Sim,—It has at different times been represented to me that foreign vessels engaged in the shipment of voles, from xcao are equipped in the port of Hongkong, or furnished with supplies or stores from' the: Colony, and my attention has recentlyveen directed to the following. paragraph extracted from a Hongkong newspaper: The Spanish steamer Bueno Ventura, " sister to and belonging to the same owner as the steamship Yurrac Bat, which vessel fitted up here and left a few days back for'Macao, for azeargo of coolies, has arrived ere to fit up for the.same purpose."
2.—You are probably aware that during the late Session of the Parliament, an Act (three copies of which I enclose) was passed for the purpose of repressing the abuses connected with the movement of natives from their Islands in the Pacific Ocean, to labour on plantations.
3.—Although great cruelties have been perpetrated in connexion with this traffic in South Sea Ielanders, they can hardly have been greater than' those which have led to the disgraceful and horrible occurtences from time to time reported as having taken place on board ships conveying Chinese coolies from Macao.
4.—Her Majesty's Government, which has I en under the necessity of making repea.ed remonstrances to the Portuguese Government on the subject of the Macao Mr. Courts proposed and Mr. Fearon That Mr. Hitch take the chair, The Cuarmaax having done so, and read the notice calling the meeting, said the first business was the passing of the Accounts. He would be happy to give any explanation or answer any question regarding them. As no one asked for information on this subject, he moved-—
That the Accounts as publ d be passed.
Mr. Covrrs seconded, and the resolution was passed unanimously.
Sraremest or Recruits asp EXPENDITURE FoR 1872.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.