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7. However, a short time after the arrival of Major-General GASCOIGNE, I submitted the papers to him with a minute dated 13th January, 1899, and on the 17th January I received his answer, in which he agreed with Major-General BLACK that a road round Mount Davis near sea level would be highly undesirable in a Military sense.
8. As there is a considerable difference of opinion in the Colony as to the advisability of this road, apart from the Military aspect, I allowed the matter to rest, in the hope that the Trustees might see their way out of the difficulty by calling a meeting of the subscribers, but in the beginning of August I was informed that the Committee were preparing a statement to be submitted to you, which statement I received a few days after the receipt of your despatch. As the opinions of Major- General GASCOIGNE and of the Director of Public Works were mentioned I sent copies of the letter of the Committee to them for their observations. You will observe that Major-General GASCOIGNE's views are materially modified, and his last minute does not convey to me that there would be any serious Military objection to the road.
9. Personally, as I have stated in my minute, apart from Military considera- tion, I see no reason why the road should not be first made in accordance with the resolution, especially as the Government is bound to continue the road until its completion round the island, but as the question has been submitted to you I think it better to forward with the letter of the Committee all the correspondence and minutes in the case that you may have an opportunity of seeing it in all its bearings, and, as Major-General GASCOIGNE intimates the probability in his last minute that the construction of the road may probably necessitate some alteration in the scheme of defence you may consider it advisable to have the views of the Defence Com- mittee on the subject. I may add that the statement in the letter of the Committee as to the position of the proposed road and the extremely rugged character of the shore is quite correct.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble Servant,
The Right Honourable
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
c.,
St.,
&c.
H. A. BLAKE,
Governor.
No. 94 G.
Sir,
(Governor to General Officer Commanding.)
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 30th Noveniber, 1898.
I have the honour to enquire whether in Your Excellency's opinion there is any Military objection to the construction of the Victoria Jubilee Road between Kennedy Town and Aberdeen by carrying it round Mount Davis on the sea side.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
HENRY A. BLAKE,
Governor,
His Excellency
Major-General BLACK, C.B.