13

A.—6

that such amount is unduly severe and unnecessarily high on the one hand, while on the other the very magnitude of the tax would hold out inducement to breaches of the law. 6. Your memorialists would also respectfully point out the hardship Chinese would be liable to if provision be not made for the performance of existing engagements with the Chinese in reference to their right to return to the colonies, if so returning within the time specified in their exemption tickets. 7. Your memorialists would also point out the hardship and injury to the Chinese who may have become naturalised British subjects, and who now own property in any of the Australasian Colonies, if they be not allowed, after due examination, to return to their homes. 8. Your memorialists would respectfully refer to the fact of the general reduction during the last few years of the numbers of the Chinese resident in Australia (with the exception of Port Darwin under special circumstances). 9. Your memorialists would respectfully refer to the proposal to exclude Chinese from mining, it being well known that the Chinese only follow the Europeans, and make a living where Europeans cannot; and the mining by the Chinese means the saving to the country of a large amount of wealth that would otherwise be lost. Your memorialists therefore humbly pray that your honourable Conference will take this memorial under favourable consideration. And your memorialists will ever pray, &c. Quong Tart, Sydney, merchant. James Ung Quoy, George Street North, merchant. Sun Kum Tiy, Geor 0 e Street, merchant. Yuen Lah, Queen's Street, merchant. Onyik and Lee, George Street, merchants. W. Goldtown, King Street, agent.

No. S.—Mr. Quong Tact to the Hon. the Chairman of the Intercolonial Conference. Honourable Sir, — Sydney Arcade, 12th June, 1888. I have the honour to respectfully offer my services, as a Chinese resident and naturalised British subject, in any capacity that may be considered by your honourable assembly to be of use in arriving at the general opinion of the Chinese residents in Australasia, respecting your intended legislation in the different colonies concerning the Chinese. My services have been availed of by the Government of New South Wales on several occasions recently, and my knowledge of colonial life in its various phases, on the diggings and as a business-man generally, enables me (subject to your approval) to explain matters which possibly may require explanation at your distinguished Conference. Kindly and respectfully apologizing for approaching your august body, I have, &c, Quong Tart.

No. 3. —Memoeiab from Chinese Besidents in Australasia to the Hon. Sir Henry Pabkes, K.C.M.G., &c, Premier and Colonial Secretary, &c, Chairman of the Intercolonial Conference, now being held at Sydney, June, 1888. Sir,— In presenting our humble memorial to your most august body, and prefacing the same by reference to Article 5 of the Convention of Peace signed between Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China, on the 24th October, 1860, we consider that the Articles of Convention for purposes indicated are virtually Articles of Treaty, as understood by the representatives of the people now and then concerned. That the general opinion is good and lias been ratified is clearly proven by the number of Chinese emigrants and passengers from time to time leaving the open ports of China (their good conduct guaranteed) for English colonial possessions without any previous or present violation of existing treaties. We would humbly and respectfully submit to your honourable Conference the fact that in the Australasian Colonies there are numbers of Chinese inhabitants from the different provinces of China who have left the open ports referred to in the Treaty of Tien-Tsin, and merely mentioned as matters of detail in the Convention of Pekin in our memorial. The Chinese residents of Australasia would deeply deplore any legislation altering the present friendly relations of the subjects of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China in any portions of the British Empire and the Empire of China. Our commercial intercourse, and the desire of further amity to preserve the peace and harmony of both nations, for mutual welfare, is the earnest wish and good prayer of Your most humble and obedient servants, Quong Tabt. James Ung Quoy. Yuen Lah. Sun Kum Tit. Onyik and Lee. W. Goldtown. On behalf of, and with the approval of, the Chinese residents of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania. 3—A. 6.