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possible to conjecture what is lost by Guarantine regulations against her in very direction which drive away. Vessels from her harbour, and deprive all, down to the humblest labourer, their proportion of gain from the floating, victualling, loading, and discharging of
the immense fleet which ordinarily frequents these waters. 31. Chinese Hong merchants have retired to the mainland leaving
their premises to caretakers and
their commercial engagements in abeyance until the Public Health
shall be restored. The effect of this is much felt by merchants whose merchandise is left on their hands beyond the contract time and many have had to call on their Bankers to enable them to tide
over the lock-up of money. The Bankers under such circumstances buy and sell fewer Bills and they witness the contraction of trade in all the ramifications in which they have a financial interest. The sugar refining industry is affected not by thousands but by Millions of dollars,
and although happily not suspended it is for the moment crippled for want of labour.
Landlords in the affected districts of the City suffer and the natives generally in the midst
of all this trouble find it necessary to pay
30 to 50% above
the usual price for
articles of food
without exaggeration. It is asserted that so far as trade and commerce are concerned the plague has assumed the importance of a calamity. 33. With reference to the Statement Entertained I have to inform Your Lordships that on the 1st June in the Legislative Council I briefly sketched the measures which the Government intended to pursue in the event of the recurrence of such a Catastrophe.
I inclose herewith
a copy of that speech.
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