40

D.—2

5. I think it due to the honor of the office which I hold to place these facts, which speak for themselves, simply and exactly as the circumstances have occurred, before the Government. As I learn that the Hon. Mr. Vogel may not arrive in England directly, I forward a copy of this letter to meet him en route, so that he may be able to communicate with you and with me on the subject at the earliest possible moment. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, "Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

No. 72. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 1940.) 7, "Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— 15th December, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 2GB, of 11th September, 1874, in which you inform me that M S , wife of G S ,an emigrant by the "Buckinghamshire," has been committed to the Lunatic Asylum at Dunedin as a lunatic, and direct me to state the circumstances under which the woman was accepted as a free emigrant at this office. I have the honor to state that I requested the local agent who introduced the family, Mr. ~W\ N. Twelvetrees, of Bow Eoad, to investigate the statements contained in your letter and its enclosure, to make inquiry of the persons who signed the certificate form, and to report to me the result. I enclose copy of Mr. Twelvetrees' report, together with copies of the letters received in answer to his inquiries. The Government will gather from these papers that, while it is true that M— —■ S was for seven months a patient in the Colney Hatch Asylum, the statements (1) that the woman was released in order to be shipped to New Zealand, and (2) that she was got rid of by the connivance of the Believing Officer, are entirely without foundation in fact. I enclose, for your inspection, the original certificate submitted by G S in support of his application. I may add that Dr. Cappel, who signed the third certificate on the form, is a much respected German minister attached to the Lutheran Communion. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, "Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure to No. 72. G S , " Buckinghamshire," March 1874, No. 1687. I subjoin the results of my investigations in the case of above applicant, whose wife, it is alleged, was released from Colney Hatch Asylum in order to be shipped off to New Zealand ; that she was confined in the asylum by order of the Poplar Union authorities; and that she was got rid of by the connivance of the Relieving Officer, or some official interested in her removal. Eobert A. Burrows, Esq., Clerk of Colney Hatch Asylum, writes me to the effect that she was released on 22nd July, 1873, as recovered, having been a month on trial before her final release. (Letter annexed.) S 's application is dated January 30th, 1874. J. E. Collins, Esq., of Poplar Union, informs me that M S was admitted from the Union in December, 1872, and discharged as recovered by the Committee of Visitors, and without the intervention of the Guardians, on July 22nd, 1873. (See letter.) Daniel Pucks, baker, High Street, Bow, whom I have known to be established in business myself for ten years, and as a most respectable tradesman, knew S , and also that his wife was discharged some months previous to his embarkation. He believes that, whilst his wife was in the asylum, the expenses were defrayed by himself (S ), and without aid from any public body. S was in his employ some time, and he considers him a most trustworthy and straightforward man. Zenophon Bailey, shoemaker, 1, Gaythorne Street, Bow, and High Street, Bromley-by-Bow, says that S lodged with him some months, and during that time his wife, so far as he could see, was perfectly well. Mrs. Bailey said, as far as she could judge, Mrs. S was perfectly sane; she attended to her domestic affairs and children, and before her embarkation was occupied in making clothes and sewing for her family, and in packing up their goods. Eobert Eugg, Esq., Norman House, North Bow, and 331, Eoman Eoad, Bow, remembers having examined applicant, and she was then in a fit state of health to undertake a journey, and free, as his certificate states, from any mental or bodily defect. Therefore, the woman was discharged as recovered by a Committee of Visitors from the asylum, in July, 1873, eight months before S sailed, and seven months before he ever thought of going to New Zealand, at a time when free passages were not being granted. It appears she was admitted from the Poplar Union, but that the imputations cast upon them are altogether without foundation. Finally, the testimony of the friends and associates show conclusively that the authorities of the asylum were justified in discharging the woman. Grove Eoad, Bow, London, E., 9th December, 1874. W. N. Twelveteees.