Northern Territory Times and Gazette (Darwin, NT : 1873 - 1927), Saturday 30 December 1876, page 2


Introduction of Japanese into

the Northern Territory.

We understand that the Rev.

Wilton Hack, formerly of this colony, but who is now engaged in mission and literary work in Japan, and who has recently been paying a visit to Adelaide, has entered into an arrangement

with the Government with the view of introducing Japanese into the Northern Territory. The arrangement, which was concluded with the Minister of Agriculture and Education on Wednesday morning, is simply that the Government will pay a small specified amount for Mr. Hack’s expenses in travelling from his residence at Nagasaki to Tokio or Yeddo, the seat of the Government,

where he will make known to the Government and the people the advantages which the Northern Territory offers, the nature of the climate and resources of the country, the laws by which it is governed, and the regulations under which land can be obtained. If he finds a disposition upon the part of the people to emigrate, and that no obstacle is thrown in their way by the authorities, he will proceed to the Northern Territory, a moderate sum being fixed for the payment of his expenses, and any further action will depend upon his report. The arrangement originated, we hear, from a proposal submitted by Mr. Hack, who is confident from the similarity of the climate of Japan with that of North Australia that the Japanese would do

well in the latter settlement. His idea is that mechanics and men with

capital might be induced upon his representation to emigrate to the Northern Territory, the Government here, we suppose, bearing some proportion if not all of the cost of passage. It is distinctly understood that no Japanese coolies will come under the operation of the scheme. Mr. Hack’s idea is that the intending emigrants should take with them a year’s provisions, tools and everything necessary to guard against privation. Mr. Hack is not sure whether there would be any official obstruction in Japan to the carrying out of his scheme. Emigration, he admits, is a new thing with the Japanese, so that he may encounter

more difficulties than he with his

sanguine temperament contemplates just now.—Adelaide Observer.