ΕΣ
CROWN RENTS' COMMISSION. 612
Dangling Wo 62.
2nd June 1873.
Administrater J. Gardiner Austin
to
дём
The Right Amorable
The learl
ofleamar
Ornon Reut-
maund.
Reports the appointment of a Commision to inquire into the question of withying Districts.
Dudeme
w
(Sigur) & Gardiner Calen
Austin
[LS]
Administrator.
Whereas complaints have, from time to time, been made to the Government
by the holders of Crown Lands situate in the less populous parts of the Colony---
alleging that the rents reserved by the Leases of such Lands, are greatly out of
proportion to the real value of the said Lands, and prohibit the complainants from
turning the said Lands to profitable account; by reason whereof the said Lands
cannot be used to advantage, to the injury of the complainants and to the hindrance
of the general progress of the Colony. And Whereas it is advisable that inquiry should be made as to the truth of the said complaints and into the scale of rents
now reserved upon Crown Lands situate in different parts of the Colony, and to
consider whether the same may be modified.
Now, therefore, know ye that I, JOHN GARDINER AUSTIN, Esquire, the Officer
Administering the Government of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, do hereby appoint you the IIonorable JOHN BRAMSTON,
Attorney General, and you the Honorable CHARLES MAY, Acting Treasurer, and
you the Honorable PHINEAS RYRIE, Member of the Legislative Council, and you the Honorable HENRY LOWCOCK, Member of the Legislative Council, and you
JOON MCNEILE PRICE, Esquire, Surveyor General, to be Commissioners to enquire into and investigate the aforesaid complaints, and to enquire into and investigate the scale of rents now chargeable upon Crown Lands in different parts of the Colony. And to report to me all evidence taken by you--and also your opinion thercon and whether the rents now chargeable upon Crown Lands seen to admit
of modification.