G.—No. 85.

[The following Memorandum by Bishop Patteson, on the subject of the Melanesian Mission, and on the Labour Traffic in the South Sea Islands, was addressed to the G-eneral Synod of the Church of England held in Dunedin in February last. It was received too late to be laid before the Synod, but was published with the report of its proceedings.] The object of this memorandum is to inform the General Synod of the means frequently adopted in the Islands of the S.W. Pacific to procure Übjurors for the Queensland and Fiji plantations. I am not now concerned with the treatment of these islanders on the plantations, which I have never visited. My duty is to state what has occurred in the Islands, and to make known the character of the trade as it is carried on there. Assuming that the Government of Queensland and II.M. Consul at Levuka, Fiji Islands, do all that lies in their power to guard this traffic from abuse, and assuming that they succeed in affording some security to the islanders while on the plantations, it is certain that they do not aud cannot restrain lawless men from employing unjust means to procure so-called labourers in the Islands; they cannot know what is done by the masters and crews of the numerous vessels engaged in the trade ; they are absolutely without power to enforce any regulation as to the number of persons kept on board, the amount of food given to them, the treatment of the sick, and the general management of the whole transaction. Whatever measures may be proposed or adopted to secure humane and just treatment of these islanders while in Queensland or in Fiji, there is absolutely no check whatever upon the proceedings of the men engaged in procuring these islanders for the labour markets of Queensland and Fiji. No regulations can prevent men who are bound by no religious or moral restraint, from practising deception and violence to entice or convey natives on board their vessels, or from detaining them forcibly when on board. Much is said about engagements and contracts bsing made with these islanders. Ido not believe that it is possible for any of these traders to make a bond fide contract with any natives of the northern New Hebrides, and Banks and Solomon Islands. I doubt if any one of these traders can speak half a dozen words in any one of the dialects of those Islands ; and I am sure that the very idea of a contract cannot be made intelligible to a native of those Islands without a very full power of communicating readily with him. More than ten natives of Mota Islanu have been absent now nearly three years. The trader made a contract with them by holding up three fingers. They thought that three suns or three moons were signified. Probably he was very willing that they should think so, but he thought of at least three years. Something has been said about the benefit to the islanders by bringing them " into contact with civilization." What kind of civilization they may see on the plantations Ido not know, for 1 have not visited them ; neither can I say that I have seen many natives who have been returned to their homes, from whose conduct I might judge of the effects of their " contact with civilization." The reason is simple. Out of 400 or 500 Banks Islanders who have been taken away, I have not heard of, much lesa seen, one-tenth of that number brought back. But there is no instance that I can remember of any one of these natives exhibiting on his Island any proof of his having received any benefit from his " contact with civilization," much less of his conferring any benefit on his people. The few that have been brought back to the Banks Island bear a bad character among their own people. But I am not now concerned with the treatment of these islanders on the plantation, nor with the effect of their intercourse with white men or upon themselves or their people. The African slave trade was put down as a thing evil in itself, a disgrace to humanity, and a practical repudiation of Christianity. People did not stop to inquire further. It was enough that men were stolen from their homes, and taken away by force. There is no check at present upon the traders engaged in procuring " labourers" for Queensland and Fiji. Many of these men, whether they are technically and legally slavers or not, are acting in the spirit of slavers. Sir William Manning admitted, in the "Daphne" case, that " this system of so-called emigration is likely to degenerate, and probably sometimes has degenerated, into a practice approaching a slave trade, aud perhaps actually amounting to it." It is indeed a mockery to speak of it as a system of emigration. A most impartial and dispassionate writer in " Blackwood's Magazine," who had spent some time in sailing among these Islands, and had twice visited Fiji, speaks of the " nefarious nature of many of the transact inns (of the masters of vessels sent to procure labourers for the Queensland and Fiji plantations,) which have undoubtedly, in not a tew instances, been nothing less than kidnapping." I leave ihe statements of some of our scholars to speak for themselves. But I know that throughout the northern New Hebrides and the Banks Islands, deception and violence are frequently practised. I know t he lawless character and lawless conduct of persons now engaged in the trade, whose names I am not at liberty to divulge. One person writes to me mentioning by name four vessels carrying on "rough work" with the New Hebrides natives. "'You know," he says, "that these men have no scruples of conscience, and, so long as they make money, (ire perfectly dead to any code of laws, human or divine. I tell you of this (he adds) confidentially, ;<s J have only had the information as a friend, and inform you for your own protection when amongst the Islands." A captain of a whale ship writes to me :—" The natives of these' Islands would come off in former years, bringing such articles of trade as their Islands afford, for which we paid them with hatchets tobacco, fish-hooks, &c. They trusted us, and we trusted Ihem. At times our decks were crowded. This, wheu slaving commenced, was all to the slaver's advantage, for the natives were easily enticed below, the hatches put on, and the vessel was off. Now, no native comes on board the whale ship, and

SOUTH SEA ISLAND LABOUR TRAFFIC.