D.—2

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to bo as stated by Dr. Hosking, Mr. Smith should be at once relieved of his duties in connection with this department. The evidence before me, and which I now submit for the consideration of the Government, including as it does Dr. Hosking's repudiation of the statement attributed to him on this subject, leads me, on the contrary, to conclude that Mr. Smith, in the anxious position in which lie was placed, acted with sound discretion and in the strict discharge of his duty. I therefore see no reason to withdraw the confidence which I feel in that officer, and which I have already expressed in my letter of 23rd September, No. 1624. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington, N.Z. Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 97. Inquiry held before the Agent-General on Thursday, the 22nd October, 1874. Dr. HosTcing examined. 1. Did you ask Mr. Smith not to put any of " Mongol's " people into Scimitar," as you considered there was infectious disease among them, but that " Scimitar's " people were all healthy as far as you were aware ? —Tes. 2. Did you at any time suggest to Mr. Smith that the ship should be detained for the purpose of ascertaining whether there was likely to be any infection among the people ?—I do not recollect having done so. I stated to Dr. Eceles that, under the circumstances, I thought the ship should go. 3. Did you protest to Dr. Eceles and Mr. Smith against the people being embarked and the ship proceeding to sea with them ?—I never made any protest to that effect. Had I wished to protest, I should have sent in my protest in writing. I even concurred with Dr. Eceles in the propriety of the ship going to sea. My evidence on this head is incorrect so far as it relates to Mr. Smith. In proof of the correctness of our opinion, I would draw attention to the probability that only one case infected was taken to sea in the vessel, viz., the child Brown, the first case in which the disease appeared after the fourth day out, and which was completely isolated. 4. What medical inspection of "Scimitar's " emigrants was held by yourself and Dr. Eceles prior to embarkation and afterwards ?—I made a careful personal examination of all the emigrants who were in the depot shortly after my arrival, and was amongst them twice every day afterwards. Dr. Ecclos also visited the depot every day, I believe. After the emigrants embarked, a medical examination was made by Dr. Eceles and myself on the 23rd December ; this occupied several hours. 5. Question put by desire of Dr. Eceles —Did you state that Dr. Eixles inspected at the depot every morning ? —Tes. I was under the impression that he visited there every morning ; that is still my impression. 6. Question put by desire of Dr. Eceles—Why were not the Woolfrey family isolated in hospital, as Dr. Eceles directed? —I do not remember Dr. Eceles giving such a direction. If he had grave suspicions as to this family, he should have given directions for their removal. Immediately I was informed that the child was sick I inspected it, and sent it on shore. This was on the morning of the 24th December. I remember a family was placed in the hospital after Dr. Eceles had left the ship, and afterwards sent on shore, but I do not remember whether it was the Smith or Woolfrey family. William H. Hosking, Late surgeon-superintendent of the ship " Scimitar."

Enclosure 2 in No. 97. (No. 41.) Governor Sir James Eeroitsson to the Earl of Carnarvon. My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, N.Z., 4th July, 1874. I have been requested by my advisors to transmit to your Lordship a copy of the report of the Eoyal Commission which I appointed to inquire into the causes of numerous deaths which occurred during the voyage of the emigrant ship "Scimitar," which left Plymouth for Dunedin in December, 1873, with the view of bringing under your Lordship's notice the conduct of Dr. Eceles, the Emigration Commissioner, who, according to the evidence of Dr. Hoskiug, the surgeon in charge, persisted against that officer's opinion in sending on board persons probably infected by contact with others suffering from scarlet fever. 2. The evidence further imputes faulty and inadequate arrangements in the emigration barracks at Plymouth. Upwards of 700 persons were embarked from these barracks, on the occasion in question, in two ships, the steamer " Mongol " and the ship " Scimitar ; " in the former of which sixteen, and in the latter twenty-six, deaths occurred on the voyage, chiefly of scarlet fever in the case of the " Scimitar." I have, &c, James Fergusson, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon. Governor.

Enclosure 3 in No. 97. (Memo. 12221.) The Board of Trade to the Colonial Office. Sib, — Board of Trade, Whitehall Gardens, 21st October, 1874. I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth nit., transmitting for their consideration copy of! a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, enclosing a report of a Eoyal Commission on the emigrant ship " Scimitar," and calling attention to the conduct of Dr. Eceles, and the defective arrangements of the Emigrant depot at Plymouth.