THE CHINESE QUESTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1746, 5 June 1888, Page 1

THE CHINESE QUESTION.

bYDinoY, June 1. The Supreme Court tu-day decided, that Chinamen naturalised in Victoria could only be held to be British subjects so far as that colony wag concerned, and could not, therefore, land in New (South Wales without paying the poll tax by prescribed by law. I I June 2. An anti-Chinese demonstration paraded the streets to-night, and held a meeting in the domain. About 30,Q00 were present. The meeting was addressed by several members of Parliament. All premises, occupied by Chinese were closed by order of the police, as a jprecautionary measure, but no disturbance whatever took place. ; j ; June 3. The Wakatipw, which sailed for Wellington yesterday, took with her 60 Chinamen who arrived here from China. As the Guthrie was leaving for Newcastle to-day her Chinese passengers made a desperate attempt to land* and a severe fight with the police resulted.' Ultimately the latter succeeded in overpowering the Chinese, hut not without some of their number receiving injuries/ One Chinaman eluded the vigilance of the police, and got ashore, but later ia the day he I was re-captured and placed on board.

Melbourne, June 1. A Chinese passenger by the Afghan, who was prevented from landing, has issued a writ against the Collector of Customs, claiming £IO,OOO damages. If tire suit should prove successful, eleven other cases will follow. June 2, . The Government are in receipt of information that twenty-two Chinamen have entered Victoria across the border of Nev, South Wales, having been landed in Twofold Bay by a steamer which left Sydney. Steps are bsing taken to confirm the information. London, May 31. Sir J. Ferguson, replying to Mr ILm-niker-Heaton, said documents bearing on the Chinese question would be laid on the table of the House shortly. He was not aware these documents had been published in Australia. June 2. In the House of Commons Sir George Campbell has given notice of his intention to intercept the motion for going into Committee of Supply, in order that the Chinese difficulty may be discussed. Sir James Fergusson, replying to Mr Henniker-Heaton, said that the Chinese Government were greatly irritaled at the exclusion of Chinese from Australia, and the position of the Government was an extremely difficult one. In the House of Commons, Baton de Worms stated that no treaty engagements exist permitting Chinese to enter the colonies at pleasure. The Colonial Office, he said, was willing to negotiate with China for an amended treaty, after consulting the colonies, towards whom the attitude was not antagonistic, and there was, he thought, little doubt that a settlement could be arranged somewhat similar to, that between America and China which precludes Chinese entering the United States for twenty years. Wellington, June 3. The Legislative Council having inserted a clause in the Bill now before Parliament providing for admission into the colony of those bond fide through passengers f r om China to New Zealand who embark at China before the 10th of June, the Onion Steamship Company havj taken the responsibility of bringing down from Sydney thoss Chinamen destined for New Zealand who are now at that port. The number of passengers to bo carried at one time will be limited to one per cent, on the ship’s tonnage, and poll tax will be collected in every instance.