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MESSS. GEO. R. STEVENS & Co. TO ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY,
HONGKONG, September 11th, 1880.
SIR,
Early in July we applied for a licence to carry passengers per steamer Meath, but we are informed by the Harbour Master that it has not yet been granted. Will you oblige us by inquiring into the matter and having the papers put into the proper channel.
We expect the steamer in a day or two, and wish to despatch her for Australia as soon as practicable.
We are, &c.,
(Signed) GEO. R. STEVENS & Co.
No. 1175.
Acting Colonial Secretary.
List of Emigrants Ships cleared for Australian destinations
January to 22nd June 1881, inclusive.
Page 322
THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY TO MESSRS. GEO. R. STEVENS & Co.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 14th September, 1880.
GENTLEMEN,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, in which you say that early in July you applied for a licence to carry passengers by the steam-ship Meath, but that you are informed by the Harbour Master that it has not yet been granted. You ask me to inquire into the matter, as you expect the steamer in a day or two and wish to despatch her for Australia as soon as practicable.
2. In reply, I am directed to inform you that when your application (dated 5th July, 1880) for the Governor's licence to take six hundred Chinese to Australia was put before His Excellency, the following minute was made upon it by the Governor :--
"Before I sign the licence for steam-ship Meath, let me see the list of six hundred free Chinese passengers proposed to be taken to Australia."
No such list was, however, submitted to His Excellency; and it was ascertained that the steam-ship Meath left Hongkong for Australia on the 10th of July with only twenty Chinese passengers on board. As you are aware, the steamer could not have left, if she had more than twenty Chinese passengers on board, without the Governor's licence; and that licence could not have been obtained until the provisions of the Emigration laws had been complied with.
3. When you are in a position to comply with the lawful requirements of the Government, and when the Governor is satisfied with the accuracy of the statement of particulars set forth in the application for his licence, the licence will then be signed.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) Frederick STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
No. 1331.
THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY TO MESSRS. GEO. R. STEVENS & Co.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 11th October, 1880.
GENTLEMEN,—I have the honour, by desire of His Excellency the Governor, to draw your attention to my letter No. 1175 of the 14th ultimo on the granting of an Emigration Licence to the steam-ship Meath, and to request an early acknowledgment.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
MESSS. GEO. R. STEVENS & CO. TO ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
HONGKONG, 12th October, 1880.
SIR,--We have received your letter No. 1331 of yesterday's date, in which you ask for a reply to your No. 1175 of the 14th ultimo.
As the latter was simply in answer to one of ours, we did not think it required a rejoinder, but in any case we much regret if either His Excellency the Governor or your Department has suffered inconvenience by our not having acknowledged it.
The circumstances of the case are these: when we put the Meath on the berth for Australia early in July, we hoped to get a fair number of passengers for her; we therefore applied for a licence in the ordinary way, but as up to within a few days of the departure of the steamer, only nineteen Chinese had applied for tickets, we decided not to put her under the Emigration Ordinance that voyage; the licence was not then required, and we took no further steps in the matter until we were about to despatch the steamer again on a similar voyage, when we wrote our letter of the 11th September.
We are, &c.,
(Signed) GEO. R. STEVENS & Co.
The Honourable F. STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
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