Randall L. Gibson to Irwin & Co, October 12, 1883

Mr. Gibson to Irwin & Co.

Gentlemen: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 8th instant, in which, on behalf of the Oceanic Steamship Company, you propose to establish a new line of steamships, equal, if not superior, to the Mariposa and Alameda, to run between the ports of Honolulu and Hong-Kong and other Asiatic ports, stating that said line of vessels will be “virtually a domestic Hawaiian line,” and you ask of the Government to “extend to the company such opportunity for the transportation of Chinese and other Asiatic immigrants of this Kingdom as may appear justly warranted by the superiority of the accommodations and conditions which the company offers.”

I have the honor to say in reply, by authorization of His Majesty in cabinet council, that in the event of the Oceanic Steamship Company placing in service, for the accommodation of Chinese and other Asiatic immigrant passengers to this Kingdom, a superior new line of vessels which will be virtually a domestic Hawaiian line, that His Majesty’s Government will extend to your company all the opportunity for the transportation of such immigrant passengers as may be within the discretion of the Government, and such as will be justly warranted by the superiority of the accommodations and conditions which your company offers.

I have the honor, furthermore, to say and to agree, in reply to a verbal statement made by your firm, that in the event of the Oceanic Steamship Company placing on the said route, at an early date, and in advance of the construction of the new vessels, chartered steamships of a superior class and well equipped and organized for the immigration service, to confirm at once to the company, on the arrival of the pioneer of such line in the port of Honolulu, all privileges and opportunities affecting the transportation of Chinese immigrant passengers within the discretion of the Government.

I have, &c.,