17

D.—3.

Enclosure in No. 19. Commissioners' Eeport on Ship " Marlborough." Sir, — Port Chalmers, 31st January, 1877. The ship "Marlborough," with Government immigrants from Glasgow, arrived in port on the 20th instant, after a passage of eighty-five days. Her immigrants, who numbered 233 souls, equal to 201| statute adults, arrived in excellent health, there being no case of sickness on the surgeon's books on coming into port. There were two deaths among the children —one from febricula, and one from diarrhoea. The Commissioners at once cleared the ship, and proceeded with the usual inspection. The several compartments were visited, and found in a very creditable state of cleanliness and order. This ship not having been pierced with side scuttles, the married people's compartment was somewhat deficient in the mater of light. The immigrants, however, did not complain. The ventilation through the deck appeared sufficient. The condenser (Chaplin's) supplied abundance of water for all purposes, and the cooking range and oven were fully equal to their requirements. The immigrants were exercised in boat and fire drill twice a week in fine weather. The immigrants expressed themselves as fully satisfied with the provisions supplied, and their general treatment on board. A complaint was addressed to the Commissioners by the surgeon-superintendent that spirits were sold by the steward of the ship to the emigrants on the voyage. The matter being fully investigated, the Crown Solicitor recommended that no action should be taken, as it could not be proved. It was evident, besides, that the charge had its origin in a spiteful feeling between the two individuals referred to, and was of so paltry a nature that it was deemed unworthy of recognition. The captain brought a charge against the surgeon for breach of surgeon-superintendent's regulations. The Commissioners, after a patient investigation, dismissed the case. We are satisfied that the terms of the charter-party and Passenger Act were complied with, and that the surgeon, master, and his officers performed their respective duties to the immigrants in a satisfactory manner. We have, &c, Colin Allan. The Under Secretary for Immigration, John Drysdale, M.D. Wellington. Wm. Thomson.

No. 20. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration to the A gent-General. (No. 41.) Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 2nd March, 1877. I have the honor to transmit herewith the following documents relative to the ship " Wilt shire," which arrived at Lyttelton upon 17th February ultimo : —l. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Certified list of births and deaths. I am glad to notice the exceedingly satisfactory character of the report. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. D. Eeid.

Enclosure in No. 20. Commissionees' Eepobt on Ship " Wiltshire." The Commissioners report the arrival of this ship on the 17th instant, after a passage of ninetyseven days. The health of the immigrants had been generally good throughout the voyage. The surgeon-superintendent reported one death, that of a married woman. All the compartments were very clean, and in each there was ample room and ventilation. The provisions were of excellent quality, and had been served out regularly. No complaints of any kind were made. The bath in the single women's compartment had worked satisfactorily, and also the condenser and cooking apparatus. The regulations respecting boat and fire drill had been carefully complied with. In order to test the efficiency of the immigrants and crew in this matter, the Commissioners caused an unpremeditated alarm of fire to be sounded. The port hose was playing in eighty seconds, and the starboard one in two minutes and twenty seconds. The boats were lowered in one and a half minutes from the time of sounding the alarm. The immigrants appear to have been carefully selected, and very suitable for the colony. The Commissioners recommend the payment of full gratuities, and the further employment of the surgeon-superintendent should he desire it. Wm. Donald. John F. Eouse. Lvttelton, 19th February, 1877. J. E. March.

No. 21. The Hon. the Ministeb for Immigeation to the Agent-Genebal. (No. 44.) Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 23rd March, 1877. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relative to the ship "Hurunui," which arrived in this harbour upon the 18th ultimo: —1. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Surgeon-superintendent's report. 3. Certified list of births and deaths I have, <fee, The Agent-General for New Zealand, D. Eeid. London. 3-D. 3.