The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-12-18

To the Editor of the Pacific Commercial Advertiser.
S1R-The response from Captain Jackson, zap
pearing in your last Saturdays issue,) in reply TO
nv previous letter, as well also as that of One
who knows is somewhat vague, and it is very
evident he aghts shy OF the questions put forth.
However. be it as 1t may. even It. as he says. ne is
not any longer connected with the immigration
service much useful could be given
by him, as we'll as by others who know the work
ings of the South Sea Islands, and as one much
interested on the subject, l think it only fair to get
from every source we can all the de-
sired, and l see no other method of dealing with
this all important matter than by a free and fair
discussion through the medium Of the Press. l.,
on my own part, only hope that any expression of
opinion may be viewed in a proper light and De
accepted as intended for the public good. All un-
pleasant points as well as the good ones must be
made q subject of comment and it is the duty OF
the Board OF Immigration to duly weigh all these
matters in the balance and give them every con-
sideration. That matters, in regard to South Sea
Island immigration, have of late not been con-
Quoted in q proper and economical manner, most
of us are aware of, and things seem to be going
on much in the same spirit but / hope to see that
the suggestion Of . One who knows y will be car
ried out and that the Board of immigration will
make it their business to investigate the subject
thoroughly so as to be able to keep up a continual
supply Of this labour from the South Seas. as well
as getting such at a much more reasonable rate
than W. have hitherto been doing, l am Informed
by most competent authority, lin fact l have seen
q carefully prepared STATISTICAL report on tue SUD
ject, } that any number of such immigrants can be
brought here for a sum not exceeding forty-hVe
dollars ($45) per each adult, every possible item
Of expenditure being taken into consideration.
Compare this with what it has cost us during the
last year or eighteen months, viz, somewhere about
a hundred dollars (SI60) ahead, and we very
naturally come to the conclusion that there is not
only a screw loose somewhere, but l should most
certainly think, that there were several ScTe,os
loose.
The time of service, wiz, three years,) OF the
first batch of Immigrants brought by the Stormbird
will in a few months from now. expire and it
will be the duty of this government to return them
to their homes, unless of course any Of them wish
to remain in the country, which fact should be
communicated to their friends at home. How
much will depend, as regards future success, on
the stories told and accounts given by these poor
emigrants on their return to their own country
and it is to be hoped that none of them will
leave our shores dissatisfied with the manner in
which their contracts have been carried out. Or
this first batch of immigrants, about thirty of them
are Rotumah natives. intelligent, good Christian
men, and the fact must not be lost sight Of that
they are subjects of Queen Victoria, their island
having, not a great while ago, been annexed to
Great Britain, and British Governor appointed.
Their tale will be listened to with great interest by
the British High Commission of the Western Paci-
fc, and it is to be hoped that their tale will be Cat
all events for us,) a satisfactory one.
am sir, yours, &c. &c.
X. Y, Z.