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not desire to retain the lands, they are to be sold in the open market and proceeds paid to the Treasury, the amount being entered in a special account to the debit of the Colonial Government - (such special account being credited with any lands and buildings given by the Colonial Government to the Military Authorities in return).
Par.6. is important because it empowers the Colonial Government, if it thinks fit, to retain any lands which the Military Authorities give up on a valuation being made of the Market value of their fee simple at the date of surrender, which market value would be entered to the debit of the Colonial Government as would also be the fair selling value of any buildings on the land except such buildings as were erected at the cost of the Colony.
Par.11 states that the foregoing proposal must not be taken to affect the obligation of a Colony to provide lands for military purposes as required or to contributing according to its means towards its own defence.
From the terms of the above Circular Despatch of Lord Ripon's, I deduce the fact that, if the Military Authorities no longer require the lands in question, the Colonial Government has, under the terms of that Despatch, the right either to retain the land and buildings no longer required by the Military, or if they do not desire to retain the land and buildings, to sell them or such part of them as they do not wish to retain.
It seems to be especially necessary that the rights of this Government should be insisted upon because, if the Military Authorities are giving up a large tract of land with buildings on it in one place, they are sure to make demands for land in other places.
The