D.—3

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Enclosure in No. 31. Commissioners' Eepoet on Ship "Mataura." The "Mataura " left Gravesend on the Sth of August, with 216 souls, equal to 176 adults, and arrived here on the 10th of November, making the passage in ninety-three days. The immigrants were allotted as follows: —To Nelson, 63i adults ; to Taranaki, 30 adults ; to Marlborough, 41 adults ; to Westland, 41J adults. The Commissioners and Health Officer boarded the "Mataura " about five miles from the entrance to the harbour, and found, on going alongside, that there had been several cases of whooping-cough amongst the children during the passage. As most of the sufferers had recovered, and the disease had been prevalent in Nelson only recently, the Health Officer saw no objection to the immigrants being landed. The "Mataura" having no cargo for this port she did not enter the harbour, but landed her immigrants and their luggage the following day by means of a small steamer, —all except those intended for New Plymouth, who were taken from alongside the same evening by the steamer " Taranaki," and landed at their destination the next forenoon. We found the ship in a very satisfactory condition. The fittings were well arranged, except that the sleeping berths next adjoining the sides of the ship were too close to allow of a free current of air inside them. The whole 'tween-decks were exceedingly clean and of good height, and no complaints were made by the immigrants in reply to our inquiries. The children, on the whole, were not so robust as in the two previous immigrant ships, nor were several of their parents constitutionally strong. Many of the children had suffered severely from whooping-cough, and th *r want of stamina had increased the death-roll, which was in excess of that on board previous vessels to Nelson except the " Adamant." The voyage, though not attended with much rough weather, was a severe one, owing to extensive fields of ice encountered by the ship in a low latitude —an experience which befel other vessels about the same time bound to this colony. Excessive cold created great discomfort on board. Several of the children suffered severely from chilblains, from which some have not yet recovered, and one, a boy of about thirteen now in hospital here, will probably have to lose two of his toes. Besides two married women and seven children —equal to 5J adults—four children under a year old died on board*including two prematurely born during the passage. The surgeon-superintendent complains in his journal that in the early part of the voyage the quality of the bread was bad, and thinks thS was in some measure attributable to the use of kiln-dried flour. The intimate connection between sour bread and diarrhoea in children on board immigrant ships makes it important that the flour put on board should be faultless for making wholesome bread. That which we tasted on board after the ship's arrival was fairly good. The surgeon-superintendent also complained of the port wine supplied as a medical comfort, a sample of which is herewith forwarded. It being a well-known fact that much of what is called " port wine " is only a manufactured article, we are of opinion that pure Australian wine would be greatly preferable for medical purposes. The exemplary attention given by the surgeon-superintendent, Dr. Kennedy, to his patients, was testified to by all on board, and should he-seek further employment from Government we recommend that he may be engaged. We feel bound also to commend the conduct of Captain Gorn, who was well supported by his officers. The only complaint against Captain Gorn was his being a strict disciplinarian, but this was only while enforcing rules framed for the comfort and safety of those placed in his charge, as his kindness otherwise was unbounded. An excellent code of rules was framed at the commencement of the voyage, and a copy pasted up in each compartment of the ship, one of which is attached. If a similar practice was observed on board every vessel carrying immigrants it would tend to the safety of life in the event of an accident occurring. Leostaed Booe. James S. Ceoss. Nelson, 20th November, 1875. C. Elliott.

No. 32. The Hon. C. C. Bowen to the Agent-Geneeax. (No. 2.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 11th January, 1876. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relative to the " Avalanche," which vessel arrived in Port Nicholson upon the 3rd December ultimo :—l. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Surgeon-superintendent's report. 3. Certified list of births and deaths. I have, &c, C. C. Bowew, (in the absence of the Minister for Immigration). The Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

Enclosure in No. 32. Commissioners' Eepoet on Ship " Avalanche." SIE — Wellington, 11th December, 1875. We have the honor to report the arrival of the ship " Avalanche," with Government immigrants, on the 3rd instant, having on board 186 statute adults. Two deaths occurred during the voyage, both infants. As this is not the first voyage of the ship " Avalanche " to New Zealand with Government immigrants, we do not think it necessary to describe her accommodation, &c. "We have great pleasure in reporting that her condition in all respects was most satisfactory. The happy effect of strict disciplire, enforced with firmness and impartiality, and unaccompanied by harshness, was made