822
UNDER DESPATCH.
"
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONG-KONG GAZETTE.
Bombay, for London on the 9th instant, Cathagenian, Bombay,, Sound rapova, Macão and Sydney on the 9th inst. Anna Eliza.
Bombay
Dansberg,, Singapore, Shortly.
REPORTS.
Passenger per Hero, Mr. P. Badenoch.
#1
per Dansberg, Capt. Molbye, and 3 Chinese. Passenger per Mischief, Mrs. Connor and Child.
ENGLAND UNITED STATES
CALUUTTA
BOMBAY
Synsur
Q
LATEST DATES. Jut 6 BINGAPORE Nov. 17 G JAYA
Jan. 31
MANUA
Fob, Jan. 10 Mar. 11.
Jan, 13
CHOSAN
Fat, 18
Juu.
SHANGHAI Axiv
Fab, 3
را
Fob 11
sale no deposit was required!1 no security for due fulfilment of conditions, was demanded!!! nor any penalty for non fulfilment announced !!!!
on
lony; no better tax can be devised than one on land, which may be called rent in lieu of assess ment, if the lawyers like the term better; but then
The simple mention of these facts, and the well there must be no alienation nor reversion to the Crown, except for non-payment of the rent, or known instances of parties bidding for forfeiture of, or infraction of the laws as constituted which, at the time they bid, they had built in sariet at home, We are grieved the local government conformity with the Land committees regulations cannot perceive.
ve that a duo regard for the claims of as required by Notification, under date, 22nd March the Crown may yet co-exist with a duo respect for 1842, or were the actual improvers and holders the rights of the Colonist. Supercilious insolence, of Land under grants made by preceding Autho- and dogmatical ignorance are but the infallible rities and sanctioned too by the present, will quite diagnostics of a weak cause; hence we commend explain the high rates which were offered----we can- the tone and temper of the letter and rejoinder of not say realized, that remains to be seen.
Of the reply we do not trust our- So far from any reference to this sale being of the Colouists. selves to speak, other than to say that it is a most an exultant nature, as corroboratory of the course unfortunate document, and in keeping with the pursued by the Local Government, we feel confi strange dogmatising strain of previous letters to dent it will torn out a hallucination, wholly con- the merchants. It would seem that the effect of dominatory, and prove the case we have advocated. a tropical residence Varies its effect according to We quite acquit the Governor in Council of individuale. On some, its palpable evidence is u any, the slightest intention of discolouring mat- truly oriental fertility of imagination, on others, an
to Inke other ters and inducing the Colonial der than a just view of the subject In all instances, non-subscribers, almost total obliviousness of the most well known
controversy. common facts and
circumstances,
Unhappily On this ground we cannot but deeply deplore that both of these calamitous consequences are most | tha(overnor inCouncil should have committed such paitifully prominent in the document in question; a fatal mistake, as to point to irrefragable evidence and it could only be from a sincere desire to secure substantiating the negative of the Colonists affirma- the unanimbus concurrence of the Colonists, that tive to be the correct view of the question. So far it was so mildly and tenderly handled in the re- from being surprised at the amount joinder.
Whilst we doprečnto a reference to irritating co of any deposit or loss from ston topjos, and applaud the framers of the rejoinder || contract) that more was not obtained. For 5 for conching it in such temperate terms, as secured por Cent wa would have guaranteed that the Auctioneer should have knocked down any quan- the unquimous approval of the
tity of rocky (mandarin) lots at an advance of still free to confuss that we were
those published, and with as
NOTICE.
Parties sending advertisements, are requested to write on the face of them, how often, or how long, they aish them inserted, avill
in adraner. New advertisements, will be received, until 4 O'Clock, on the evenings previous to, publication, Fiz Mondays and Fridays.
The Friend of China is régularly filed in London, by Mr. P. L. Simmonds. Agant for the Colonial papers, British and Foreign Newspaper and advertising agency office, 18 Cornhill" (oppositò the Royal Exchange), who will receive any communications, orders and advertise,
meuts.
THE FRIEND OF CHINA, AND HONG-KONG GAZETTE,
VICTORIA, TUESDAY, APRIL. Drų, 1844.
Owing to the "press of matter brought by the January Overland Mail, we had not space in our last umbor to notice the important correspondence which passed between His Excellency Sir Henry Pottinger and the holders of land in Hongkong, respecting the conditions, &c., &c, on which they are to hold their grants."
dumb with the following para-
astonishment when we?
"Not as did the rovers in Council!
graph the
of the
to:
only the local Government see reason i consider its valuations, arrangements, and recommend, ouations liberal and just, and as such to sauction and confirm them, but it may be observed that this opinion was very shortly after absolutely demonstrated and confirmed by the public voice, us evinced in the fact, that at the recent sale of Crown Lands, every singl, lot fetched above the upset price, which upset price wa the rent of corresponding lots averaged and Exed by
In reverting to this vital question, wo feel con- strained to say--and overy inpartial reador must agree with us---that the parties to whom the Colony owe its creation, and precocious a advancement, have been very hardly dealt by, in the adoption the present stringent and oppressive land tenure,
We share the ropugnance of the memorialists to a leasehold of "seventy-five years, mamath as we conceive them justly entitled to claim one to per- petuity. For, was it not on the
sums of money in the erection of permanent buildings on the island ? Now, since this is the fact (and that it is so is in controvertible), is it not most unreasonable that the Colonists should have had no intimation of this seventy-five years' tónure, which it appears we are to be operced into the acceptance of, until recently at the land sale, which was long after they had in vested their capital. In no other British Colony, We unhesitatingly assort, is there such a tenure, or greator ignorance of Colonial policy than evinced in Hongkong. It really would soom that
thing every in, or appertaining to China, must be exceptional, or exactly the reverse to what would obtain in any other part of the world. We have always though the Colony of Hongkong about the last place where the experiment of introducing se novel a land to- nure could by possibility have been made. How- ever inexpedient and irrational, we can yet under- stand the possibility of the Colonial Office determin- ing to grant such a land tenure; but if so, we also know that it would be prior to the formation of the Colpay, antlers. It would also, doubtless, be before the expenditure of capital therain by in some healthy locality, with a climato congenial with English habits and English comfort. Indeed,
granted, that they invested large *** of such being
such a
the Committoo."!
With over allowance for Downing street ignor. ance, and Colonial | fact in getting up a case it was passing strange that such an ostentatious reference should be made
sale one can only feel astonishment the Land
the absen completion of
|| fully 25 Planter of the Lots beng tar and built
much
on us now,
pretty evident that many of the Lots will lapse and have to be re-sold by the Government,
deposit, at the time of sale, of one year's rental at least Acting on the spirit of Lord Stanley's Acta modamta should have been required. If such had boon tho caso we confidently nak, would there not have been an awd duniantion of the anlos prices? As the Governor in Council points triumphantly to the last sale of Lan as an incontestable evidence of profound sagacity and a proud attestation of the correctness of our Colonin! rule, we do not characterize the sale as it deserves nor give the purious incidents thereof, neither should
o like
it was a "Mock Auction;" still wo
on as the rod so utterly deplorablo un exibi. |would assort our confidence in the engweity
Sale of Crown Lands. With the of the 50, and 60, Victoria C. 30 staring un in the face, will it be
dat home that its wise with contempt! We are provisions were treatblived at aware it may be urged that the not in question had reference to Australia, but being the most recent had been most carefully discussed and digested we Act bearing on this question, and one too which
quite counted that its salutary enactimonts, so far ns wey Vere practically applicable to this Colony, bo done, for such another Land sale as the last would be strictly enforced. We yet hope it may would not we think be attempted again by one most endowed with the only strength of weak minds—unlending obstinacy.
But to return to the late sale, and its conformity referred to. in conditions with those prescribed by the Act
By the sixth clause a Colonial Governor is not authorised to sell Lands. unless a proclamation shall have been previously issued, declaring with all practicable precision the times and the places Lands are to be offered for sale. Here a proclama- at which the anotions are to take place, and what tion was issued naming the time and place, but there On the day immediately previous to the commen. was no specification of Lots nor upset price named.
the first time made known, and the conditions of cement of the sale the upset prices were only for the sale or rather the conditions of the Corwn
but the as could become not only the abode lenses were mumbled over, and when explana
of the future settlers. From some experience, gained by a residence in our colonies, of colonization, we hesitate not to say, that such a colony as we have suppositiously referred to, would, with the land tenure now sought to be forced on us, prove a complete failure, because it would nevernttract a single settler from Great Britain, so wholly distasteful would be such conditions of occupancy.
But how stands the case with us? We have all invested our capital on the fath of not being worse treated than our fellow Colonists in the most recent settlements, and how eggregiously wo buve been deceived may be inferred, when we find the found. ers of the Colonymen too whose numes and world wide reputation guarantee their statement
constrained to affirm, HAD WE BEEN PREVIOUSLY AWARE OF THE NDI TIONS NOW PROPOSED WE CERTA LY SHOULD NOT HAVE EXP ONE FARTING ON BUILDING HONGKONG
We are not, nor are the premoriahara silly enough
of my Lord Stanley, our respect for Imperial Legia Istion, and our himrty desire that Colonial Governora might emulato the former, and conform to the latter, on all possible occasiona Land question and must on an early opportunity resmie
Wo have as yet only 7
touched on a few items of the the subject, we may then brouch some indivudasd cases of paculiar hardship.
we nddrees our mid to resche |compatriots at home, and see their n
us from the grievous injustice with which we avo threatened,
not with the Home Government, To it we must ap. The tenure of which we complain originated Here, peal, and sure wo are that It will not be so unjust ar ungenerous as not to permit us to bave our lands in porpetuity. It surely cannot consent to rob us of the noble cousolation that we are working for our children. It is for them and their offspring that many of us have become exiles from homes endeared by ton thousand sweet and fond remembrances. For thein wộ bravo
EXTRACTS FROM NOTIFICATIONS,
-persons interested in the
Britannic Magesty's Plenipotentiary &c. deems it Hrs Excellency, Sir Henry Pottinger, Bart., Hir
subject, that it is his intention to appoint, very shor dxpedient to intimate to all. ly, a committee, consisting of not less than three members, to investigate any claim that may yet be
off the whatever description; and to finally define and work pending, regarding allotted locations of ground, of
granted dipon any
quits of all locutions that have yet been sold or
ther torms. The Committee will likewise definitively fix the di- reation, breadth, &e, &c, of the Queen's" and all and will be am other existing bhe Roads, within the settlement; ed to order the immediate remo-
val of any encroachments, that may be found to have been unauthorizedly made upon them, the expence such removals being chargouble to the individuals, th whom the locations, in which they have been made, belong
tions were respectfully solicited they were made in Local Government on that occasion. Again, by a browbeating strain, by the represetative of the Lord Stanley's Act it is very wisely uncled that no lands shall be sold by Public Auction unless on condition of paying at the time of sale, In roady money, a deposit the amount of which is also to be fixed by proclamation beforehand price, and the purchaser must moreover pay the but must not be less than one tenth of the whole. residue of the said price within one Calendar month the Land Committes, are hereby requested to send in ANY Persons having Representations to day befbro of the day of sale. The intention of this clause is writing statements of their cases without delay, elsa
systém of Land | they will not be taken into consideration.
The progress of wing the stron
iously to prevent a misel
which has too 0
Australasian Colo
thing it might have been expented that the dencies there are to ex back in this kind
sity of some unch rougire aulo, would have in Council a Nathing
to export a low fixed price for lands they, with our
ourselves, hold, we believe, that a suficient price.
should be obtamed, to preserve the mimunijes of
A free port, and to make this a self supporting co- the Crown us regardi
n by the
By order
Hongkong, Land Cfles,
Apni 27th, 184.
roosters of Land Issmail by the 1 in the Friend 6th Instant."
Trio Extinct
32nd March, 1818.
Chra F. Mylius,
Land Olleur
an and
of the
Пост. Мониной.