It was brought to my notice that Mr Scales was levying a Colonial Postage, of one penny each, on all Newspapers arriving in, or being transmitted from, this Colony.
I saw nothing in his Instructions which authorized such a charge, and I can hardly believe that it would be the intention of Her Majesty's Government, that it should be levied, when I observe from Mr Scales' instructions, that all Newspapers printed in Hongkong are expressly directed to pass free to England via Southampton, and that there is no Postage on Newspapers from Great Britain by the same route. I therefore took upon myself to direct the charge to be discontinued, and promulgated a Notification to that effect.
Page 344
I may take this opportunity to inform Your Lordship, that subsequent inquiries have satisfied me that I was considerably below the proper mark, when I stated in the Memorandum, which forms Enclosure No. 7 of Despatch No. 27, that the monthly number of letters received and dispatched amounted to 10,000. I have now reason to think that it is more than double that number, nor will this excite any surprise, when the vast Trade and its attendant correspondence (all of which is, at least, sent to and fro, in duplicate) is to be taken into consideration, to say nothing of that...
it was brought Mr Scales was
to
my
notice that
lerying a Colorial
Postage, of one penny cach, on all Newspapers arriving
in, or being-
transmitted from, this Colony-
in his Instructions
I saw nothing which authorized such
| and
I
Can
are
such a
charge,
"hardly believe that
its would be the intention of Her Majesty's Government, that it should be levied, when I observe from M. Scales instructions, that all Newspapers printed in Hongkong
expressly direated to pass free to England via
Fouthampton, and that there in is no Postage on Nawospapers from Great Britain by the same route= I therefore took on
amyself to
direct the charge to be discontinued,
and
i
344
and promulgated a Notifiontion to that effect.
I may take this opportunity to
in the Memorandum 1.
my
inform Your Lordship, that subsequent inquirées have satisfied... me that I was considerably below the proper mark, when I stated
which
forms Enclosure. N. 7 of Despatch N.27, that the monthly number of letters received and dispatched_ amounted to 10,000. I have now reason to think that it is more than double that number, nor will this excite any surprize, when the vast Trade and its attendant
correspondence (all of which is, at least, sent to and fro, in- duplicate) is to be taken into consideration, to
say nothing of
that
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.