D.—3

6

3. The space on the main deck was, for purposes of recreation, very limited; that of the poop markedly inadequate to the requirements of the single women. I shall, on request, produce a deck plan as evidence of this. The water-closets, though better than I have before seen, and much more substantially constructed, were not good; those forward receiving a very insufficient supply of water, and requiring constant attention, due to two causes : —l. The tank supplying them was too small to give force to the current of water in the pipes. 2. During the latter part of the voyage it leaked to an extent handfilling could not compensate, hence when the condenser was not in action (on which its supply depended) it was empty. 5. It will be noticed the main deck was encroached on by the ordinary seamen's house. I say this should have been the hospital block (if it be granted the encroachment was justifiable), and that assigned to the latter purpose, adjacent to the petty officers' quarters, would have been a most suitable bath-room, its contiguity to galley and condenser further rendering it fit for this and condemning it for that. The representations I have before made in reference to main-deck hospitals and bath-room have in effect been ignored —scarcely an inducement to reiterate them. If my views thereon be unsound, why am I allowed to entertain them without refutation ? If they be sound, why are they not acted on ? I assert then again, for the last time, whatever my future in your Government service may be, " No ship should be chartered for the conveyance of passengers where the entire hospital accommodation and a bath-room are not available on the spar deck." Further, I reproduce a paragraph in my epitome of this ship's journal, in your possession: " Until both these recommendations have effect, I maintain the greatest practicable immunity from filth, disease, and death will not have been attained." 6. The ventilation of a ship is best determined by a critical reading of the thermometrical records of my general diary (in your hands). I need only supplement these by brief remarks. The aft and main compartments were fairly ventilated, the fore compartment badly so. The side ports were not so numerous as are desirable in a passenger vessel. About the middle of April, it will be observed, tho temperatures ranged very high ; one exceptional reading of 94° on the llth, another of 92° on the 21st of that month, being notable ; both these in the fore compartment. 6a. The fittings of the berths were good. The plans of the fittings (I here exclude hospital positions) perfect, and, excepting that the single men were somewhat " crowded " in that portion of 'tween-decks of fore compartment abaft the iron bulkhead, the distribution of berths was judicious, indeed could not have been improved on. 7. Probably the sole recommendation of the ship is that her 'tween-decks are exceptionally lofty. 8. The combings of the hatches were low, but the trim of the ship insured us against any evil that might have otherwise arisen. We shipped less water than any vessel I have ever sailed in. 9. The condition of spars and cordage 1 am not competent to report on. 12th August, 1876. William Russell.

No. 4. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the Agent-General. (No. 212.) Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, sth October, 1876. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relative to the " Waitangi," which vessel arrived at Lyttelton upon the 16th ultimo : —l. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Surgeon-superintendent's report. 3. Certified list of births and deaths. In accordance with the recommendation of the Commissioners, the sum of £50 has been deducted from the second moiety of passage money, on account of the bad quality of the flour supplied to the immigrants. You will observe that the Commissioners again draw attention to the convenience of having direct communication from the single women's compartment to the poop. I have, Ac, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure in No. 4. Commissioners' Eeport on Ship "Waitangi." The Commissioners report the arrival of this ship on the 16th instant, after a passage of eighty-four days. The health of the immigrants had been good throughout the voyage. The surgeon reported four births and no deaths. The 'tween-decks were lofty, well ventilated, and very clean throughout. The provisions had been served out regularly, and the quality was good with the exception of the flour, which was reported bad from the commencement of the passage. The Commissioners examined the bread supplied and also the flour, and they have to report that the sample shown them was very inferior, being exceedingly sour and caked into hard masses. The Commissioners were informed by the storekeeper that the sample was similar in quality to that issued during the passage. As the charter-party provides that " all articles of food shall be of the best quality," and as the flour was not of this quality, the Commissioners recommend a deduction of £50 from the second moiety of the passage money. The cooking and distilling apparatus worked satisfactorily, and the bath in the single women's compartment had kept in good order during the passage. The Commissioners were pleased with the arrangements in all the compartments —the plan of having the compartment for single women in direct communication with the poop, and thus preventing the necessity of their going on the main deck, is very advantageous, and should be adopted as far as possible in all ships. The immigrants appear to have been selected with great care ; their conduct throughout the voyage was exemplary, and they are in all