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an imputation of unfair preference.
To ascertain what this amount ought to be the Acting Registrar General let it be known amongst the Chinese that fresh tenders would be taken into consideration by the Government and several such were sent in. A consideration of these led to the belief that with payment of about $240,000 a year, there would probably be left a sufficient margin of profit for the holders of the Licenses.
The old Licensees, having their houses ready fitted and having maintained good order hitherto, were given the first choice at this price which they, after some difficulty, accepted. Before, however, the agreement came into force, it was found that an omission had been made in the original Rules in not excluding Europeans and Americans from the houses, the Rules were, therefore, amended and after consideration of 2000 fees was estimated the amount at which to assess the fees of persons other than Easterns leaving the annual Fee $220,000 as a not unreasonable amount.
The old Licensees carried on for 2 months at this rate when they gave notice of giving up and being
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