20
of his liabilities remaining
4. I laid the case before the Executive Council, shewing that the arrears had accumulated to $23,888.13 and I stated that I would gladly avoid pushing matters to extremity if the Council could suggest any reasonable or middle course to follow.
The Council, however, concurred in the course which I had adopted, and advised against any further relaxation being given to Mr. Sharp.
5. Nevertheless, having received meanwhile Your Lordship's despatch under reply, dated 18 January 1872, I once more requested the opinion of the Council, pointing out that if all the Lots were resumed at the time, they were unsuitable for selling then and consequently the Colony would gain nothing thereby. Nevertheless, the previous decision was allowed to remain, and on the 10th March, as Mr. Sharp had failed to pay up his arrears, I ordered the necessary proceedings to be commenced (the Acting Attorney General) for resuming the Lots.
6. The enclosed Return will exhibit to Your Lordship the number of the lots held by Mr. Sharp, and the arrears due. When pressed by the Law Officers he paid up the arrears marked on certain lots, which are marked...