:
A
355
lessees with a view to ascertaining whether any terms
could be arrived at which could be recommended to Govern***
-ment for the resumption of the area occupied by the
houses which it was proposed to rebuild, but without any
satisfactory result. The lessees appeared content to
allow the matter of rebuilding their houses to remain in
abeyance pending a settlement of the question of resump-
-tion.
3
6.
In October, 1905, the Director of
Public Works addressed Government on the subject of resum-
-ing the whole of lots Nos. 29, 30 and 31 and, after
considerable correspondence, involving valuations of the
existing and prospective areas of land, cost of reclamation
value of buildings, alternative proposals to be made to
the lessees, &c. the matter was, in April, 1906, remitted
to the Crown Solicitor to open negotiations with all the
parties interested.
Meanwhile, on the 20th. December,
1905, new plans were deposited with the Building Authority
by the lessees for the rebuilding of the five houses
already mentioned (Nos. 78 - 86, Reclamation Street), and,
at the same time, the Director of Public Works was
instructed by Government not to pass any plans of new
buildings
;