Squatters, and the amount paid by them is in accordance with an assessment made by the Registrar General, who also collects the rent from the persons, and pays it into the Colonial Treasury. I do not think that an official registry of ground rent occupied exists.
Some villages have, of late, to some extent, become deserted, in consequence of the number of pirates hanging about the Coast. When time shall permit, it would be well if a survey were made of all lands occupied on the island, and proper title deeds given to the holders, as suggested by His Excellency some time ago.
Some of the families, having occupied, improved, and brought land under cultivation ever since the occupation of the island by Great Britain, naturally look upon the land they occupied as their own by right, and great hardship it would prove to some of them if at any moment Government should take the land from them and offer it for sale by public auction. The settlement of that question will therefore be a great benefit to all those concerned.
1. As expressed by His Excellency, the Market System of letting the Markets will be allowed at the expiration of the present leases.
11. The lease for the Central Market expires in the month of September 1856, and for the Western Market only at the end of 1858; the licence for the third market can be withdrawn at any time. As yet the leases for the Western Market have not been handed to Mr. Duddell, but on account of certain conditions, under which he obtained the same, not having been fulfilled by him in due time, but now it is understood that the Surveyor...
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