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as to discourage the resort of mere amount Chinese to the Colony appears not only from its but from the fact that the Houses occupied by this class of persons have increased, from 734 in 1846 to 1620 in 1850, and that the Police rate, chargeable at 5 per cent on the annual rental of Houses, has steadily advanced during the last 5 years, mainly owing to the erection of buildings intended for the occupation of Chinese
7.
They Next were in August last 1210 occupying 349 houses and paying house £4489. The average assessment was that of each occupier £6 to £7. Governor remarks, would be an exorbitant tax were it not viewed as (with one exception) the only contribution towards the expenses of Government which is levied from the residents in the Colony
It is however, admitted that several large mercantile Firms are subject to heavy annual Rents of which the heaviest are those of Messrs: Dent, which amounts to £... and Messrs Jardine
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Jardine, which amounts to £688; but then it is explained, and we think quite satisfactorily, that their premises including many which are let out to Chinese, are so extensive and valuable, that these Rents are not exorbitant. Various circumstances are mentioned to shew this and we have already noticed the absence of complaint and the Judgment of Caves the Committee, in the cases brought before them, as evidence of agrees in the same point.
Finally, the Governors with the Colonial Treasurer considering the proposal of Messrs Ruart and Davidson