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Annexure.
Extract from Minutes of Proceedings of the Executive Council at a Meeting held at Government House. Port Louis, on Friday, the 17th June, 1881.
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, with reference to the Order of the Lieutenant- Governor in Council on the 1st June, 1881, brought up his Report, dated the 9th June, 1881, on the application of the Orient Steam Navigation Company relative to a coaling-station and a lighthouse at Diego Garcia.
The Council advise that the islands (Middle Island and East Island) contiguous to Diego Garcia, also a sufficient site on the mainland on which to build a lighthouse, be leased to the Orient Steam Navigation Company for fifty years, at a rental of 250 rupees per annum, on condition that the Company engage that the construction, lighting and management of the lighthouse shall be at their expense, and in accordance with the Admiralty Regulations. At the close of the lease, all buildings to become the property of the Government.
By command of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.
(Signed)
DONALD STUART, Acting Secretary to Executive Council.
Appendix No. 4.
DIEGO GARCIA,
Council Office. June 22, 1881.
No. 62.
Sir,
Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Downing Street, March 21, 1882. WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 7th January,* I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for any observations which the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad may desire to make, the inclosed copy of a letter from Mr. Lund, complaining of the terms on which a portion of West Island, Diego Garcia, has been leased to him as a coaling-station, and applying for a lease of the whole of West Island on similar terms to those granted to the Orient Company in the case of East and Middle Islands.
Mr. Lund has stated that he is prepared to accept a lease for a term sufficient to justify him in establishing a coaling-station, subject to the condition that his tenure should be subject to any orders or requirements which might at any time be imposed for reasons connected with defence.
I am, &c. (Signed)
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
Inclosure 1 in No. 62.
Mr. Lund to the Earl of Kimberley.
4
My Lord,
18, Jewry Street, Aldgate, E.C., London, February 7, 1882. ALLOW me to refer to your Lordship's letters dated 16th and 21st July last, which were in answer to my application for facilities and a grant of land on the Island of Diego Garcia in order to establish a coaling-station there.
At your Lordship's suggestion I applied to the Government of Mauritius for a lease of the three small islands at the entrance to the harbour, and in answer to my application I received a letter dated Mauritius, 21st November, 1881 (copy of which I incloset), offering me such portion of the smallest (western) island as may hereafter be determined on a monthly tenancy, at a rental of 10 rupees per month, and equally to terminate at a month's notice.
Your Lordship will readily understand that it would be impossible for me to create a coaling- station and erect buildings for my staff on land on monthly terms. I am informed that at the same time (not prior) a lease was granted to the Orient Steam Navigation Company of both the Middle and Eastern Islands for a similar purpose, and it appears to me that one coaling-station being pretty much of the same consequence as the other, an equal distribution of one whole island to each applicant would have been more fair, and your Lordship's own suggestion to me of the 20th July last to apply for the three islets increases my disappointment in being offered only an undefined portion of one on quite impracticable terms. The grant to the Orient Steam Navigation Company practically amounts to such a monopoly as your Lordship declined to entertain on my first application.
I would now ask your Lordship to place me on the same terms as the Orient Steam Navigation Company, and grant me a lease of the whole of the Western Isle at such a fair yearly rental as your Lord- ship may determine. The Orient Steam Navigation Company pay 280 rupees per annum for the two largest islands.
I may further mention that I have one coal hulk already at the island from which I have supplied amongst others one of Her Majesty's ships, and a second hulk is on the way out.
My coaling-station has been in full operation since October last, but greatly inconvenienced from the want of some land, for which reason I would humbly pray your Lordship to accede to my request.
* No. 61.
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I am, &c.
(Signed)
W. LUND.
Inclosure 2.
3 D
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