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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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to think that if his Excellency had deigned to obtain all the information and details of a nature to explain and throw fair light on these incidents, he would not have seriously submitted them to the Secretary of State, sa anything but what they are-exceptional cases condemned by the local community, and summarily amenable to the action of the local Government and laws.

That the Chamber, in fine, feels that such an early inquiry is now necessary to re-establish confidence in the future of this Colony, not amongst the planters only, but also in the minds of all who observe and reflect on what has been passing here for some months back, and to prevent the increase of the agitation, restlessness and idleness which have been aroused amongst certain of the immigrant population.

That the Chamber has this morning learnt, with great satisfaction, that the Royal Commission will soon arrive, and, it hopes, with sufficient authority and influence to prevent greater individual anxieties, and the spread of deeper and more general distrust.

Port Louis, Mauritius, March 18, 1872.

(Signed) J. CURRIE, President,

EDWARD ELIAS, Vice-President, EDWARD HART, Treasurer,

Of the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture.

No. 21.

Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, K.C.M.G., to the Earl of Kimberley.--(Received

May 9.)

Mauritius, April 5, 1872.

(Secret.) My Lord,

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch of the 12th February, marked secret, and containing a copy of the Commission issued to Messrs. Frere and Williamson, and also of that by which Mr. Davis has been appointed Secretary to the Commission of Inquiry.

2. I am disposed to regret that so much prominence has been given to the pamphlet of M. de Plevitz as a subject of inquiry, as, although there is much to be inquired into, I do not consider this pamphlet (as distinguished from the petition prefixed to it) to merit any very special attention from the Commissioners.

3. There is another point, however, of more importance to which I should wish to call your Lordship's attention. The terms of the Commission would appear to limit the scope of the Commissioners' inquiries to Indian labourers "employed in sugar cultivation." Now the chief complaints made by immigrants are with respect to the restrictions imposed upon those of their number who are not engaged in sugar cultivation, but are endeavouring to earn their own livelihood in other ways. I do not suppose that the Commissioners will read this limitation strictly, but in case they should be disposed to do so, or in case it should be sought in other quarters to impose such restrictions on them, I think it as well to note the circumstance, and to observO that perhaps the most important matter into which the Commissioners can have to inquire is the status and condition of the immigrant population generally, whether engaged in sugar cultivation or following other avocations.

I have, &c. (Signed)

No. 22.

ARTHUR GORDON.

The Earl of Kimberley to Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, K.C.M.G.

(No. 129.)

Downing Street, May 18, 1872.

gir,

I HAVE the honour to convey to you Her Majesty's gracious confirmation and allowance of the Ordinance of the Legislature of Mauritius No. 11 of 1872, entitled "An Ordinance to confer certain powers on the Commissioners appointed by Her Majesty the Queen to make inquiry into the condition of the Indian Immigrants in this Colony," a transcript of which accompanied your despatch of the 4th of April,

I have, &c. (Signed) KIMBERLEY.

No. 125.

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No. 28.

The Earl of Kimberley to Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, K.C.M.G.

(Confidential.) Sir,

IN your despatch No. 127 of the 4th April, you state that you submitted to the

Downing Street, May 29, 1872. Council "two memoranda containing the substance of" your despatches No. 185 and No. 188. I should be glad to know why you departed from the usual course of laying the despatches themselves before the Council.

I have, &o. (Signed) KIMBERLEY.

No. 24.

The Earl of Kimberley to Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, K.OMG.

(No. 142.) Sir,

I HAVE received your despatch No. 187 of the 4th of April, inslosing a Copy of

Downing Street, May 29, 1872. Resolutions proposed by you to the Council of Government, and adopted by the Council, after amendment, with reference to certain matters affecting the condition of the Indian Immigrants in Mauritius.

do not question the propriety of your decision to afford the Council an early opportunity of expressing their opinion on the particular points raised in my despatch No. 216 of the 16th December. Much must depend in such a case on the feeling of the Council and the community in general, and I can easily conceive that advantage may result from the explanations given by you in your speech in introducing your Resolutions, and from the discussion which followed.

I am glad to observe the general readiness evinced by the Council to consider any reforms which may be shown to be necessary in the laws and regulations affecting the Indian Immigrants. It will, of course, be desirable to await the report of the Royal Commission before proceeding to legislation, which may involve fundamental and serious changes in the Immigration and Labour Laws of the Colony.

No. 25.

I have, do. (Signed)

KIMBERLEY.

The Earl of Kimberley to Governor the Hon. Bir A. H. Gordon, K.C.M.G.

(No. 144.) Sir,

I HAVE received your despatch No. 198 of the 4th April, inclosing a copy of a

Downing Street, May 30, 1872. Memorial addressed to me by the Chamber of Agriculture of Mauritius, amitting resolutions adopted by that Chamber at a meeting held on the 18th March, and I havO to request that, in reply to the Memorialists, you will communicate to them the substance of my despatch No. 142 of the 39th instant, which conroys my opinion as to the propriety of your having brought before the Council your resolutions respecting the treatment of Indian immigrants. You will also inform them that I do not understand you to have intended to proceed at once to Legislation on the points minured to in those resolutions, and that I agree with the Chamber of Agriculture that fandaramugal and serious changes in the immigration and labour laws of the Colony should be postponed until the Commission has reported. In these circumstances I do not think it necessary to enter into a detailed discussion of the resolutions adopted by the Chamber.

I have, do!

(Signed) KIMBERLEY.