the Contingent work of the Current month, : His Excellency the Governor in Council is pleased to sanction this sum, but, he directs us to repeat to you the injunction to immediately discontinue the large Extra Establishment at present entertained for the purpose of draining the Ting-new-ching and Su kon poo vallies so soon as that work shall have been thoroughly completed - whereby the Government will be relieved of the great expense of upwards of Six Hundred Dollars per month.
Shave, &c.,
(Signed) Richard Homam
Captain D'Aguilar,
Military Secretary,
42,
Victoria, Hong Kong, 16th April, 1844.
No: 156
741
I am directed by His Excellency the Governor in Council to forward to you the accompanying Copies of three Documents containing the substance of four Petitions from natives of this Island praying that some remuneration may be made to them in consideration of the loss they are at present being compelled to discontinue the cultivation of rice, owing to the proximity of their land to the Cantonments.
His Excellency would feel obliged by the Honorable the Major General directing Major Aldrich to furnish a Statement shewing in each case the quantity of ground thus interfered with together with its probable value, as, since the expense that may be incurred is solely in consequence of Military arrangements, it will be necessary to make a special reference