531
C.O.
29623
(@) 30 CT 09)
stone at the point at which the road was to begin by my predecessor at which ceremony General Black was present.
7. However, a short time after the arrival of Major-General Gascoigne, I submitted the papers to him with a minute dated 12th January 1899, and on the 17th January I received his answer in which he agreed with Major-General Black that a road round Mount Davis near sea level would be highly undesirable in a military sense.
8. As there is a considerable difference of opinion in the Colony as to the advisability of this road apart from the military aspect I allowed the matter to rest in the hope that the trustees might see their way out of the difficulty by calling a meeting of the subscribers, but in the beginning of August I was informed that the Committee were preparing a statement to be submitted to you, which statement I received a few days after the receipt of your despatch.
Encl. 1 in
As the opinions of Major-General Gascoigne and of the Director of Public Works were mentioned I sent copies of the letter of the Committee to them for their observations. You will observe that Major-General Gascoigne's views are materially modified, and his last minute does not convey to me that there would be any serious military objection to the road.
9.
Personally, as I have stated in my minute, apart from military consideration, I see no reason why the road should not be first made in accordance with the resolution, especially