57

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evidence which would be available relative to alleged short supply of water and short issue of stores, and upon being informed that satisfactory evidence was forthcoming, I at once directed proceedings to bo taken in the Resident Magistrate's Court against the captain of the ship, the newspaper report of which is forwarded herewith. Tou will observe that three cases for short supply of water were heard, in all of which the defendant was convicted, with costs, although tho Bench only inflicted a fine in the one case. In the case for short issue of certain stores, the Bench, without any assignabie reason, dismissed the information. I may inform you that a fifth information had been laid, depending upon the non-issue to the children of the proper allowance under the contract tickets, but from the technical difficulty of proving any contract with Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co., under a contract ticket signed by a Mr. McKellar, who is, I believe, an officer in your department, I ordered this case to be withdrawn. I may, however, state that the surgeon-superintendent has since distinctly asserted that the complaint of the short allowance of the children's food is quite groundless. 2. I have already addressed you, in my letter No. 240, of 29th October, and No. 264, of 24th November, 1873, upon the subject of the charter parties being so drawn that, in the event of a breach of the same, the Government would be able to take proceedings against the owners or their agents in the Colony. The case of the " Golden Sea "is another instance of the necessity of this, as, had gross breaches of the agreement been distinctly proved, we were without practical remedy under the penal clause of the contract, the parties of the first and of the second part being both in England, where, consequently, proceedings must have been instituted and the case tried, the witnesses being in tho Colony. If you have not already carried out my instruction referred to, I must request that in all future contracts for the conveyanco of emigrants you will insist upon tho insertion of a clause or clauses, which will enable the Government to take proceedings and recover within the Colony for breaches of any such contracts. 3. The report of the Immigration Commissioners upon this ship is very satisfactory as regards the general arrangements for the comfort of the emigrants, and she would seem especially fitted for the service, by her great height between-decks and the thorough ventilation which her construction admitted. Of the character of the emigrants the Commissioners do not speak so favourably, whilst admitting that they are a fair sample compared with some of the late shipments. They go on to say, " Most of them appear to have been drawn from the centres of population at home, being neither physically capable nor having the requisite knowledge of undertaking such work as is necessarily required of persons arriving in a young colony. I commend the further remarks of the Commissioners upon this vessel, and, indeed, the whole of their exhaustive report, to your careful consideration. 4. The "remarks" of Dr. Donaldson, the surgeon-superintendent, submitted to me under cover of the Commissioners' report, I have read with very great interest. He is evidently an officer who understands his work, and I shall be glad to hear that he has been placed in charge of another shipment of emigrants for the Colony. I have no doubt you will give his suggestions the consideration they deserve. 5. I desire to call your very particular attention to Dr. Donaldson's letter relative to the embarkation of a family named Dymes, at Gravesend, upon 22nd January, who, it has been ascertained, were landed from the "Mongol," from Plymouth, upon 22nd December, 1873, suffering from well-marked scarlatina. There is little doubt that the outbreak of the disease on board the "Golden Sea" was owing to the presence of this family, as I am informed that the first case was that of the captain's little boy, who had made a playmate of one of the young Dymes. I must request that you will direct a searching inquiry to be made into the matter, and report the result to the Government. I have, Ac, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel.

Enclosure 1 in No. 51. His Honor the Supeeintendent, Wellington, to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sic,— Superintendent's Office, Wellington, llth May, 1874. I enclose a letter addressed to me by the Immigration Commissioners, supported by the evidence of several immigrants per " Golden Sea," on the subject of non-issue of rations to young children for some weeks after sailing, and also of short allowance of water. I am of opinion that an inquiry should be directed to be made into these charges. I have, Ac, William Fitzheebeet, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Superintendent.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 1 in No. 51. The Immigeation Commissionees to His Honor the Supeeintendent, Wellington. Sic,— Wellington, 13th May, 1874. Some of the married immigrants by the " Golden Sea " having made complaints against the captain and surgeon-superintendent, we requested them to put them in writing, knowing that the question was one of importance; and being desirous not to detain the immigrants in depot, we attended them on Sunday last, and took down their statements, which we forward to your Honor herewith. There is no doubt that tho rations were not issued to the young children for some weeks after sailing, and that the immigrants only received three pints of w-ater per statute adult daily. The captain maintains that tho other three pints were issued as tea and coffee. Respecting these essential necessaries, it is our opinion that the interests of immigrants should bo protected. We forward all the papers to your Honor, with the remark that, in our opinion, there has been a breach of the Passenger Act and charter party with regard to the water and the issue of rations to the young children. B—D. 2.