And it is hereby declared, that upon compliance by the said Petitioner with the terms of this order, he shall be released and discharged from all the debts, liabilities, and engagements specified herein. And this Court doth further order and direct that the costs of the said Petitioner in this matter, and afterwards the costs of the said Creditors who have so proved as aforesaid, not exceeding one guinea a piece, in respect of their affidavits of proof, and next the costs of the said Alexander Back, incurred or to be incurred in any necessary application to the Court, or otherwise, as the Court may direct, shall be paid out of the said estate and effects. This Court expressly reserving to the Petitioner, the Receiver and the said Trustee, and the said Creditors’ liberty to apply to the Court as they may see fit or be advised.

The Seal of
New Zealand
L.S.

By the Court,
CHRIS. ALDERSON CALVERT,
Registrar.
DUNCAN & WILLIAMS,
Solicitors.

REPORT OF
IMMIGRATION COMMISSIONERS.

Ship Lancashire Witch.
Timaru, October 16th, 1863.

SIR,—We have the honor to report that on the arrival at Timaru of the ship Lancashire Witch, with Immigrants, on Saturday the 10th instant, we proceeded on board to inspect her.

We found her clean and everything well arranged; the Immigrants were generally healthy, although there had been a great deal of sickness during the early part of the voyage, and several deaths.

Under the circumstances, we consider that everything was done satisfactorily, and we heard of no complaints.

We have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servants,
B. WOOLLCOMBE,
Immigration Commissioner.
E. BUTLER,
Immigration Commissioner.

To the Provincial Secretary,
Christchurch.

The arrangements of the sleeping berths we highly recommend, as they were fitted so as to allow a passage all round, between the berths and sides of the ship during the day, by which arrangement the accumulation of dirt and wet was avoided.

There was only one death during the voyage, which occurred shortly after leaving Southampton, and very little sickness throughout the voyage, which we consider to be attributed to the excellent sanatory arrangements and the strict discipline enforced by the Surgeon in charge.

We beg to call the attention of the Government to the above facts, as from the small size of the ship and the distress that prevailed in the locality from which these Passengers came, more sickness and irregularities might have been expected on the voyage.

All the Passengers expressed themselves highly satisfied with their treatment on the voyage.

We have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servants,
B. WOOLLCOMBE,
Immigration Commissioner.
E. BUTLER,
Immigration Commissioner.

REPORT OF
IMMIGRATION COMMISSIONERS.

Ship Lancashire Witch.

THE Immigration Commissioners, on visiting this ship, found about one hundred and fifty Immigrants had landed at Timaru, and some Passengers also, who intended to come to Christchurch overland.

The different compartments of the ship were not at all in a cleanly condition, excepting the single women’s cabins—the bottom boards of the lower berths were fixtures, and consequently a great accumulation of filth had accrued beneath them in every part ‘tween decks.

The Commissioners consider the mode of berthing the single females objectionable, 6 berths (or 2 double and 2 single berths) in enclosed cabins, 6ft. x 6ft. 6in. x 7ft.

The single men were berthed on the lower deck, their boxes (allowed to be kept under the lower berths) offered additional obstruction to proper cleansing.

The Commissioners observed that the tables were made fixtures, they consider that the plan adopted by Her Majesty’s Commissioners, of tables that are arranged to lift out of the way when not in use, is more conducive to the health and comfort of the Immigrants.

REPORT OF
IMMIGRATION COMMISSIONERS.

Ship Victory.
Timaru, October 16th, 1863.

SIR,—We have the honor to report that on the arrival at Timaru of the ship Victory, with Lancashire Operatives, we proceeded on board to inspect her.

Although this ship is smaller than those usually employed as Immigrant ships, we found her particularly clean and orderly.

Twenty-six deaths (23 children, 3 adults) had occurred from various causes (scarlatina, measles, and hooping-cough, &c). No disease was actually existing at the time of visit, the scarlatina was reported by the Surgeon to have assumed a malignant form in a large proportion of the cases treated.