D.—3

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ment, witli the view of pointing out the choice of a healthy person as surgeon is almost as essential as the selection of healthy emigrants. As Captain i'ullartou and his officers performed their respective duties satisfactorily, we recommend that their gratuities be paid. We have, Ac, Colin Allan. John Dbysdale. His Honor the Deputy Superintendent, Otago. William Thomson.

No. 10. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent- Genebal. (No. 193.) Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 25th August, 1875. Eeferring to my letter No. 177, of 31st July, I have now the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relative to the ship " Collingwood," which arrived at Port Nicholson upon the Bth July ultimo : —l. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Surgeon-superintendent's report. 3. Certified list of births and deaths. I have to call your attention especially to that portion of the Commissioners' report which treats of the outbreak of scarlet fever on the voyage, which they attribute, failing a more reasonable theory, to the contagion having been brought on board in emigrants' clothes and effects, and refer to the statement by the surgeon, that he was given to understand that one of the Lincolnshire families had scarlatina in their home shortly before leaving. As this name of the family, W ,is given, it may possibly be in your power to direct inquiries which may result in ascertaining whether any blame is attached to the Medical Officer who signed the certificates of health. 2. You will observe the Commissioners report, with regard to the ship, the recurrence of what has been frequently made the subject of complaint by these officers, i.e., the hurried manner in which the stores were put on board at the last moment, thus entailing confusion in their arrangement, so as to be inaccessible when required on the voyage, and rendering a proper system of check impossible. For instance, in this vessel the sand, a most necessary article for health and comfort on the voyage, could never be found, although it must be presumed that your Despatching Officer took care that it was placed on board. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure in No. 10. Commissioners' Report on Ship " Collingwood." Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 13th August, 1875. We have the honor to report the arrival of the ship " Collingwood " on the 9th ultimo with 289 souls, equal to 230 adults. During the voyage there were twenty deaths, equal to ten and a half adults, and four births. There have also been four deaths, equal to two and a half statute adults, during the time the immigrants have been at the Quarantine Station. A return from the surgeon-superintendent of the causes of death on board the vessel is appended, together with a report of the voyage. On the 19th, the vessel having been thoroughly fumigated and painted in the ,'tween-decks, saloon, and forecastle, we inspected her. We found her a roomy, comfortable, and well-ventilated vessel. The single girls were in the after part of the 'tween-decks, having the use of the after hatch as well as direct communication on to the poop. The hospitals, closet, bathroom, dispensary, and matron's cabin were all under the poop and good, being airy, well lighted, and of convenient size. We observe, however, that the surgeon states that the hospitals were frequently swamped with sea water. The married people were berthed mid-ships, having the use of the main hatch. The single men were in the forepart of the ship, having the use of the fore hatch. As all the fittings had been removed before our inspection, we can express no opinion as to the arrangement of the berths or the condition of the vessel while the immigrants were on board, but we are told that the berths were arranged in blocks having alley-ways around the side of the ship. Complaint was however made by the surgeon and captain that the ventilation was much impaired owing to there being no aperture at the top of the bulkheads dividing the compartments. We were pleased to see that, owing to our representations with regard to former vessels, the gutter way in the 'tween-decks had been covered over, and we are convinced that if this had not been done the mortality would have been much greater than it was. This is the first vessel placed in quarantine by us in which disease has spread to the saloon and forecastle, the second officer and some of the crew being ill when she arrived, while the surgeon-super-intendent and his son had both been attacked with fever during the voyage. We have taken some trouble to endeavour to ascertain the cause of so much sickness in this vessel where everything was so favourable for the health and comfort of the immigrants —namely, a fine roomy vessel having accommodation for a larger number of statute adults, and making what may be considered a good passage, and, so far as we have been able to ascertain, a skilful and painstaking surgeon, ably assisted by a kind and considerate captain —and the only decision we can arrive at is that the contagion of scarlet fever was brought on board in the emigrants' clothes or effects. No inspector could therefore be held responsible unless he had some means of detecting or destroying the disease before the immigrants embarked. It will be observed that the surgeon states that he is given to understand that one of the Lincolnshire families had scarlatina in their home shortly before leaving ; this family is named W , and we mention the fact in order that inquiries may be made into the statement. Great complaint has been made as to the dirty habits of the Lincolnshire iuimigrants, who were all berthed in one part of the ship,