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go far towards balancing the assessed value of the land
to be acquired at Devils Peak by the War Department.
Should, however, the deficiency prove considerable, it
will be for consideration whether land suitable for a
training ground at Devils Peak or elsewhere could not,
for a time at any rate, be hired from the Colonial
Government, and I am to request that you will furnish a
separate report on this question when the situation has
been cleared up as a result of the arbitration.
As the nature and scope of the exchanges of
land between the War Office and Colonial Government,
and the acceptance of arbitration, have been agreed to
by the War Department and Colonial Office, and approved
by the Treasury, the fresh proposals contained in your
letters 1811/1/z/17, of the 24th May, 1902, and 2072/1150
of the same date, involved matters of difficulty as
their adoption would necessarily re-open a question
which has already been decided. Had a telegram been
despatched at the time stating the intention to abandon
the more extended scheme at Devils Peak, this difficulty
would not have arisen. As it is, it appears preferable
that the arbitration should proceed as determined, and
that an authoritative assessment of values should be
obtained, before taking into consideration the new pro...
posals, or any alternatives that may meanwhile appear
desirable.
At the same time, provided the consent of the
Colonial Government be obtained, there will be no
objection