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wish to interfere unnecessarily with the details of emigration in your office, but it does seem to me, if Dr. Nesbit's statement is correct, a most improper arrangement, that the appointment of surgeonsuperintendents should practically vest in a person unknown to, and utterly irresponsible to the Government, and whose recommendation is based solely upon a consideration of £s. d. The Under Secretary of the department informs me that he has heard more than once, unofficially, that this method of appointment of surgeons was the practice of the London office, but, in the absence of any official information, he did not consider himself justified in bringing the matter before the Government. I have to request that you will cause a strict inquiry to be made into the grave charges set forth by Dr. Nesbit and the whole subject of the appointment of surgeon-superintendents, and report fully to me by an early mail. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure in No. 72. Immigeation Commissionebs' Eepoet on Ship "Warwick." Sic, — Immigration Office, Auckland, 30th January, 1875. We have the honor to report the arrival of the "Warwick" on the 22nd inst., 103 days from London, with 242 Government immigrants on board. Generally the health of the passengers appears to have been excellent throughout the voyage. Four deaths occurred since leaving England, one being that of a male adult, fifty-five years of age, of obstruction of the bowels ; the remainder were children under two years of age, including an infant of fifteen days, chiefly of measles and diarrhoea. Two births took place, one of which was still-born. We were informed that no infectious disease was known on board the " Warwick " throughout the voyage. This ship's accommodation may be said to be above the average. The immigrants' compartments were well lighted, the ventilation was effective, and the 'tween-decks, at the time we inspected them, presented a thoroughly orderly and cleanly appearance. All expressed themselves well satisfied with the treatment they had received. They have the appearance of being a useful and respectable set of people, and a large proportion of them will, we are confident, meet with ready employment. We found the provisions to be of good quality throughout and the supply abundant; so also with respect to the medical comforts. There was an ample supply of fresh water at all times, the condenser on board having worked well and given great satisfaction. The authorized issue of preserved onions and carrots took place regularly, and the supply of these articles was sufficient. During the first few weeks of the voyage there was some dissatisfaction among the immigrants with respect to the quantity of bread produced from the daily allowance of flour. They entertained a suspicion that the baker did not do them justice, and ultimately the raw flour was handed over to themselves, to be dealt with as they thought proper. Matters, we find, have taken much the same course in the case of not a few of the immigrant ships previously arriving at this port, but the remedy commonly resorted to in these instances is not, we think, the best that might be applied. The alternative should scarcely bo forced upon persons on board ship of making their own bread where the operation has to be performed under so many serious disadvantages, the consequence too often being that ill-prepared and indigestible food has to be partaken of for a considerable portion of the voyage, not only by robust adults but by delicate women and children, to the probable, if not certain, deterioration of the health and comfort of all concerned. There is no real necessity for this. The authorities on board immigrant ships need permit no mystery in respect to the bread-producing properties of flour of average qualities to prevent them ascertaining in each case with tolerable correctness what the results should be, and duly insisting upon those results. Steps might be taken at the outset to secure the services of men sufficiently experienced and trustworthy to insure the proper baking of tho immigrants' bread during the voyage, and this would remove a deeply felt source of annoyance, not unfrequently producing wide-spread dissatisfaction on board our immigrant ships. We recommend the payment of the usual gratuities to the ship's officers and surgeon-superin-tendent. We have, &c, H. Ellis. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. T. M. Philson, M.D.

No. 73. (No. 55.) The Hon. H. A. Atkinson to the Agent-Geneeal. Sic, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 9th March, 1875. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the following documents relative to the ship " Invererne," which arrived at Auckland upon 29th January: — 1. Immigration Commissioners' report. 2. Immigration Officer's report. 3. Certified list of births and deaths on the voyage. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. H. A. Atkinson.

Enclosure in No. 73. Immigeation Commissionebs' Eepoet on Ship " Invererne." g IE Immigration Office, Auckland, 4th February, 1875. We-have the honor to report the arrival of the " Invererne" on the 29th ult., ninety-two days