CO882-(4-5) — Page 306

། ། ། །

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

•

F

"Colonial Government should pay to the War "Department the full market value of the battery (estimated at 6,940%.), at once, if it is surrendered "to the Colony, because the War Department have to spend that value (and much more) in building "barracks for the Colony. But if the Colonial "Government have a reversionary interest in Murray Battery they should, in return, be given a like reversionary interest to an equal value in "the new barracks, which interest that Government will be entitled to realise should neither the barracks, nor their equivalent, be required here- "after for purposes of defence."

46

44

14. The new barracks will probably be built upon land which belongs to the Colony in full ownership; which would thus first pay the full market value of the site of Murray Battery, and in return would get less than nothing, seeing that it would have to provide a new site of which it would become partial instead of remaining full owner. And further, should the barracks on the new site hereafter be abandoned, and others be built elsewhere in their stead, the Colonial Government would, under this arrangement, be again called upon to pay the full market value of the site, notwithstanding they are partial owners of it, and so on, toties quoties.

15. The Governor, writing on the 29th July 1892, say's, "That this so-called battery has never within "the last 25 years been of the slightest value from a military point of view. When the population of Hong Kong consisted of a few fishermen living in "the historic matsheds, and Stonecutters Island and " Kowloon were inhabited by pirates, Murray Battery no doubt occupied a dominant position, "but certainly within the last 25 or 30 years a gun "fired from Murray Battery would have done infinite damage to the finest and wealthiest portion of the Colony, and the battery itself would have "been a source of danger rather than of protection. "This ruin, however, has been tenaciously held by "the War Department for a period of a quarter of

"

14

46

46

a century during which it has been perfectly useless, and has become an

eyesore to the "neighbourhood. In such circumstances the site "should be restored to Las Colonial Government "without delay. The question of reasonable com- pensation for improvements cannot possibly arise in this case; it would be more to the point to ascertain what loss has been sustained by the "Colonial Government for the purposeless occupa- "tion for upwards of 20 years of a site of land which

might have been utilized by the Colony."

•

44

16. It may be right that the Colony should con- tribute towards the cost of military buildings, but it is contended by the Colonial Office that in that case the amount should be fixed by arrangement, and not by attributing to the memorandum enclosed in the circular of the 9th June 1890 a

meaning which it

was not intended by that Department to bear, and to which the Colonial Government strenuously objects. It is obvious that any excess of cost beyond the full market value of the land would, even according to the War Office view, have to be provided by arrange-

innt.

CEYLON-COLOMBO.

17. The Military Reserves at Colombo stand on a somewhat different footing to the lands in military occupation at Hong Kong, though, like the latter, no written title has ever been issued for them. These Reserves, as they are called, are lands situated within and around the site of the old Dutch fort which defended Colombo when captured by the British at the end of the last century. The fort was defended by walls and drawbridges, and a space outside was left clear, presumably in case of an attack from the land side. In course of time the probability of any land attack passed away, the military observances for defence would appear to have been gradually relaxed, and as the town grew, persons were admitted to carry on their business inside the fort, and others permitted to settle outside. Eventually the walls were pulled down and the ditches filled in at the cost of the Colonial Government, and the site of the fort

is now part of the open town of Colombo. The town and harbour are now defended on a different system and are protected by forts recently created, the fire of which is directed seawards to repel a naval attack. Two of these forts are outside the reserves, one of them is situated within a portion of the

reserves.

18. Part of the site of the old fort is laid out in streets and has passed entirely into civil occupation; part is occupied by the barracks and other military buildings; but there remains a considerable portion from which the Colonial Govermnant desire that the reservations should be removed, and which it is stated are not really necessary for the working of the fort or the convenience of the troops; and it may be added that the Colonial Railway runs through the whole length of one side of this portion.

19. This portion may again be divided into two parts; one consisting of two pieces known as the Lotus Pond (which the Colonial Government would probably fill up), and as the Racket Court Garden, which adjoins the Lotus Pond. Between these two portions and the harbour the Colonial Government at their own expense have reclaimed from the har- bour piece of land, now occupied by coal sheds, and the War Office insists that this reclamation forums part of the Military Reserves, although it has only come into existence in recent years. The Racket Court Garden is not a garden in the ordinary sense, nor is there a moket court on it. It is an open space where horses are frequently sold, where volun- teer drills are held, and other gatherings take place. There was formerly a theatre on it which was burnt down, and there is now a building upon it which is used for exhibitions, public performances, and similar purposes.

20. The other part is also open, and is traversed by roads, which are kept up either by the Colonial Government or the Municipality, to whose rates the military do not contribute beyond a sum of some Rs. 1,700 for the gms.used in lighting the barracks. The reserves are lighted and kept in order by the Municipality and watched by the Colonial Police.

A 8

E 78438.