H.—No. sa.

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AD INTERIM REPORT (No. II.) OE THE

2. The Chairman.'] It has been stated so strongly by a witness from the gold fields as to leave an impression upon the minds of the Committee that the Chinese, when interested, would perjure themselves, even to the extent of swearing- a man's life away. Is that so ?—I am not in a position to answer that question any more explicitly than I have already done. 3. Mr. Thomson.] Do you think the Chinese would be as suitable for skilled work in agriculture, such as ploughing, as they are admitted to be for unskilled labour ? —I have said before that I think the Chinese are the best agriculturists in the world ; and although their manner of ploughing is different from ours, as their plough is of such a light pattern that they throw it over their shoulders and take it from field to field, they would soon get into our system, and use our appliances with as much skill as ourselves. T. Henderson, Esq., M.H.8., in attendance, and examined. 4. Witness stated: I have been in China, and have seen large numbers of the Chinese in California and Australia, but I cannot speak as to their moral or immoral conduct. I know them to be lawabiding and law-observing people in other countries, as they are forced to be in their own. They are as patient and industrious a race of people as I have ever seen in any part of the world, though I would not go the length of some persons and say that they are the best agriculturists in the world ; but there is no doubt that, in that respect, they are most industrious, as is abundantly illustrated by the density of the population in their own country. I know that most of the manufactures in the State of California are chiefly carried on by means of their labour ; in fact, were it not for Chinese labour those manufactures would never have existed there. In the shoemaking business alone, I think there aro 1,000 Chinese employed in that city. They tend all the machinery in the woollen factories, and all such light work as making tubs, brooms, and buckets ; and the manufacturers admit that it is only the cheap labour of the Chinese which enables them to compete with the manufacturers of the Eastern States and Europe. No trouble is experienced with them, as they are always found to be steady and sober, always at their post, and more to be depended on generally than our own people. 5. The Chairman.] Have you never heard complaints that the Chinese were exceedingly dishonest, and apt to maltreat other races when in a position to do so with safety to themselves ? —No, poor fellows, it is generally they who are subjected to maltreatment; they are never the aggressors. Ido not mean to say that they will not steal a little. Very many of them are employed as scavengers in San Francisco in gathering up refuse about the streets; and if you have been careless in leaving small trifles about your back yard, it is quite possible that the Chinaman, in pursuing his scavenging operations, will pick up any little thing that is lying about, and put it in his basket. 0. Witness added : I believe that in their own country they are much addicted to gambling. In their quarter in San Francisco they have temples and theatres. I have had no acquaintance with Chinese on gold fields, beyond what I could glean in occasionally passing through, often hurriedly. Passing through Sandhurst, on Bendigo, a few years ago, there seemed to be little other than Chineseleft upon it. I should have added that the whole of the vegetables produced in California is raised by Chinese, who are located in every available nook in the neighbourhood of the city, and carry on their operations by the help of windmill irrigation. Mr. John Fortescue Evelyn Wright in attendance, and examined. 7. Witness stated : I can only say, in addition to what has already appeared in print, with my signature, in the Evening Post, that, during my residence amongst the Chinese in China, 1 always thought they would prove a useful portion of the population of any country. They are always orderly and well behaved in their own country, and they are on the whole a fine race physically; because, although those whom we see here may not be remarkable for general appearance and physical proportions, I have seen as fine-looking and as muscular men in China as I have seen anywhere. At Singapore I found that very few Chinese were lodged in the prisons, the Malays being the criminals in nearly all cases. The work and business of Singapore could never be carried on but for the Chinese. It is they who really open up and develop the wealth of the country, in cultivating the sugar cane, nutmegs, mid cinnamon, and in raising the other products of the soil of that part of the world. Very inauy Chinese are also to be found in Batavia, and iu the Islands an immense number, much greater than the . aborigines, and may be safely classed as a highly superior race as compared with surrouuding races. They are much better behaved than the aboriginal Malays, who frequently indulge in "running a muck " with their " creases" in their hands, and have otherwise violent tempers ; but it is rare indeed to know of a Chinaman carrying any kind of weapon. They always go harmlessly about. Appendix I. Letters addressed to C. E. Haughton, Esq., Chairman, Gold Fields Committee. Mr. H. W. BoßitfsON to Mr. C. E. Hattghton. Sib,— Warden's Office, Naseby, 26th August, 1871. In reply to your telegram of this day's date, I have the honor to report as follows:— 1. As to the effect of Chinese immigration upon the gold fields. —Up to the present time, I do not consider that the effect of Chinese immigration to Otago has been of any serious moment either for good or for evil. A considerable number of Chinese are scattered throughout the gold fields ; but nowhere are they so very numerous as to afford grounds for alarm. They arc quiet peaceable miners, who work ground that would hardly be looked at by Europeans, and manage, to make a living out of it. lam of opinion that a moderate number of them would be useful on any gold field. They aro good gleaners, and save much gold, which, but for their minute and patient industry, would be entirely lost to the country. Of course, also, they by indirect taxation, as well as by purchasing miners' rights, contribute to the revenue of the Colony. But, while I should always be glad to see a fair proportion of Chinese on the gold fields, I should certainly view with alarm any large addition to the present numbers. It would be very undesirable