CO129-039 - Sir Bonham - 1852 [1-12] — Page 189

receive due attention in a higher quarter

2-

.

2. We propose in the first instance to state the grievance, and then to propose the remedy.-

3. Our grievance is, that whereas at

the time our Lalaries were

1

in a

fixed by Government they were actually equivalent to what they represented in the necessaries of life, now by payment

depreciated coin subsequently.___ introduced, their value is already lowered by nearly one twelfth, and we are much in the

same position as if instead of receiving twelve months pay for our service we received pay but for eleven months.

4.

On the cession of Hongkong, the Government Accounts were kept like

I

184

those of Murchant's in Shanish Dollars.

Salaries were valued and hayments made in this Coin; but on the subsequent settlement of the Jovernment Establishments, salaries valued in British Sterling money,

were

the mode of keeping the Treasury books www altered accordingly, and on Proclamation was issued on thay 1845, declaring that British coin chould be the legal standard, and Dollars and Rupees be legal tenilen at cntain fixed rates-

we were

At first, there being little or no British coin in the Colony, but slightly affected by this, for, poupments were made as previously

in Spanish Dollars- broing however to

what we co-ceive to have been a mistaken notion of the commissariat Officer as to the convenina of

British