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contribution of £20,000 per annum, and the state of public opinion upon the subject.
2.
Upon the receipt of your Despatch No.188 of the 25th June last announcing the definite decision of Her Majesty's Government as to this question, I at once included the sum demanded in the Estimates and Appropriation Ordinance then awaiting submission to the Legislative Council, and in explanation of the item, laid at the same time before the Council, in accordance with your permission, the entire correspondence in the matter.
3.
Shortly after the publication of the correspondence, a very strong feeling throughout the entire community arose as to the unfairness of the proposal, and a public meeting of the inhabitants was held on the 23rd Ultimo to protest against the measure. The meeting, I am informed, was the largest and most respectably attended ever assembled in the Colony, and represented the entire community.
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