675
Having now clearly shewn that, under the Ordinance as defined by Governor des Voeux, Mr. C. A. Cripps, K.C., Justice Fielding Clarke, Chief Justice Sir John Carrington, Attorney General Goodman, and Chief Justice Sir P. T. Piggott, the judicial assessor, we are entitled to proper compensation for the depreciation of our Property and for loss of Rents caused by the Reclamation; and that the Award of Sir Matthew Nathan is not commensurate with the injury sustained by depreciation, and disallows the claim for loss of Rents; that it is arbitrary, without a single fact in support, and against all the facts in evidence; and as it will not be contended that the Ordinance sanctions the misconduct of the Governor, it remains only for me to appeal to His Lordship the Secretary of State for the Colonies to exercise his prerogative to prevent a grave injustice being done to a Crown Lessee by a wrongful act of the Governor in repudiating the promise of his predecessor Governor des Voeux that the Government would accord the fullest justice in respect of private rights, a promise which we were entitled to believe would be carried out when the obligation became due by whomsoever might be the Governor; and seeing that three Governors have failed to assess the compensation fairly from the Facts in evidence, I would suggest, with all due respect, that the matter be referred for adjustment to a Government official experienced in matters of compensation and myself in London, and thus end a matter which in the hands of a competent Arbitrator would have been settled years ago.
I have the honour to be
Sir,
Your Obedient Servant,
The Howard