The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-06-24

eminent repleo tnat passports Woulu oe
granted to such Japanese as should enter
into engagements with the Consul
This concession, an important and novel
one from the Japanese point Of view, has
been in DO small measure due to the per-
severing efforts of Mr. Van Reed, who is
fully convinced, that while Hawaii will be
benefited BY receiving laborers who are
Industrious. peaceable, and well adapted to
the cultivation of our products, the con-
dition of the japanese themselves will be
bettered by the emigration.
Supplied with the means. and under the
authorization of the Board, he proceeded
at once to engage $50 laborers, 20 of them
having wives. and to charter the Scioto to
bring them hither. The delays incident
to getting the ship ready for sea, the med
zeal examination of those offering them
selves, and the necessary outfits for the
voyage. prevented as early departure as
/ had been intended, and meanwhile the fate
of civil war displaced the Tycoon. and the
officials of the Mikado came into power at
Kanagawa. Though about half the jap
anese, with their passports, were already
two days on board when these new officials
came in, fresh negotiations had to be en-
tered into, to retain the passports already
in hand, and to get Others for those still on
shore: and the Mikados officers, while
protesting a readiness to abide by all the
engagements of the Tycoon. showed an
unwillipguess to allow any of the people
to be conveyed away. Nor were they
ready to rake reparation for the expenses
and liabilities already incurred, should the
voyage be abandoned. 1t was owing to
these circumstances that the Scioto has
not brought so many passengers as the
former advices from Yokohama had stated
would be sent forward, and that The ex-
pense has been so largely increased over
what il will be in the future.
The immigrants, under the charge of
Mr.. d. A. Baum and DIR. d. J. Lee. have
had on the voyage here, ample room in the
ship; have been under strict sanitary reg
ulations and medical supervision, and as
they were carefully examined previous to
going on board, we have received as healthy
and as promising number of laborers as
have ever been landed on our shores.
These Japanese have come under favor
able auspices, for a kindly disposition
towards them * manifested, both among
Hawaiians and foreigners. and a belief
largely entertained-th they will prove
satisfactory as an addition to our laboring
population. At Yokohama, they were
eager to embark, and clamorous to be
among the ones selected to go. and doubt
less their personal condition and earnings
will be better here. than in their own eoun-
try. Under these circumstances, we may
hope that this experiment-this trial of
Japanese on our soll-may result in mu-
tual satisfaction, both to the employer and
the employed.
These japanese have left their own
country under no written contracts. There
is only the agreement of the Hawaiian
Consul. as agent of the Board, with the
japanese authorities, that the wages shall
be four dollars per month, with food, cloth
ing and medical attendance, and a free
passage from, and return at the end of
three years, to Japan. They are under
verbal engagements to perform the service
required, to the Board, which has the right
to assign this service to Others, and is re-
sponsibe for the payment Of the wages,
and the faithful performance of all the
stipulations of the engagement with them
on the part of their employers. The Board,
therefore, having induced free emigration
from japan. and received the laborers
here, are in duty bound to provide suitable
places for them, and to return them to
their own country. 1t is advisable that
the condition to return the Japanese may
be modified, SO that only those shall be
sent back who may desire it; and this
modification, in the opinion of Mr. Van
Reed. can be obtained. 1t is explained
by the japanese official who comes by the
ship, that such of these men as may de-
sire to remain here at the expiration of
their term, need not be sent back.
As the special contracts will be drawn
up and executed here. there need not oc-
cur any of those Understandings and
omissions which have happened heretofore.
and such stipulations can be made as may
be deemed necessary to carry out in good |
faith, the pledge which the Board are under /
TO the japanese Government. for the care
and protection of these immigrants.
In another column, We give extracts !
from the Yokohama papers. which show
tina. the sailing of the Scioto was regarded
there as an improvement IN the condition |
of these Japanese. The common people |
are suffering from the disturbed state |
of the country, and even in the best of
times, earn but seanty support, and it is
stated that if these report favorably of