CO885-(1-2) — Page 383

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TLC.O.

885

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

35

96

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO

10. The ventilation on board the " Lord Elgin" was very deficient, the hatches being small, the height between decks, from plank to plank, 6 feet, and only four small port- holes, 9 inches by 4, being on each side, and which, at sea, were but too often closed to prevent the admission of sea water; besides which there were no wind kokers or openings between the timbers to take off the foul air, and even the main hatch was covered with the "long boat.”

11. No arrangement for hospital accommodation existed during the voyage, so that the siek, to the number of 12 to 14 at a time were of necessity placed in the long boat, whose position is above described, and whose capacity is 22 feet long by 84 feet wide, as a sub- stitute for a hospital

12. The measurements of the vessel, as regards the accommodation for immigrants, taken by the Board, were as follows,——

Depth under the beam

Width Length

Do.

deck

Ft.

In.

5

6

}

23

5

72 10

being 9,936 cubic feet or 1,656 superficial feet; thus allowing for each immigrant only 11 superficial feet between decks, while the last Passengers' Act of 1852 requires for each fifteen superficial feet.

From the foregoing we have arrived at the conclusion that the causes of the great mortality on this voyage are attributable,—

1stly. To the very long confinement in foul air, as clearly demonstrated by the fact that, in the former half of the voyage one seventh only, and in the latter half six sevenths of the deaths occurred (see paragraph 6).

2ndly. To the crankness of the vessel, the want of room for exercise, as shown by the measurements (paragraph 12), and the deficient supply of variety in the food, especially fresh provisions, &c.

3dly. By not having had recourse to the rules and regulations of the Passengers' Act 1852, which, if adopted, would, in the opinion of this Board, havo prevented most, if not all the evils which we have now to deplore.

Deeply impressed, therefore, with the correctness of the conclusions at which we have arrived, after due deliberation on this painful case, we most respectfully recomuend that, in future, the said Passengers' Act be made the groundwork of all regulations in import- ing to this colony immigrants from east of the Cape of Good Hope, and that for the purpose of carrying out these views no ship of less than 1,000 tons be allowed for this

service.

As regards the question of the bounty referred to us by your Excellency's Minute on the correspondence herewith returned, between the Health Officer and the Immigration Agent General, we humbly submit that we see no sufficient ground for a refusal to pay the same.

We have, &c, (Signed)

A. D. V. GON NETSCHER, Chairman. DANIEL BLAIR, M.D., Surgeon-General R. G. BUTTS.

P.S. Since the foregoing report was written we have received Dr. Shier's answer to the letters of the Board, which is herewith laid over No. 6.

(Signed) A. D. V. Gox NETSCHER.

LIST of STORES on board "Lord Elgin " for Chinese. At Singapore.

10 lbs. alum; 1 cask of arrack, for crew and passengers, 80 galls.; 1 case 139 lbs preserved provisions for sick, if required, and 4 pigs, 2 for crew; 6 pieuls yams and 4 pieuls chalots, half for crew; 4 lags chunam; 6 bags sand; 20 pieuls of 133 Ils, of best salt fish ; 5,000 pieces firewood; bagar expences for fresh fish, vegetables, and for coolies, 15 dollars; 45 tons water; medicines 34 dollars 50 cents.

At Anjar.

100,cocom

17 tons water; 2-fathoms firewood; 16 piculs sweet potatoes; 100 cocoa nuts for Basino; 100 pumpkins; 2 cases of Geneva for medicines; 10 bags of chunam; 10 bags of saud; 6 pigs; jar chloride of lime; I bottle of blistering fluid; 200 lbs. of fresh pork;

cwt, vegetables.

At Cape of Good Hope.

25 tons water; I carcase of mutton; 70 lbs fresh beef; 8 sheep for coolies, 2, for crew; vegetables for coulies 31. 48. 4d.; & cwt, slip bread; medicines, chloride of lime, &c., 124. 118. 3

SIR,

Immigration Agent General's Office, January 28, 1853.

In consequence of repeated applications having been made to me by the attorney of Messrs. Booker, to certify his account for bounty on 86 Chinese, introduced in the ship

EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.

97

"Lord Elgin," I addressed a letter to the Acting Health Officer, copy of which, with his reply, are hereunto annexed, and are transmitted for the information of his Excellency the Governor, and respectfully request that I may be instructed whether I have any right to withhold my certificate for the introduction of the people in question for any longer period.

The Hon. Wm. Walker,,

Government Secretary.

SIR,

(Signed)

I have, &c.,

WM. HUMPHRYS, I.A.G.

Immigration Agent General's Office. January 26, 1853.

HAVING been applied to several times by the agent of Mr. Booker for my certifi cate of the arrival of Chinese in his ship the "Lord Elgin," I have on all occasions refused to de so until your report had been sent into his Excellency the Governor.

As I am not aware whether this has yet been done, I request to be informed with regard to this delay. and on what grounds, so as to be guided in what manner I am to proceed.

E. A. Mangit, Esq., M.D., Acting Health Officer.

SIB,

I have, &c.,

(Signed) WM. HUMPHRYS, LAG.

Georgetown, January 27, 1853.

In reply to your letter of the 26th instant, referring to Messrs. Booker's application

for your certificate to enable them to receive the bounty money for the Chinese arrived by the "Lord Elgin," I beg to state that I have already informed his Excellency that my report could not be sent in until Dr. Shier, who is still very unwell, shall have furnished

me the necessary information regarding the immigrants per "Lord Elgin.”

I cannot say exactly when my report will be sent in.

If I be allowed to give my humble opinion, I would say that Messrs Booker and Brothers are entitled to the bounty money, the immigrants who have arrived by their vessel having been already allotted.

I have, &c., (Signed) E. A. MANGET, M.I),

Wm. Humphrys, Esq.,

Immigration Agent General

(True copies)

(Signed)

Acting Health Officer.

WM, HUMPHRYS, L.A.G.

MEMORANDUM

On the return voyage from Amoy to Demerara with Chinese, which, being a private speculation, and not conducted under authority, I was not furnished with the necessary journals, printed forms, and documents required to be kept by surgeons on board emigrant ships under authority.

During the voyage I kept a regular medical journal; but from the arduous nature of my duties, from the enfeebled state of my health, and from the want of accommodation on board, I was unable to transcribe it.

I am now engaged transcribing; but as the voyage extended to six months, and as the amount of disease on board was very great, it will be a rather laborious task, and will occupy some time. When finished, I shall have much pleasure in laying it before the Board. In the meantime, I shall be glad, if required, to appear before the Board, and answer questions that may be put to me.

I may

voyage.

add that on Sunday last I gave to the Health Officer a printed form containing

the leading particulars regarding the mortality on board the "Lord Elgin" during the

(Signed) D. S., Physician "Kitty," January 28, 1853.

C. G. H. Davis, Esq.,

Secretary to the Chinese Board.

INVOICE OF STORES shipped for the use of Colies per "Lord Elgin" on, the

350 bamboo pillows.

350 sleeping mats.

100 razors.

10 choppers.

500 rice bowls.

250 teacups.

100 rice ladles, large and small. 200-brooms.

230 combs,

Amoy to Demerāra.

12 flutes.

2 bundles playing cards.

50 catties tobacco.

10 iron puns.

100 bricks for cooking-places.

90 jars seed peruls.

15 peculs biscuits.

10

sugar.

50 tubs cabbage.

5 peculs garlic.

4 baskets soup peculs.

50 baskets.

10

salt.

21

50 mess-kids.

2 tubs vinegar.

6 bottles mustard.

12 rice measures.

6 gongs.

14 guitars.

2 peculs tea.

10 dried fish.

20 peculs salt fish.

12

tea oil.

voyage

from

20 peruls potatoes and pump-

kins.

50 large plates.

50 cutties sulphur.

160 white waistcoats.

160 yellow trowsers.

160 blnek trowsers.

160 jackets.

11

160 yellow

320 sheets.

"

295 pairs shoes.

200 wooden shoes,

22 tubs salt beet.

33 peculs cooking-places.

8 large water tubs.

500 bales chopsticks.

N

F