REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
water-side; it is to be hoped, however, that now the houses are completed the several parties interested will combine and carry into effect the intentions of his Excellency the Governor, and as the land reclaimed by them is of considerable value and their own interests involved in the scheme, I have no doubt with little trouble the difficulties now in the way may be arranged.
In connexion with the changes in the Lower Bazaar, I have to allude to the only case in which satisfaction was not felt by the tenants with the plan sanctioned by his Excellency; this was by the assign of the original proprietor of lots called Nos. 8 and 8a, the land as originally occupied by them was resumed in terms of the lease in a legal manner and an equivalent apportioned off in lieu thereof, as compensation for this resumption.
The original proprietor or his agent made no objection to the proposed change, and subsequently to it sold the interest in the old lease, of course subject to the notice of resumption; no objection was made by the assign for some months, when an application was made to the Government to render him assistance in reclaiming the area granted as compensation; this was refused, whereupon a lawsuit was commenced against certain of the Crown tenants located by Government in accordance with the changes in the position of the lots upon a portion of the ground resumed; and upon the advice of the Acting Attorney-General the Government did not interfere. Two of the tenants refused to defend (although they had already built houses thereon), and the consequence was judgment was given by default and the Crown tenants were ejected by the sheriff. The party who was after great difficulty persuaded to defend his case has not yet had it decided; it has been postponed from time to time, the opposite party having repeatedly made efforts to induce the Government to enable them to effect a compromise by the resumption of certain other lands, which I am happy to say was not acceded to, and the case is still in abeyance, a case which I feel certain would be given in favour of the Crown, or otherwise in that of the tenant occupying the resumed land, and that it would be shown that the acts as performed by me under the sanction of the Government have been warranted by law as well as justice. I have so fully detailed the various circumstances affecting this case in my letters to the Colonial Secretary, Nos. 19, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29 and 31 of 1852, that it is unnecessary for me to give any further illustration, and is only now merely alluded to as a circumstance connected with the department during the year last passed.
The supervision of convict labour devolves upon myself alone, as it has done for the last three years; in this, however, I am assisted by the sergeant of the convict guard, who is attentive and now understands the mode of effecting repairs and such services as the men are employed upon. A daily return is made of the number of men employed and the nature of their work, this is annually detailed in my report upon the public works, accompanied with an estimate of its value, which this year has been considerably above that of former years, a great increase of men having taken place.
Within the gaol a large supply of broken stone was provided during the year, which has been usefully applied upon such roads as required it; within the gaol also, I have turned to account the labour of two carpenters, who have repaired all the woodwork of the wheelbarrows since their entrance into gaol, as well as the repairs demanded for the buildings themselves; a supply of tools have been given to them for those purposes. I should find the services of a blacksmith very satisfactory, but unfortunately none of the convicts understand such work; one man might be fully occupied during the year in the repair of the iron work required by the department in wheelbarrows, pickaxes, stone hammers, &c.
In the deed registry department 69 memorials have been received, 53 of which were for absolute sale affecting 57 lots, the remainder of a miscellaneous nature affecting 21 lots; of the above memorials 20 were prepared in the office, and charged for accordingly for Chinese, and 3 for surrender of old leases for new, two of them consequent upon changes in the Lower Bazaar.
The number of leases and extensions of leases issued from the office during the year has been 33.
Land giving a yearly rental of 2031. 17s. 10d. was sold, upon which a premium of 192l. 18s. 4d. was paid. One grant of a marine lot, formerly part of the western market, was made at an annual rental of 50l., on the re-arrangement of the Lower Bazaar after the great fire.
A marine lot purchased by the Ordnance Department has been struck off the rent roll, causing a reduction of 167l. 8s. 10d. per annum. The rent roll at the end of the year was 10,779l. 16s. 2d., being a slight increase on the former year.
The fees receiveable in my office during the year have amounted to 911. 9s. 2d. on registry, and 341. 7s. 6d. on leases, the total, 1257. 16s. 8d., being about 25 per cent. more than the previous year.
I have to report that Mr. Power, the book-keeper and clerk of registry, continues to give that satisfaction in the performance of the duties required of him which I have had the pleasure to express in previous years.
I have much satisfaction in reporting that my own health having been unaffected during the year my services in the office as well as out of doors have been given to my duty without difficulty or inconvenience.
The Hon. Lieut.-Colonel W. Caine;
Colonial Secretary;
(Signed)
I have, &c., CHARLES ST. GEO. CLEVERLY,
Surveyor-General.