Year, entered the Ports; for the smaller traders and warehouse-keepers, there will always be business, and by no means insignificant, and looking at the houses in which these latter reside and the style in which they live, it would seem that their dealings are considerable and remunerative. I cannot therefore admit that the reduction of the Ground Rent to one-half of what they now pay could have the effect of inducing them either to remain in, or quit the Colony; and with respect to the Chinese, considering the small sums that they pay for their ground, I think they have nothing to complain of in any way, nor, as far as my experience goes, after making enquiries in all quarters, do I find that they do complain.
15. In the 7th Paragraph of the Committee's letter (Enclosure No.2), it is represented that a difficulty exists in disposing of landed property in consequence of the inability of the Lessees to transfer a subdivision of their lots. I referred the question for the opinion of our Attorney General, and enclosed are his observations thereon. In my opinion, it would be well that parties should be allowed to dispose of portions of their properties, as recommended by the Committee; but the concession might never be open to much abuse. For instance, any party having a house erected on a large lot of ground might be desirous of getting rid of a part of the ground, because it is useless to him. The Government might not be disposed to take a surrender of the portion, because, in consequence of its size and other circumstances, there would be no chance of any other person taking it. A proprietor so situated might make a sale of this portion of the land to a straw, by which he would be relieved from any further claim on the part of the Government, while the individual to whom
Page 300
Page 301
18
294
19
Year, entered the Ports; _ for the smaller traders and warehouse-keepers, there with always be
businces by
Mo meanJ
insignificant, and looking
at the houses in which these latter reside and
the
style that their dealings from
seem
in which
they live, it would
Chue
quarter on other,
I
must be considerable and remunerative.
cannot therefore admit that the reduction of the Ground Rent to one-half of
one half of what
them
them nowe
quit
pay,
any of
could have the effect of
to
indueing them either to remain in, or
the Colony; and with respect to the Chinese, considering the small sums that they pay ofor their ground, I think they have nothing
to complain of in any way, non, as far as my experience goes, after making enquiries in all quarters, do I find that they do complain.
that
15. In the 7th Paragraph of the Committe's letter (hnelozure N2), it is represented
difficulty exists in disposing of landed
A
No28
property in
consequence of the inability of the Lesees to transfer a subdivision of their lots._ I referred the quection for the abrien of
our
p28 Attorney General, and enclored are his observation,
thereon. In
my opinion it would be well that parties should be allowed to dispose of
portions of their properties, as recommended by the
Committee; but the
be
concession
might never the lee open to munch abuse ._. For instance, any party having a house excoted on a large lots of ground might be decirous of getting rid of a part of the ground, because it is useless to him. The Government might not be disposed to take a surrender of the portion, because, in consequence of its size and other encumstances, there would be no chance of any other person taking it. _ A proprietos so situated might_ matte a sale of this portion of the loud to
straw, by which he would be relieved from any further claim on the part of the Government, while the individual_ to whom
Some Awan
Page 300Page 301
.20
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