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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference
C.O.
885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON |
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
knowledge has enabled me to judge, coupled with the cheering reports which I have received, induces me to believe that Chinese immigration, judiciously conducted, will be advantageous to the colony,
The Hon. William Walker,
Government Secretary.
I have, &c. (Signed),
WALTER HOWARD WARE,
Stipendiary Magistrate.
No. 41.
COPY of a DESPATCH from Governor HENRY BARKLY to the Duke of No. 73.
MY LORD DUKE,
19
NEWCASTLE.
Government House, May 3, 1853. UPWARDS of two months having elapsed since my first visit to the plan- tations on which Chinese immigrants are located, and those ex "Samuel Boddington having subsequently been sent to the same district, I deemed it my duty to make another tour of inspection, accompanied by the Immigration Agent General, whose official report of its very satisfactory results I enclose for your Grace's information.
2. All that I learnt on this second occasion confirms my previous view of the high value of the Chinese as agricultural labourers, the best proof of which is, that, though under the recent resolutions of the combined court the amount to be repaid by those receiving this class of immigrants is considerable,
very there is not one employer who already has them who would not be willing to pay for more.
3. Their presence, indeed, proved the greatest boon during the recent severe drought, when the ground was so hard that neither hoe nor shovel could be used to break it up, for they cheerfully set to work with the agricultural forte, a tool recently introduced with the greatest benefit into colonial husbandry, but to which, from its novelty, the negroes manifest an almost insuperable aversion; and thus the planters were enabled to get most effectual work per- formed at the most desirable moment; for the effect of A tropical drought in pulverizing the stiff clays can only be likened to that of a frost upon tillage at home.
At a moment too when but for the Chinese, and a few of the robüster Indian coolies, no work at all could have been done, except perhaps that pre- ferred by the negro shovelmen, throwing the mud out of the draining trenches, which on all estates might not be needed.
4. Though this forking is, as may be supposed, rather hard work where the soil is baked like a brick, I saw one Chinaman on Plantation Windsor Forest, who, having been laid up with fever during the first two days of the week, had turned out and performed with case to himself six tasks in the remaining four days, thereby carning two dollars (Ss. 4d.) the same as his comrades.
5. Another curious proof of their eagerness to earn money was mentioned to me by the proprietor of this estate, no less than forty of them having turned out to work in the cane-fields one Sunday morning, without the knowledge of the manager; and on their being afterwards remonstrated with, replying that Sunday was well enough for black people, but that it was hard that the Chinese should not be allowed to gain wages every day if they choose.
6. A hint that they would not be entitled to payment for work so done had, however, the desired effect, and they have not since, tried the experiment. Their conduct on the subject forms a striking contrast to that of The Indian immigrants, for I never heard of a cooly's proposing to stir a finger either on Sunday or Christian holiday, although accustomed throughout India to work upon them just the same as on other days.
I have, &c.
The Duke of Newcastle,
&c.
&c.
(Signed)
Enclosure in No. 41.
HENRY BARKLY.
SIR,
Immigration Agent General's Office, May 3, 1853. HAVING had the honour of accompanying his Excellency the Governor on his visit of inspection to the estates onthe west coast upon which Chinese have been located. and having since visited the two river estates employing labourers of this description, I
EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.
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take an early opportunity of reporting officially such facts as came under my observation, as affording fair conclusions of the advantages offered to the people, their adaptation to the climate, and the result that may be anticipated on the future exports of this colony by the influx of such labourers.
Independent of the desirableness of locating these people on estates contiguous to towns, although so distinct as to separate them from pernicious influences, no portion of the colony was more in want of an immediate and large addition to its resident population, from the very great extent to which the cultivation has been increased.
Being first-class estates also, in a healthy locality, with abundant means, proper hospitals, and ample house accommodation, no more appropriate locality could have been selected to test a first experiment, and to judge of the propriety of a continuous stream of immigration from China.
The first estate visited by his Excellency on the 21st ultimo was "Stewartville," to which 44 Chinese had been allotted from the "Samuel Boddington" on the 4th of March, and amongst whoin two cases of mortality from fever occurred soon after their location upon the estate. Five were in hospital from slight intermittent fever and diarrhoea, as commonly the case after a long sea voyage and change of diet; but the rest were in general good health, earning on an average 6d. per day, independent of provisions, including fresh ment twice a week gratuitously distributed by the estate.
At" Anna Catharina" but one death had occurred out of the 47 immigrants placed there out of the same ship, and with the exception of six in hospital with light and temporary indisposition, and one crazy man who will never be fit for service, the rest were working steadily and cheerfully, making 18. to 18. 4d. per day, of which 4d. was being stopped for provisions.
On the "Hague," the adjoining plantation, we found but 37 Chinese of the 39 sent there. ex "Samuel Boddington," one having died from yellow fever, and the other from the effects of the voyage. Sixteen were in hospital with intermittent fever and small sores, the latter arising" in a grent measure from insects and the scratches of the cane leaves, which always occasion some inconvenience to new comers, and more particularly to those who, having encountered a long sea voyage, are predisposed to eruptions. We remained on this estate until the field gang had been sent for, and although it was but 12 o'clock when they made their appearance, all of them had even then completed six- penny and eight penny tasks. They were neatly clad in clothes given them by the pro- prietors, in cheerful spirits, and pleased beyond measure at exhibiting the fruits of their labours, which in one instance reached 10%. During the month of March 30 of them had earned $92.52, from which $28.48 had been deducted on account of the advances made in China by Messrs Hyde, Hodge, and Co., all rations having been liberally issued by the proprietors free of charge. This system was to le continued through the mouth of April, when all but the sick were to be thrown upon their own resources, which they preferred to the specific amounts fixed by the indentures and rations.
At the "Blankenburg" estate all the Chinese, 83 in number, were from the "Lord Elgin." and no death could be attributed to this climate, as the only three deficient hud sunk from debility (two in January and one in April), after their discharge from the Colonial Hospital. In the estate's hospital, an airy and most comfortable building, we found but one case of intermittent fever, five others being there temporarily with slight indisposition, the manager preferring the expense and trouble of their maintenance even in trivial cases to the slightest risk. On this plantation a very correct account of the disbursements incidental to the acclimatization of so large provisions, clothing, and hospital expenses, there amounted, from the 18th January to the agang had been kept. In 9th April, to $769.47, independent of wages, which had been paid at the same rate as to all other labourers on the plantation. Their progressive earnings afforded the best test of their health and value to the property, amounting-
In the first six weeks to $136.24 In the next four weeks to 133.52 And in the last two weeks to 105.96
Previous to the allotment of these people to ◄ Blankenburg" the great scarcity of labour in the district had compelled the employment of non-resident labourers, or task gangs (one of the crying evils of this country), at the extra out of kl.
With such an per task. necession of labour these have been dispensel with, and by a calculation shown me by the manager, he makes out that by this measure the first heavy outlay would be returned to the property on the completion of 151 tasks by each man, or say by the saving of 151 ritz, for $12.08.
No attempt had been made to obtain repayment of advances of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, and C, which emuld not well have been expected whilst the proprietors were themselves incurring a heavy outlay, under the supposition that so far the wages were inadequate to the support of the immigrants.
On the "Jalousie" estate, to which his Excellency then proceeded, we found 101 Chinese of the 104 allotted ex “Glentanner" in the month of January, one having died a few days after arrival, and two in the mouth of March. There were no serions cases of sickness in the hospital, and the gang, when assembles for inspection, gave every indication of good health, and of ability to support themselves from the produce of their earnings.
Q 3
No. 41.
Encl. in No 11.
J