D.-~2

2

In conclusion, we believe that the Surgeon-Superintendent, Captain Seymour, and the officers ■of the ship did their best under very trying circumstances, and we beg to recommend that their gratuities be paid, and that Dr. Wasse should be re-employed should he desire it. We have, &c, J. Henby, L.B.C.P. (London, &c.),\ John Holliday, Health Officer, L Commissioners. Jambs B. Eedwaed, ) The Under-Secretary of Immigration, Wellington.

Sub-Enclosure 1 in Enclosure in No. 1. BePOET by SUBGEON-SUPEKINTENDENT for ImMIGBATION COMMISSIONERS. Gentlemen, — ' Wellington. Subjoined is a classified summary of the principal events which occurred on board the barque " Oxford," and of the observations which I have to bring under the notice of the Immigration Commissioners : — Port of final departure ... ... ... ... Plymouth. Date of final departure ... ... ... ... 26th April, 1883. Date of arrival ... ... ... ... 23rd July, 1883. Number of souls on board ... ... ... 325. Number of births on voyage ... ... ... 2. Number of deaths ... ... ... ... 3 adults. Total number of souls landed ... ... ... 324. The Ship. —Very satisfactory, on the whole ; rolls a good deal owing to the heavy weight at the bottom, but this has greatly improved since the tanks have been emptied. The deck is very leaky, however, in several places, especially under the distilling apparatus: this was a great nuisance to some of the married immigrants. Officers. —Their conduct and general behaviour towards the immigrants has been all that could be wished. Provisions. —Ampte and good, except the children's stores, which were never replenished at Cardiff, and were insufficient. Also candles were very insufficient; I was assured that they had been carefully replenished : this I found not to be the case. The captain had ordered some on his own responsibility at Cardiff, but not nearly enough to replenish those used, and the light had to be reduced t® a minimum, causing very great inconvenience. The extra glass, too, for the skylights had got broken, and was not replenished ; this was much needed in the married quarters. Medical Comforts. —Ample and good. Not so much loaf-sugar is needed; this might with advantage be replaced by milk. State of Health, dto. —There has been a great deal of sickness. Many of the emigrants who were in the ship at the disaster were in such a state of health at the second embarkation that under ordinary circumstances they would have been rejected. There are several cases of phthisis: one has developed rapidly during the last month, and is very serious. The principal disease has been enteric fever. The first case began on 18th May, in 5° N. lat., and it has continued ever since, both among single men and single women; the married people have been exempt. I believe the cause of this outbreak to have been M—■ — N —, who confessed to have come from an infected place, though this was denied at the inspection prior to embarkation.

Begulatiom. —Well observed on the whole; the great difficulty was with regard to the large number of ventilators, &c, by which clandestine communication was obtainable with the single women. School. —Well attended up to 11th June, when it had to be discontinued because of the bad weather; numbers of children varying from 59 to 44; results fair. There was no place available except on deck.

Weeks Endiko April. May. June. July. 28 5 12 19 2G 2 9 1G 23 30 7 14 21 Bronchitis .->. Cystitis Straima Typhoid Diarrhoea ... Tonsillitis ... Phthisis 1 '2 1 3 1 1 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1 1 "l 2 10 i 2 5 3 1 2 3 "2 2 4 3 5 Pneumonia ... Lymphangeitis Corneal Ulcer Cold Gastritis 3 1 1 d 2 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 "i 1 1 1 1 1 1 i "i