708935-1868-POST-OFFICE-NOTIFICATION — Page 1

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 8TH FEBRUARY, 1868.

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My instructions give me no authority to compel a seaman to leave a ship without just cause, and yet I felt that, the case being without a precedent as far as I am concerned, I should not be justified in delaying the departure of the vessel for an indefinite period. I therefore determined if necessary to take some responsibility on myself by discharging the colored seaman and sending him home at the ship's expense.

Fortunately, however, I was later able to persuade him to take his discharge on payment of additional wages. And the matter was so settled.

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Under these circumstances I would solicit your Lordship's instructions as to the means I may be permitted to adopt if cases of a similar nature present themselves again, but when the colored seamen insist on remaining on board the vessel until their time of service shall have expired."

Mr. Hammond to̟ Mr. Consul Rainals.

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Foreign Office, 30th November, 1867.

SIR, I am directed by Lord Stanley to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 25, of the 11th instant, reporting a difficulty which had arisen in consequence of the refusal of the shipping masters at Baltimore, to ship a white crew on board the British vessel R. B. Mulhall, as long as a colored seaman remained on board that vessel.

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As it appears from your despatch that the negro in question subsequently accepted his discharge, it is unnecessary for Lord Stanley to make any observation on this particular case, but in reply to your request for instructions as to the course you should adopt in any similar case in future, I am to state to you, that this is not a matter in which Her Majesty's Govern- ment can interfere. Your powers as Consul are clearly defined by the "Merchant Shipping Act," and you can only remove a seaman from a British ship as ordered by that Act.

Colored seamen being British subjects are in all respects to be treated as other seamen.

It must therefore be left to the masters and owners of ships to adopt such measures as they may think best calculated to obviate the difficulties caused by the course pursued by the Baltimore shipping masters, and in order that British and Colonial shipowners may be warned of the necessity of taking such measures, Lord Stanley has caused a copy of your despatch to be communicated to the Colonial Office and to the Board of Trade.-I am, &c.

H. T. A. Rainals, Esq., Her Majesty's Consul, Baltimore.

No. 18.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

(Signed) E. HAMMOND.

It is hereby notified that M. DU CHESNE, Consul for France at Hongkong, resumed charge of his Office on the 1st of September last.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 8th February, 1868.

POST OFFICE NOTIFICATION.

CECIL C. SMITH, Acting Colonial Secretary.

It is hereby notified for general information that the Scale of Progression of Weight, having the half-ounce for its unit has been extended to Letters posted in Hongkong, addressed to Trieste, or to Northern Europe specially marked to be forwarded via Trieste, and that henceforward the following. Rates of Postage, which must be paid in advance, will be chargeable upon such Letters, viz. :—

FOR A LETTER.

Not exceeding Above oz. and not | Above 1 oz. and not | Above 11⁄2 oz. and not

exceeding 1 oz. exceeding 1 oz.

oz.

For every additional oz.

exceeding 2 oz.

12 Cents.

24 Cents.

36 Cents.

48 Cents.

12 Cents.

F. W. MITCHELL, Postmaster General.

General Post Office, Hongkong, 6th February, 1868.

POST OFFICE NOTIFICATION.

It is hereby notified for general information that under the provisions of a new Postal Convention which has been concluded with the United States Post Office, the rates of postage chargeable upon Correspondence from Hongkong forwarded through the United Kingdom to the United States of America will henceforth be as follows, viz. :-

FOR A LETTER Via SOUTHAMPTON.

Above 1⁄2 oz. and not | Above 1 oz. and not | Above 11⁄2 oz. and not exceeding 1 oz. exceeding 1 oz. exceeding 2 oz.

Under oz.

Cents. 34

Cents.

68

$ cts. 1.02

$ cts. 1.86

For every additional 1 oz.

Cents.

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