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No. 49. The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 336.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 18th November, 1874. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relative to the ship " Chile," which arrived at Nelson upon the 26th October ultimo :— 1. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Certified list of births and deaths upon the voyage. You will be pleased to learn that the Commissioners report favourably of the class of immigrants and their conduct during the voyage. I have again to direct attention to the remarks respecting the dispensary. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure in No. 49. Immigeation Commissionebs' Eepoet on Ship "Chile." Sic, — Nelson, 2nd November, 1874. We have the honor to report the arrival, on Monday, the 26th October, of the ship " Chile," James Aitchaison, master, ninety-six days out from Gravesend, having on board 220 passengers, equal to 180£ statute adults. One birth and four deaths occurred on the passage. Of the latter, one was caused by exhaustion from sea sickness and pregnancy; the others, children, from convulsions and bronchitis. There was no sickness on board, the health of the passengers and crew having been generally good during the whole voyage. Every individual was questioned. With one exception, all expressed themselves satisfied with the quantity and quality of their rations, also with the kindness and attention they had received. The one complaint made was by Michael Ahem, who stated that his wife, who had died, had been neglected by the doctor. We made particular inquiry into the matter, by examining separately three married women who had been in attendance, and feel convinced, from the manner in which the statements were made, that the complaint was groundless. The poor woman seems to have been soon prostrated by sea sickness, complicated by the sickness of pregnancy and other ailments, and died from exhaustion after miscarriage. The passengers state that the doctor was assiduous in his attention to her. Ahem has declined to prosecute his complaint. The various compartments were clean and tolerably well ventilated ; the ship altogether dry. Dispensary small, and ill adapted as a place for compounding. The surgeon felt the need of the ready method of dispensing by means of coated pills. The condenser was in good order, and represented to have worked well all the voyage. The immigrants themselves appear to be well selected ; they are healthy. They have shown a readiness to carry out the hygienic rules that have been strictly enforced by the surgeon-superintendent. We have pleasure in recommending all the officers for the usual gratuities. We have, &c, Leonabd Booe. Jas. S. Cross. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. C. Elliott.

No. 50. The Hon. 11. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Geneeal. (No. 343.) Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 19th November, 1874. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relative to the ship " Cartvale," which arrived in Port Nicholson upon the 11th October ultimo :— 1. Immigration Commissioners' report. 9 2. Surgeon-Superintendent's report. 3. Certified list of births and deaths upon the voyage. 1. You will observe that owing to the large number of deaths upon the voyage, and the great amount of sickness, especially amongst the children, this vessel was placed in quarantine, but released after a few days' detention. The Commissioners remark upon the dirty state in which they found the various compartments occupied by the immigrants, which they ascribe in some measure to the inexperience on the part of the surgeon and captain, neither of whom had ever before had charge of immigrants. They attribute a great deal of the sickness which occurred on the voyage to a water-way or gutter in the 'tween-decks, which could not bo got at for the purpose of being cleared out, and which was found, when the fittings were removed, to be actually teeming with filth. The officer of your department whose duty it is to inspect and pass the vessels should have exercised sufficient prevision to be aware that persons unaccustomed to the sea, and ignorant of the possible results of the accumulation of foetid matter upon the atmosphere of the 'tween-decks, would be certain to save themselves trouble by making use, as they did, of this water-way and of the adjacent spaces between the iron ribs of the ship as a receptacle for anything in the way of waste food, &c, which it was inconvenient to carry on deck and throw overboard. The water-ways might easily have been planked over, or in some way rendered inaccessible to the passengers. As my letter No. 321, of 29th ultimo, transmitted to you per telegraph to Auckland for the last San Francisco mail, was written with the full knowledge of the facts set forth in the report of the Commissioners, and the instructions given therein were with the view of endeavouring to prevent in