The supply and provisions of water, as regards both quantity and quality, is favourably reported on by the passengers. We however regret to learn that there have been 32 deaths on board-the whole with the exception of two being children. The deaths of the two adults was to have been expected from the state of health in which they left the home country, but the loss of so many children we are persuaded must arise from want of proper care and attention on the part of the medical officer. There is nothing in the voyage to New Zealand, either in its length or the latitudes passed through, to make it destructive to children. Want of ventilation and a sufficiency of nourishing food is, we are certain in most cases, the cause of the deaths of the children.
Medical comforts are usually most liberally supplied by the owners of the ships.
In this case there appears to have been no exception to this rule. We can therefore only come to the conclusion that due care has not been used. The male immigrants, with a few exceptions, appeared to be hale, strong, hearty fellows who will be an acquisition to our community. They were all quickly housed in the immigration barracks, which affords ample accommodation. The demand for the services of the new arrivals was as usual considerable, and numbers have already found permanent sitiuations.