CO129-018 - Others - 1846 — Page 536

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CORRESPONDENCE

ing disease, and the perpetual annoyance and ill-treatment which I have experienced, because of my opposition to expenditure, and of my repre- sentation of the truth as regards our position in China.

There is still no trade here, European or native, nor any prospects of the island being a commercial depôt. The Governor is fearful of driving away the few ships that now call here for orders, by the imposi- tion of a tonnage duty of only 6d. per ton. He has therefore declined to enact this regulation, which is a complete answer to his extraordinary statement that “Hong Kong would supersede Canton!"

I inclose a return showing the whole of the monies I have collected since I have arrived, namely, for one year; to which I have appended explanatory details, as laid before the Governor on the 16th instant. A large part of these monies consists of arrears due for preceding years. My payments for the colony alone in its civil departments have been about 72,000%. I inclose an estimate laid before the Governor for the ensuing year.

I see no prospect of collecting more than 10,0007. or 12,000l. dur- ing the ensuing year, from the existing or from any future sources of taxation. The absence of trade; the despondency of those who have built houses here; the depreciation of house property, which will necessarily ensue on the completion of the barracks, whereby a large military house-rent will be avoided; the non-existence of further

any available building land, even if there were purchasers; the throwing up, and even forfeiture of ten per cent. paid on many lots of land, rather than build and pay an annual rental; these, and other circum- stances, forbid the just and reasonable hope of realizing the amount of revenue which the Governor expects, viz., nearly 20,000/. But in making this estimate, he takes the amount of land sold nominally, as if it would yield for certain the prices agreed to be given; whereas the land officer assures me that a large number of lots will be forfeited. Then the Governor expects that the fees and fines of the supreme court will nearly pay the cost of that department; whereas the fees and fines realized from 1st October, 1844, to 31st March, 1845, (the best half the year, and when it was alleged there were many cases awaiting the opening of the court,) have amounted to only 2821. It is not probable they will reach this sum in the present half-year; there is very little legal busi- ness, and 500l. a-year will probably be the maximum receipt of fees and fines from the supreme court for the year, while the cost of the depart- ment is about 7000/, to 8000/

WITH THE TREASURY

109

This is a fair sample of the exaggerated notions that have been entertained and sedulously promulgated respecting this place.

My March quarterly account, although including vouchers for two quarters, to the extent of 46,4807., is very complex, by reason of the departure from the Treasury instructions, and containing numerous vouchers (some of which were with difficulty obtained after the termin- ation of the quarter), was declared before the Governor on 17th April; and although I was absent part of the time from ill health during ten days at Canton, and my chief clerk ill and absent, yet it was balanced, with forty-eight dollars, which, in accordance with the accompanying letter, I paid into the treasury chest, with the full concurrence of the Colonial Secretary and Auditor, who formed the Board of Survey, and who acknowledged that notwithstanding the difficulties I had experi- enced, my quarterly account was “ perfect, and creditable to me.”

Without the slightest boasting, I think my accounts will bear con- trasting with those of any other colony, as to accuracy, and, as far as practicable, consistent with the deviation from the Treasury instructions by the Governor and Auditor, as to form. I hope, within a week after the termination of the June quarter, to have that account rendered; and I will endeavour to incorporate with it as many of the Consular accounts as I can obtain.

Sir,

I have, &c.,

R. M. MARTIN.

No. XIII.-To C. E. Trevelyan, Esq., Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury.

H. M. Treasury, Hong Kong, July 1, 1845.

I HAVE the honour to inform you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, that I yesterday closed my quarterly account, ending 30th June, 1845. The payments made during the quarter were as follows :--

On account of the colony of Hong Kong....

of Consular department..

>>

of Diplomatic ditto....

£ s. d. 18,410 0 5

6,401 16 0

1,479 12

0

26,291 8 5

529