration Commissioners and of the Immigration Officer upon the ship " Queen of the Age," which arrived at Auckland upon the 3rd February ultimo; also a short-hand writer's precis of a case prosecuted in the Resident Magistrate's Court, against an emigrant named Patrick Jones, for a breach of the regulation under "The Passenger Act, 1855," which resulted in the conviction of that person, his imprisonment, and the infliction of a fine. There appears to be nothing calling for special remarks in the reports of the Commissioners and the Immigration Officer upon the ship. Certain facts which afterwards came to light, induce the conclusion that very little care was exercised in the selection of the emigrants, but upon this subject I address you in a separate letter. I have to request that you will cause the conviction of Patrick Jones to be printed in poster form, and placed in a conspicuous position in the 'tween-decks of your next few ships, for the information of the emigrants. I have, Ac, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel.

Enclosure 1 in No. 39. Commissionees' Repoet on Ship "Queen of the Age." Sic, — Auckland, sth March, 1874. We have the honor to report the arrival of the ship " Queen of the Age," on the night of the 2nd instant, with 186 Government immigrants from England. We proceeded on board the following morning, and made an inspection of the ship and passengers, and found everything in a reasonably satisfactory condition. There was no sickness on board when the vessel arrived. A single case of typhoid fever had occurred during the voyage, but the patient, a female, is perfectly recovered for some time. One death from dyspepsia was reported by the surgeonsuperintendent, and one of the ship's crew was accidentally lost overboard in heavy weather. We found the provisions of good quality, and the supply of water had proved equal to all requirements. Every attention appears to have been paid to the comfort of the passengers throughout the voyage, so far as the ship's accommodation would permit. In conclusion, we beg to recommend that the gratuities be paid to the master and ship's officers and the surgeon-superintendent. We have, Ac, H. Ellis, Immigration Officer; T. M. Philson, M.D., His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Health Officer.

Enclosure 2 in No. 39. The Immigration Officer, Auckland, to His Honor the Superintendent. Sic, — Immigration Office, Auckland, sth March, 1874. I have the honor to report the arrival of the immigrant ship " Queen of the Age," on Monday night, the 2nd instant, with 154 statute adults. I accompanied the health officer on board the following morning, and after having ascertained that there was no sickness on board, Dr. Philson and myself, assisted by Major Green, made the customary inspection, and found the ship clean and in good order. The provisions were of the best quality, but in one or two instances the quantities had run short. The packages of butter were represented as having been uniformly of light weight, and the supply of arrowroot was largely deficient. No complaint was made by any of the passengers. Each adult was separately questioned, and all expressed perfect satisfaction with the treatment they had received. A married male immigrant was suffering from rheumatic gout on the ship's arrival in port, and was landed in a partially crippled condition, but he is much improved since coming on shore. A single case of typhoid fever occurred on the voyage, but the patient, a young woman, is now perfectly recovered. One married male immigrant died of chronic dyspepsia and general debility ; and one of the ship's crew was lost overboard in a heavy gale of wind on the 28th January. I think it necessary to remark here that the passenger accommodation between-decks in this ship is of rather an inferior class. The ventilation to some of the apartments is very defective ; and the fitting up of the sleeping berths is, for the most part, rough and unfinished. The hospital accommodation provided is of a character, as respects the locality and means of ventilation in warm weather, which, had any infectious disease broken out extensively on the voyage, would have made it very difficult to have the patients properly attended to. One of the single male immigrants, named Patrick Jones, having had several complaints recorded against him by the Surgeon-Superintendent for gross insubordination and repeated breaches of the Passengers' Regulations, I felt it to be my duty, with your Honor's sanction, to lay an information against him in the Resident Magistrate's Court. Jones was convicted of being unlawfully in possession of firearms on board a passenger ship, and of persisting to frequent the sailors' quarters against the distinct orders of the proper officer and in violation of the Queen's Regulations, and was sentenced to three days' imprisonment, and to pay a fine of 30s. with costs. A portion of the immigrants were landed the day after tho ship's arrival and the remainder on the day following; and I have to report that nearly all seeking employment have since met with suitable