, 1875-05-15

OF the new department. Will DC watched Win
great interest, and it may be hoped that the
colony will not suffer from the extraordinary
rapidity with which the arrangements have been
completed, and the appointments made.
The Commissioners of inquiry into the treat
ment of Indian immigrants in Mauritius have
been actuated by a lively desire TO provide a
course of light reading for a few generations
to come. If people begin to read the report
now, it may be anticipated that their descend
ants, fifty years hence, may be approaching the
completion Of the task. Sir S. Northcote talks
of the profigate waste of the public money in
granting bounties on Sugar in foreign countries.
Would it not be desirable to call the attention
of Sir Stafford to the waste of public money
Inflicted upon the English revenue by the two
commissioners to Mauritius. Their ambition
seems to have been to produce a big report, and
in all conscience they have succeeded. The
mere weight of the report is enough to sink a
small island. The statistics of this publication
are curious. The report itself occupies SOP
printed pages of the large blue book size. 1t
is comprised of A, I65 paragraphs, some of them
of considerable length. An accompanying Blue
Book of 483 pages contains the appendices, and
a white paper of 81 pages completes the series
with the correspondence, making a total of
1,096 pages. The effect Of these gigantic blue
books is simply overwhelming. For days after
their arrival they fascinated one by their very
ponderosity. 1t may not be a philosophical
principle, but there is no doubt an attraction
in mere weight. However, the pages must be
opened, the dreaded task begun. Not for this
mail, however. Time must be allowed for get
ting up sufficient strength for the work, and an
extended notice Of the report must be deferred
till next mail. Attention may now be more
yrApor1r 1iraoto6 tn tho daSnutph OF Lord Oar
narvon in summing up the conclusions of the
Commissioners and deciding upon changes that
appear to his lordship to be necessary. Lord
Carnarvou says the conclusions of the Commits
6ioners are that the complaints of the old lmml'
grants in regard to the Ordinance of 1867 are
substantially correct, but that M. de Plevltz's
imputation on Sir Fl. Barkly aud the Legisla-
tive Council for passing the Ordinance are not
justified. The law was not warranted, and Its
enforcement has caused much hardship. The
protector of immigrants has no powers cores
ponding with his title, there Is no real inspec-
ton of estates. The immigration Office for
registration purposes is not efficient. Recruit
ing in India is not we'll conducted, although M.
de Pleyitz's charges against the immigration
agents are not justified. Immigrants IN the
hands of an INSCRIPTIONS employer are at his
mercy, and he pays them what he likes. The
law for a monthly payment OF wages has
not been observed, and illegal deductions
have been made. Rations are fairly issued.
Sunday Iabour is not restricted to works of
necessity. The pay books of estates are OF no
use as records. The distinction between illegal
absence, desertion and vagrancy. has net been
observed. Immigrants have not much to COM
plain of with regard to dwellings, but hospital
arrangements are incomplete, and attendants
incompetent. Mortality is probably less on
estates than among immigrants not on estates.
Assaults on immigrants are OF common occur
renee, and on some estates they have been sub
iectsd to systematic and continued ~ill-treat'
ment. Emigration has not elevated the physl-
cal, moral, or intellectual condition OF the peo-
pie. Education for adults and children is deplo-
rably low. Immigrants have the means OF ao'
curing property, and do SO. The police are
charged with q want of discretion in enforcing
the labour law. The magistrates have adopted
different and irregular modes OF procedure IN
different districts, and have been unable to aP-
preciate the true value of the evidence given
before them. The discipline in the prisons Is
very defective. These are the findings OF the
Commissioners, as summarized in Lord Carnar-
von's despatch. His lordship then goes on to
consider the remedies proposed by the Com
missioners. He rejects their proposal (Which
is certainly a very strange one) that the
Chambers of Agriculture and Commerce
should appoint the agents in India, or plan.
tiers should send their own agents. Lord
Carnarvon thinks that the Governor Of Maui