D.—3

14

We recommend tho gratuities being paid to tho surgeon-superintendent and the ship's officers, including the second mate, whom, for efficient service rendered the immigrants, we recommend, as in the instance of the two last immigrant ships arriving here, to receive a gratuity of five pounds. We have, &c, H. Ellis. T. M. Philson. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. I. J. Buegess.

No. 23. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 240.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 25th August, 1874. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relative to the ship "Conflict," which arrived at Port Nicholson upon the 3rd instant: — 1. Report of Immigration Commissioners, covering report of the Surgeon-Superintendent. 2. Certified list of births and deaths upon the voyage. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Julius Vogel.

Enclosure in No. 23. Immigeation Commissionebs' Repoet on Ship "Conflict." Sir,— Wellington, 12th August, 1874. We have the honor to report the arrival of the ship " Conflict" on the 3rd instant, with 362^statute adult immigrants ; nine deaths, equal to four adults, having occurred on the voyage. On inspecting tho ship and immigrants, we found the single women berthed under the poop in a light and well-ventilated compartment; the berths were in blocks, with alley-ways all round. We have always advocated this system of berthing immigrants, and were pleased to find that it has at.last been adopted. We would further suggest, however, that there should be a small shelf along the skin of the ship, in the alley-way, on which the immigrants could keep their mess utensils, &c. The hospital, closet, and bath-room in this compartment were good. The married compartment extended from the after part of the vessel to forward of the main hatch. The bunks were on tho same system as in the single-women's compartment, and there was plenty of light and ventilation. The hospital was commodious and well ventilated, but in our opinion it was wrongly placed,"under the main hatch and in the most noisy part of the ship. The dispensary and issuing-room were also under the main hatch, opposite to the hospital. The single men were in the forward part of the ship, and had a better compartment than most of this class of immigrants have in ships to this port. It was light and airy, and had plenty of room in it. The hospital was on deck, but badly placed, and we would refer you to the remarks of the surgeon-superintendent upon its position ; both Captain Hardy and Dr. Whitelam state that they protested against this hospital being placed where it was before the vessel sailed. The cooking range was sufficient for the requirements of the vessel, but the galley was not large enough to afford proper convenience for the large number of passengers on board. The condenser worked well during the voyage. With regard to the people themselves, we feel bound to remark that in our opinion many of them should not have been selected as immigrants to this colony; and in proof of this we would refer you to the statement of the surgeon-superintendent, in the letter appended hereto, with regard to the medical examination of the people before embarkation, and especially the remark of Dr. Humphries, when a consumptive child was pointed out to him, "It will improve on the journey." It is evident that this is not the class of people required in the colon}', where there is plenty of hard work to be done, and moreover it is only by a very liberal expenditure of medical comforts during the voyage that many of the children and some of the adults were landed alive. A glance at many of the immigrants would be sufficient to show that they must have been drawn from the centres of population, and it does not require the eye of a practitioner to detect the existence of organic disease in various forms amongst the young children. The surgeon has also complained that the ship was not ready for some days after many of the immigrants arrived in London, and they were maintained at low lodging-houses, without the slightest restraint being placed upon their actions. In conclusion, wo beg to recommend the payment of all gratuities, and to state that in our opinion both Captain Hardy and Surgeon-Superintendent Whitelam have done all in their power to promote the health, comfort, and happiness of the people placed under their charge. Dr. Whitelam is especially qualified to perform the duties of surgeon-superintendent, having had experience under the Imperial Immigration Commissioners. We have, &c, Alexandeb Johnston, M.D. H. J. H. Eliott. His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington. John Holliday.

No. 24. The Hon. J. Vogel to the Agent-General. (No. 241.) Sib, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 26th August, 1874. Referring to my letter No. 237, of the 18th instant, in which I transmitted copy of tho report of the Immigration Commissioners at Invercargill upon the " Carrick Castle," I have the honor to