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(VI) of Ordinance 16 of 1889. The plaintiffs' Counsel accepted this suggestion and the Court adjourned sine die.
6. Pursuant to the course suggested to and ac- cepted by the plaintiffs' Counsel, one of the plaintiffs, viz., Mr.Howard, addressed the Government on 25th. April, 1898, claim- ing compensation to the extent of $293,403.30 with interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the 1st. January, 1898, less
certain rents for goods stored, and also costs of his suit for
a writ of mandamus.
7. On the 17th. November, 1898, His Excellency the
Officer Administering the Government made his award granting
$15,000 compensation to Messrs. Howard and Stephens under sec-
tion 7 sub-section (VI) of Ordinance 16 of 1889.
8. That award was communicated to Mr.Howard
in a letter dated 22nd.November, 1898, and was accompanied by
a cheque on the Colonial Treasurer for $15,000.
9. The award and the method by which General
Black arrived at it will be found in the award itself.
10. Mr.Howard refused to accept the award and
returned the cheque which was sent to the Acting Colonial Tren -
surer for safe custody.
11. Then came the present petition to the Se-
cretary of State.