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43

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Enclosure in No. 45. Commissionees' Repoet on Ship "Doeette." Sic, — Immigration Office, Auckland, 27th April, 1874. AYe have the honor to state that we have this day made the customary inspection of the immigrant ship " Dorette," after her release from quarantine, which took place on Friday, the 2-lth instant. We found the ship throughout iv a particularly cleanly condition, and have much pleasure in recording our opinion that she is a vessel in all respects well fitted for the service in w-hich she has been engaged In consequence of the steerage fittings having been landed at Motu Ihi, we are unable of course to express any opinion upon their suitability, or upon the character and extent of hospital accommodation provided. No complaint, however, has been made in respect to either of these particulars, and we have every reason for believing that the general arrangements of the ship, including hospital accommodation, the immigrants' sleeping apartments, facilities for ablution, and ventilation between decks, were all of a very satisfactory description. The supply of provisions was ample, with the exception of sago and arrowroot, and the quality was excellent. There was also a sufficient supply of fresh water. A large amount of space appears to have been available for the comfort and healthy exercise of the passengers both below and upon deck. We recommend that the gratuities be paid to the master, the ship's officers, and the surgeonsuperintendent. In conclusion, we beg to forward to the head of the Immigration Department an application by Dr. Flood for an allowance of two guineas (£2 25.) per day for ten days' professional service to the immigrants while in quarantine. As we read the last clause of the published instructions defining the period over which the duties of the surgeon-superintendent are presumed to extend, we do not see that Dr. Flood has any claim for extra allowance in this instance ; but having regard to the fact that no precedent exists here for dealing with such cases, we have judged it advisable to forward the application to Wellington. We have, Ac, H. Ellis, Immigration Officer. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration. T. M. Philson, M.D., Health Officer.

No. 46. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Agent-General. (No. 117.) Sic,— Immigration Office, Wellington, 7th May, 1874. I have the honor to forward herewith copy of the report of the Immigration Commissioners at the Bluff, upon the ship " William Davie." I have much pleasure in noting the satisfactory character thereof. I have, Ac, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel.

Enclosure in No. 46. Report of Commissioners on Ship "William Davie." The immigrant vessel " AVilliam Davie " arrived at Bluff Harbour on the 12th instant, at 11.30 a.m. From inquiry, the Commissioners learned that the health of the immigrants during the voyage had been very good ; that the provisions had been good, and were served out in accordance with the dietary scale, and to the entire satisfaction of the surgeon-superintendent; that the supply of water was ample, the distilling apparatus having worked well; that the conduct of the immigrants in each compartment had been very good ; and that the immigrants were all of the labouring class, and, as a whole, very fairly adapted to meet the wants of the Colony. The few exceptions (the most notable being a case of cancer in the stomach, which rendered the sufferer not only utterly unfit for employment, but a probable burden on the district for support) were the result, as we learn, of any chance of inspection on the part of the surgeon-superintendent being precluded, owing to the immigrants being put on board at dusk, just as the vessel was sailing. From personal investigation, the Commissioners ascertained that the ship in all its compartments was thoroughly clean and remarkably free from disagreeable smells, carbolic powder being well used throughout the voyage. That the compartments were arranged according to contract; as also the hospitals, of which there were three in number. That a bath-room, with proper appliances, had been provided in the single women's compartment, in which were two closets, besides eight others on deck for the married and single men. So far from there being any complaints, all the immigrants spoke in grateful terms of the kindness and attention they had received throughout the voyage from the captain, doctor, and officers of the ship. The total number of adults landed at the Bluff was 240, four adults electing to go on to Dunedin and Christchurch to join their friends, making in all 244 adults. The surgeon-superintendent reports nine deaths during the voyage (all children), and four births. Two children died of bronchitis after the anchor was dropped. The arrangement fixing the berths fore-and-aft in all the compartments, instead of athwart ships, is one which deserves special remark and commendation. Not only did it add greatly to the comfort of the immigrants while in their bunks, by modifying the motion of the ship, particularly in bad weather, but gave a larger space in the compartments to move about in during the day, and enabled each