Pottinger. But, on the sickness of the Surveyor General, on my arrival I found that the work had made little or no progress.
The faith of the Government being pledged to provide these persons with a location, and to give up the old lots by the 22nd of July, I was obliged to execute without further reference the proposal sanctioned by my predecessor, and I directed the Surveyor General to proceed as quickly as possible in preparing a Contract, accompanied by the necessary Estimate for this purpose.
The near approach, however, of the time when possession was to be given, with the necessity of holding the former locations, made it necessary to re-commence the work under the immediate direction of the Surveyor General's Department, and it was not till it was nearly completed that an Estimate could be sent in of the expense incurred.
The total charge for levelling the hill and preparing the ground for the 115 Chinese house holders thus removed amounts to the sum of $5,956.
As a check upon the expenditure, the Estimate was referred to Major Aldrich, the Chief Engineer, who has reported that considering the haste required, and the heavy rains that obstruct all such operations at this season, the outlay has been properly incurred.
In one respect I have departed from the recommendation of the Committee, and disallowed the claim...
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