Enclosure No. 1 to Governor's Despatch
No. 40 of the 14th October, 1901
From Punchard, Lowther and Company to the Colonial Secretary
Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary,
B. H. Naval Yard Extension, Hongkong, 8th November, 1900
Sir,
With reference to our interview and discussion of this afternoon regarding the leasing of the Quarry Farm for the ensuing year, at your request we now beg to submit the following suggestions on the matter.
As you are aware, we are the Contractors for the important Admiralty works recently commenced here.
In this work a very large quantity of Granite is required, the obtaining of which will extend over a period of probably five years, during which time it is essential that a constant and ample supply be forthcoming in order that the work may be completed in the specified time.
Whilst we have no desire to evade in any way the Government Royalty, we are faced with the difficulty that the Quarry Farmer for the time being may so impede our supply of stone as to materially delay or even stop the work.
We are thus obliged to make a special appeal that the condition of the letting of the Quarry Farm may be so modified as to secure us the essential supply for carrying out the work.
The present Quarry Farm System, as we have already found, enables the Contractor to hinder or deny the supply of Granite in works in which he is not interested.
There are several forms of modification which we beg to lay before you.
1. That the letting of the Quarry Farm may be split up into two or more sections as was done in former years.
2. That a particular section of the Quarries be leased to us either by tender or private arrangement.
3. That the lease or arrangement in our particular ...