agreement arising.
457
(c). The removal of the hill can only be undertaken in
conjunction with such a reclamation scheme as that
now proposed.
(d). The value of the levelled areas will be greater
than that of the lot as it now exists.
(a). The 999 years' lease will be got rid of.
(f). A rate of Crown Rent in accordance with present
day values can be imposed in disposing of the
levelled areas.
(g). The full value of the land will be obtained by the Government, and thus any accusation of having made
6.
a bad bargain on behalf of the public will be avoid-||
-ed.
The sum which I have proposed to lir. Landale, and which he thinks Sir Robert Jardine will accept is $275,000. This is at the rate of about 50 cents a square foot for the area which would have been returned after the hill had been cut away. Before going into the financial aspect of the scheme, however, I will allude to some other matters which are involved in carrying out the somewhat extensive scheme which the Government has in
view.
7.
8.
In order fully to complete the scheme of cutting down Morrison Hill and developing the locality in the manner indicated on Plan No. 1, some further resumptions and improvements, besides those already alluded to, are required. These are illustrated on Plan No. 2, to which I will now refer.
It will be seen that an extension of the Wongneichong Recreation Ground is contemplated (vide area colour- -ed green) and to enable this to be carried out, it is necessary to resume Inland Lot 1918. This lot occupies the base of the hill on its eastern side. It was sold in June, 1912, at a premium of $47,500 and Crown Rent of $686 per annum. Owing to the difficulty of finding a place of deposit for the material which must be
excavated