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Memorandum for the Under Secretary. The Immigration Officer at Christchurch has submitted the attached memoranda by Mr. Smith, the Despatching Officer of the Home agency, to the Immigration Commissioners; and they offer the following remarks: — First, as regards the " Celestial Queen:" The Commissioners are of opinion that if the plumbers' w7ork is properly done in the first place, it generally works well throughout the voyage. Ships that have followed the " Celestial Queen " prove this beyond a doubt. The condensing apparatus of this ship was 'an old one, and had worked indifferently throughout, although it may have been reported efficient by the Board of Trade on the embarkation of the emigrants. As regards cheese, the Commissioners are clearly of Mr. Smith's opinion, that certain cheese shipped at some seasons of the year will not keep, however good it may be when shipped. With respect to the " Isles of the South," tho Commissioners recorded a fact in their report that the ship's sides admitted water, and consequently the cleanliness of the compartments was very inferior. It is also true that the diet for children was not served out for the first three weeks of the passage, and the Commissioners were informed on inquiry that the reason was on account of these stores being stowed away out of sight. It is very probable that the hospital intended for males was appropriated to some other purpose through the neglect of the surgeon-superintendent. With reference to the "Atrato," the Commissioners have only to remark that the emigrants complained of overcrowding on their arrival here. The ventilation was generally good, with the exception of that portion alluded to in their report. The Commissioners are still of opinion that the part of the ship where the six families and twenty-two children were berthed was dark, and also that it is highly undesirable to despatch such a number of families in one ship, however large she may be. W. Donald. John Bouse. Lyttelton, sth December, 1874. J. E. March.

No. 37. Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-General. (No. 381.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 23rd December, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 1814, of 30th October, 1874, in which, with reference to previous correspondence, you inform me that you have obtained permission of the Post Office authorities for the gratuitous exhibition of our emigration notices throughout the United Kingdom, and that you intend to immediately avail yourself of it. I desire that you will convey to the Postmaster-General the thanks of the Government of New Zealand for being good enough to accede to their wishes in this matter. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 38. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 16th January, 1875. " Clarence," " Carnatic," " Crusader," "Galbraith," "Nelson." Plasterers much wanted for Wellington. Supply duplicate order railway material by " Cospatrick." Featherston, London. Atkinson.

No. 39. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-General. (No. 16.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 19th January, 1875. Referring to my letter No. 315, of the 25th October last, in which I called your attention to the fact that the inhabitants of the Fair Isles would be found, in all probability, willing to emigrate to this colony, provided that measures were taken to assist them to leave the island and proceed to a port of shipment, I have now the honor to enclose a letter from the Superintendent of Otago covering a communication from the Caithness and Sutherland Association upon the same subject. It would appear, from the statements of the Hon. Secretary to the Association, that the inhabitants of the Fair Island are exceedingly anxious to emigrate, en masse, to New Zealand, but are unable, from geographical position and other difficulties, to avail themselves of the ordinary regulations for free emigration through your office. Having every reason to believe that these people are likely to prove very useful emigrants, I have to request that you will, as far as possible, meet the views of the Association, and arrange, through your agents in tho North of Scotland, that the islanders may be conveyed to whatever port of departure for the colony may be most convenient in accordance with your arrangements, and thence shipped in the same vessels direct for Otago. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.