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so, as such certificates are required for Government purposes.

If the Bonds and Registers could be prepared in a Public office, which would not entail much labor, since the Forms for their would be printed and required only to be filled up, certain reasonable Fees could be demanded for the Bonds and Registers without prejudice to all those concerned.

Chinese will not be easily made to believe otherwise, than that Government exacts if not the whole, still the part, of the Fees paid by them to the Attorney's, particularly being accustomed to the small charges made by the lawyers or doctors of their native land, viz 100 cash [1½ pence] for one page writing. The Fees paid by immigrant ships are also heavy, viz. $16 for each survey. I believe, two or three, if not more, are required almost by every ship, before she can depart.

Although a Government Surveyor has been appointed, the Fees payable to him seem not regulated by Government or made public.

Regarding the subject of Fees, I may perhaps be excused for bringing to your notice, that none of the Justices of the Peace (excepting the officiating Registrar General) have ever paid towards the Public Revenue any Fees or Penalties which they might have received or levied under Ordinance No 10 of 1844, Sect: XIX, and Government Notification of 26th December 1849.

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