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the Public Works Committee on the occasion of selecting the
design from which you will learn that the Committee recommend
that the building which as indicated in the 7th. paragraph
of Sir Willian Gascoigne's Despatch No. 299 of the 9th. of
July, 1902, was designed to ultimately receive a fourth storey, Oshould now be built four instead of 3 storeys high.
I strongly support that recommendation on
the grounds of economy. To add a fourth storey hereafter would
be a costly undertaking, and it is evident that with the rapid
growth of this Colony more accommodation will be required for
the Post Office and other Offices in the not distant future.
In the meantime it is wasteful not to make
full use of such an expensive site commanding one of the best
positions in the business centre of the City. A fourth storey
can in the opinion of the Director of Public Works be added
at a cost of $85,000 and at a moderate estimate the floor
could be let as offices for an annual rental of $9,600 thus
giving Government a return of 11.20% on the extra outlay for
the additional storey.
There can be no question about securing
tenants for a floor in such a position, and I would therefore
ask your authority to increase the stipulated limit of ex-
penditure to $585,000 and to take the necessary steps for
making the building of four storeys.
I shall be glad to learn your decision in
the matter by telegraph as the addition of a storey will en-
tail some slight modifications in the design and additions
to the detailed specifications upon which the Architects are
at
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