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1884. NEW ZEALAND.

EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (LETTERS TO THE AGENT-GENERAL.) [In Continuation of D.-4a, 1883.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Hon. the Ministeb of Immigration to the Agent-General. Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 11th August, 1883. I forward herewith copies of the following documents relating to the ship " Oxford," which arrived at this port on the 23rd July: (1.) Immigration Commissioners' Eeport. (2.) Eeport of Surgeon-Superintendent. From these documents you will learn that the voyage has been a very unfortunate one as regards the general health of the immigrants, and that a great deal of inconvenience and discomfort was experienced -owing to the short-shipment of many of the stores and articles of food. Serious complaints having been made by the passengers, the Government has considered it desirable to appoint a Eoyal Commission to inquire into all the circumstances connected with the origin and outbreak of sickness on board the vessel, the medical inspection of the immigrants before embarkation, the short-shipment of stores, and the alleged insufficiency of certain articles of dietary, and the water supplied to the immigrants during the voyage, &c. The Commissioners met for the first time yesterday afternoon, and by the next mail I hope to be able to send you the report of the result of their investigations. In your letter of the 6th April last you stated that an inquiry was going on with respect to the water which was supplied for the use of the immigrants on the first voyage, which would not be stayed until the blame was placed on the right parties; and you proceed to state that by the San Francisco Mail you would send a detailed account, with full particulars from the beginning of the unfortunate business. The Government still await the receipt of the further particulars as promised by you. You will be pleased to learn that about one-half of the immigrants have been released from the quarantine station, and it is at present expected that all, except those who are actually under medical treatment, will be removed from Somes Island early next week. I have, &c, W. Bolleston, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Minister of Immigration.

Enclosure in No. 1. Repoet by Immigbation Commissionebs. Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 10th August, -1883. We have the honour to report the arrival of the barque " Oxford" on Monday, the 23rd July. She was signalled as having fever on board, and was therefore taken direct to the quarantine station. On our going over to the island we found that there had been a good deal of sickness on the voyage; the first case occurred on the 18th May, and the last a day or two before arrival. There had been three deaths, two from enteric fever and one from pneumonia (see the Surgeon-Superin-tendent's report of the voyage, herewith), and there were then four cases on board. There were two births. Early next morning the immigrants were landed. There have been several cases taken into the hospital at the quarantine station. We are happy to be able to report that, so far, none of the cases have proved fatal. It w T ill be seen from the Surgeon-Superintendent's report that a number of stores were very short, arid the distilling apparatus could not condense enough water for daily use. A Rpyal Commission having been appointed to inquire into the whole question of the treatment of the immigrants, &c, it will be unnecessary for us at present to enter more fully into the subject.

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