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2
: Closure April Flow 1727 Gue 2.
On the 22nd ultimo, a letter, of which the enclosed is a copy, was received from Prof. Simpson and Mr. Chadwick, recommending that the Government should avail itself of the opportunity afforded by the fire to resume certain areas under the Crown Land Resumption Ordinance, in order to effect some desirable sanitary improvements in that locality. The resumption will, as is stated by the Sanitary Board, open up a very densely crowded neighbourhood and be of great benefit to the health of the neighbourhood.
3.
As the plans for the re-erection of some of the houses had already been submitted to the Director of Public Works, it was necessary to take immediate action in order to prevent serious loss to the Colony in the event of resumption being decided upon at a later period. I accordingly called upon the Director of Public Works for a rough estimate of the cost of the proposed resumption, and as a result of the information so obtained, I submitted the proposed scheme to you by telegraph on the 3rd instant. After the receipt of your telegraphic messages of the 9th and 20th instant, to which I replied on the 22nd, I received from you on the 23rd instant your approval of the proposed resumption, the cost of which, according to the Director of Public Works, should not exceed $80,000. I have accordingly instructed Mr. Chatham to approach the owners of the property with a view to purchase, and full information of the result of the negotiations will be conveyed to you in due course.
232.77 cover
4.
I have already transmitted to you, under cover of my Despatch No. 199 of the 13th instant, Mr. Chadwick's