Encl. No.4.
- 4-
39
building itself has reached a stage at which continued
maintenance is likely to prove so expensive as to render
complete reconstruction more economical. It has for
example recently been necessary to expend some $4,000 on
repairs to the verandahs which had become unsafe owing to
the partial collapse of the brick vaulting.
A report by
the architectural office of the Public Works Department on
the present structure is enclosed.
I have suggested a site in the Peak District for
the future Government House with a view also to the possible
relinquishing of the Governor's summer residence, Mountain Lodge.
Mountain Lodge besides being difficult of access is liable to
rapid deterioration owing to climatic conditions whereas the
site I have suggested while it is below the normal level of
fog is sufficiently elevated for comfort in the hot weather
and is readily accessible by motor from Stubbs Road.
7. The first stage of the scheme would include on the
credit side the sale of the City Hall site and the part of
section A not required for temporary Government buildings.
The value of these two sites has been estimated at $4,563,260.
This valuation which is regarded as a conservative one is
calculated on a basis of $55 per square foot for the City Hall
site and $60 per square foot for Section A.
On the debit side are the following items :-
Resumption of I.L. 580
622,750
Resumption of I.L. 564
160,000
Formation of Section A
600,000
Rebuilding of Government House Temporary Government Offices
2,000,000
350,000
Total
$3,732,750
At this point it would be possible to call a halt should it
be considered undesirable to proceed immediately with the
next item in the scheme, namely the preparation for sale of
Section B and the West End of Section A at an estimated cost
of
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