In replying to the one dated 25th February relative to promoting the emigration of ST. VINCENT. captured and other Africans to the West Indies, the House thinks that it would be most desirable that the Colony should obtain from the Government as many liberated Africans or other emigrants from Africa as can be procured, and will readily agree to adopt the sixteenth clause of the agreement, entered into by the Emigration Commissioners, for the passage of Africans to this Colony (the means for which have already been provided by the Legislature), and to any other conditions which Her Majesty's Government may think it right to impose. The House is also of opinion that the Immigration Act, passed in the last session of the Legislature, amply provides (from the time of their arrival) for the careful attendance to such immigrants, and the supply to them of adequate food, sufficient medical attendance, and prompt remunerative employment. COPY of a DESPATCH from Governor Hincks to the Right Honourable the My Lord, Barbados, 14 June 1858. (Answered, No. 6, 31 July 1858, p. 147.) I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship the copy of a Despatch from the Lieutenant Governor of St. Vincent, the object of which is to ascertain whether Her Majesty's Government would be prepared to apply to Parliament to guarantee a loan for that Colony not exceeding 20,000 l., for immigration purposes. 2. Having no reason to think it probable that your Lordship will be prepared to recommend such a measure, I forbear entering into questions of detail. I may, however, observe, that if Her Majesty's Government were prepared to assume the responsibility of making any further proposition to Parliament with a view of promoting immigration, it would be desirable that it should embrace those Colonies which have not participated in former loans for this object, and which now desire to obtain them. No. 4. Governor Hincks to the Right Hon. Lord Stanley, M. P. 14 June 1858. No. 37. 10 June 1858. Enclosure. Enclosure in No. 4. (No. 37.) Sir, Government House, St. Vincent, 10 June 1858. 2. The resolution adopted at this meeting expresses the opinion of the Executive Council that provision should be made to obtain immigrants from China, and requests the Lieutenant Governor to communicate with the Secretary of State, to ascertain whether Her Majesty's Government would guarantee a loan, not exceeding 20,000 l., to be applied to this purpose, upon the Colony, making all necessary provision for regular payment of the interest, and a gradual repayment of the principal. 3. In a communication which I addressed to the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, under date of the 18th of May 1857, I brought under review the generally satisfactory state of the St. Vincent finances, even though a very short time had then elapsed since their recovery from a long-continued state of bankruptcy. I pointed out that this restoration of solvency and credit had taken place under so low a scale of taxation, that a considerable less revenue was being raised than the average of many years previously, and I expressed my opinion that St. Vincent might then with advantage make a further effort, and raise an additional sum of above 1,000 l. per annum for the purposes of immigration. This effort has been made; the ordinary revenue has also improved, and a fund is now being rapidly accumulated for the specific purpose of introducing additional labour into the Colony. Encl. in No. 4v ST. VINCENT. 4. At the present moment, there is in hand a sum of 1,315 7. set apart for immigration, and during the ensuing half-year a further amount of about 1,320 7. will become applicable to the same fund. In 1859 and 1860 similar amounts will become available, besides the further sum, in 1859, of about 1,800 Z., the probable balance of the Income and Export Tax Acts, which are now restricted to a particular purpose, but will be released early next year for the objects of immigration. Altogether, by the close of 1860, a sum of fully 10,000 1. will have become available for the purposes of immigration, as is shown by a statement which I enclose from the Colonial Treasurer. 5. This statement also shows that, irrespective of the immigration arrangements, the St. Vincent treasury, at the close of the month just terminated, would, after paying all claims of every description, have a clear net balance of above 1,000 7., besides the 1,315 l. of immigration fund, whilst the ordinary current revenue is fully equal to the ordinary current expenditure. 6. The Colony is therefore not only solvent, with a considerable clear balance in hand, and not only fully meeting its current expenditure out of its current income, but it has also made adequate provision for raising the sum of about 10,000 /. for immigration purposes, between the 1st January 1858 and the 31st December 1860. All too is being accomplished by existing taxation, and this taxation is of the most moderate and inoppressive character. 7. I have gone thus at length into a statement of our financial position, because I wish the Secretary of State, in considering the question of guaranteeing a loan, which is raised by the resolution of the Executive Council, enclosed, to have before him the fullest information, and to be able to feel quite satisfied that St. Vincent is now in a position easily and fully to meet any engagements which she may make in obtaining such a loan. 8. In my communication to Mr. Ball, of the 18th May 1857, already referred to, I particularly called attention to the fact that, however flour shing the resources of the Colony might be, a small sum, coming in only at yearly intervals, would manifestly be insufficient to admit of any arrangements being made for the immediate introduction of immigrants; and I ventured to suggest that if a deviation could be made from the rule generally laid down, and a loan be guaranteed by Her Majesty's Government, a great boon would be accorded to the colony, which would be relieved from the almost overwhelming cost (through high rate of interest and other concurrent expenses) of obtaining the funds required through a bank, or any other private source, whilst Great Britain itself would be benefited by an increased supply from one of its own possessions of productions of general consumption, and of which it is highly important that the mother country should foster and extend the cultivation as much as possible. 9. The resolution of the Executive Council only comprehends a preliminary inquiry. Legislative action would be necessary before any actual steps could be taken; but as the Executive Council consists of the most influential members of both branches of the Legislature, there is no doubt whatever but that any necessary legislation would be most willingly and promptly carried out. 10. I believe the Colony to be now in a position easily to pay a fair interest upon any sum not exceeding 20,000 7., to pay off annually (in half-yearly instalments) a portion of the principal of not less than 2,000 l., and still to provide fully for all its ordinary current expenditure, without any additional taxation whatever beyond what is now being collected under existing Acts. 11. Should Her Majesty's Government feel disposed to grant the loan now sought, I am quite certain the Legislature would at once make all the existing Tax Acts permanent for 10 years; would make the interest of the loan, and the annual repayment of 2,0007. of principal, as first charges upon the revenue, and would generally carry out such other conditions as Her Majesty's Government might require. 12. The object being to secure the importation of Chinese labourers with their families, the money lent would remain with the Crown authorities until paid over to the parties entitled to receive it from time to time, for procuring or conveying immigrants to St. Vincent, and Crown agents would be employed exclusively in these services. The whole of the money, therefore, would not be required at once, and all would be repaid, with interest, in 10 years. 13. I may state that during my temporary absence from the Colony last year, upon leave of absence, some efforts were made to obtain immigrants to St. Vincent from Madeira, the Canary Islands, and the Cape de Verdes, and an Agent was sent from this Colony to those Islands to ascertain the practicability of doing so. These efforts have been quite without success. The Colony has not, up to the present time, obtained a single immigrant, nor does there appear the least prospect of obtaining any; at the same time the deficiency of labour is very great, and the amount in the Colony not always to be calculated upon. 14. I would 14. I would therefore strongly support the resolution of the Executive Council, and ST. VINCENT. solicit that, if possible, Her Majesty's Government should deviate from the ordinary rule laid down, and grant a loan to St. Vincent, upon such legislation being adopted as may be thought necessary to secure the proper appropriation of the money, and the certain and regular payment of interest, and gradual repayment of principal. His Excellency the Governor in Chief, I have, &c. Barbados. Sub-Enclosure. MINUTES of a Meeting of the Executive Council, held at the Government Office, Present: His Excellency Edward John Eyre, Lieutenant Governor; the Hon. Charles THE following Resolution was unanimously adopted on the subject of immigration from China: "The Council are of opinion that provision should be made to obtain immigrants from China, and they recommend that the necessary steps should be taken, without delay, for that purpose, and that his Excellency should communicate with the Secretary of State to ascertain whether Her Majesty's Government would guarantee a loan, not exceeding 20,000 l., for that purpose, and on what terms; conditional that the Legislature would make the necessary provision for the repayment of principal and interest." COPY of a DESPATCH from Governor Hincks to the Right Honourable My Lord, the Lord Stanley, M. P. Windward Islands, Barbados, 14 June 1858. (Answered, No. 11, 12 August 1858, p. 147.) I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship the copy of a Despatch from the Lieutenant Governor of St. Vincent, enclosing authenticated copies of two Proclamations fixing the rates of bounty to be paid on the introduction of immigrants into that Colony; the second, which has been only recently issued by Mr. Eyre, being to amend and explain that formerly issued by Mr. Walker. These Proclamations were called for by your Lordship's Despatch of the 30th April last. I have, &c. (signed) F. Hincks. Enclosure 1, in No. 5. Encl. 1, in No. 5. (No. 40.) Sir, Government House, St. Vincent, 10 June 1858. I HAVE the honour to transmit authenticated copies of a Proclamation which I have issued, un ler the advice of my Executive Council, fixing the scale of bounty to be paid for immigrants arriving in St. Vincent from certain places named in the Proclamation. 2. Your Excellency will notice that the present Proclamation is chiefly for the purpose of explaining and defining a Proclamation issue by Mr. Walker, on the 3d November 1857, and under which the full bounty payable for adult immigrants might also be claimed for infants and very young children, which was never intended. The present Proclamation divides immigrants into three classes, according to age, and fixes a scale of bounty for each class. 3. It also limits the bounty to such immigrants as belong to families the members of whom, being between the ages of 15 and 49, shall, either before or on arrival in the Colony, enter into agreement to perform agricultural labour. In Mr. Walker's Proclamation there was no limitation of this kind, as the third clause of the Immigration Act (to which reference is made) appears to be very loosely and faultly drawn; and under it many immigrants might have been paid for by the Colony, who, if they chose, could at once leave it for another place. ST. VINCENT. 4. With regard to the age mentioned for entering into contracts to perform agricultural service (between 15.and 40), the Proclamation follows the Act. It may be as well, however, to mention that the Act at the same time expressly provides that children under 15 shall not be separated from their parents; and the Governor would also have the power of insisting upon this rule being observed even with regard to parties above 15, when necessary, as in the case of girls. 5. I enclose copies of Mr. Walker's Proclamation of the 3d November, as it is referred to in mine of the 2d June. His Excellency the Governor in Chief, I have, &c. (signed) E. Eyre, Encl. 2, in No. 5. Barbados. (L. S.) James Walker. Enclosure 2, in No. 5. By James Walker, Esq., the Officer administering the Government of the Island of St. Vincent and its Dependencies, Chancellor and Ordinary of the same, &c. &c. &c. PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS by an Act passed by the Legislature of this Island, the 16th day of October 1857, intituled, "An Act to alter the Law of Contracts with regard to Immigrants, and for the Encouragement of Emigration, and for the general Regulation of Immigrants," it is enacted that the Governor and Council may from time to time, by Proclamation, name the ports or places from which emigration on bounty is permitted to this Colony, and may fix such rate of bounty as to him shall seem just for indemnifying the person at whose charge any immigrant may be introduced into this Colony, for the expense of his maintenance and passage from the port of embarkation to this Colony; and shall, in his Proclamation to be issued for that purpose, declare the number of weeks deemed necessary for the voyage of any ship or vessel from such respective ports or places to this Colony: Provided always, that no rate of bounty shall be fixed, and that no bounty shall be allowed for the importation of any immigrant who may be incompetent or unwilling to engage in agricultural labour, or for any immigrant above the age of 40 years, unless in either case such immigrant shall be one of a family of immigrants arriving in the same vessel; and provided further, that no bounty or passage-money shall be paid for any greater number of immigrants imported by any one vessel from the Island of Madeira, from any of the Islands of the Azores, Cape de Verde Islands, Canary Islands, and other places of similar distance, than at the rate of one immigrant for each ton of the measurement of such vessel. Now, therefore, I, the said James Walker, Officer administering the Government of the said Island and its Dependencies, acting by and with the advice of Her Majesty's Council for the said Island, do by this my Proclamation, pursuant to the said Act, declare and proclaim that immigration on bounty is permitted to this Colony, subject to the conditions mentioned in the said Act, from the undermentioned ports or places, and that such rates of bounty as are undermentioned shall be paid for indemnifying the person at whose charge any inmigrant may be introduced into this Colony, for the expense of maintenance and passage from the port of embarkation to this Colony; and that the number of weeks hereunder mentioned shall be deemed necessary for the voyage of any ship or vessel from the respective ports or places of embarkation to this Colony. Given under my hand and seal at arms, at Government House, in Kingstown, this 3d day of November, in the year of our Lord 1857, and in the 21st year of Her Majesty's reign. WHEREAS by an Act of the Legislature of St. Vincent, intituled, "An Act to alter the Law of Contracts with regard to Immigrants, and for the Encouragement of Immigration, and for the general Regulation of Immigrants," the Governor in Council is empowered from time to time, by Proclamation, to fix the rate of bounty payable on the introduction of immigrants into this Colony under the said Act; and it is thereby provided that no bounty shall be allowed in respect of any immigrant who may be incompetent or unwilling to engage in agricultural labour, or for any immigrant above the age of 40 years, unless, in either case, such immigrant shall be one of a family of immigrants arriving in the same vessel: And whereas by a Proclamation, bearing date the 3d day of November now last past, issued by the Officer administering this Government, by and with the advice of the Council of the said Government, the sum of 10 7. was fixed as the rate of bounty payable in respect of immigrants introduced into this Colony from Madeira, the Cape de Verd Islands, the Azores, and the Canary Islands, and also from England, Scotland, and Ireland; the sum of 67. 5 s. for immigrants arriving from the United States of America; the sum of 8 l. for immigrants from British America; and the sum of 3. 10 s. for those from the Virgin Islands: And whereas it was deemed expedient to discontinue the bounty so made payable in respect of immigrants from the Virgin Islands, and a notice to that effect was inserted in the "Gazette," dated the 7th day of November last past: And whereas it is not intended to give the full bounty for infants and others not being 15 years of age or upwards: And whereas doubts may arise, under the provisions of the said recited Act, and the terms of the said Proclamation, in respect of such bounty, where claimed in respect of persons being immigrants who by reason of being either incompetent or unwilling to engage in agricultural labour, may yet form part of a family arriving in the same vessel. Now, to obviate such doubts, and to fix the rate of bounty payable in respect of immigrants arriving in this Island, I, the said Edward John Eyre, Esq., Lieutenant Governor of the said Island, by and with the advice and consent of the Council of the same, do, by this my Proclamation issued in pursuance and under the authority of the said recited Act, declare and proclaim as follows: that is to say, the sum of 107. bounty, made payable in and by the said recited proclamation of the 3d day of November last past, in respect of immigrants from Madeira, the Cape de Verd Islands, the Azores, the Canary Islands, and from England, Scotland, and Ireland, is, and shall be payable only in respect of such immigrants, arriving from any of the places last aforesaid, not being above the age of 40 years, nor under the age of 15 years, as shall at the time of arrival in this Colony be under a valid contract, pursuant to the said Act, to perform agricultural service in this Government, or shall, on arrival, enter into such contract. That the sum of 61. shall be payable in respect of every immigrant arriving from any of the places last aforesaid, under the age of 15, and over the age of six years, being one of a family arriving in the same vessel, the members of which, or some of whom, shall be under a valid contract to perform agricultural labour; and that the sum of 37. shall be payable in respect of every immigrant arriving from any of the places last aforesaid, of and under the age of six years, being one of a family of immigrants arriving in the same vessel, the members of which, or some of whom, shall be under contract to perform agricultural labour; and that the sum of 10 7. shall be payable for every immigrant arriving from any of the places last aforesaid, over the age of 40 years, arriving in this Colony, being the father or mother of a family arriving in the same vessel, the members of which, or some of whom, shall be under contract to perform agricultural labour. That the amount of bounty allowed in the said herein before recited proclamation for immigrants arriving from the United States of America and from British America, shall be payable and calculated in the same manner, and in the same proportion with regard to age and otherwise, as herein before provided in respect of the bounty allowed for immigrants from Madeira; and that no bounty shall henceforth be allowed for any immigrant from the Virgin Islands. Given under my hand, and the Great Seal of the said Island, at the Government House, St. Vincent, the 2d day of June, in the year of our Lord 1858. (By his Excellency's command.) ST. VINCENT. Encl. 3, in No. 5 |