“intermediate port because applications had been made to him by some passengers at the time that we were going our daily rounds, when he stated it was impossible to do so.” “I remember one occasion when an application was made to the Captain to put into an intermediate port. We were then near Tristan d’Acunha. On another occasion we were off the Cape. The weather was bad when we were off Tristan d’Acunha, I believe we went far South, but I know nothing of how the ship steered.” “I made no request to the Captain to increase the supply of water to the passengers. I should have thought it useless to have made such a request, as I took it for granted there was not much water in the hold.”

It likewise appears from the evidence at the inquest that a whaler, with which the “Ann Wilson” fell in, was willing to furnish them with an additional supply of water and that the casks were even put overboard and towed alongside—but that from some misunderstanding between the Mate of the Whaler and the Master of the “Ann Wilson,” the latter of whom is alleged by some of the witnesses to have been drunk, the casks were not received on board, but were eventually towed back to the Whaler. And in this way, through the indifference of the Master, and the apathy of the Surgeon, the passengers were exposed to all the risk of running short of water, although there could have been no difficulty in procuring a fresh supply at the Cape. The penalty imposed on the Master for the non-issue of water was £600, and it is to be hoped it may be possible to enforce this penalty.

13. Fifth—It is alleged that the medicines and medical comforts were not according to the prescribed scale. In regard to medicines, the Surgeon, who makes the charge himself gives a sufficient answer to it. We have prepared from the results of a very large experience, and with professional assistance, a scale of medicines for emigrant ships, which we believe has almost always been found ample. Mr. Magee is compelled to admit that in his Medicine Chest, which was furnished by one of the first Chemists in Liverpool, the medicines were according to that scale, and that everything was perfect and complete in the Chest when he opened it. He stated, however, that the medicines were not such as he should have liked to prescribe for the sick, and that the Laudanum, Ether, and Spirits of Wine were deficient. But as Mr. Magee is a young man, and has probably not had much experience, we do not attribute much weight to this opinion, in opposition to those of the experienced Surgeons who assisted us in the preparation of our scale, and who have since been constantly in the habit of using it.

14. In regard to medical comforts, the statement that they were insufficient rests also almost exclusively on Mr. Magee’s assertion. The Medical Inspector at Liverpool, Dr. Lancaster, reported that the usual quantity was put on board; and the Master of the ship, in his evidence on the inquest, states that there were plenty of medical comforts until a short time before their arrival in New Zealand, and that since their arrival some arrowroot, forming a portion of the medical comforts, which the Surgeon said they had long been out of, was found in the cabin. Under such circumstances it seems not unreasonable, having reference to the general conduct of the Surgeon, to believe that the deficiency in the medical stores may have been attributable in a considerable degree to his mismanagement. And this view, we presume, must have been taken by the Resident Magistrate, since he acquitted the Master of the charges in respect to medicines and medical comforts.

15. The mortality during the voyage, including the man who died in harbor, and on whom an inquest was held, amounted to five adults and fourteen children, and another adult and two children died shortly after the passengers were landed.

16. In the verdict at the inquest the Jury expressed their opinion that the deceased’s death had been accelerated by the insufficient supply of water, the want of proper medicines and medical comforts, the inadequacy of the cooking accommodation, and the bad ventilation of the vessel. And the Emigration Officer at Wellington, in his evidence before the Resident Magistrate, gave it as his opinion that the want of ventilation must have been the cause of sickness. The insufficient supply of water, and the state of the atmosphere in the between decks, must no doubt have aggravated whatever sickness there might have been on board, but other causes also were in operation, which were unfortunately not adverted to at either enquiry, but which it is our duty to point out.

17. In the first place, then, the proportion of children on board the “Ann Wilson” was unusually large. The