D.—3

18

I may add that the scale of medicines and medical comforts has been somewhat altered, and will, I think, be found amply sufficient in ordinary cases. I have, &c., I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 19. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. (No. 719.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 30th October, 1873. Referring to the Hon. Mr. O'Rorke's Memorandum of Bth July (No. 146, 1873), forwarding copies of reports of Immigration Commissioners upon the ship " Jubilee," I have now the honor to transmit, for the information of the Government, memorandum on the subject by Mr. Ottywell. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 19. Memorandum on Immigration Commissioners' Report on Ship "Jubilee." The Commissioners, reporting upon this vessel, remark as follows, viz.:— " The ship was in every way suited for the requirements of the small number of people on board, each compartment being roomy and well ventilated. We noticed a great improvement in the hatches, &c. The immigrants, on being questioned, stated they had no complaint to make." They also state that " The immigrants by this vessel appear to be of a very desirable class, and we should only be too happy to find a continuance of the same kind of people," &c. The general results of the voyage appear, therefore, to have been of a very satisfactory character. The Commissioners, however, find fault with some of the arrangements on board the vessel. I notice the objections in the order in which they appear in the report. 1. " Kate E—, a single woman, was confined during the passage." There was nothing in the medical or other certificates furnished by this person to lead to the belief that she was in a pregnant condition, and her state was not discovered either by Dr. Humphreys or Dr. Purdon during their inspection of the passengers. The poor girl appears to have died after giving birth to her child. 2. " One of the married women was subject to violent fits, apparently of an epileptic character." The name of the woman is not stated, and lam unable, therefore, to refer to the medical certificate which was furnished in support of her application. I may, however, state that the woman would not have been approved for an assisted passage if her state of health had been known when her case was under consideration. She does not appear to have had any attack of her malady between the date of her embarkation and the final sailing of the vessel a few days later. 3. The surgeon is accused of " gross impropriety in taking two of the single girls to the country and keeping them there all night;" and a desire is expressed that the Government should "punish him by making some deduction from the remuneration promised him," &c. The surgeon was invited "to put in writing any remarks he may wish to make in palliation of his conduct;" and he explains that " previous to the arrival of the ship I had promised marriage to Emma Groves, and thinking to do so quietly, took her and Mary Jane Oakford to the Railway Hotel, Lower Hutt (the latter being taken so that no one should afterwards have anything to say against my wife's character). N. Valentine and all his household can answer to my conduct and hers during our stay there previous to our marriage, and afterwards. I solemnly declare," &c. The Commissioners to whom this explanation was referred by the Hon. the Minister of Immigration, admit that as Dr. Purdon married the immigrant Emma Groves, his behaviour appears " in a more favourable light, and therefore they cannot object to his being paid the usual gratuity." They also remark that he " appears to have fulfilled his duties satisfactorily. His books and journal were well kept, and the passengers declared themselves satisfied with the attention they had received from him." As, notwithstanding these admissions, the Hon. the Minister remarks that " the surgeon seems to have been taken at random, a few hours before the emigrants embarked," &c, I append a copy of a testimonial signed by a physician to whom Dr. Purdon has been known for many years, and in which he is referred to in terms of high commendation. It is true that a suitable surgeon could not be found until the day prior to that on which the emigrants embarked; but I considered that we were fortunate in securing the services of Dr. Purdon, and the papers under reply do not tend to show that an injudicious selection was made. The Hon. Mr. O'Rorke instances the " appointment of Mr. Montague Welby to the ' Edwin Fox' as proving that very little care seems to be taken in the selection of the surgeon." Mr. Welby, who produced a number of excellent testimonials, was,