D.—3

4

Sub-Enclosure in No. 5. Memobandtjm for Mr. Kennaway. With reference to your inquiry as to the steps taken by me to ascertain whether the tanks for holding the water for the use of the emigrants are tit for that purpose, and whether the water with which they are filled is fit for use, I beg to state that I see most of the tanks while they are lying on the wharf before they are stowed in the ship's hold, and many of them after they are stowed. As a rule the tanks are new, and I satisfy myself that they are thoroughly clean. The tanks on board the " Oxford " were all new. After they are stowed they are filled by water being pumped in from a tank barge belonging to the Samaritan Company (L. W. Verdon), which obtains its supply of water from a stand-pipe in the Docks, and this water is supplied by the East London Waterworks Company. I taste the water, and have not for many years had to complain of the water supplied ; but I need scarcely point out that it is impossible, without chemical analysis, to say whether water is pure, as there are many ways by which it could be fouled without its being made apparent to the taste. Some years ago, by a water-tank barge then in use being leaky, some of the water in the dock mixed with the water in the.tank, and thus fouled it; but this can generally be discovered, as the water under such circumstances becomes slightly brackish. I think it right to point out that, as the tanks have to be filled after they have been stowed, there is the risk, during the interval before they are filled, of impurities getting into them ; for instance, decomposed rats have been the cause of ships' water being impure, and causing fever. Edward A. Smith. 6th April, 1883.

No. 6. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Ministeb of Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 15th October, 1883. I have received to-day Mr. Under-Secretary Eliott's memorandum of the 24th August, enclosing the newspaper reports of the proceedings before the commission of inquiry in the case of the ship " Oxford." Pending the receipt of an official copy of the evidence, I will only notice one statement. J M appears to have alleged that I had told him, in reference to certain complaints he had made, that, "if he would promise to say nothing more about it, I would give him a passage in a steamer, and that I had told him this in the presence of Dr. Hasard, Mr. Smith, and others." In another newspaper report I have seen the story is varied in this way : M is alleged to have said I told him that I " was afraid there would be too much heard about it in New Zealand, and if he would promise I should hear nothing more about it I would send him in a steamer, treat his case as a special one, and make him some recompense; that he thereupon said he would make no promise; that this took place in the presence of Dr. Hasard and other gentlemen; and that afterwards, in the Grand Hotel, I repeated my promise." What this person did not see was the absurdity of accusing the Agent-General of having offered him hush-money in the presence of a number of people. What passed between him and myself took place in the presence of all the emigrants, assembled at the public inquiry held by me. I then explained the provisions of the Passengers Act, and said that, while I could not transfer the people to a steamer, I would not separate families in which typhoid fever might exist when the " Oxford " sailed again, but would keep back any such families and send them in the " lonic." I then believed M 's family would be one of these, a boy of his being ill with the fever. At that time the " Oxford " was to sail again at the end of March; she was delayed till the latter part of April; in the meantime the boy recovered, and the M family were able to proceed together in her, as well as the rest of the people. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 7. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Ministeb of Immigbation. Sib,— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 22nd October, 1883. Adverting to that part of my letter of the 24th September (No. 278) which refers to the difficulties in the way of transferring the "Oxford" emigrants into another ship, I beg to be permitted to express the obligations I feel under to you for the answer you gave to Mr. Turnbull's question in the House of Eepresentatives (vide Hansard, August 29, 1883, folio 350) on the subject, and especially for having pointed out that it would have been impossible to transfer the people into the steamer "British Queen." The Board of Trade, as yeu indicated, would not have allowed it for a moment, even if that steamer had been able to take them. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 8. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Ministeb of Immigbation. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 24th October, 1883. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth September (No. 172), transmitting the report of the Eoyal Commission of enquiry on the ship " Oxford." There are several points in that report, and the evidence appended, on which it will be my duty to remark in due time; but there are two which I must notice at once : (1.) As to the alleged