48
Shanged,
they are
and it is stated that they are now almost unanimous in their opposition to it, but that it has met with the approval of all the officers of Government and the great bulk of the inhabitants of the Colony. On 12th January last, Sir John Bowring said that the truth of the opposition of the Marine Lot-holders was then being investigated by his despatch.
However, he does not repeat this statement in his subsequent despatches.
It is obvious that the Marine Lot holders have a more immediate interest in the question than the other inhabitants of the Colony, inasmuch as the work will form the boundary to their property and they will be required either to pay additional rent for the land which will be added to their Lot, or to have that Land sold to others who may thereby exclude them from their property. On the other hand, the Marine Lot holders are only 18 in number, and the rent they pay for their Lots is no more than $118.50 per annum, which is a very small portion of the public