proposed in Colonel Moggridge's tracing is most singularly unfortunate as ensuring – the maximum of annoyance to the inmates of Government House and especially to the residents in Garden Road close to the Albany Nullah.
23. Under existing arrangements the Military are, to their own acknowledgement according, amply provided, free of charge, with rifle-range accommodation at Kowloon, where that accommodation is most required by them, and it is not therefore reasonable that more should be required of the Colonial Government by the Commanding Royal Engineer. If, however, there be anxiety for this point, it should at once be allayed by the knowledge that among the vacant lands of the peninsula no difficulty will be experienced in selecting another suitable site for a rifle range, when in the natural course of events the present one shall have been hemmed in by Buildings and Gardens; and there is no reason why this second alternative site at Kowloon should not at once be selected and reserved for future Military purposes upon the same Conditions as those which accompany the tenure of the range now.
Having now gone through the conditions and suggestions in detail as regards water Supply, Sewage, powder Magazine, and rifle ranges, it only remains for me to call your attention to the fact that if any of these conditions or Suggestions are assented to, the Colonial Government will find itself burdened with grave responsibilities in exchange for a certain something which, inferring from the tenor of the Military correspondence, would purport to be in the nature of a valuable concession, but which on examination proves to be the reverse. If the New road is to be carried through only at the inordinate cost of a tunnel, then it cannot be carried through at all, for not even on the most advantageous terms would the proceeds of the land sales contribute a tithe of the Cost.
Further, on examination, there are no Lands available for Sale, since beginning from the West, Colonel