No.
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH MAY, 1878.
243
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following is published for general information.
By Command,
J. M. PRICE,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 9th May, 1878.
[No. 98.] EMIGRATION.
HARBOUR DEPARTMENT, HONGKONG, 6th May, 1878.
SIR,-I have the honour to enclose herewith a letter and papers, &c., received from the Officer Controlling the Northern Territory of South Australia, and to request you will be good enough to obtain His Excellency's instructions as to what portion, if any, His Excellency would wish to have published.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
J. P. McECEN, Acting Harbour Master, &c.
The Honourable J. M. PRICE,
Acting Colonial Secretary, &c.,
&c.,
•
Se.
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER CONTROLLING
THE NORTHERN TERRITORY, ADELAIDE, S. A., 14th March, 1878.
SIR,-I am not sure whether I am right in addressing you on the subject following, but if other- wise, I may trouble you to pass this letter to the proper Officer in your Province. I was given to understand that there was an Officer entitled "The British Emigration Agent" Hongkong, but I do not find such an
I sent March
"in Hongkong tha "quite wrong, there
in Colonial Office Directory, I therefore trouble you with this present letter. the following telegram to you:- "Have been informed that it is understood nese can e”- irteen shillings a day in the Port Darwin Country. This is
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The Government of South Australia is very far from wishing to take an illiberal or narrow-minded course with respect to immigration to the Northern Territory of Australia; is in fact most anxious that the wealth of what will ultimately be a most rich and valuable Country should be developed by any possessing capital and energy.
I wish to point out however that if large numbers of Chinese should proceed to this place with the sole hope of realising considerable profits from the goldfields, it is not unlikely that they will meet with disappointment, whereby possibly destitution, and distress may ensue.
I send you a copy of our last Report from the Goldfield's Warden, also a copy of a Despatch sent to Java, Mauritius, &c., as shewing the great desire of our Government that the agricultural capabilities of the Territory should be utilised by those possessing the necessary ability and capital: also advertise- ment of premium offered for first 500 tons of Sugar.
The population of the Territory may now be estimated at 750 English and 634 Chinese. Another matter which is not undeserving publicity among the Chinese who think of emigrating to these parts, is that the natives are still in a savage state, and some of the tribes treacherous and subtle. A sad instance of an unprovoked murder by aborigines occurred recently, and there have been several mysterious disappearances which are thought to have been occasioned by like outrages. The Police Force is of course in so small a community only numerically weak, though all that is possible is done to maintain safety of life and property.
My object in addressing you now is simply to ask you to take some steps to disseminate the information herein contained and especially to give an authoritative contradiction to the impression (should it exist) that there is room for any quantity of Chinese Emigrants at the Goldfields, or that there are means of their earning large wages (as alluded to in the telegram) in the service of employers.
I have the honour to be,
Sir, Your obedient Servant,
NEVILLE BLYFII, Hinister of Education,
rolling the No Territory.
H. G. TROMSETT, Esquire, R.N.,
Harbour Master, &c.,
Hongkong.