I am of opinion that Government should avail itself of the opportunity, and assess the ground ever vested on by the Levine-Wilders, and that which will be added to their lot, at rates which, more or less, would make the collective amount of lot-squatting rentals there is the only way to prevent.
I assume that Government would not alter the rate on the original leasehold, but it has, undoubtedly, the right of assessing the land obtained and occupied, in some instances, for many years, and to great individual advantage, without the sanction of Government, at a fair rate. On the inclosed Return, it is calculated that the land thus obtained was at the rate of 186 pence per 100 square feet, except in those cases where land had been paying rent at rates above that amount; and the result is that the rates that would be payable, instead of varying widely between 2872 and 361, would vary only between 108 and 186 pence, as will be best seen from the table.
The question being one affecting the public revenue, I took the liberty of suggesting it, and I further venture to express an opinion that Government should undertake the building of the Praya and landing places out of the surplus funds of the colony, allowing additional rent for the ground already obtained and to be given to the Landslip area in question.
According to my calculation, the cost of the Praya and Works would be from £12,000 to £15,000, and the additional rental that might fairly be obtained could be £3,181 for ...
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