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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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(No. 229.) Sir,

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No. 23.

The Earl of Kimberley to the Governor Sir A. Gordon.

Downing Street, December 20, 1871. SINCE I wrote my despatch No. 216 of the 16th instant I have received from you the following despatches, viz., No. 184, inclosing and commenting on the Protector of Immigrant's digest of the Reports of inspections of estates by Stipendiary Magis- trates for the half year ending on the 30th June last; No. 197, on the subject of M. De Plevitz' pamphlet, and the proceedings consequent upon its publication; and No. 198, inclosing the Memorial of the Chamber of Agriculture requesting the appointment of a Commission to inquire into the condition of the Indian labourers employed in Mauritius.

I have been unable, in the very short time remaining before the departure of the mail now about to leave, to give to these despatches the full and detailed examination which the subject in each case demands, and I must reserve my opinion as to the necessity for the proposed Commission; but my first perusal of them has confirmed me in the opinion that the amendments in the law and procedure affecting the treatment of the coolies in Mauritius, which I have desired you to bring immediately under the consideration of the Legislative Council, are necessary, and should be taken in hand

I have, &c.

at once.

No. 24.

(Signed)

KIMBERLEY.

Governor the Hon. Sir A. Gordon to the Earl of Kimberley.—(Received December 18.)

(No. 198.) My Lord,

Mauritius, November 17, 1871.

I HAVE the honour to inclose copies of a memorial addressed to me by the Chamber of Agriculture on the subject of the pamphlet mentioned in my despatch No. 192 of this day's date, and of my reply.

2. Your Lordship will observe that, by their second resolution, the Chamber of Agriculture, in the event of my not adopting a course which, for the reasons given in the speech inclosed in my despatch No. 192 of this day's date, I have not felt myself justified in pursuing, request the appointment of a Commission to investigate the condition of the Indian immigrants in this Colony, and I beg to commend this request to the serious attention of Her Majesty's Government.

3. That the inquiries of such a Commission might be attended with advantage, cannot, I think, be doubted, and the fact that its appointment has been requested by the agricultural body removes the objections which might have been felt to the adoption of such a measure had it been probable that it would meet with violent opposition or produce general excitement. The only serious objection that can now be urged is the heavy expense which such a measure would undoubtedly entail.

I have, &c.

(Signed) ARTHUR GORDON.

Inclosure in No. 24.

The President of the Chamber of Agriculture to Governor Sir A. Gordon.

Port Louis, November 18, 1871.

Bir,

BY instructions of the Chamber of Agriculture I have the honour to transmit to your Excellency the annexed resolution adopted unanimously at its meeting of this

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day, and to respectfully pray that your Excellency will be pleased to take it into your most favourable consideration.

I have, &c.

(Signed) J. CURRIE,

President of the Chamber of Agriculture.

Resolution.

1. Considering that a calumnious libel has been recently printed in the Colony, and clandestinely sent to England and India, accusing in terms more or less explicit, the Government, the Magistrates, and the planters of Mauritius of being leagued together to maltreat the Indian labourers and deprive them of a part of the advantages stipulated in their contract of engagement;

2. That the public has no knowledge of the authorities of the Colony having taken any measures to repress the scandal or to frustrate the mischievous consequences which may result, both abroad and here, and which may produce the greatest injury to the agricultural interest in the Colony;

3. That notwithstanding the contempt entertained for the author of this libel, there is reason to suppose that he may be one of several calumniators who take on themselves the task of stirring up trouble and agitation in the country by misrepresent- ing the condition of the Indian population, and in bringing the most unworthy and unfounded charge against the whole body of planters;

4. That it is urgent that the attention of his Excellency the Governor should be called to the necessity of publicly exposing the true state of the facts and the real situation of Indian labourers in Mauritius;

The Chamber resolves,—

1. That his Excellency the Governor should be respectfully moved to take the earliest opportunity of refuting the malicious assertions contained in this libel, in order that the Home Government and the Indian authorities should be made acquainted with the truth.

2. That in case his Excellency should not find reason to acceed to this request, Her Majesty may be prayed to name a competent commission to require fully and fairly into all the circumstances, and report on the condition of the Indian labourers employed in the sugar cultivation of this Colony.

3. That the Chamber begs respectfully to express its regret that the authorities have deferred till now taking any direct measures in this contingency which has so justly aroused public indignation, and which in its consequences may effect not only agricul tural interest, but the welfare and peace of all the Colony.

Sir,

Inclosure 2 in No. 21.

The Colonial Secretary to the President of the Chamber of Agriculture.

Colonial Secretary's Office, November 15, 1871.

I AM directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, addressed to his Excellency, transmitting copies of three resolutions adopted on that day by the Chamber of Agriculture.

1. In reply to the first resolution, I am directed to state that, as his Excellency has already in his place in the Council of Government publicly explained his reasons for refraining to take any notice of the publication to which that resolution refers, any further remarks on that subject appear to be needless. The Chamber is probably already in possession of these observations, but in case they should not be so, I am directed to enclose an accurate report of their substance.

2. His Excellency does full justice to the motives which lead the members of the Chamber to court the fullest inquiry into the condition of the labouring classes in this Colony, notwithstanding the heavy expenditure which such an inquiry would necessarily entail, and his Excellency has no doubt that the spirit which has animated the Chamber will be equally appreciated by the Imperial Government, to which the resolutions in question will be at once communicated by him.

8. His Excelleney regrets to gather from the third resolution, that the course which he has pursued with regard to the statements in question, and which he believes to have been that required by a true regard for the dignity and interests of the Colony, should,

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