16
From the above quotation in your letter it is clear that payment becomes due when the wharf had been removed and rendered useless.
You further state in your letter under reply and above quoted “your wharf or the greater portion of it still stands" and this notwithstanding my repeated assertions that the greater part has been removed.
That His Excellency may be enabled to judge for himself as to the portion of such pier taken away, I send you herewith two Plans, the one being the Original marked No. 1, and the other the Extension thereto marked No. 2.
The whole of the Extension Pier and also that portion of the Original Pier as are covered on the plans referred to with a fly-leaf sheet of paper have been removed.
From these it will be seen that the greater part of the superficial area has been removed and taken away, and as that area covered the greatest depth of water, requiring longer piles, and the piles greater in girth, it is clear that by far the greater portion of the cubical contents has been removed; and certainly all that portion which gave the Pier its value as an earning power by reason of Steamers being enabled to come alongside.
And now that Steamers cannot come alongside, the remaining portion of the pier is rendered useless for the very purpose for which the whole of the Pier was built.
With this explanation and the plans I think His Excellency will see the justice of the amount of compensation awarded being paid forthwith and I have therefore again to ask that he will give directions accordingly.
The Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Acting Colonial Secretary
I have, &c. (Signed)
MATTHEW J. D. STEPHENS.
SIR,
17
No. 28.
18, Bank Buildings,
Hongkong, June 7th, 1894.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date written
in reply to mine of the 23rd and 31st ultimo, in which you state that, "there is nothing to add to my letter No. 788 of the 22nd ultimo.”
Your letter of the 22nd ultimo stated that His Excellency the Governor had directed you to point out that the object for fixing a date for payment of compensation was that the payment should be made when the wharf had been removed and rendered useless by reason of the progress of the Reclamation Works, and that as the wharf or the greater portion of it still stands and is in daily use I have no cause to complain in respect of the nonpayment of the compensation.
To this letter I replied on the 23rd ultimo, explaining that His Excellency was under a misapprehension in stating that the wharf or the greater portion thereof was still in existence : and I sent two Plans showing that the greater portion had been removed, and stated that the remaining portion was useless for the very purpose for which the whole of the Pier was built,
I have now further to add that the wharf was damaged and rendered useless by reason of the progress of the works of the Reclamation, and the greater portion thereof was removed with the knowledge and consent of the Government; and that the remaining portion has no earning power, but is simply used by Chinese customers for packing sugar, &c. for which use no payment is made.
Seeing therefore that the conditions precedent to payment as set forth both in your letter and the Ordinance have taken place, I have again to ask that the compensation awarded shall now be paid :----failing which no alternative is left me but to take such steps as I may be advised to obtain payment.
SIR,
No. 26.
18, Bank Buildings, Hongkong, 31st May, 1894.
I ADDRESSED a letter to you on the 23rd Instant, regarding the Pier opposite to Marine Lot No. 184 and at the same time forwarded to you two plans of such pier referred to in the letter for the special perusal of His Excellency the Governor for the objects expressed in the letter---Annexed I send you a copy of such letter.
I can only express surprise to find a letter I wrote to you 8 days since has not yet been received by you although the letter was duly handed in at the Colonial Secretary's Office at 9.45 am, on the 23rd Instant, and signed for.
To make sure that this letter is delivered I on this occasion hand it to you personally.
The Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
MATTHEW J. D. STEPHENS,
No. 865.
NIB,
No. 27.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 6th June, 1894.
In reply to your letters of the 23rd and 31st ultimo, I am directed to inform you that there is nothing to add to my letter No. 738 of the 22nd ultimo.
The plans which accompanied your letter of the 23rd ultimo are returned herewith.
M. J. D. STEPHENS, Esq.
&c., &c., &c.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.
Acting Colonial Secretary.
I have, &c.
The Hon. J. H. Stewart LOCKHART, Acting Colonial Secretary.
(Signed)
MATTHEW J. D. STEPHENS.
No. 29.
No. 879.
SIR,
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 8th June, 1894.
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant on the subject
of the payment of compensation in respect of the pier opposite Marine Lot No. 184.
M. J. D. STEPHENS, Esq.
&c., &c., &c.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.
Acting Colonial Secretary.
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