229
375
1. Acreage.-88 acres 3 roods 35 poles. About 50 acres cultivated in cocoa by the estate, and 25 acres by the contractors.
2. Number of trees.-Approximately 12,000 trees.
3.
Age of trees. From one year to thirty years.
4. Average yield per acre for the last three years.-About 1-4 bags of 165 lbs.
to the acre. Average crop, 70 bags of 105 lbs.
5. Situation. On the Moruga road, about eleven miles from Princes Town
Railway Station, with good driving road.
6. Condition of labour.—Unreliable.
7. Accommodation for manager, etc.-One drying house with rooms below.
+
La Victoria" Estate.
About 18 acres planted in cocoa.
1. Acreage. 40 acres 1 rood 24 poles.
About 20 acres planted in limes.
2. Number of trees.-About 5,400 trees.
3. Age of trees.-From one to twenty-five years.
4. Yield per acre for the last three years.--Approximately 1 bag of 165 lbs. per acre. Average crop, 18 bags of 165 lbs.
5. Situation. Cunupia, about one mile from the Cunupia Railway Station. 6. Condition of labour.-Abundant.
7.
Accommodation for manager, etc.-Dwelling-house; one cottage and barrack rooms, which are rented out.
Soconusco
Estate.
1. Acreage. 728 acres. Approximately 330 acres cultivated in cocoa by the estate, and 50 in the hands of contractors.
2. Number of trees.-About 90,000 trees.
3. Age of trees. From one to a hundred years old--the greater majority
being old.
4. Average yield per acre for the last three years. Approximately 1·05 bags of 165 lbs. to the acre. Average crop, 349 bags of 165 lbs.
5. Situation.-Santa Cruz, about six miles from the San Juan Railway Station and eight miles from Port of Spain. The produce is carted direct from the estate to Port of Spain.
6. Condition of labour.—Abundant.
7.
Accommodation for manager, etc.-Manager's dwelling-house, with out- buildings and labourers' barracks.
15483
16434
No. 188.
TRINIDAD.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Confidential.)
SIR,
(Received 30th March, 1917.)
[Answered by No. 192.]
Government House, 1st March, 1917. REFERRING to the seventh paragraph of my Confidential despatch of the 2nd of September last,* I have the honour to inform you that considerable uncertainty appears to exist as to the exact legal position of a group of estates known as Siparia," "La Josefina," Soconusco," "Mira Flores," and "La Victoria," in which Mr. F. A. Neubauer and the Dresdner Bank were, for some time prior to the outbreak of war, jointly interested.
66
2. It will be observed from a perusal of the enclosed copy of a letter received by the Custodian of Enemy Property in Trinidad from the Official Supervisor of the Dresdner Bank (London agency), the Dresdner Bank, jointly with Mr. Neubauer, granted certain credits to a company trading in the Colony known as Wilson's (Glasgow and Trinidad), Limited, and that this Company gave, as security, mortgages over the group of estates mentioned in paragraph 1 of this despatch.
3. Prior to the outbreak of war arrangements had been made by Mr. Neubauer and the Dresdner Bank to form a company to take over and work those estates, and until the receipt of the Official Supervisor's letter above referred to it was believed that those arrangements had been completed, and that the estates were fully vested in the Trinidad Properties, Limited. As a result of the receipt of that letter inquiries have been made, and it has been discovered that certainly, so far as the estates which are not under the Real Property Ordinance (No. 60) are concerned, the bare legal estate is vested still in Mr. Neubauer. I may add that "Siparia,"
La Josefina,"
," "Mira Flores," and 11, Henry Street, Port of Spain, are under the Real Property Ordinance, and the rest are not.
44
4. A memorandum, of which a copy is enclosed, has been prepared by the Attorney-General, based on such materials as he has been able to obtain locally, and I suggest that it be communicated to the Official Supervisor of the Dresdner Bank (London agency) for his information, and for the purpose of ascertaining his views as to what ought to be done in this matter. If, as I am advised by the Attorney- General, only the bare legal estate remains in Mr. Neubauer, there would appear to be little that could be dealt with if the liquidation of Mr. Neubauer's interests were entrusted to the Liquidating Committee.
5. I enclose a valuation of the group of estates to which reference has been made in this despatch, and also of certain premises in Port of Spain, all of which have up to the present been treated as the property of the Trinidad Properties, Limited, and as being managed on their behalf by the Honourable C. de Verteuil,
I have, &c.,
J. R. CHANCELLOR,
No. 187.
TRINIDAD.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
(Sent 1.30 p.m., 29th March, 1917.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 189.]
My telegram 26th March.* Telegraph whether you recommend that any offer approaching Liquidating Committee's valuation received United Kingdom before date fixed for auction should be accepted; or do you consider fair price would be realized local sale? I would not propose in any case accept offer unless for whole or large part of properties.
Your telegram 27th March,† your Confidential despatch 18th January, not received. Can you telegraph substance?-LONG.
* 12968.
† 16164.
Enclosure 1 in No. 188.
Governor.
THE OFFICIAL SUPERVISOR OF THE DRESDNER BANK (LONDON AGENCY) to THE CUSTODIAN FOR TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.
Dear Sir,
5, London Wall Buildings,
London, E.C.,
17th January, 1917.
Dresdner Bank (London Agency).
THE above bank, of which I am the Official Supervisor nominated by the Controller appointed by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, is interested in properties in Trinidad jointly with a Mr. Neubauer, a German subject. 2. The estates concerned are known as follows:-" Siparia," "La Josefina," "Soconusco," "Mira Flores," "La Victoria."
* Na. 19.
TIT
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
CO.885/25
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO