3

D.—2a.

No. 8.

The Agent-G-ekeeal to the Hon. the Minister for Immigeation. (No. 343.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— Ist June, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter itfo. 58, of 9th March, 1875, forwarding copies of the following documents relative to the ship " Lady Jocelyn," which, you inform me, arrived at Lyttelton on the 21st January, viz.: —l. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Surgeon-superintendent's report. 3. Certified list of births and deaths. I am glad to observe that the Commissioners approved generally of the arrangements on board the vessel, and described the class of immigrants as " highly satisfactory," and " well adapted for the colony." I notice also that the Commissioners approved of the berths erected in the married compartment "on the principle of Johnstone's patent," which they state " appear admirably suited for immigrant ships, as they not only permit privacy, but materially assist in keeping thorough cleanliness, as the whole of the fittings are easily removed." I have, &c, I. E. Peathebston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 9. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 344.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, "Westminster, S.W., Sib, — Ist June, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 56, of 9th March, 1875, forwarding copies of the following documents relative to the ship " Waimate," which, you inform me, arrived at Lyttelton upon the 25th January, viz.:—l. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Sur-geon-superintendent's report. 3. Certified list of births and deaths on the voyage. I notice that the vessel arrived in cleanly condition, and that " the immigrants spoke in high terms of the treatment they had received." The other matters to which the Commissioners direct attention—the condition of the cooking apparatus, the defective state of the single women's bath, &c.—shall be referred to the Despatching Officer. I have examined the papers of H Gr , who is described by the surgeon-superintendent as " suffering from loss of voice of two years' duration," and who subsequently " became paralysed in one side." I find that the young woman was introduced by the National Agricultural Labourers' Union, Leamington, the application paper having been signed by Mr. Henry Taylor, the General Secretary ; and that the certificate of health was properly signed by " Frederick Stockwell, M.D., Woodstock." I had, therefore, no reason to suspect that the woman was not in a perfect condition of health when her application was approved. I have, &c, I. E. Featherston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 10. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigration. (No. 345.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sir,— Ist June, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 63, dated 11th March, 1875, forwarding the following documents relative to the ship " Eakaia," which you inform me arrived at Port Lyttelton on the 7th February, viz. :■ —1. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Surgeonsuperintendent's report. 3. Certified list of births and deaths during the voyage. With reference to the matron appointed to this vessel, I find that the person selected for this office, Miss E F , was chosen from among the emigrants after their arrival at Plymouth, no regular matron having been appointed to the vessel. It does not appear that she had been previously employed in a similar capacity; but she was regarded as the most suitable person that could be found among the single female emigrants. I note your remarks upon the general question of the appointment of matrons to emigrant vessels. The subject shall receive my careful attention. I have, &c, I. E. Peatherston, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. Agent-General.

No. 11. The Agent-G-eneral to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. (No. 347.) 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sm- I=SS-^-^=2Bth May, 1875. I had the honour to address to you on the 20th October, 1874, a letter, No. 1664, in which, with reference to a resolution passed by the Provincial Council of Otago, representing the necessity of increased care upon the part of the officers of this department in the selection of immigrants, I