The Hawaiian gazette., 1878-06-19
Reply from Captain l1lsr.

ton from Captain Mist, in order that the
public may have the benefit of both sides of
the questions at issue.
HIS Elk. J. Morr snrrH,
Prerident Hon. Board Of Immigration.
SIR IL have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of a copy of Report of Select Committee - upon
my expedition to procure Immigrants"
As this report has been quoted in the public ourn-
ais "refecting'' the way in which carried out
the charge entrusted to me, beg 10 offer few re-
marks, in self-defence. which hold be super
fuout, but in order give publicity equal that Of
the Report" itself, to instances which shall
show Of the strange Misrepresentation under which
the Committee labor aud the consequent misrepre-
sensations embodied in their Report" / shall
take the document it stands from the beginning to
the end.
First. the Committee report that they have had
given to Capt Mist, his instructions the captain
the sOrmbird. the fitting of the vessel. ETC."
But the accomplishment of my mission, and my
reasons for accomplishing it by the means used,
are not considered, or at all events report
ed on.
The Committee "fnd" that I was instructed to
visit Fiji land such other places, ETC., but the
contrary" they say tthe italics mine), "pro
ceeded to New Zealand, thence to sydney" Are the
Committee really unaware that the only route from
hence to FIJI is by way of New Zealand and Sydney?
and have they carefully considered my instruc-
tons without seeing, in the very first paragraph that
my commission was to promote emigration from the
South Pacific British Colonies and South Pacific Is
lands? and that it imperative upon me to visit
the respective seats Of government Of those Colonies
The words personal observation. repeated and
taicised in the Report interpOated, they do not
occur in my instructions.
The Report states " it was distinctly understood
that the expenses of the Commission should not ex.
coed two thousand dollars" by whom, or between
what parties this understanding distinct know
not never heard Of it.
1t is quite true that purchased the ship before
finding out that could not put her under the Ha-
waiian flag it was by no mistake, but was necessi-
tated by circumstances which could not control.
and which known to the Hon. Board of Immi-
grafton. and there risk whatever attending
her connected with the fact of her being under
the British tag.
The Committee next report that they informed
by the Minister of the Interior that my instructions
were intended to authorize me to purchase
vessel. | fully aware OF the fact, and was fully
aware Of the grave responsibility incurred when
bic ship. and officers capable of carrying out the
desires Of the Board, has been abundantly proved
by the unqualified success OF the cruise, determin
ed TO take the responsibility of acting the dis
cretionary clauses of the instructions rather than
add another TO the list of fruitless expeditions in
search of immigrants. Whether events have
justified my decision can leave to the verdict of
impartial public opinion. ..
Next we come TO what the Committee cite as
"the instances Of total disregard of Instructions"
he inst O 10
quotes.-"for purposes We would prefer engage
tents Of five years. and also not to stpulate for
passage" and further the instructions say,
but the Report does quote 'yet in your effort
to open up this immigration. stipulation for return
passage tcH not be objected to-, aud again, you will
aso inquire" . "if return passage must be
allowed in the contract" inquired directed
and found unquestionably that return passag
must be allowed in the contract under these crcum
stances and under these instructions not justi
fled, nay obliged to authorize the captain "to
guarantee return passage to those who shall de-
mand it," and does my so doing constitute total
disregard of instructiOns, as Is laid TO my charge
10 this Reportf
The Committee then reiterste the charge that
odd not visit the Islands OF the South Pacific in
person. reply that to have done so would have been
a mere waste eff time aud money. In the second
paragraph Of my Instructions one half of which the
Committee has quoted, the unquoted half runs thus
''devoting thereto" Ii. e) visiting FIJI and other
places may be found necessary 'devoting thereto,
and to your return to Honolulu about four months"
The question of chartering vessel L have suti-
oiently proved the gentleman of the Board Of I'm
migration, to have been certainly unadvseabe, prob
ably impractcable, exc pit at heavy loss in money
and a complete loss of all control on the vessel and
her commander when once they were out of sight,
position which as l have shown the Board ght lead
all sorts of irregularities and complications and
must result in almost certain failure.
What is meant by the several matters contained
in the instructions which" do mot seem to have
tad np'f do Of knn tha TA ia in fuil
possession of every possible information they de-
manded, and may add had acted otherwise than
"a / did that information would have been the sole
fruit Of my mission
The parenthesis the first page of the Report
"the bill of sale being in his (Cspt. Mist,)
name" coupled with the vague expression on the
last page I'VE also informed that the vessel is
now in possession Of the government, and they
slider her their property" seems intended to con-
vey sort Of in uendO which will not bear a
more explicit statement, but had the Committee
really carefully considered" the instruction gave
to the captain of the StOrmbird and his report of
proceedings addressed to me his arrival here,
they must have that he, and |, and every
one concerned have always considered the vessel TO
be the property of the Hawaiian government In
deed Capt Jackson habitually dates from - His Ha-
Eaiian Msjesty's emigration vessel StOrmbird."
Lastly. as to the financial summary in the end of
the Report this is one-sided and misleading
the rest of the document; while the expenses
made up to the last cent, very considerable gum
on the credit side is altogether omitted. First the
of ESQ sterling, payable by the N. S. Wales
government to the Hawaiian, is kept out of the
count, 1.-The presumed value OF the vessel is sppar-
emily arrived at by simply knocking of ESQ from the
price paid for her few months ago. much valuable
property of the Hawaiian government on board her,
coal, spare sails, tanks and casks. chrono-
meter etc., etc.. the purchase of which all goes to
swell the cost of the undertaking. is simply ignored
on the credit side In fact the whole stated is ut
| tery fallacous and untrustwOrthy.
There is plenty of matter for further remarks but
have said enough to show the real value to be put
| this Report. l have the honor TO be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
W. W.-MIsr, r. N.
Late Com missioner to the South Pacific British Col
! onies and South Pacific Islands.
Honolulu, June 18th, 1878.