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once for all and non-recurrent and as we were desirous of affording the Local Government the most complete security, we amended our plans and altered our designs in accordance with them.
As to the Rules and Regulations which were to govern the conduct of our business after the completion of our premises we could not so easily acquiesce. The restrictions sought to be imposed on us had been framed by persons evidently ignorant of the requirements and possibilities of the business we were entering on and with the very vaguest notions as to the possible dangers to be guarded against. We therefore submitted for the consideration of the Governor and his council a very carefully prepared and very respectfully worded Memorandum on the Draft Rules and Regulations, in which we explained the nature and character of the business we proposed to carry on, the facilities reasonably required for the purpose and the weak points in the proposed Rules. We beg to hand your Lordship a Copy of this Memorandum and respectfully request that you will give it a careful perusal.
It has been framed with full knowledge of the rules and regulations in force in other ports and places in relation to the trade in Petroleum in Bulk after communication with our principals in England and after a careful study of the requirements of the port. This Memorandum was sent in to the Government on the 19th October last & on the 14th December instant we received from the Colonial Secretary a Copy of enclosed Rules and Regulations made by the Governor in Council on the 7th December regarding Petroleum in Bulk.
Between the 19th October and the 14th December we had no communication from the Government on the subject, although we, not unnaturally, supposed that our Memorandum would lead, if the Government saw reason to dissent from it on any grounds, to further correspondence and discussion with a view to clear up any points in dispute.
May we be permitted to state here, that we do not know upon whose advice or information the Government is acting, or whether they have