728592-1844-02-Apr-1844 — Page 1

THE FRIEND

OF CHINA

AND HONG KONG GAZETTE.

PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND SATURDAY.

VOL. III, No. 120.

VICTORIA, TUESDAY, APRIL. 2nd, 1844.

PRICE 12 per annum.

NOTIFICATIONThe publication of the Hongkong Gazette under the authority of Government, will be discontinued from this date: but all public orders and notificatious appearing in "The Friend of China and Hongkong Gazette," with the signatures of daly authorized Functionaries of the Government are sull lo be considered as official,

Hongkong, March, 20d 1840.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

By order,

J ROBT MORTUUSON, Acting Secretary and Treasurer:

nor of Hongkong, We wore nover given ta under. wh to the continued pressure of public busi of 75 years duration, fur les that at the end of that stand that the lands were only to be held under n lease Owing ness, His Excellency the Governor regrets that be period the buildings erected thereon were to become cannot devote more than que day in the week for the property of Her Majesty without compensation of the reception of Visitors-that day will for the funny kind; on the contrary we understood that the turo be Thursday.

tebure was to be perpetual, though the details were Part open for after arrangement.

order,

RICHARD WOOSNAM, Government House, Victoria, Hongkong, 12th February, 1844.

ENGINEER CONTRACT. Norica is hereby given, that Tenders will be received at this Offico until Friday, the 12th of April, at noon, from such persons as may ba willing to contract for cutting and levelling ground at this place, according to plans and specifications, of which information may be obtainkd at the Office of the Commanding Royal and Superintending Engineer, on any day after the 6th of April.

Commissariat, Victoria, 28th March, 1844.

E. PINE COFFIN, C. G.

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. (To the Editor of the Friend of China. ) SIR,Iam sorptized at your ignorance in reference to the remarks made use of by our worthy Chief Magistrate, on a larg occasion, when he observed that Ginger Bear" was conducive to.

even as acute an obwuryer nå yourself. No doubt hin Hohent is a disciple of the great German Philosopher and Physiciat, Han noman, the Author and discoverer of one of the greatest sciences in the We-his Homeopathy. By whose researches it has been discovered that infinitesimal doses of Medicines have greater power, than whon exhibited in the cart load duges of our English Physicions, thus the Millionth part of a grain of Colomel by this system is found elective, when ton grains were abortive, and a Thimbleial of Brandy in a gallon of Soda Water, more refreshing than a regular bearker with a bottle of the same. The one drop of Spirit, which a quart Botilo of Ginger Beer contains, (and I have had a correct nûnlysis of this quantity made) je found in this infinitesimal doge, anual conducive to drunkopous, and I would advinn ovory thirsty soul to be most cautions in his application of

1 um Sir,

drunkeness. I can understand it, thought it to a tonen

the comedy.

Your obedt, Servant

A ROMEOPATHUST,

(To the Editor of the Friend of China.) SIR, ----Being a Purchaser of Two Lượts of Land at the late Sulg, When I HAVE REASON TO BELAKYE WILL DE CONFIRMED BY TUE GIỖ, VERNMENT, ACCORDING TO THE TÈRMA DRAWN DP BY THE LEGAL

ADVISER. I fool, sinturally, very anxious to know, when I shall be

able to approach the Lots I have purchased.

I see little or no preparation towards making the Roads, and I believe such was an oxpress stipulation, on the part of the Go- vernment, at the Salo. It was asorted that they would bear the expence, and until they are formed it is practicably impossible, to carry up building materials to many of the allotments-nino 1 regret are so situated.

I am a pan of few words, and generally sponk on any subject as I feel, especially on matters of business. When I make a contract with any Individual I always hold myself bound by it, and I equally look for the fulfilment of obligations by others,

In the present instance I would appeal to you as a man of ex- perience, whether it is stript Justice, that I should pay Rent from the day of Salo, or thut it should commence before the Govern. mont have fulfilled their portion of the contract. Was there such a thing as committional Law to be found in this Colony. I would appen), but as matter how are, redress in hopeles, CANT written Notilentions, of matters of noimport, are lesued in the Pompous Legal phraseolow of a bygone century I grant, whilst - the interests of our Merchants and Landowners are leglected by those who are paid as their Proteolors, →

The Government have taken advantage of this cironms. cribed spot on which we are placed, by the en upset prices they have required for the Land On the site Shore is a beautiful side for the formation of n much so that no Individual more wise in his cal Our Government, has been

Chinese whore he intend.

oblain one under: Brius

other pulposer. 1

held our font savas

recommend that we t

redress.

Shouldthe next Ben

not feel sorry for thi

place from

lor ship linddog.

Lavoult trovert

mouns of prvening a great outlay of capi

house, for nothing else can

I am Sit

||

was to securu to firms and all other persons (British or foreigners) having permanent interests in the count. ry, sufficient spaen for their necessities, or moderate to accommodate themselves according to their rate with as little competition as might enable parties

-respec tive wants, I feel assured upon attentive reflction that steady adherence to this rule will be found most con- ductive to the well understood interests of the establish- Indeed, in a letter from Capt. Elliot, H. M. Plenipo|ment, and to the fair claims of persons upon the spot; tentiary, under date Macro, 17th June, 1841, the prin- parties falling within the description I have specified, ciple of granting losses on very moderate terms, eilser not yet supplied with lots, will soon be in a situation to in fee simple, or at a low annual quit reat, was distinctly accomodate themselves. promised. We beg leave to annex to this letter a copy of the Document it question. At the time of sale it was stipulated on behalf of Government that we were to expend a certain sum in the way of buildings &e. on the lands in order to secure their possesion to us, which we cheerfully assented to, bever doubting that we should be dealt with by the Government on fir To Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co, and and equitable principles.

On the faith of this pledge by the representation of Government and before the terms of the proposed leases become known to us we had expended on Sea Walls. Warehouses a

and Dwellings vor considerable sums, but had we been previously aware of the conditions now proposeil, we certainly should not have expended one Farthing on buildings at Hongkong.

May I request you, gentlemen, to circulate this letter,

I havo the honor to be,

1/

No. 92

Your most obedient humble servant. (Signed)____________ CHARLES ELLIOT,

Chief Superintendent, charged with the Government of Hongkong.

Dent & Co.

COLONIAL Department, Government House, Victoris, Hongkong, March 6th, 1844. Gentlemen, -I am directed by His Excellency the Governor in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 4th instant to the address of Sir We would remind your orlleney that the current Henry Pottinger with one enclosure, and am to no- interest of money in China in from ten to twelve per quant you that copies of those documents will be trans gent per annum, so that a building costing $75,000mitted by an early opportunity for the consideration

will stay the owner in the annual interest of 7,500 || and commands of Her Majesty's Govel Vathe

in addition to the quit rent payable for the ground, and by the proposed from of lease, to this would have to be added the annual depreciation of a property to be given up without compensation of any kind at the end of 75 years, forming altogether so heavy an annual burden, as to be without a parallel in any British or other colony.

We trust therefore that your Excellency will see the expedience of modifying the term of the lease so far as power of increasing the ground rent, at fixed periods. to make it perpetual, government still retaining the

way of 75 years, according to what may then be the value of land in the colony. We have the fullest con- viction that this would fond greatly to the prosperity of the settlement. Indeed, rather than expend money on building under the proposed tenure, most foreignors will prefer resorting to Maono, Canton, and the other Chinese ports whore buildings can be rented on far more moderate terms.

Wou

To may be allowed to point out to your Excellency that an adherence on the part of government to the pro-

posed torms of louse would thus eventually be placing those who first commenced improving their property at Hongkong and who from the sums nlready expended cannot withdraw from the occupation of their buildings without ruinous loss, most unfavorable terms compared with others who have the option of resorting to placeS where land can be bought or rented on much more mHO- derate conditions, and wo submit that it never can bə the wish or intention of I. M Government to place the early occupants of land in the new settlement in such a position.

Bould your Excellency consider it within your power to accede to our request as to a revision of the loase, we would at a future period venture to suggest altera. tions on some of the ntinor poins which wo have not deemed it expedient to notice in our prosent communis cation

We live the fullest confidence in your Excelloney's sense of justice and in the

our claims to a muro equitable temire:

1. Considera

Your Excellency

are the hudor to tenALIT

ible auryte. MATHESON & Co

||

|

I am at the same time directed to say, loney in Council is by no means prepared validity of the

Excul

letter, or to recommend to Her Majesty's Government general reasoning made use of in your

an arquiesence in the aweeping terms of your appli

cation

You must be already perfectly aware from thò va- tione notifications which have been published regard. ing Crown Land in this Colony of three points; 1st, That the Governor in Council has been positively prohibited by instructions from England from allent- Ing land in this Colony either in perpetuity or for any period beyond that which might be sufficient to induce persona to erect substantial Buildings de. 2ndly, That Her Majesty's Government did not see fit to recognize.--- Grants or Sales of Land that had been made by, or under, any authority whatsoever up to the period of The exchange of the Rattention of the Treaty of Nankin, and Ordly, That a Committee was ordered to be appointed to inquire into the equitable claims of all Holders of land, to define the classes to which par- Ucular lots should benceforward belong, as well as their future unnual rent, and to arrange for the disposal of further lots by Public Auction c

That Committee on being appointed proceeded to fulfil the important and invidious trust reposed in then with the most anxious and painstaking impartiality: and not only did the local Government see reason to consider its valuations, arrangements, and recommen-

dations liberal and just nad as such to sanction and confirm them; but it may be observed that this opt. nion was very shortly after absolutely demonstrated and confirmed by the publle voice na evinced in the fact that at the recent sale of Crown Lands every single lot fetched above the upeat price, which upset price was the rent of corresponding lots averaged and fixou by the Commillos,

I um also desired to remind you that not ong indivi

unty of the purchasers of land at the Bales ta Girante authorized by Captain Elliot or Mr. Johns- ton fuldhed the proscribed terms of those Sales or Grants. That it thentu followed that too greater number of those Sales and Greatz might have been declared to be pull unt

up to public its value had been fanatly unlianced The late Sale by Auction. That that the result of those unbanergient 24 proved as wel

of the money pended dinon the in this y quo fland becking n

but the

Vieroila Marych, 3111814.

NEW CON

NING THE

То Н. Е. Віг Никих

SIR Hymng lind from of th

hot and