681298-1881-Chinese-Emigration-to-Australia- — Page 2

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 30TH APRIL, 1881.

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Should the men fail to carry out their part of the agreement, their securities would be liable for advances made by us here, for which the agreements are our only protection. You will observe at the Company binds itself to provide a passage back to this for the men after the expiry of the rm of service, and this places them in a much better position than if they merely shipped for a /oyage.

As it will require much more time to make all the necessary arrangements than can be done between this and the 8th instant, we have decided to postpone the departure of the Ocean steam-ship until the 11th instant, and we trust that His Excellency the Governor will grant us the_required_ per- mission without delay, so as to enable us to set to work at once.

We have, &c.,

GEO. R. STEVENS & Co., Agents, Australasian S. N. Company.

To the Honourable CHARLES May,

Acting Colonial Secretary, &c.,

&c.,

&c.

No. 881.

THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY TO MESSRS. GEO. R. STEVENS & Co.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 10th October, 1878.

GENTLEMEN, I have received the direction of His Excellency the Governor to acquaint you that your letters dated respectively the 1st, 4th and 9th October instant, on the subject of shipping Chinese seamen and firemen to serve on board vessels of the Australasian Steam Navigation Company of Sydney, were laid before the Governor in Executive Council on the 9th instant, and that it was decided that the requirements of the Colonial Ordinances must be carried out.

Messrs. GEO. R. STEVENS & Co.

I have, &c.,

C. MAY,

Acting Colonial Secretary-

No. 277. Emigration.

THE ACTING HARBOUR MASTER TO ACTING. Colonial SecreTARY.

HARBOUR DEPARTMENT, HONGKONG, 23rd November, 1878.

SIR,-I have the honour to enclose herewith a letter from Messrs. GEO. R. STEVENS & Co., apply- ing for permission to convey to Sydney 300 Chinese passengers (Sailors, Firemen and Trimmers), under Contract of Service, and to request you will be pleased to obtain His Excellency the Governor's instructions as to whether he will permit these men to go on the same terms as those sent down by the same Firm in the British steam-ship Ocean last month.

The Honourable CHARLES MAY,

Acting Colonial Secretary,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

I have, &c.,

J. P. McEUEN, Acting Harbour Master..

MESSES. GEO. R. STEVENS & Co. TO EMIGRATION OFFICER.

HONGKONG, 23rd November, 1878.

DEAR SIR, We purpose despatching the S. S. Mecca for Australia, about the 2nd of next month, with a full complement of passengers, say 363 or thereabouts. Of these, 300 will be Sailors, Firemen, Carpenters, Trimmers, Boatswains, &c., intended for service in the Company's steamers running out of Sydney, and under agreement to sign Articles upon arrival at Sydney, in the same manner as the 62 men per S. S. Gunga in May last, and 109 men per Ocean last month.

As soon as the present coal cargo of the Mecca is discharged, we will have her measured and apply in proper form for the necessary licence, but in the meantime we shall be much obliged by your letting us know if the same regulations with respect to detention in a depôt and double medical examination as were carried out in the case of the Ocean, will be all that is necessary, so as to enable us to set to work at once and engage the various crews.

We are, &c.,

GEO. R. STEVENS & Co., Agents, Australasian S. N. Co. of Sydney.

J. P. McEUEN, Esq.,

Emigration Officer,

&c.,

&c.,

ቃ.