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Inclosure 1.

Inclosure 2.

Inclosure 3.

Independent attitude between the planters and their immigrants. If, therefore, no other course were open it would, I think, be necessary to consider not only whether it was not indispensable to make an amendment of the law, in the sense of Lord Kimberley's despatch of 16th ultimo, a condition of the continuance of emigration, but whether it would not be necessary to seek for a Protector, and perhaps for Stipendiary Magistrates, of greater moral courage than those who now fill those offices in Mauritius; and whether it would not be desirable to seek at least the Protector elsewhere than in the Colony. But if the proposed Commission is appointed, this will fall within the questions on which they will have to report, and they will have more trustworthy means than it is possible to have in this country of estimating the character of the Protector and Stipendiary Magistrates, and the way they have discharged their respective duties.

8. In the meantime the practical answer to the present despatches will be the appointment of the proposed Commission; but I think it right, in conclusion, to point out that, notwithstanding the unfavourable impression, recent events are calculated to create, Sir A. Gordon expresses himself well convinced of the general well-being of the Indian population in Mauritius; and that the defects of the existing laws have produced little real evil, while some of them are about to be supplied on the recom- mendation of the agricultural body itself.

I have, &c. (Signed)

(No. 16.) Sir,

No. 26.

F. W. C. MURDOCH.

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

CL

Downing Street, January 19, 1872. IN my despatch No. 229 of the 20th December, I acknowledged the receipt, with other despatches, of your despatch No. 198 of the 17th November, inclosing copies of resolutions adopted by the Chamber of Agriculture of Mauritius, in the second of which it is prayed (in the event of your not seeing reason to take steps to refute the assertions made in a pamphlet published by M. de Plevitz) that Her Majesty will name a competent commission to inquire fully and fairly into all the circumstances, and report on the condition of the Indian labourers employed in the sugar cultivation of the Colony," and I informed you that I must reserve my opinion as to the necessity for such a commission until I should have had time to examine fully the communications which I had received from you in connection with this question.

2. I should have been glad if I could have satisfied myself that an inquiry not only involving considerable expense, but tending almost inevitably to arouse feelings of anxiety and excitement, especially among the Indian population, could be dispensed with, and that the amendments in law and practice, which, in my despatch No. 216 of the 10th December, I explained to be necessary, and which I felt confident the Legislative Council would readily adopt, might suffice. But after carefully considering the question in all its aspects, I have come to the conclusion that the prayer of the Chamber of Agriculture must be acceded to, and that nothing short of a searching and impartial inquiry into the allegations which have been made, and into all details connected with Indian immigration, would fully answer the twofold purpose of determining what has, in fact, been the condition of the immigrants in the past, and what should be the policy and legislation of the future.

I will therefore proceed to select the most competent persons whom I can procure for this purpose, and will provide for the appointment of the Commission, and the opening of the inquiry with as little delay as possible.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

KIMBERLEY.

יד

of measures for securing a more efficient inspection of estates on which Indian immi- grants were employed, and I am happy to be able now to report to your Lordship that these hopes have not been disappointed.

2. The course which I pursued was this: I requested the Protector of Immigrants to bring the subject under the consideration of the Immigration Committee of the Council of Government, and I addressed to him a long private letter, which I authorized him to show to the members of that Committee.

3. In this letter I pointed out that many of the checks by which the immigration system is surrounded in the West Indies, and many of the precautions against abuse which are there in force, were wanting in Mauritius, and that without attempting rashly to introduce too considerable changes, it appeared to me highly desirable that provision should be made for a more regular and frequent payment of wages, as also that re-engagements should not be permitted until after the close of a previous engage- ment, whilst a more efficient system of inspection seemed, in my opinion, not only highly desirable, but absolutely indispensable, as without it it was impossible to know with any accuracy what the condition of the immigrants on estates really was.

I added that the recommendation of such inspection, emanating from themselves, could not but reflect credit on the planters, who compose the majority of the Immigra- tion Committee, and would go far to allay any suspicions which might exist in some quarters, and to neutralize the operations of those who were unfriendly to the continu ance of Indian immigration.

copy.

4. The result was a report from the Immigration Committee, of which I inclose a

5. The accompanying Ordinance was accordingly prepared and read a first time. This Ordinance provides for the appointment of two inspectors possessing the same powers of inspection as the Protector, and bound to make a certain number of visits in the year, and also renders it obligatory on employers to furnish returns similar to those made by them in other colonies where immigrant labour is used.

6. The measure was at first regarded with some suspicion by the Chamber of Agriculture, violently denounced by the newspapers, and objected to by some members of the Immigration Committee itself, on the ground that they had not meant either to compel the planters to make returns, or to confer on the Inspectors the powers contem- plated by the Ordinance.

7. It was therefore not without some apprehension that I waited its second reading. This was moved on the 5th instant, and on that occasion I thought it right fully to explain the object and nature of the measure to the Board in a speech, of which I have the honour now to inclose a report.

I am happy to say, however, that hardly any opposition was offered to the Ordinance, only one amendment of any importance being moved, which was negatived by a majority of sixteen to two.

8. I have therefore now no doubt that the law will pass substantially in its present shape.

I have, &c. (Signed) ARTHUR GORDON.

Inclosure 1 in No. 27.

Report of the Immigration Committee on the Observations submitted by the Protector of

Immigrants.

Present:

The Honourable the Protector of Immigrants, Chairman.

11

the Acting Treasurer and Collector of

Internal Revenue.

C. Montocchio.

No. 27.

Governor the Hon. Sir A. Gordon to the Earl of Kimberley.—(Received January 13, 1872.) (No. 210.) My Lord,

Mauritius, December 12, 1871.

IN my despatch No. 138 of the 21st September, I mentioned that I had already taken steps which would, I hoped, lead to the adoption by the Council of Government

"

C. Antelme.

F. H. Pitot.

V. Naz.

J. Fraser.

E. Icery,

Read: Observations presented by the Honourable the Protector of Immigrants

on the inspection of sugar estates, and of hospitals and other establishments in which

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