D.—2

58

We do not consider it necessary to take any notice of the other charges preferred by the immigrants. We have, &c, Alex. Johnston, M.D.,") H. J. H. Eliott, > Commissioners. Jno. Hollidat, ) His Honor the Superintendent, Wellington.

Enclosure 2 in No. 51. Commissionees' Repoet on ship " Golden Sea." Sic,— Wellington, 19th May, 1874. We have the honor to report the arrival of the ship " Golden Sea," on the 30th ult., with 296 statute adult Government immigrants, 11 deaths having occurred during the voyage and 1 during the lay days in quarantine, equal to 4 statute adults; 3 cases of scarlet fever have also occurred at the station since the vessel arrived. There were three births during the voyage. As the deaths had been principally from scarlet fever, and there being one case under treatment when the vessel arrived, the pilot took the ship direct to the quarantine station. Early on the morning of the Ist inst. we proceeded to tho quarantine station, and directed the immigrants be landed and their bedding and luggage disinfected and washed. The emigrants' fittings of the ship also to be landed, and her 'tw-een-decks fumigated and painted. We visited the station from time to time, and found that our instructions were being faithfully carried out. We regret that, owing to drunkenness and insubordination amongst the crew, the occurrence of which was duly reported to your Honor on the sth instant, some little delay was caused iv carrying out our instructions with regard to the ship, and she was detained in quarantine for a longer time than would otherwise have been necessary; but as all the immigrants had been landed before the outbreak, there was no delay with regard to them. On the 7th instant, having ascertained that the disinfecting and washing of the immigrants' luggage had been duly completed, we proceeded to muster and inspect the people. We found them, on the whole, a fair sample compared with some of the shipments which have recently arrived at this port; but wo would point out that too many of them appear to be drawn from the centres of population at home, being neither physically capablo nor having the requisite knowledge for undertaking such work as is necessarily required of persons arriving in a young colony, whero the specialities of trade are not so defined as in Great Britain. There were, however, some tradesmen amongst them who will doubtless succeed in this Colony. We regretted to learn that the captain of the vessel charged four of the immigrants with broaching cargo during the voyage, and they were accordingly handed over to the police on landing in town. On the case being heard, the captain recommended the threo married men to tho favourable consideration of the Resident Magistrate, who discharged them with a caution, and thus saved the Government the cost of maintaining their families. AYe think it right to mention this matter in our report, as it tends to show that the incidental expenses of the Department are very likely to be much increased unless very. great discrimination is exercised in the selection of immigrants at home. The captain and surgeon-superintendent complained that they had a great deal of trouble with some of tho immigrants, as they considered they were not amenable to any discipline or authority. On questioning the immigrants as to the voyage, a complaint w-as lodged of the insufficiency of the issue of water and provisions in certain cases. As we considered the charges were of a serious nature, we directed the immigrants to put them in writing, and we accordingly sent them to your Honor on the 13th instant. With regard to the complaint of the non-issue of provisions for the children, the captain informs us that he was not really aware, until he had been some weeks at sea, that an extra allowance for children was provided for by the contract. He states that he several times asked the Despatching Officer for a copy of the charter, and he was informed that he would get one before proceeding on the voyage, but the captain very justly remarked that he had quite enough to do, when working down Channel, to attend to his ship, and the number of strange people, officers, and crew, under his charge, without devoting his time to reading charter parties. Other captains have made similar statements to us, and we would suggest that copies of aii documents relating to the duties of a captain of an emigrant ship should be supplied to him directly his vessel is laid on for the conveyance of immigrants. On the 9th instant, having been informed that the ship was ready for our inspection, we visited her, and found that our instructions had been carried out. The married people had a large space allotted to them from the fore part of the main hatch to the after part of the ship : they had thus the use of the two hatchways. This compartment was ventilated and lighted by 14 side scuttles, which, being high out of the water, could nearly always be open. There were also two large air-shafts through the poop. The store and issuing rooms were under the main hatch, and there were alley-ways round the compartments. The single men's compartment reached from the store and issuing room to the fore part of the ship. It had eight side ports and two large air-shafts. We consider the entrance to the single men's compartment in this vessel much preferable to any we have yet seen in an emigrant ship, it being by a door in tho fore part of the deck-house, with an air-shaft over it. The singlo men were berthed in blocks. The fittings of the vessel having all been landed before our inspection, we are unable to remark upon them, and the immigrants made no comments respecting them. The single women were located all round one side of the saloon and in the after cabins. They appear to have had exceedingly comfortable quarters, with an excellent closet and bath-room. All the hospitals were on deck; those for the married people and single women being under the poop, while the hospital for the single men was in a deck-house forward. The galley w-as large and commodious, with a separate convenience for baking bread.