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Mr ... never sent, (unless secretly by Mackenzie). About one million and a half were offered. Of these nearly three-quarters were in 1866, 6,000 were in 1867, and weren't directly or indirectly on the part of this Government, whilst of the remainder, I am sorry to state that there was scarcely one "clean" dollar - they were "chopped and injured, light in weight, or for other reasons not easily got rid of.
That description of silver was sent to the Mint at its first opening because there appeared a chance of paying and converting into good dollars, free of all cost, some hundred thousands locked up in depreciated currency.
In this instance, therefore, as in all others, selfish calculations of profit were the motives influencing the customers of the Mint, and most convenient motives they are, because they make it possible to gauge beforehand the utility of establishments on the public funding whose success depends on profit in using them.
I admit it is very disheartening that there is an immense stream of this silver constantly flowing into and out of the Colony, and that, nevertheless, none of it can be brought through the Mint. Since the returns received of the present year, according to returns rendered by Mr G. Sharpe, the clerk who prepares the fortnightly summary of auction, imports, and reports for each Mail - there has been imported into Hongkong (including Canton imports) at least 29 millions of dollars and 11 million dollars of Bullion.