ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OE STATE.

37

A.—No. 1.

and as an indulgence, and in every instance where the prisoners are privately employed the Government should be entirely relieved of expense. The advisability, however, of making private, or what is called public, employment, exceptional and secondary to work over which you are able to exercise a personal supervision, so as to prevent abuse of power, is, I think, obvious. I append a copy of a statement made by the Medical Officer relative to the assertion of the prisoners respecting him. The general feeling among the Natives that they derive no benefit from his services appears to be very strong, and without entering into the question of his general competence, I think his physical incapacity renders his continuance in office undesirable. » I have to request that you will report your opinion on these subjects to the Hon. the Defence Minister. I have, &c, W. Eolleston. To Captain Thomas, E.M., Chatham Islands. Under Secretary. Statement by Sergeant Elliott as to the Medical Officer. The doctor, as a rule, visits the barracks every morning, after which either Ashby or myself go round with him through each whare. As I go, I always make a memorandum in my books of the men, women, and children who are sick. I am acquainted with the cases of those now sick. [Sergeant Elliott here gave the names of a number, including Te Atarau, Tamati Patera, Horomona, and others.] Tamati Patera has had port wine. I offered it to him myself the day before yesterday, when he refused it. He has half a pound of meat daily. I send the meat daily when I issue to the guard. To Atarau also has the same quantity. As to the statement respecting the ill-usage by myself, it is possible that I may have occasionally used somewhat rough measures in cases where the Doctor has informed me that the prisoners were shirking their work on the unfounded plea of sickness ; on their refusing to turn out I may have given them a kick Eead over to Sergeant Elliott, 28th January, 1868. W. Eolleston. Mr. Shanb's statement as to examination of Prisoners by the Doctor. I was instructed by Captain Thomas to render such assistance as might be required, to enable the inspection to be made. The inspection was held in a little place made for the purpose, by partitioning off the end of the verandah of No. 3 whare with blankets, not inside the whare. No one but the Doctor was present at the inspection. I was at the gate of the enclosure, about ten yards off. Sergeant Elliott was three or four yards off. The men and women entered the place to be examined singly. The women raised objections to me and to Sergeant Elliott, they said nothing was the matter with them, and it was not fair they should be examined. All the women were examined except three or four. No force that lam aware of was used. Eead over to Mr. Shand by me. W. Eolleston.

Statement by Dr. Watson. In making the inspection I acted under orders from Captain Thomas. I had been made aware of a case of gonorrhea, and reported it to Captain Thomas. I considered it necessary that there should be an inspection of the whole number of prisoners to prevent the spread of the disease. A place was constructed for the purpose, and each person was taken in separately. They were not made to stand in a row. Sergeant Elliott was outside, and took from me the description of the disease of each person, whatever the disease might be. The men and women were called in separately, there was no muster, but they were summoned from their whares. ISTo one was present with me in the tent. Some of them objected to the examination at the time. There were no cases of venereal disease other than the one first-mentioned. I did not consider it sufficient to ask them whether they were suffering from disease, as they are disposed to hide anything of the kind from me. The one case mentioned was a severe one of phirnosis. A halfcaste prisoner, who speaks English, was close by, and interpreted. No officer was present. Eead over to Dr. Watson. W. Eolleston.

Statement by Dr. Watson. I visit the sick prisoners every morning, at ten a.m., with the Sergeant in charge, or Private Ashby. I have seen Tamati Patera and Atarau every day. They are past all hope, and beyond ordering them wine and soup, I have nothing to do for them. Eopata is superannuated, but has no actual disease. lam confident that Herewini is scheming to avoid work. Komaru is suffering from the effect of a wound caused by lifting a stone. Either Ashby or myself sees that medical comforts are administered. Eead over to Dr. Watson, 29th January, 1868. W. Eolleston.

"Will Captain Thomas be good enough to instruct the Medical Officer to furnish a report of the cases of the following prisoners : —Te Atarau, Tamati Petera, Eopata, Herewini, Komaru. With regard to Tamati Petera, he is requested to state whether he is so ill as not to be moved without risk. "W. Eollesxon, 2Sth January, 1868. ■ Under Secretary.

Report forwarded herewith. —W. E. Thomas, E.M. I do hereby certify that I have examined the undermentioned Maori prisoners, viz.: —Tamati Petera and Te Atarau. These two, in my opinion, are "unfit to remove, being in such a weak state. Bopata Kahuina, Heriwini Puarangei, Komaru. These three men are all in a state of good health. John Watson, M.D. 10