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would
at much less than they cost the original grantees, who, had they been sure of the probability of reduction being made in "the land rents, in all probability would not have disposed of them at all Is Your Lordship to understand there were, I will mention an instance.- Lot. No 291, 292, 293, and 294, which adjoin each other, were formerly the property of Mr Shelley, he laid out a considerable sum in levelling the ground and rendering it available for buildings and by the time he remained in the Colony, had probably erected a dwelling-house thereon. This gentleman, however, quitted on the 25th May 1847, and the ground was sold by public Auction on the 28th July 1849, H. M. Duddell for £1.0.10, on the condition of his paying the arrears of rent, viz, £29.10
My Lord,
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Also in 1850 requested that the former rent be reduced . The foregoing remarks apply with the same force to many other claims under the former leases; and I would here observe that out of the eleven individuals who have made claims to a reduction of rent on 43 Lots, Mr. Duddell is the owner of at least more than one half of these Lots.
12. Enclosure 4 is a memorandum of the rents paid annually by twenty parties, being the largest contributors to the Land Revenue; but it must be remembered that the properties therein referred to comprise Counting Houses with accommodation for numerous clerks, extensive Ware-houses for the Storing of goods, separate dwelling houses for the parties, as well