D.—3

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'tween-decks, and well filled and ventilated. The several compartments were exceedingly clean and orderly, which proved conclusively that order and discipline were well carried out by tho surgeonsuperintendent in charge. On asking the usual questions, the immigrants unanimously expressed their satisfaction with the treatment they had received. The Passengers Act and the Eegulations of the Government of New Zealand were fully complied with in every respect. The surgeon-superintendent, Dr. Cunningham, Captain Stuart, and his officers, appear to us to have performed their duties most admirably, and we have pleasure in recommending that the usual gratuities be awarded to them. We have, &c, Colin Allan. David O'Donnoghue. The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Wm. Thomson.

No. 41. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 301.) Sic, — ' Immigration Office, Wellington, 22nd October, 1874. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relative to the ship " Oxford," which arrived at Auckland upon the Bth ultimo : — 1. Eeport of the Commissioners and of the Immigration Officer relative to the inspection of the ship and immigrants. 2. Eeport of the Surgeon-Superintendent relative to the stores, fittings, condenser, &c, of the ship. 3. Eeport of the Immigration Commissioners of the result of an inquiry held by them into certain charges brought by Dr. Good against the captain and officers. 4. Certified list of births and deaths upon the voyage. The report of tho Commissioners and of the surgeon-superintendent disclose a state of things by no means satisfactory, as regards the inspection of the stores by your officers, and the noting the condition of the condenser and other apparatus necessary for the use and comfort of the immigrants upon the voyage ; and I would especially direct your attention to the fact stated by tho Commissioners, that no extra supply of medical comforts had been placed on board in charge of tho surgeon, as required by the instruction of my predecessor in office, in his letter No. 239, of the 25th October, 1873. In sending you a copy of the report upon the conduct of the captain and officers of the ship, which was the result of an inquiry held at the instigation of the surgeon-superintendent, I have not thought it necessary to trouble you with tho voluminous evidence taken by the Commissioners, which fully bears out tho conclusions they arrived at, and which I have indorsed to tho extent of refusing to pay the usual gratuities. It is very undesirable that Captain Beaver and the chief officer should again be placed in charge of vessels carrying Government immigrants, and I leave it to yourself to take such measures as are practicable to prevent such a casualty. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure in No. 41. Immigration Commissionebs' Eepoet on Ship " Oxford." Sic, — Immigration Office, Auckland, 22nd April, 1874. Wo have the honor to report that we made the customary inspection on the Bth instant of the ship " Oxford," ninety days from London, with 3GO.j statute adult immigrants on board, nearly all in good health. Hooping-cough had been prevalent during the latter part of the voyage, and there were still thirteen cases under treatment, but no other infectious disease had at any time shown itself among passengers or crew. The " Oxford " is a ship of good dimensions ; her accommodation for immigrants is above the average, and she came into port in a very creditable condition as respects cleanliness and general good order. No complaints were made by the immigrants when we inspected the ship, but subsequent^, in the course of an inquiry into certain charges preferred against the ship's officers by the surgeon-superintendent, it was brought to our knowledge that there had been partial dissatisfaction with the way in which the immigrants' bread was baked during a part of the voyage. It appears, for a time at least, the daily allowance for each statute adult had been two ounces short. This was owing probably to a defect in the baking. The proper allowance of potatoes was not always served out, in consequence, the captain explained, of inadequate appliances on board for cooking the full amount at once. The provisions generally were of good quality, and abundant in quantity, with the exception of the medical comforts. The supply of wine, beer, and porter ran short at a comparatively early stage of the voyage. A copy of the doctor's report upon the subject of tho provisioning of the ship, addressed to the Immigration Officer, is transmitted herewith. There had been no extra supply of medical comforts placed on board with Dr. Good's knowledge. There was a sufficiency of fresh water, notwithstanding that the condenser appears not to have been in good working order at all times. From information elicited on the inquiry above referred to, we felt it our duty to direct a survey of the condenser to bo made by a competent engineer, ami his report is forwarded herewith. The supply of quick-lime, charcoal, and sand on board was defective. A great deal of inconvenience was experienced from leaky water bottles on the voyage, occasioning damp under the lower berths, and generally proving a source of much needless annoyance to the immigrants.