48
49
642
No. 554.
SIR,
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
Hong Kong, 29th March, 1892.
In reply to your letter of 26th instant, I am directed to request you with a view to enabling the Governor to decide whether any, and, if so, what compensation should be made to you, to furnish the Surveyor General with proof of the alleged depreciation of your property.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
G. T. M. O'BRIEN,
Colonial Secretary,
HONGKONG, 30th March, 1892.
SIR,
HONGKONG, 21st June, 1892.
On the 30th March last, I addressed you with reference to the Reclamation in front of Marine Lot No. 184, but up to this date have not received a reply.
I now desire to bring to the notice of His Excellency the Governor that this delay is affecting me prejudicially; for, if the Reclamation is to be carried out in front of our Lot, I wish to look out for another desirable place for Godowns, and if not to be so carried out, then to make arrangements to develop the business connected with our present Godowns.
It will be apparent that a prudent man will not act in such a matter except upon certain knowledge, hence my reason for again asking what is proposed to be done with us.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
T. HOWARD, Esq.
SIR,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant in which you request me to furnish the Surveyor General with proof of the alleged depreciation of our property, situated on Marine Lot No. 184.
In reply, I have to say that as the Reclamation has not yet interposed between our property and the sea, no depreciation has at present taken place, and it is therefore impossible to prove an unascertained loss.
And further, were the Reclamation an accomplished fact, I do not know any method by which the depreciation could be ascertained except by a sale of the property.
If, however, His Excellency still desires it, I shall have much pleasure in putting myself in communication with the Surveyor General.
Colonial Secretary.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
THOS. HOWARD.
The Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
No. 160.
SIR,
THOS. HOWARD.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 23rd June, 1892.
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 21st instant, and to observe that your letter of 30th March last stating your willingness to place yourself in communication with the Director of Public Works required no answer.
In reply to the enquiry contained in the last paragraph of your letter under acknowledgment, I am to refer you to my letter of 24th March last, and to inform you that the Governor has nothing to add to it.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
G. T. M. O'BRIEN,
Colonial Secretary,
The Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN, C.M.G.,
SIR,
HONGKONG, 29th April, 1892.
On the 19th September last, I wrote to the Acting Colonial Secretary with reference to compensation for Piers, under the Praya Reclamation Ordinance.
Since that time, our Pier was damaged by the work of the Reclamation, and with the consent of the Government, the greater part of it has been removed, and the use of it has thus been lost.
I have, therefore, now to ask if His Excellency the Governor will give instructions that the amount of our claim, if in order, may be paid; and if not in order, I should feel obliged for information as to what is wrong with it.
I have the honour to be,
To the Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
THOS. HOWARD.
THOMAS HOWARD, Esq.
SIR,
HONGKONG, 24th June, 1892,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, referring me to your letter of the 24th March for an answer to my letter addressed to you on the 21st instant.
I have referred to that letter, and it states that His Excellency proposes to consult with the Surveyor General before deciding whether any, and, if so, what compensation should be made.
It is now three months since that letter was written, and, as yet, nothing definite has been arrived at.