152
LAND COURT, 8th February, 1905.
SIR,I have the honour to submit the following report of my work as a Member of the Land Court during the past year.
2. I was appointed a Member of the Land Court on the 2nd March, and immediately proceeded to deal with New Kowloon, Survey Districts I, II, III. V, IX, and CCCCI, taking on the work where Mr. GÓMPERTŻ left it. The follow- ing table will show the progress of the work :—
S.D.
Total of Lot Nos.
Total Acreage.
Date on which Report
was completed.
I
4,263
382.57
17th Aug., 1904.
II
1,878
250.81
25th July, 1904.
III
1,029
187,88
21st June, 1904.
Y
107
9.82
1st July, 1904.
IX
33
9.56
26th May, 1904.
401
501
18.80
26th April, 1904.
Each holding was considered separately and each claimant heard personally.
3. Outside the Cadastral Lots, I also dealt with the question of the Lyeemoon Quarries, compiling the list of Quarry-owners on which the present arrangements are based.
4. On finishing this judicial work I undertook the preparation of Crown Leases and of a Crown Rent Roll in addition to my own areas for areas with which Mr. GoMPERTZ and Mr. CLEMENTI had dealt, viz., New Kowloon Survey District IV, and the following islands :-Lan Tao, Lamma, Po Toi and Tsing Ỉ. The Rent Rolls for New Kowloon and these Islands were completed and sent to the Treasury at the end of November; and the Crown Leases for the islands to the Government Printers for binding on the 21st of December.
5. The New Kowloon Crown Leases are still engaging my attention. It was necessary to harmonize the various scales used in the different surveys, and to subdivide holdings where a part only was allowed. Mr. GREY, of the P. W. D., has helped me in this and has also prepared plans in which the boundaries of each holding have been revised in detail for attachment to the Crown Leases. I hope shortly to submit these leases for signature.
Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretory.
I have, &c.,
J. R. WOOD,
Member, Land Court.