THE CHINESE.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 143, 18 June 1888, Page 5

THE CHINESE.

©eparture of the Gutliric and

the CMngtu.

Sydney harbour is now free from vessels carrying Chinese immigrants. The steamship Gruthrie sailed for Hongkong under circumstances which seemed to afford some guarantee that the homeward voyage would be a peaceful one. The vessel had coaled at Newcastle, and on the occasion that she sailed hence for that port there was a most determined attempt by her passengers to break away from the surveillance of the police Since ths ship returned to this port there had been many manifestations of discontent on the part of the passengers, and they had not hesitated to declare that, unless they received something by way of compensation, they would very unwillingly leave Sydney. After much consideration, the conclusion was arrived at by the local representatives of the owners of the vessel that it would not be desirable to send the Chinese to sea without previously pacifying them. The next thing to be done was to ascertain what the views of the passengers were as to the amount they should receive. In order to elicit definite information upon this point, the mediation of Mr Quong Tart (of Sydney) and Mr Lew Tye §hing (of Melbourne) was sought. The two gentlemen named, as well as Mr Meoks (of Gibbs, Bright, and Co.) and one or two others, visited the vessel and interrogated the Victorian-bound passengers as to the amounts they would accept in full satisfaction of any claims they might have against the owners of the vessel. The adults signified their willingness to receive £11 each, and it was agreed that the " boys" should be paid £6 each. This agreement simply related to 40 Victorian-bound passengers who had not been sent to their destination. There were also on board 18 other Chinese passengers originally booked to Sydney, holders of exemption papers which had been rejected by the Customs. It was held that these 18 had no one but themselves to blame for being sent back to Hongkong, and therefore no offer of compensation was made to them. The terms of the agreement entered into with the other 40 provided that they should each be paid £1 on their departure and the balance after the vessel had passed Port Darwin. Some time was occupied in paying over the sovereigns and taking the signatures of the recipients, in transhipping 10 Chinese passengers to the Waihora for conveyance to New Zealand ports, and the embarkation of some Chinese passengers from Sydney,

A few minutes before the vessel sailed &he 15 rejected men were called aft, and Mr Quong Tart and Mr Lew Tye Shing (acting on behalf of themselves and other Chinese residents in Sydney and Melbourne) presented each of them with a sovereign —an unexpected donation, for which they expressed ' their deepest gratitude. Mr Tart obtained from all v r the unfortunate fellows a promise-that oa tiie return journey they would not attempt '.', create any disturbance. The Guthrie cast off from the wharf .'it a quarter past 4 o'clock with 85 Chinese. Of chese, 40 were originally booked to Melbourne, IS were holders of rejected exemption papers with which they had sought to land at Sydney, 11 were passengers from Sydney, including one transhipped from the Sea Nymph, and 16 were members of the crew.

The steamship Chingtu sailed for Melbourne at about 5 o'clock. She took hence 75 Chinese, 59 of whom were members of the crew, and 16 passengers brought out by the steamship Changsha.