D.—2

36

John Smith, carpenter, s.s. " Mongol:" I served out the water to the emigrants from the day we left Plymouth until the 18th January. I served out three pints per day to each of the emigrants until we arrived in the tropics, and then two quarts each.. This continued until we got out of the tropics. Then I returned to three pints. There was no change as long as I served out the water. I issued these quantities under the captain's orders. Complaints were made to me by the emigrants, but I referred the complainants to the captain. They complained that they did not receive water according to their allowance. The water for cooking was issued to the cook according as required by him. I know that the passengers complained to the captain. One passenger I know complained was Tanner. AYe were not short of water. Edward Robins, fourth mate, s.s. " Mongol" : On the 18th January the captain told me I was to serve out the water from that date to the end of the passage. He told me I was to be very careful with the expenditure of water, as he did not wish to start the condenser; the reason he gave me being that he wished to save the coals. He also told me that if he had to start the condenser, I should have to pay the expense of the fuel used. That was used as a threat only, I believe. On the morning of the 19th-January I began to servo out the water. I gave three pints to each emigrant, and three pints to the cook for each emigrant. That was by the captain's orders. On the evening of the 21st January the captain called me into his cabin and asked me what water I had expended that day. I told him about 340 gallons. That was for passengers and crew. He told me it was too much, and I must make a tank of 400 gallons last for two days. I told him it was impossible, —that people would not get their allowance. He said I was to obey his orders, and he also drew up a statement on paper of the water I had given to each person that day. By that statement, the emigrants' cook's allowance was 92 gallons, and the emigrants' messes allowance 92 gallons also. He said too much was expended, and I must cut 50 gallons off the allowance to the emigrants' cook, 20 gallons from the ship's cook, and that with the rest of the emigrants I was to give them barely their allowance. I said to him that the people were already complaining of the water, and that they would not stand it. He said I was not to mind, but was to try them with that, and if they stood that, I was to cut them off more next day. I gave out the water next day according to the orders given to me over night. I was then surrounded by several of the emigrants, who told me that I had been cheating them of their water. I told them I was merely obeying the orders that had been given to me, and referred them to the captain. Several of them went to the captain, and several of them to a passenger named Mr. Holloway, and Mr. Holloway went to the captain, and afterwards the captain told me I was to give the emigrants' cook 20 gallons extra, and give him back the 50 gallons that I had been told to deduct from him. * * * * Things went on pretty well while the water lasted, but on the 10th February there was no water in the ship fit for use. On the 6th February the captain told me he would have to use the condenser. I told him he must, or else there would be no water left. On the evening of the 7th I again spoke to him, and he said he would start it. On the morning of the 9th I saw the man who works the condenser painting the winches. I asked him why he was not condensing. He told me tho captain had given him orders not to start condensing until all the winches were painted. * * ### # # # # On the 10th I put the men on the pump as usual, and they could not fetch any water. I then called the carpenter, and we both went down and looked at the tanks, and found them empty, with the exception of a few gallons washing on the bottom. I then went and woke the captain up in his room, and asked him if he had given the donkey-man orders to paint the winches. He told me he had. I then told him there was no water left in the ship. I also told him that I had ordered the man on the previous day to start the condenser. The captain then said, "Damn you, sir, who are you, to give orders ?"******** *** He told me to start the condenser immediately; that I was to bail the water from the main tanks and give it to the cooks, and in the meantime I was to keep things as quiet as possible. About halfpast one I served water out to the emigrants, and for the rest of the time, until we arrived at Port Chalmers, I served from the condenser. The issue of three pints of water was for each statute adult ************ There were no complaints about the wholesome quality of the water. Christopher Walker, second mate, s.s. "Mongol:" I know that for some time during the voyage the condenser was not worked. I know that the emigrants had to go till nearly twelve o'clock one day before they got any water, because there was none on board the ship. The fourth officer was down on the tanks bailing up some rusty water for them.

No. 35. The Hon. Julius Vogel to the Agent-General, London. (No. 62.) Sir, — Immigration Office, AVellington, 14th March, 1874. Tou have been advised by telegram of the arrival of the ship " Scimitar " at Port Chalmers upon March sth inst. I regret to state twenty-six deaths occurred amongst the immigrants during the passage, ten of which are reported to have been from scarlet fever, and sixteen from measles and other causes. There were six eases under treatment when the vessel arrived, and she was, in consequence, at once placed in quarantine. His Honor the Superintendent having informed me that the surgeon-superintendent had reported to him that scarlatina and measles made their appearance in depot before the " Scimitar " sailed, and that the first case broke out upon December 28th, four days after her departure, I deemed it right to advise His Excellency the Governor to issue a Royal Commission to inquire into all the circumstances ; and I have the honor to forward you a copy thereof, deferring any remarks upon the subject until I receive the report. I have, Ac, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel.