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(Official No. G5,9G3), Mr. Conning, master, which fortunately hove in sight about this time. The " Loch Doon " was on her homeward voyage from >San Francisco to Cork with a cargo of wheat, and the master thereof brought the whole of the passengers and emigrants to this port, and treated them most kindly during the two days they were on board. The " Piako " was scuttled in the harbour and the fire extinguished, and after some delay a steam pump was employed and the vessel raised, and since has been surveyed, and, owing to the whole of the lower deck from the main hatch forward having been burnt, as well as more than half of the sleeping quarters of the emigrants, as well as the clothes o£ the same ; the greater portion of the consumable cargo has also been all burnt, or damaged by salt water, and will have to be sold. I have convened two surveys on the " Piako," and it has been ascertained that the vessel has not been strained by the submersion, and that the repairs will take three weeks or a month to carry out. The emigrants I have had landed on an island sonic three miles fi-om the town, where they are lodged in a house, suitable beds having been provided for them, and clothing bought, and other arrangements made for their comfort until the vessel is in a fit state to carry on the same. I shall require the master of the " Piako " to give me a guarantee to carry on the emigrants within six weeks of the date of his arrival, as per regulations contained in 26 and 27 Viet., cap. 51, but, owing to the uncertainty that occurs at this port with contractors fulfilling their contracts to repair ships within the time stipulated, I much doubt if Mr. Boyd, master of the " Piako," will be able to do so. I purpose holding a Naval Court of Inquiry on the 2nd or 3rd of December, to investigate into the origin of the tire on board the " Piako." I have, &c, To the Assistant Secretary, Marine Department, S. H. Walkee, Board of Trade, London. H.B.M.'s Consul.

Enclosure 2 in No. 34. Mr. "Wing Field to the Agent-Geneeal. Sir, — Downing Street, 21st December, 1878. "With reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the emigrants wrecked in the ship " Piako," I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit herewith for your information a copy of a further despatch, which has been received at the Foreign Office from Her Majesty's Consul at Pernambuco, reporting the action which he has taken with regard to those emigrants. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Edwaed "Wingfield.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 2 in No. 34. Mr. S. H. Walker, Consul, Pernambuco, to the Eight Hon. the Secketakx of State. My Lokd, — British Consulate, Pernambuco, 29th November, 1878. I have the honor to inform your Lordship that, in accordance with the instructions contained in your Lordship's telegram under date of the 19th instant, to report from time to time my action with regard to the emigrants of the " Piako," (Official No. 73,745), I transmitted to your Lordship a further telegram on Tuesday, 26th instant, in the following words : — "Marquis of Salisbury, Foreign Office, London. —Emigrants "Piako" on island, distance town, fear small-pox yellow fever if detained long. Vessel raised after submersion, surveyed Commander Keppel, repairs required month.—S. H. Walker, Consul." The above telegram was sent to your Lordship after the raising of the " Piako," by pumping the water out of her by steam pump hired for the occasion—as at one time it was feared she might have been so strained by the tido llowing over her, that she would be worthless for the purpose of carrying on her passengers to New Zealand. Happily, the "' Piako" has not been injured by the submersion which extinguished the fire, and immediately she was pumped dry I caused a survey to be called for the purpose of ascertaining the damage caused by the fire, and the amount of time it ought to take to refit the " Piako " for her voyage. It would appear from the report of the survey, headed by Commander Keppell, of 11.M.5. " Avon," which touched here for coal on her voyage from Para to Rio de Janeiro, that the whole of thelowor deck of the " Piako " has been burnt from the main hatch to the fore part of the ship, about one-half of the bunks or berths of the emigrants have been destroyed, as well as all the clothing of the emigrants, together with that of the four first-class passengers. The surveyors are of opinion that the necessary repairs can be carried out in three weeks or a month, and tenders have been issued and accepted to terminate the said repairs within three weeks, under a penalty or fine of £5 per diem over and above the stated time. It is most essential to get these unfortunates away as soon as possible from a country pregnant with yellow fever, small-pox, and other contagious diseases; but to charter another vessel would not only be ruinous, but contrary to the regulation referred to in my last despatch to your Lordship, Consular No. 42, wherein the Act 2(3 and 27 Yict., cap. 51, allows six weeks time to the master to carry on his passengers. I have further to inform your Lordship that, since the arrival of your lordship's telegram respecting the clothing of the emigrants, on my informing the agent of the vessel that if he and the master continued to refuse to provide the same I should do so, but under protest; no further difficulty has arisen, and the instructions contained in your Lordship's telegram I shall use as my guide as regards other necessities, such as warm clothing for the use of emigrants, which the medical officer of the " Piako " informs me is absolutely necessary when the vessel arrives in a colder latitude. Surgical instruments are also required, as those on board have almost all been damaged by fire and salt water. A. hundred pounds premium has been offered to the contractors, over and above the price fixed upon