NEWS FROM THE MAURITIUS. GENERAL SUMMARY.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 134, 11 September 1847, Page 3

NEWS FROM THE MAURITIUS. GENERAL SUMMARY.

(From the Mauritius Mail, May 1 1.) In the Council the report of the Immigration Committee was presented and discussed. The report stated that the members of the Committee were unanimous that the annual supply of 6000 men should be obtained as speedily as* possible from India, together with the number short sent last year, and that His Excellency the Gorernor should be requested to use every means in his power to expedite their introduction. On the subject of an increase on this number the Committee were equally divided, that is, four were in favour of introduction of 3000 and the remain* ing four for 6000 extra. The proposition of Mr. White to procure men from Cochin, communicated in the despatch of Earl Grey, was waived by the Committee as they did not tbink it worth while to send any one where they were afraid only a limited number of emigrants could be procured. The arguments used by those members of the Council who were for limiting the number of Immigrants to 3000 extra for the year 1847 were that ii was essential to wait until the effect of the new Ordinance on Immigration about to be adopted, could be seen before the number was augmented beyond this figure as they were in hopes it would oblige many of the Indians to return to field labour ; that the expensvs would be increased without any surety of their being covered by the new immigration taxes, and that if the rate of wages should be much reduced, it would probably decide the large number of men upwards of 20,000, who would finish their time, to leave the colony. On the other hand it wasauswered by those whose experience enabled them to judge well in the matter, that the demand for labour was never ao great, and that although last year's crop had been harvested in good time, scarcely any new plantations had been made those already made had been neglected, and the crop of 1818—1849, would be diminished iv consequence, that the rate., of wages had also advanced. The number' was definitively fixed at 3000, by 8 members for,' and 6 against, the minority not considering this figure sufficient On the 19th, the Couucil proceeded to the discussion of the new dtaft of Ordinance on Immigration.— In some sensible observations sent to the Council by Mr. Dowlaud, the Protector of immigrants, it was suggested that instead of levying a tax on the Indian toi his return passage, it would be belter to let him pay the passage himself at the expiration of the live years residence in the colony. The question was to be referred to the Government of India : it i* of the highest importance to the colony. Scarcely any changes were made iv the Ordinance, which passed the Council after several days' sitting. Several despatches from Earl Grey were read in Council * some of them to show that the Secretary for the Colouies is quite unacquainted with the facts he treats. H«s Lordship, in one

of these despatches, reproaches the colony for i want of attention to the emancipated population He is evidently misled by reports, or a report, affirming that the blacks do not work on estates because they know the Indians are irregularly paid. Earl Grey further observes that the law should ensure prompt payment, with ample indemnity for any delay. It appears his Lordship is unacquainted with the law in force in the colony. The members of the Council, both official and unofficial, listened to this document withsurprise, and it was proposed for a Committee to put the Minister light as to the real position of that population. The refusal of Sir W. Gomm to put in circulation any sums in the Treasury w.u approved by the Minister. The Report of the Education Committee was highly commended; The reception of the petitions for and against the introduction of the English Language was announced » the adoption of the English laaguage toeing firmly decided, the latter petition could not be complied with. Sir W. Gomm, in a Minute to the Council, recommended the formation of six companies of Indian pioneers, one hundred each, for the repairs of the road. The plantett of North and South Pample* moussees and " Rivere dv Rempart" have again addressed (us Excellency to assure him of their pressing want of labour. Returns of the number that have left and the number required accompanied the document to show the foundation of their demand. "By the present return," say* the address, "your Excellency will perceive that although the estates enumerated form a small portion of the whole colony, they require 451» men to enable them to carry on their necessary cultivation." It is further observed, that if the last large crop was got in, it was at many sacrifices, " by an enormous lost of raw material, by destroying our cattle, carts, wheels, so costly, by injury to our machinery, by paying large sums of money and giving large quantities of additional food to remunerate the extra labour forced on us against our will for want of sufficient hands. Building- hongards, walls, fences, roads, &«., are going to ruin, and the young canes and mttoons are obliged to be neglected. To remedy this they ask for a further introduction of " industrial labourers," but says the address it is useless to overstock the colony with shop-keepers, cake sellers, and hawkers. The authors of the address approve highly of the establishment of schools, and are ready to cooperate with government, They also trust that there will be an increased proportion of women and children to be enabled to carry into effect the laudable suegesttons of Earl Grey and his Excellency, The labourer bas it in his power to dictate a high rate of wages, thus overwhelming the planter with expenses. Even the great and well intentioned measure of Earl Grey will add from £300 to £500 to the expenses.of each planter. Molasses formerly a profitable part of theproduce of the colony, was thrown away and caused a loss of from £200 to £400 per annum to each proprietor. The address concludes by asking from his Excellency an " extensive and liberal supply oi industrial labourers." Sir William Gomm immediately answered the address. He 'congratulated the planters of tba three districts on having produced the principal part of tne large crop just realized, and on thehigh prices they were obtaining for their producefrom the admission of it into breweries j be observed that the immediate advantages would fall to the purchasers, agency houses, and capitalists* but he hoped in course of time that such happ, results would be shared by the planter as well a/ the exporter of sugar. His Excellency also congratulated the planters on the large ciop before them, which, "in the opinion of competent judges," says the letter, "will range between 140 and 150 millions before the piesent period of next year. The planters were informed that his Excellency had made application to the Government of India for an increased number of immigrants, 5 but he could hold out no hope of satisfying the extent of their demand. Their attention was called to that part' of a despatch of Earl Grey recommending tba means to employ emancipated population on sugar estates* A special assize was held on the 13th forth© trial of the thirteen Chinese who* were taken into custody on suspicion of having robbed the* Commercial Bank of 30,000 dollais, by undermining the cellar, after a trial of four days, during which time several witnesses were examined and exceptions raised by the counsel for the acused, their liberation was asked for by one of their counsel, as they were only accused by the act of indictment of having in their posssessiou, certain money without being able to justify how they came by it, which did not constitute a crime They were also accused of having robbed the Commercial, Bank, whereas the real title of that establiahment is the Mauritius Commercial Bank. After some deliberation, the Judges acquitted the prisoners. They were immediately taken into custody again, u Inch was protested against by their counsel, but finally approved of by the Judge, and they were remanded for another trial.