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You are aware that in the correspondence on the subject of taking over these Docks, I have laid it down that they should be managed on behalf of the Colonial Government on strictly commercial lines, and I have no wish to depart from this course by giving you any instructions with regard to the present application. The Lords Commissioners do not state in their letter what is the nature of the difficulty which has arisen with the present Company; but I presume that it is mainly a question of terms, and I am confident that the new Board will be willing to give effect to any reasonable arrangements which may be proposed by the Commander-in- Chief on the China Station, with whom you will doubtless communicate on the

I have, &c.,

matter.

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No. 50A.

ALFRED LYTTELTON.

MR. LYTTELTON to GOVERNOR SIR J. ANDERSON.

(Sent 6.45 p.m., February 23, 1905.)

TELEGRAM.

Your confidential despatch of January 19. Words should be added to Sec- tion 21, Draft Ordinance, to make clear that interest will be paid only on issued share capital.

to make the charge 4 per cent. for the first ten years and thereafter, until redemption, 5 per cent.

4. I should be glad to learn your views on this suggestion by telegraph in time to have the necessary amendment made on the Committee stage of the Bill, if approve.

I have, &c.,

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No. 52.

you

JOHN ANDERSON.

GOVERNOR ŠIR J. ANDERSON to MR. LYTTELTON.

(Paraphrase.)

(Received 8.40 a.m., February 28, 1905.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 54.]

I propose to include Section 9 of the Arbitration Ordinance, 1890, in Section 12 of the Bill enclosed in my confidential despatch of 19th January, and to omit Section 23 of that Ordinance.

6162

། ། ༅།

PUBLIC RECORD

4

OFFICE

19

Reference :-

C.O. 882

8

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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SIR,

No. 51.

GOVERNOR SIR J. ANDERSON to MR. LYTTELTON.

(Confidential.)

(Received February 25, 1905.)

[Answered by No. 54.]

Government House, Singapore, January 31, 1905. WITH reference to the correspondence which has passed on the subject of the acquisition of the undertaking of the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, I observe that the Inscribed Stock Ordinance, No. 17, of 1903, does not contain the provisions required by the Treasury as a condition of the admission of such stock to the list of Trustee Securities.

2. As we shall, in all probability, have to provide for an issue of stock at no distant date to meet the compensation due to the Company, and also the amount required for the contemplated improvements and extensions as well as for the Harbour Works recommended by Messrs. Coode, Son, and Matthews, it appears to me desir- able that the Ordinance should be amended so as to allow of the admission of Straits Settlements Stock to the Trustee List, and I am having the necessary amendment prepared for submission to the Legislative Council.

3. I may observe that in the draft Ordinance for the expropriation forwarded to me it is provided that 5 per cent. on the amount paid by the Government in connection with the transfer shall be paid annually to general revenue by the new Administration of the Tanjong Pagar undertaking. Looking to the large capital expenditure that will have to be incurred during the next fifteen years it will be difficult for the Board to find that amount without crippling its efficiency in regard to current improvements, or, in the alternative, an increase of the rates and charges now levied. Either alternative would be disastrous, and as our Inscribed Stock Ordinance allows a period of sixty years for redemption, I think it would be advisable

• No. 48.

No. 53.

MR. LYTTELTON to GOVERNOR SIR J. ANDERSON. (Sent 6.45 p.m., February 28, 1905.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 55 and 56.]

Coode, Son, and Matthews strongly advise construction of Tanjong Pagar wet dock by contract and give, in my opinion, good reason for preferring this course to departmental construction. Before calling for tenders, further surveys and pre- liminaries are necessary which Consulting Engineers propose to entrust to Warren, now at Penang. If he is able to commence work at once Consulting Engineers expect to be able to place contract early in 1906. They accordingly propose to instruct Warren by telegraph to proceed at once to Singapore, and to inform you of further steps he proposes to take.

Consulting Engineers are of opinion that considerable works of replacement and reparation to wharf frontage will be necessary to enable business to be carried on there while wet dock is under construction, and that these can be best executed departmentally.

Matthews is medically advised to postpone visit to Colombo and Singapore until early autumn, when he will be able to deal with tenders for harbour works, and to satisfy himself finally by result of Warren's surveys as to many important questions affecting contract for wet dock.

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Telegraph if you concur as regards wet dock.

No. 54.

MR. LYTTELTON to GOVERNOR SIR J. ANDERSON. (Sent 8.25 p.m., February 28, 1905.)

TELEGRAM.

Your telegram of 28th February. † You should incorporate substance of

• No. 48.

↑ No. 52.