Enclosure 1.
445
obtained for them to Hongkong in the S.S. "Tsinan" through
the agency of certain persons on the spot who took an
interest in their case.
2.
The men applied to Government for
assistance and were temporarily sent to the Soldiers' and
Sailors' Institute. It was subsequently decided that a
claim should be made against Messrs. Butterfield and
Swire, the local Agents of the S.S."Tsinan" under the
Vagrancy Ordinance No. 9 of 1897 for a refund of the
charges incurred by Government on behalf of the men. As
a preliminary step to such claim Rae and Woodington were
charged before the Magistrate as vagrants and committed
by him to the House of Detention.
3.
After some correspondence Messrs.
Butterfield and Swire agreed without prejudice to ship
the men to England in one of their Steamers on the condi-
-tion that they signed on articles, but on the understand-
-ing that they should not be required to work. They accord-
-ingly left the Colony on the S.S. "Ajax" on the 20th.
February last.
a
A.
I annex en clair versions of the
Bost
telegram received from you on the 25th. instant on the
subject
May