PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
TILITICO,885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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No. 97.
SEYCHELLES:
ADMINISTRATOR E. B. SWEET-ESCOTT to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.
(No. 81.)
(Extraet.)
१
(Received May 5, 1900.)
[Answered by No. 98.]
Government House, Seychelles, March 28, 1900. I have the honour to forward to you a letter, covering two resolutions which were unanimously adopted at a public meeting held in Victoria, Seychelles, on the 16th December, 1899, and in which expression is given, on behalf of all classes of the population, to their unalterable loyalty and attachment to Her Majesty's Person and Throne, and to their desire to assist the widows and orphans of those of Her Majesty's troops in South Africa who have fallen or may fall whilst engaged in the war forced on Her Majesty's Government by the South African Republic and Orange Free State. The not result of the action taken on the second of the two resolutions has been the raising of the sum of Rs.2,528.76, which is made up of subscriptions ranging from 12 cents upwards, and given by every section of the population.
This sum has been placed in deposit at the Treasury, and I have the honour to request that the Crown Agents may be instructed to forward the equivalent in sterling, at the current rate of the rupee, to the Secretary of the Widows and Orphans Fund in England, and in doing so, to point out that this money represents, not a vote of the Legislative Council, but the free contributions made by all classes of Seychelles, thus affording a tangible proof of their devoted loyalty to the Queen, of their heartfelt sym- pathy with her soldiers, and of their entire confidence. in Her Majesty's Government.
I should have found no difficulty, as I stated at the public meeting in question, in obtaining from the Legislative Council a vote for double the amount now raised, but the sense of personal interest which has been awakened in the success of Her Majesty's troops in South Africa would have been wanting, and the value of the gift, now volun- tarily bestowed, would, in my opinion, as in that of many others, have been greatly diminished.
Enclosure in No. 97.
SIR,
Mahé, Seychelles, March 28, 1900. We have now the pleasure to enclose copies of the resolutions passed at the públic meeting held on the 16th December, 1899, and to inform Your Honour that the sum of Rs.2,517 26cts. has been collected altogether in response to our appeal.
The Committee consider that such amount collected voluntarily from all classes of Her Majesty's subjects is very creditable to the goodwill and loyalty of the people of the Seychelles, and fervently trust that it may serve as an additional link between the Mother Country and the inhabitants of this remote dependency.
We are, &c.,
PHILIP P. BOUSTEAD,
N. MOREL,
Honorary Secretary.
Honorary Treasurer.
To His Honour E. B. Sweet-Escott, C.M.G.,
President of the Committee of the Widows' and Orphans' Fund.
COPY OF RESOLUTIONS passed at Public Meeting held in the Government Schoolroom, Mahé, Seychelles, on Saturday, the 16th of December, 1899, under the patron- age of His Honour E. B. Sweet-Escott, C.M.G.
First resolution, proposed by Mr. Boustead, seconded by Rev. G. E. Walters, Civil Chaplain. That whereas the forces of the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty are now engaged in protecting British interests in South Africa, this meeting desires to convey to Her Majesty the Queen, on behalf of all classes of the inhabitants of Seychelles, the assurance of their unalterable loyalty and attachment to Her Majesty's person and Imperial Throne.
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Second resolution, proposed by the Rev. Father Bernardin and seconded by Mr. G. Hollier Griffiths.-That whereas many casualties have occurred among the troops engaged in South Africa, it is desirable to raise subscriptions in aid of the sufferers. That a committee composed of the leading inhabitants be at once formed to raise sub- scriptions. That the clergy of both denominations, the heads of the different Govern- ment departments, the leading members of the Chinese and Indian communities, and the leading residents do form themselves in one committee for the above object, under the presidency of His Honour the Administrator.
The two resolutions were passed unanimously, and Mr. Harold Baty proposed a vote of thanks to His Honour for his kindness in presiding.
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SIR,
No. 98.
SEYCHELLES.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to ADMINISTRATOR E. B. SWEET-ESCOTT. (No. 72.)
Downing Street, May 11, 1900.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 28th March last,* and to inform you that the Crown Agents for the Colonies have been instructed to pay the sum of Rs.2,528.76, at the current rate of exchange, to the Secretary of the Widows and Orphans (South African War) Fúnd.
I desire to express my warm appreciation of the loyalty of the inhabitants of Seychelles, as shown in this contribution.
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No. 99.
I have, &c.,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
NEWFOUNDLAND.
ACTING-GOVERNOR LITTLE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received 4.10 p.m., May 11, 1900.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by Nos. 100 and 104.]
My Ministers advise $20,000 placed to credit of Her Majesty's Government by telegraph in Bank of Montreal, for such purposes in connection with war as may be determined by Secretary of State for the Colonies.
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No. 100.
NEWFOUNDLAND.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to ACTING-GOVERNOR LITTLE.
(Sent 6.45 p.m., May 12, 1900.)
TELEGRAM.
Reference to your telegram of May 11,† please convey to Government and people
of Newfoundland grateful thanks of Her Majesty's Government for generous contribu- tion, which is highly appreciated here.
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