the "Tsing Yi Ching" and "Sek Kim Pa T'ai" respecting the value of the lands, in which the cultivation of rice has been prohibited,
The Committee after a succession of investigations came to the conclusion that
a "mow" of Paris called "Mow"
CANA C/
the Chinese measure
contains 14,884 square feet, and that there
2.93
or
nearly 3 "mow" in
an acre
On the actual measurement of Land, the result as detailed in Enclosure No: 2
was, that the Yong-mei-chung valley contained 7 acres, and the Sekkan portion 2 acres, on which compensation
nearly 37/2
should be paid.
Considering myself bound by the Engagements of my predecessor, I directed the Committee, after considering all the information and evidence that could be obtained on the subject, to report upon the amount per "mow" or per acre
at
which the persons prohibited from cultivating their land should be compensated.
The
recommendation of the Committee was, that either the land in question should be purchased in perpetuity at the rate of 30 Dollars per "mow", (or $76 per acre) or that $17 per acre should be granted annually to the owners. As the land in question constitutes the two most level spaces on this side of the island, and is likely to become very valuable hereafter, it was decided, in Council on the 29th of May last, that it should be purchased in perpetuity at the rate of 30 dollars per "mow", as advised by the Committee.
It was deemed advisable to give notice to the Chinese Owners that payment made on account of the land
must