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last the doctor has all souls told; he and the other officials cross the gangway; we steam slowly out to where the "Triumph" is lying. "Is that her? Is she bigger than that ship? No yonder, beyond the schooner. Look at her funnel; what a length she is; why, it's a walk from end to end and so on, till we are alongside. There is no confusion on going aboard As the girl gets to the bottom of the stairs her number is called out, and she is directed where to find her berth • and there, neatly rolled up, is the rest of her " ship kit." Long before she has settled herself it is dinner-time. The captain of each mess goes up with the great covered tin dish, which holds vegetables at top meat in the middle, and soup or gravy underneath. At the top of the stairs she is met by the newly-made constable, with his neat band on his arm, and a blue jersey marked with his "special calling. Armed with her mess-card she hands up her great dish. In a few minutes it is brought back to her ; her safe descent, thus laden (no easy matter), is watched with the greatest anxiety. She sways a little, and her messmates ejaculate; her precious cargo is very heavy Another lurch-she rights herself-and once on the level soon gains her mess-table, "and the smoking dinner is handed to each, and the babel of tongues is exchanged for the clatter of knives and forks. How good the stewed beef smelt! how fast it disappeared ! r. v Tri ? m P h " carried 102 single women, besides single men, married people, and children; she bad the advantage of being fitted with a large refrigerator for carrying fresh meat The other steamers carrying passengers to New Zealand for the Government are all larger vessels • the "lonic and "Doric" are superb ships, whilst the "British King" and "British Queen" are very popular The doctors on board these vessels take the greatest pride in the good health and comfort of their passengers: their kindness and patience in smoothing difficulties is beyond all praise. Requiring absolute obedience and discipline to preserve order and good health they meet the convenience of the passengers with kindly consideration. There is a hospital on board well furnished with drugs and appliances, so that, as one of the emigrants remarked " You can be ill if you like, without paying extra." Of the last packages, to come on board, a box of books, a large assortment of needlework, and (perhaps not the least valuable for the evenings below decks) some sets of dominoes, backgammon, solitaires, and draughts, went down to the Matron's cabin But steam is getting up, there is a call for shore passengers to leave the ship, no time for anything but a hurried " Good-bye and " God speed." We are handed down into a little tug, for we had stayed on to the last moment. The girls come up on deck with their handkerchiefs to wave, the men take off their hats—something like a cheer as we are cast loose. Their seven weeks' voyage has begun Before long I hope to have some letters from them, to tell you how our Friendly Girls fared on their voyage to the brighter Britain of New Zealand. Ellen Joyce St. John's Croft, Winchester, 13th October.
No. 12. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Ministee of Immigration. (Memorandum.) 7. Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 21st December, 1883 With reference to the Hon. Minister's memorandum of the 2nd November (No. 198), I shall take care that slips containing a notice as to obtaining information on the disposal of Crown lands is inserted m all the publications distributed at this office. I was glad to receive the Minister's approval of my selection of Mr. Gisborne to assist in the preparation of the "New Official Handbook;" and shall take care that copies with the maps are placed on board all the steamers leaving for the colony. In compliance with the Minister's directions, I have invited the P. &0. and Orient Companies to allow the " Handbook " and " Crown Lands Guide " to be placed in the libraries of their vessels. p_ p Bell The Hon. the Minister of Immigration, Wellington.
No. 13. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Ministeb of Immigeation. Sir >— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 9th January, 1883 .lt wIU be P y° ur recollection that the Local Government Board proposed to place Dr Biaxall in communication with me on various sanitary matters arising out of the case of the ship ' Oxford." I have had a very interesting discussion with Dr. Biaxall to-day, and he has made a number of valuable suggestions for the future. We have agreed to ask the other Agents-General to meet us in conference, in order that a combined action should, if possible, take place on the part of the colonizing Governments to ensure the best precautions against the recurrence of such a disaster as happened to the " Oxford." I h ave &c The Hon. the Minister of Immigration, Wellington. 'j 1 j) Bell
No. 14. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister of Immigeation. Sib > — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 9th January 1883 I received yesterday your telegram with the cipher "reduce emigrants," which I understand to convey instructions to " send only nominated people of all classes." I have at once taken steps to carry these instructions into effect. There are not many existing commitments now which will stand in their way, and as soon as these commitments are worked off I shall confine the granting of passages to those whose nominations have been approved by you I transmit you herewith copy of a minute in which the results of the emigration of 1883 are referred to. You will find that, contrary to the expectation I led you to entertain, the distribution