52
War
The town office reported to the state of the miner's houses and to the general want of sanitary arrangements in houses constructed for the Chinese at the Barrack.
Your Lordship understands that mention has been made of a report drawn up by the Colonial Surgeon on the subject in 1874 and that a Commission was appointed in connection with it in 1875 consisting of the Colonial Surgeon and Surveyor General, but the report and the proceedings of the Commission have not been printed. Copies of which your Lordship desires me to furnish.
2.
In response, your Lordship's Despatch to the Acting Colonial Secretary, J. Stewart, found the original report and the Colonial Surgeon's report for the year 1874 in the Colonial Secretary's Office; and I have ordered it to be printed for official reference, with certain marginal notes and emendations that were made upon it at the time by Mr. Cecil C. Smith, the Acting Colonial Secretary, and Mr. Administrator Austin. Meanwhile, I enclose for your Lordship's information a copy of the minutes that appear on the outside of the Report.
In the first minute, Mr. Cecil C. Smith, dated 1st April 1875, expresses the opinion that it would not be desirable to print the Report.