A Kyfong meeting took place to-day in the Tang Wah Hospital in reference to this matter. There were present about 100 Chinese of all classes, consisting of some of the present Committee, ex-Committee, and members of the and many of the Kyfong (the Chines munity generally), besides 30 or 40 into: charterer, Lam Ping, and hie agents, the pameugere by the Charter Oak, Shang Wo Tai Hong, were also present.
Mr. Wong Kwan Tong acted as spokesman, and opened the meeting by stating that last Suvday there was a meeting in reference to the emigration to Honolulu. It appeared that four letters had been sent to this Hospital by Chinese in Honolulu, intimating that all the horrors of coolie slavery were existing ther The letters would be read, and would speal for themselves: Moantime, rumours were afloat that emigration to the Sandwich Islands was being carried on here. These reached the ears of the Government, and the Hon, ith, Registrar-General, sent Lai Shik Kai (the kidnapping detective) to the Hospital to fetch those lette:2, and they were forwarded on to H.E. the Governor, who refused to allow the Charter Oak to proceed, as there vere circumstances which seemed to him to some $35, and others $8 each, ae" passage be suspi The intending passenj id
money, while their tickets stated the sum to be $45. As to the $8 men, they actually paid no passage whatever, the $3 being only to pay for their food on board, At the meeting last Sunday, the charterer's agent cai forward and' explained that $35 was. the amount of the passage mouey- he charged, far as he was concerned, the struction of the little line contemplated will men who paid $35 were free passengers who paid their own passage; as to the $8 men, they were to give a promissory note for $45, payable in six months after arrival; that the men would not have to enter into contracts at Honolulu, and that he would give security that the men would be free on landing. An he asked the Committes to petition the Governor on his behalf to move His Excellency to allow the ship to proceed. On the day following, Br. Lee Tuk Cheong and the charterer had an interview with the Governor, when His Excellency expressed a wish to see the Committee. So' accordingly thirteen gentlemen waited on His Excellency yesterday afternoon, At this interview the Committee asked if Ais Excellency would allow the vessel to proceed on the security proposed, His Excellency said his object was the same as that of the Committee, in protecting coli ig badly used in dif the Commit and made a report to him to that effect after enquiries and discussion among them-solves, ie would then take the mat consideration. He wished them particularly to ascertain aleo whether they. believed the letters they received were genuine or not, and make a report to. him. The Committee then asked if the $8 meu were left out, whether His Excellency would allow the $35 to proceed, His Excellency that that would. also.be a matter for ation, The Committee arked that in case of security being given by the charter what port of security should: it be. His Ex. cellency replied that he would leave that to the Committee, but it was mont important that they, should give an opinion as the character of the letters, "Now in pursuance of His Ex Tency's wish, the Committee thought it a able to convene a public meeting of t whole Chinese community to discuss the Matter to-day, The firat thing they should do now was to give an opinion on the character of the letters which would be read, exhibited for scrutiny, After that t should be taken; there who believed the letters would prepave that a ballot of those present to be genuine would put their votes into one box, and those who disbelieved them into another, When that was dono they could discuss the form of security, and the Committee would afterwards draw up a report to the Governor.
'The Secretary to the Hospital then read the four lotters, which were pasted out on board The Spokesman next put it to the meeting any objection toa ballot' members here spoke at once, say rhatany one hearing would be moved by the sad stater ments given therein, and allow himself to be carried away by sentiment to ballot in favour of them without taking the trouble to tain whether they were genuine or not thought a ballot ji was no enter No one, however, actually opp lut, and it was proceeded with, Ihe result was, all those who voted were in favour of the lotters, lining to vote on either side, but none against them.
While the ballot was being taken, a groat deal of conversation took place among those present on the subject of emigration to Houo-July, some for and some against it.
the security question was then discussed in the midst of the general conver ling to pledge lis ents, the Kwong Sang would be landed free men at Honolulv, the men to give a promissory note here for the $45 passage money, payable in instal. ments within six months after arrival; if the men should not be able to Sud employ. ment, the limit of six months should be extended te such time as they should be able to psy, and the charterer on no account would bring pressure to bear on the men by suing them; that the charterer should not force the men to enter into contracts with him any other person against their will the security could be only released on the receipt of authentic information that these conditions bad been complied with.
The above li me of the business transacted at thie in the course of which several of the intending emigrants expressed a decided wish to yo, notwith ing the allegations in the letters: which
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.