1841-1886
Feeling strongly on these points as of high national importance, and believing that, however humble my rank in Her Majesty's service, it is my bounden duty to my Sovereign to bring them under the early and serious consideration of Her Majesty's Ministers, and deeming that my personal attendance is indispensable to answer questions on the spot, and to explain various points which, even if time permitted, could not be done by a lengthened and tedious correspondence, I have resolved to undergo the responsibility of proceeding to England, to bring the whole question under the immediate attention of Her Majesty's Government; and I cannot help entertaining a confident hope, that when the magnitude and pressing exigency of the case is fully seen and understood, and the motives in which my conduct has originated been explained, I may rely on the justice and liberality of Lord Stanley and Her Majesty's Ministers,
My accounts are made up, and the monies under my charge ready to be transferred, on the half year ending 30th instant, to whomsoever His Excellency may be pleased to direct to officiate as Treasurer.
The Honourable F. W. A. Bruce,
Colonial Secretary.
I have, &c. (signed)
R. M. Martin.
Enclosure 4, in No. 6.
ESTIMATED REVENUE OF THE COLONY OF Hong Kong,
from 1st April 1845 to 1st April 1846.
£. Crown Rents.-Sold to June 1844 9,000 Sales in July 1844 £. 2,323 Will not be paid 550 1,773 Sales in December 1844 to Chinese Ditto to Europeans $4,130 Will not be paid $ 939 $3,191 664 Total Crown rents 11,727 Deduct deposits on purchases 343 Remains due for 1845-46 11,384 Fees on leases for transfers, &c. 300 Government markets $560 a month 1,405 Opium farm $710 a month 1,774 Auction duty 2½ per cent, on estimated sales of £. 20,000 per 500 annum. Ghaut Serang (head) Ditto, deputies Licenses.-Pawnbrokers, 5 in number - at $250 each 281 Auctioneers 304 Spirit Licenses (Europeans) 27 at $50 145 Ditto, samshoo (Chinese) 35 at $ 50 Salt-broker, or weigher 1 at $700 yearly $800 166 Stone quarries £.260 $ 50 1 at $200 41 Billiard-tables 4 at $25 each 20 2 at $ 50 20 TOTAL LICENSES £. 1,369 Fines of ditto + Fees.-Supreme court, Police courts, burials, &c. &c. - Incidental receipts Rent of Albany and other buildings, about 600 300 100 150 £. 17,882(signed)
R. M. Martin.
(True Copy.)
(signed)
Frederich W. A. Bruce.
743.
No. 7.
29