REPORT ON IMMIGRATION.

D.—No. r.

11

No. 2. Mr. Maech to the Hon. W. Eeeves. EEPORT ON QUARANTINE STATION, CANTERBURY. Sic, — Immigration Office, Christchurch, 17th April, 1872. I have the honor to call your attention to the present Quarantine Buildings at Camp Bay. The site on which the buildings are erected is 30 acres in extent, being portion of a reserve vested in His Honor the Superintendent. Experience has shown that it is very unsuitable for a Quarantine Station in consequence of its not being sufficiently isolated, the landing is very bad, and there is no telegraphic communication with the Port. A little above Camp Bay there is an island known as Eipa Island, 4 acres in extent, and which has been proclaimed a Quarantine Eeserve ; this site, although small, is nevertheless preferable to Camp Bay in the following respects— Ist. It is isolated. 2nd. The ground is more level. 3rd. A landing can be effected in any weather. 4th. It is within telegraphic communication of Port Lyttelton. The present buildings at Camp Bay afford only accommodation for 28 families. The buildings erected for single men and single women having been destroyed during a heavy gale of wind in June, 1866 have not been replaced. There is a large building used as a wash-house, and there are also quarters for a Barrack master. The whole of the buildings are in a fair state of repair. As it is necessary to provide considerable additional accommodation, the following plans suggest themselves: — Ist. Shall the additions be made to the present buildings ? 2nd. Shall the present buildings be sold and the proceeds devoted towards the erection of new buildings on Eipa Island ? 3rd. Shall the Quarantine Station be on Eipa Island and the materials of the present buildings utilized in the erection of the Barracks there ? After careful consideration I think the third plan the best, and beg to recommend that it be adopted. The accommodation required would be as follows, viz. : — For 30 families = 90 Statute adults. „ 50 Single men = 50 ~ „ „70 single women = 70 „ „ Total ... 210 A hospital to. accommodate at least 18 beds. A convalescent ward capable of accommodating I'Z patients. Barrack Master's quarters to contain not less than 3 rooms, and also a room for the Surgeon. A cook house. Two wash-houses and two luggage-sheds. Water closets for each compartment. The present buildings would, I think, if made use of in the way suggested, furnish material for the lining of the proposed main buildings, and the erection of the Cook house. Wash houses. Luggage sheds. Closets, &c. A large number of doors and windows can also again be made use of. The buildings here, as at Port Chalmers, may be of the plainest character, but it is necessary that they should be strong enough to withstand violent gales of wind. The roof, I think, should be of galvanized iron. I have, _c, J. E. Maech, The Honorable the Eesident Minister. Immigration Officer.

No. 3. Dr. Donald, Health Officer, Port of Lyttelton, to the Hon. W. Reeves. Sic,— Port of Lyttelton, 14th March, 1872. I have the honor to draw the attention of the Government to the impossibility of isolation in the present Quarantine Barracks. Some years back, when a ship arri\ed having contagious disease on board, the passengers wandered over the Peninsula, and communicated disease with fatal results to several residents. Eipa Island has been reserved, and proclaimed a Quarantine Station, and excepting in the want of water, promises, with power of complete isolation, every necessary advantage.