Page image
Page image

D— 4a

10

Enclosure 1 in No. 12. The Hon. the Minister of Immigration to the Under-Secretary, Immigration. Mr. Eliott. Will you draw the attention of the Commissioners in Canterbury to the statements in the journal of the doctor of the " lonic " as to the supply of liquor on board during the voyage to immigrants. I shall be glad also of a report as to general relations of the third-class passengers and immigrants, as to the relative position of the doctor and master, and the general discipline of the ship. Wm. Eolleston. 14th June, 1883.

Enclosure 2 in No. 12. Mr. March. I forward to you herewith the journals of the surgeon-superintendent of the "lonic," in order that you may refer to the points alluded to by Mr. Bolleston. It would be desirable for you to send a report, as Immigration Officer, as to the classes, nationalities, &c, of the immigrants, and their fitness for colonial life. You will observe that the surgeon refers to some of the girls as being quite unacquainted with the ordinary rules of cooking, &c. 14th June, 1883. H. J. H. Eliott.

Enclosure 3 in No. 12. The Immigration Commissionbes, Lyttelton, to the Hon. the Ministeb of Immigration. Immigration Commission, s.s. "lonic." Lyttelton, 18th June, 1883. The Commissioners, having carefully considered the questions referred to in the Hon. the Minister of Immigration's memorandum, have not thought an official inquiry necessary. They beg to report that the difficulties which on a few occasions arose from the introduction of beer into the Government immigrants' quarters, through the agency probably of the steerage passengers, are likely to arise in any case where a vessel carries both passengers and Government immigrants. The Imperial Passenger Act provides, in clause 62, that no spirits or strong waters shall be sold to any passenger —the word passenger being interpreted to mean any other than a cabin passenger; but this prohibition does not extend to the sale of beer or wine; and, where Government immigrants are berthed with or close to steerage passengers, the difficulty of preventing them obtaining these articles through the agency of the latter is extreme. The Commissioners consider that, in the case of the "lonic," the master took, on the request of the surgeon-superintendent, the best course in his power to prevent traffic of this kind. The only plan, in the opinion of the Commissioners, which could entirely obviate this difficulty, would be the sending by the Agent-General of a sufficient number of immigrants by any one steamer to take up the entire steerage. For some years past this has been adopted in sailing vessels, and with the best possible results. Before its adoption there were constant complaints as to the clashing of the various grades of passengers, through the difference in dietary scale, discipline, &c. The Commissioners consider that proper canvas shoots should be provided before the vessel's sailing, to obviate complaints naturally made of the fouling of bedding and dirtiness of quarters occasioned by the lifting of coal for several days at a time, during the entire day, through any part of the 'tween-decks occupied by passengers, whether immigrants or otherwise. The Commissioners find that the relations between the captain of the " lonic " and the surgeonsuperintendent were of the most cordial nature, and that the suggestions of the latter were promptly complied with. The surgeon-superintendent reports very highly of the matron. He has no doubt that, by zealously carrying out duties sometimes invidious, she may have earned the ill-will of those averse to proper discipline, but he considers her as specially fitted for the office. The immigrants appear to be of a class suited for the requirements'of the district. They have been all engaged with very few exceptions. The Commissioners recommend the further employment of the surgeon-superintendent and -matron. John F. Eouse, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Immigration. J. B. MakCh.

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert