Page image

D.—3

2

I would direct your attention to the two cases of consumption amongst the immigrants which are the subject of remark by the Commissioners and the surgeon-superintendent, with respect to the desirability of a more searching medical examination than would appear to have taken place in these instances. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure in No. 2. Commissionees' Eepoet on Ship " Dunedin." Sic, — Immigration Office, Auckland, 25th May, 1875. "We have the honor to report the arrival on the 18th instant of the " Dunedin," ninety-three days from London, bringing 209 Government immigrants, equal to 178 statute adults. Three births and three deaths occurred upon the voyage. The deaths comprise two infants of diarrhoea and convulsions, and one male adult, a married man twenty-four years of age without family, of typhoid fever. Three cases of typhoid occurred during the voyage. No case of infectious disease has been reported by the surgeon-superintendent. Two cases of consumption more or less developed were noted by the Health Officer: N It , twenty-two years of age, a married man without family, apparently in an advanced stage of the disease, and A T , eight years of age. The surgeon-superintendent states with respect to these cases that, according to his instructions, his examination of the immigrants at the time of embarkation had reference chiefly to the detection of infectious disease, and that he did not conduct such an examination as would enable a medical man to discover consumption except in very marked cases. The immigrants expressed individually entire satisfaction with the treatment they received during the voyage. Though no formal complaint was made upon the subject, it was generally understood that the quality of the bread made on board for the use of the passengers was very inferior, owing to the want of skill on the part of the baker; also the preparation of food generally was imperfectly carried out by the person employed for that duty. The captain and surgeon-superintendent state that no one could be found among the immigrants qualified to supersede either the baker or cook with any prospect of improvement, and that in consequence no change was attempted in either instance. As the failure to make good bread on board ship is usually attributed to the defective quality of the yeast in hot latitudes, it is suggested that this difficulty might in part be overcome by providing a few casks of flour prepared with baking powder to be made use of within the tropics. The provisions of all kinds on board the " Dunedin," as also the supply of fresh water, were everything that could be desired. The supply of medical comforts was abundant, and their quality unexceptionable. The usual issue was made regularly of preserved onions and carrots during tho voyage. The ship's passenger accommodation is above the average. Every attention appears to have been paid to cleanliness and ventilation ; and altogether the condition of the respective compartments, as well as of the ship throughout on her arrival in port, is such as to reflect the highest credit on every one concerned. The immigrants by this vessel present a very favourable appearance, and their conduct on the voyage is spoken of in terms of commendation both by the ship's officers and the surgeon-superin-tendent. "We beg to recommend payment of the usual gratuities to the surgeon-superintendent, and to the master, mate, and purser. We have, &c, H. Ellis. T. M. Philson, M.D. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. I. J. Buegess.

No. 3. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 167.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellingtou, 16th July, 1875. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relative to the ship " Timaru," which arrived at the Bluff upon the 20th April ultimo: —1. Report of Immigration Commissioners at the Bluff. 2. Eeport of Immigration Commissioners at Port Chalmers. 3. Certified list of births and deaths. The transmission of these documents has been delayed waiting for the receipt of the report of the Invercargill Commissioners, which has only just reached me. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure 1 in No. 3. Commissioners' Eepoet on Ship "Timaru" (Bluff). Sic, — Invercargill, 24th April, 1875. We have the honor to report that the ship " Timaru " from Glasgow, with Government immigrants, arrived at tho Bluff on the 20th April. On visiting the ship we found that scarlatina had broken out on the passage among the emigrants, tho last case occurring three weeks before arrival. The Health Officer resolved that the ship bo in the