and did not therefore propose to make application until his return to the Colony. So long a period has now elapsed since your letter was received that we are not surprised at the discouraging a reply. If so discouraging a mature, we should prefer to have no representation made for the present to the Secretary of State, until we have had an opportunity of fully explaining plans to Sir Hercules Robinson, the Governor.
We presume that payment to the Library could appear in the accounts of 1884, and that 1885 is the earliest year in which this addition to the estimate could be arranged.
We regret to state that the Provisional Committee of the proposed City Hall are not yet in a position to undertake that the Morrison Library shall be accommodated by them, it being still too uncertain whether they will receive such a measure of Government and public support as will enable them to carry out any part of their project.
We may observe that we have knowledge of a public "Institution with somewhat similar claim" to Government aid which has been recently refused: Possibly...
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