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for long been at the rate of one dollar to one shilling
charged in England" is not applicable to all goods nor is
it correct to lay down that customs duties in other Colonies
"at most add 10 per centum to the price". Though $200 a
month may be the mean rent of houses on the Peak for
Officials in the position of the signatories of the first
Memorial (of whom one, however, is provided with Govern-
-ment Quarters) it is certainly not the average rent of
houses occupied by Government Officers. The statement that
"landlords do not find house property a profitable invest-
-ment" put forward to show that "it is hardly possible to
anticipate any reduction of rent" is incredible; I am
informed also that there has during the last year been a
tendency of rents of houses on the Peak and upper levels
of Victoria to fall slightly. The statement that servants'
wages are "roughly not less than $100 a month,
including
4 chair coolies", does certainly not apply, as it is said
to do, to "all classes of Officers". Subordinate Officers
do not keep 4 chair coolies and conveyance allowance of
$15 to $40 a month is given to Officers whose duties
require them to make use of rickshas or chairs. In spite
of these inaccuracies which it has been my duty to point
out