But
perhaps the best way to convince the sceptical is to republish the
following authentic official notice, which excited a good deal of
adverse comment at the time as a piece of rather sharp practice, seeing
that the work of exploration had not closed:—
Government have issued the following Proclamation :—
"
In continuation of the Notice issued from this Office on the 14th
instant, the Public are hereby informed, that His Excellency the
Governor has been pleased to appoint T. C. Power, Esq., Assistant
Government Agent of Kuru-negala, to be Special Commissioner for the
issue of Licenses to Dig, Search for, and Remove Gold, on any land
belonging to the Crown according to the annexed form.
A
fee of Ten shillings will be payable on every License so issued, which
will remain in force for one month from the date of issue.
By His Excellency's Command,
C. J. MacCarthy., Col. Secy.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Colombo, March 17th, 1854.
No.
1854.
The bearer
having
paid to me the sum of
on
account of the Land Revenue, I hereby license him to dig, search for,
and remove Gold on and from any such Crown Land within the Province, as
I shall assign to him for that purpose during the month of
1854.
This License must be produced whenever demanded by me or any other person acting under the authority of Government."
