the Government Notification of the 10th November on the subject of the Praya. Those are the only Meetings that have taken place on that subject. I did not concur in their rejection of the proposals contained in that notification. I thought them highly desirable.
With respect to the first Proposition contained in the Schedule, I should think that the work ought to be undertaken immediately, and that it should be executed quickly, as it is a Matter of very pressing importance. If Government undertakes it, that can be done. If undertaken by the community it will not be so quickly done. The conflicting interests of the Marine Lot-Holders are such, and the finances of some of them are in such a condition, that it never will be done unless Government does it.
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321 not to speak of other matters, in a sanitary point of view it is absolutely necessary that the work should be begun and completed at once. Our population is 160,000. Every description of filth is carried to the beach. There are accumulations under the shore of fifty solid feet of putrifying matter. When there is once proper sea-boundary control by the Government, such nuisances will be prevented for the future. At present it cannot be done. There are numerous other reasons for the immediate completion of the work; - the prevention of fire - the opening of the torrent - the prevention of the "squeezing" of Chinese for leave to land, - a source of livelihood to some of those who have made these encroachments.