>
5
converted into inland ones, and the erection of buildings to the Seaward thereof would injure our present property to a very material extent, au extent in some cases far greater pecuniarily, we believe, than is likely to be met by the whole of the premiums to be realized under the second condition of the Acting Surveyor General's Letter already alluded to; and we would observe that the proposition to award a portion of such premiums (which might occasionally be exceedingly small) as compensa- tion to present Marine Lot Holders, is not in accordance with the tenor of our Government Leases which stipulate for full compensation under such circumstances.
But irrespective of any advantages or disadvantages thus appearing :-- as the Northern boundary lines of the properties were, on the construction of the present Praya, clearly and as all believed unchangeably defined, some structures being erected, and some purchases of Land made, in this faith; au exceedingly strong feeling prevails with us that the said existing Loundary lines should not in any case be interfered with or extended, nor should any obstacles be permitted between them and the Sea: even if the whole of the Praya has to be re-built and in so doing it was simul- taneously widened, a measure decidedly beneficial and perhaps ornamental, but one which viewing the financial position of the Colony we hesitate strongly to recommend, we consider that the whole outlay for doing so should fall upon the Colonial Revenue, and that any ground reclaimed--- which should be merely that required for the widening of the Praya-- should form Public and not Private property.
Representing Marine Lot Holders.
Lots 103, 102, 101,
In conclusion we have to request Your Excellency's perusal of the accompanying Extract from the Minutes of the Meeting alluded to in the second page of this Letter, and with the expression of our hope that any alteration of the Praya ultimately decided upon may, before being carried out, be made known to the Public seeing that the work is one in which they are so much interested.-We have, &c.,
FRANCIS CHOMLEY. ROBERT BRAND.
((Signed,)
Committee appointed on behalf of the Marine Lot- Holders,
17
JOHN S. LAPRAIK.
13
GEORGE J. HELLAND.
G. W. MACLEAN.
J.
T. G. LINSTEAD.
1
Extract from the Minutes of a Meeting of Holders (or their representatires) of Marine Lots between the Harbour Master's Office and the Water Police Station held pursuant to notice at the Rooms of the Chamber of Commerce on the 18th day of September, 1864.
Present:
Messrs. SUTHERLAND, HALTON, HELLAND, JOHN LAPRAIK, E. C. SMITH, HAYES, SCHUTZE, NISSEN, LEMANN, BRAND, CHOWLEY, Lanstead, Lamond,
20, 27, 8, 5, 10, 99, MACLEAN, PARRY.
62, 107, 106, 10, 12,
14, 15, 18, 55, 63n,
1, 127, 165, 147,
153, 103, 164, 636.
It was then
Mr. CHOMLEY in the Chair.
*
Proposed by Mr. Lamond, Seconded by Mr. BRAND,
and carried unanimously---
That in the opinion of this Meeting the proposed extension of the Praya to a distance of 100 feet would be opposed to the general interest of the Marine Lot Holders.
It was then
Proposed by Mr. HELLAND, Seconded by Mr. LAPRAIK,
and carried unanimously---
That as the construction of the present Praya was carried out entirely under supervision of the Government Authorities: the Marine Lot Holders do not consider themselves answerable for its alleged defective condition nor bound to incur the cost of re-building the Sea wall; more especially as the distinct understanding with Government on the subject was, that the Praya once built by the Marine Lot Holders its maintenance in proper condition was to be a burden on the Colony at large.
The Acting Surveyor General ( W. Wilson, Esq.) to the Acting Colonial Secretary.
SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE,
VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 28th September, 1864.
SIR-I beg to acknowledge receipt of Letter from a Committed appointed on behalf of certain Marine Lot Holders to the address of His Excellency on the subject of my Circular Letter of 15th August last.
The Committee take exception in the first place to the clause in my Circular "The Praya wall has been so badly constructed by the Tenants "of the adjoining Marine Lots" it is true as stated that some portion of the wall has endured the force of ordinary gales for some years past, at the same time the holes that are constantly to be seen in the Praya are caused by the waves washing through the wall which alone shows how weak it must be and unable to stand a heavy gale, moreover during spring tides the water washes over the wall more than half way across the Praya shewing that it is not built sufficiently high, till this is remedied the adjoining Buildings will always be endangered in the event of a heavy gale and the expense in repairs to the Praya Road must be considerable.
I have remarked only this morning the water washing over the Sea wall west of Pedder's Wharf but in front of the European Godowns.
The wall still further west in the vicinity of the China Houses is between 2 and 3 feet higher and is built quite as well as the rest of the wall west of Pedder's Wharf.
With regard to the next Paragraph drawing His Excellency's attention to the fact that the Sea wall was constructed under Government super- intendence, I may remark that the same thing is being done now opposite the P. & O. Coal Stores and opposite and on either side of the Gas Works, the wall is being there constructed under Government plans but certainly not to my satisfaction. I am constantly protesting against the wretched manner in which the work is being executed and warning the Tenants that I simll not take over the wall when completed but I can do nothing more, and I feel sure Mr. Cleverly did the same thing while the wall between the Harbour Master's Office and Water Police Wharf was
306