Her Majesty's Government have been informed that a copy of your letter now under reply will be forwarded to Her Majesty's Government by the first opportunity accompanied by a recommendation that the Clause you point out may be favourably considered, and that a final decision with respect to its adoption, in a perfect modified form, may be announced as soon as possible.
Sam is further directed to take this occasion to acquaint you, that recent circumstances have drawn the attention of His Excellency the Governor to that clause in the Leases which reserved to Her Majesty the power of resuming lands that may be required for public purposes at a valuation to be formed by Her Majesty's Surveyor for the time being, and that His Excellency sees special reason to consider that that task should not be imposed on any single individual.
His Excellency therefore intends to suggest as a modification of that clause, that lands to be so resumed shall be appraised by an approved Jury of not less than twelve persons, on oath.
This modification, should it be sanctioned by Her Majesty's Government, will remove from Her Majesty's Surveyor a most invidious duty, on whose pleasure it must be understood to solely depend, will naturally tend to increase the confidence of all holders of land in the Colony and will not, in His Excellency's opinion, compromise in any degree, the rights of the Public.
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(Signed) Richard Worsham
A true copy.
Nichard Worsham
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