the offensive benefit of their own settlement : but in the exceedingly large amounts disbursed and still to be laid out on its fail, Court of Justice (intended) Mint, and the annual outlay for the fixed establishments connected therewith, important services are rendered to Imperial interests as well as to the British Community resident at the Treaty parts of China: and Japan.
In addition to this fact Your Memorialists would also state that they have an indirect, but heavy annual tax imposed upon them by the presence of the Military establishments before alluded to:
Whilst establishments exist in the best and most desirable portion of Victoria, occupying a large proportion of its limited level ground; and in consequence, to provide accommodation for the increased number of Foreign & Chinese residents, the hills have to be ascended, levels cut, extensive embankments made, labour & building materials procured at increased cost, and the revenues of the Colony are seriously affected (the rental of the hill ground being often slight) by the loss of ground-rent resulting from the military occupation of the extremely valuable site in question: this diminution of Colonial income, alone equal to more than a moiety of the contribution now under discussion, has to be made.