§ MR. ALEXANDER M'ARTHURasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been directed to the following statement, which appeared in the "Times" of May 3rd:—
The chiefs of two tribes situate south of Pongola (Magnami and Job) have expressed their opinion, in presence of an Englishman and some of their inounas, that they would be pleased to see the Zulu country in the hands of the English, as it would relieve them from the present slavery they are in with regard to the Zulus. The Aborigines' Protection Society may not be aware that some few months ago 1,000 Caffirs were drafted from these two chiefs to work in Natal by Cetywayo, the Zulu chief, and that the money they earned was not paid to them but to the Zulu king; and the whole thing has left such a bad impression that it is almost impossible to get a single native from them to go to Natal;and, whether, if this statement is true, he will take steps to free the immigration of native labourers to Natal from the abuses complained of?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in reply, said, that he had no information whatever respecting the statement that had been read; but he would direct the Lieutenant Governor to make inquiries into the subject.