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been done to him by the entire inadequacy of
the sum awarded to his firm and has contended
that they were entitled to rely on the promise
of Sir H. des Voeux in his message to the
Legislative Council of the 22nd of March 1889
that the fullest justice would be done in respect of private rights, a promise which Mr.
Howard alleges has not in this case been fulfilled.
4. On consideration of the petition and
of your despatch No. 59 of the 15th of March
1899, I am not entirely satisfied that the
compensation awarded to Messrs. Stephens and
Howard may not have been inadequate, but it
is obvious that such a question can only be
decided in the light of local knowledge and
experience.
5.
I therefore request that you will be
good enough to investigate the whole matter
afresh and, if you are of opinion that substantial justice demands it, to ask the Legislative Council to vote an additional sum to
the