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who may not have passed through the Blackwall depot within the three years ending 25th March next, as stipulated in the agreement in question. I take this opportunity of informing you that the depot will not be required after the time specified iv the agreement. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 11. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General. (No. 226.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 18th October, 1876. Numerous complaints having been made by gentlemen who have been engaged as surgeonssuperintendent of emigrant vessels, as to their having to employ aud pay a fee to a Mr. Moore, of St. Mary Axe, as agent, before they can obtain their appointments, I shall feel obliged by your causing a thorough investigation into the whole subject to be made upon your arrival in London. I attach copy of a letter from Dr. Eussell, who recently came out in charge of the " Bebington." Tou will learn from the printed papers noted in the margin* that the Agent-General has been previously communicated with upon the subject, but I do not feel satisfied with the result of the inquiry which he made. I am of opinion that there should be no difficulty in selecting a surgeon, whenever one is required, from those who have already satisfactorily performed their duties to this colony, without the intervention of an agent. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure in No. 11. Dr. William Eussell to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir,— Wellington, 21st September, 1876. In reference to the delay which occurred between the date of my reporting myself at Westminster Chambers and my re-appointment, I have to offer the following statement of facts —premising first, that after my entering the service as surgeon-superintendent of "La Hogue" through Mr. Moore's agency, for which I paid him a fee, I did not further seek his assistance ; and, secondly, that Mr. Moore desired payment of such fee ere I sailed, on the representation that he had to share it at " No. 7." There can be but one rendering of this expression, which, however, implicates no individual. I make this statement in consequence of Mr. Moore's letter casting doubt on the assertions of Dr. N , a gentleman I know to be incapable of falsehood. On tho 10th October, 1874, I applied for re-appointment, and eventually was nominated to the " Hannibal," which sailed March 12th, 1875—that is, after five months' delay. Now, I beg you note Mr. Moore's reply to the AgentGeneral above cited, wherein he says, referring to September, 1874, " Just at this time you were short of surgeons, and asked me to recommend some ready to sail immediately on appointment," and yet, on my applying as above recorded, on October 10th, 1874 (within a month of this " dearth "), five months elapse ere re-employment —but I did not apply through Mr. Moore! Again, on my last application, October Bth, 1875, a delay of four months occurred ere appointment to the "Bebington;" but here, again, I did not avail myself of Mr. Moore's assistance. It is not for me to suggest an inference, but to assert fact, and, as I purpose returning shortly, I shall be prepared to substantiate anything I have here or elsewhere stated. Finally, that the intervention of an agent is necessary to secure able men is not true, and it is a fact that an advertisement in either medical journal would insure ten times the number of applicants your medical service could engage, so admitting of selection by the merit their testimonials evidenced. I have, &c, William Eussell, Formerly Surgeon-Superintendent of " La Hogue," " Hannibal," and " Bebington." The Hon. the Minister for Immigration.

No. 12. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General. (No. 234.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 25th October, 1876. I have the honor to transmit copies of letters from the New Zealand Company's Manager, representing that that Company has been placed at a disadvantage owing to emigrants from Ireland being despatched from the Clyde, and I shall feel obliged by your causing me to be furnished with a return showing the comparative cost of despatching Irish emigrants from Plymouth or London and the Clyde. I have also to request that I may bo furnished with a report respecting the statement contained in the last paragraph of Mr. Smith's letter, dated 24th June last, as to emigrants being actually sent from Belfast and England to the Clyde for Messrs. Henderson's ships, when the Shipping Company had vessels availablo for their conveyance from nearer ports. The Manager of the Shipping Company also states that the privilege has been allowed the Albion Company of conveying single men as private passengers in emigrant ships, while it has been refused to them. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

* D. 1, 1875, pp. 22, 23 ; D. 2, 1875, p. 6.