410
Journal of Occurrences
Major Malcolm capt Meik, 11 M. 19th foot (with the sanction of majʊi-gene ral Burrell, C.). ensign Sargent; W. Woosnam, esq. Mr. J. Pascoe, 2d master of H. M.'s ship Blenheim, (with the sanction of capt. sir Thomas Herbert, x.C.B.) Captain Mylius, land officer, will attend the committee for the purpose of giving effect to its proceedings, by laying down the necessary land-marks, boun- daries, roads, &c., &c. The committee will report to government any cases in which they are of opinion that the native Chinese should be remunerated for ground which was in their possession previous to the occupation of the island by her majesty's forces, and which may have been appropriated, as well as the amount of remuneration. The committee will select the most eligible spots for public landing-places; will define the limits of the cantonments or locations for officers, near the different barracks; will likewise fix the extent of ground to be reserved for the naval depôt, and for dock-yards, including spots for one or more patent slips, which it is understood are likely to be erected by companies or individuals. It being the intention of government to form a watering place for the shipping hereafter, the committee will select the most eligible spot with a running stream of good water for that purpose.
HENRY POTTINGER, H. M.'s Plenipotentiary. Dated at Hongkong Government House, this 29th day of March, 1842.
In other numbers of the same paper, Charles E. Stewart is ga zetted as having been appointed assistant secretary and treasurer; Edward G. Reynolds to be assistant to the land officer; and Robert Edwards to be postmaster. The regulations of the post-office arc thus announced, in which we are sorry to see that it is to be opened on the Sabbath.
Mr. Robert Edwards having been appointed to take charge of the post office at Hongkong, the following regulations are published for his guidance, and for general information. All mails upon arrival, are to be delivered to the har- bor-imaster, who will have them conveyed to the post-office. Notice of the in- tended time for closing any mail, is to be given to the harbor-master, who will make the necessary arrangement for having it taken on board ship. The harbor- mnaster is to give information to Mr. Edwards, of the arrivals, sailings and general movements of the vessels in port, who will cause a notice of the same to be ex- posed at the post-office: a general delivery of letters to take place at least once in every twenty-four hours. All government letters are to be forwarded immediately on arrival. The office to be kept open and attended from 8 o'clock a. m. till 8 r. m. on week-days, and from 8 to 10 a. M., and from 3 to 5 P. M. on Sunday. For the present no charge of any description is to be made on letters or parcels.
By order.
J. ROBT. MORRISON, acting secretary and treasurer. Hongkong, April 15th, 1842.
Sir Henry Pottinger has also, under date of 29th March, 1842, is- sued a proclamation fixing the kinds of coin to be regarded as legal tenders, and the rate at which they are to be taken; they are, Spa- nish, Mexican and other dollars, Company's rupees, and their com- ponent parts, and the cash of the Chinese. The dollar is the standard, and all descriptions of dollars are to be held of equal value, provided they are of equal weight and standard. This regula- tion will soon have a beneficial effect upon the currency, and tend to remove the prejudice against the Mexican and S. A. coinage hereto- fore maintained by the Chinese. According to this proclamation, two and a quarter Company's rupees are equal to one dollar; one rupee and two annas (or half a quarter) is equal to half a dollar; and half a rupee and one anna is equal to a quarter of a dollar; 1200 cash arc equal to one dollar, 600 to half a dollar, 300 to a quarter of a dollar, 533 to a rupec, 266 to half a rupee, and 153 to a quarter of a rupce