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with, and that unless corruption or misconduct on the part of the Arbitrators could be shown (and there was no evidence of this) the award could not be upset.

9. Before making any order as to payment, I, however, laid the whole matter before the Executive Council, and their advice was that the money must be paid, but they were unanimously of opinion that the amount of the award was excessive. I, therefore, caused the sum named to be paid out of the Colonial Treasury, and I shall be glad to receive your instructions as to what portion, if any, is to remain chargeable on the local revenues. It was important, I should add, not to delay a settlement of the matter, because under the Act the award carried with it interest at the annual rate of 6 per cent. from the date it was given until it should be paid.

10. I thought it right to communicate to the Colonial Engineer the views which the Executive Council had taken on the subject of the award, as he was at the time of the meeting absent on duty at Penang, and also to invite him to send in any explanation which he thought proper in regard to it. A copy of his reply is inclosed, from which it will be seen that he has no further explanation to offer.

11. When Governor Sir W. Robinson authorized the land to be obtained, he apparently did so, having before him a probable expenditure of about 7,000 dollars, according to the Colonial Engineer's estimate, whereas, by the award of the Arbitrators, of whom the Colonial Engineer was one, more than double that sum has had to be paid. I cannot, of course, say that if it had been known that so large an amount would be required for the land, that even then the military authorities would not have insisted upon obtaining it, but had such been the case, I feel confident that Sir William Robinson would have consulted you on the subject before sanctioning any steps being taken which would have resulted in either the Imperial or Colonial Government being called upon to defray so considerable an item of expenditure.

J

Sir,

I have, &c.

(Signed) A. E. H. ANSON.

Inclosure in No. 4.

Defence Office, Singapore, December 19, 1878.

I HAVE the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency the Governor. that an additional sum of 4,2001. has been voted for the construction of a battery at Tanjong Katong, and that I have received instructions to complete this battery before the close of the financial year.

Upon receipt of this information I proceeded to the reserve site at Tanjong Katong, which I find to be a mangrove swamp quite unsuited for the construction of a battery, though capable of reclamation, and of becoming a valuable site for boat-building, &c., such as that now occupied in the immediate vicinity towards Tanjong Rhoo.

I have, therefore, the honour to request that the Colonial Government be good enough to take steps to secure for me a small piece of ground in the cocoanut plantation nearer the obelisk (as shown in the accompanying tracing), so that I may immediately commence operations according to instructions.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements.

Sir,

H. E. McCALLUM, Lieutenant,

Commanding Royal Engineer.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Singapore, December 30, 1878. WITH reference to your application for a certain plot of land at Tanjong Katong, for the purpose of the military defences, I have the honour to inform you that the Government will at once take the necessary steps to place you in possession of the land you require.

I am to state, however, that the Colonial Engineer estimates the cost of resumption at about 4,400 dollars, and the Governor desires me to add that it is expected that what- ever the cost may be it will be defrayed in the first instance out of Imperial funds. The instructions which have been received by his Excellency indicate that the expenses of both works and armaments will at the outset be borne by the Imperial Government, the

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question of apportionment of the total cost between the two Governments being left to

future adjustment.

Commanding Royal Engineer, Singapore.

I have, &c.

(Signed) CECIL, C. SMITH,

Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements.

Sir,

Defence Office, Singapore, January 2, 1879. WITH reference to yours of the 30th ultimo, stating that his Excellency the Governor expected that the cost of the resumption of land at Tanjong Katong would be borne in the first instance by the Imperial Government, I have the honour to inform you that the sum voted by the Imperial Government is for the construction of works only, and not for the purchase of ground. Under these circumstances, I should feel obliged if (as in the case of the sites already obtained for defensive purposes) the land at Tanjong Katong required by me be obtained by the Colonial Government as early as possible, any sums paid for resumption being, if necessary, treated as a matter of adjustment hereafter.

I have, &c. (Signed) H. E. McCALLUM, Lieutenant,

Commanding Royal Engineer.

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary,

Singapore.

Sir,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Singapore, January 7, 1879.

IN reply to your letter of the 2nd instant, I am directed to state to you that his Excellency the Governor has already caused the necessary steps to be taken to place you in possession of the land you require at Tanjong Katong for defence purposes.

As soon as it is known the question of the payment of the amount required to resume this land will be referred to Her Majesty's Government.

The Commanding Royal Engineers,

Singapore.

Sir,

I have, &c.

(Signed) CECIL C. SMITH,

Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements.

Colonial Engineer's Office, Singapore, January 31, 1879.

I HAVE the honour to transmit copy of a letter to me from the Collector of land revenue, and to ask if there is anything to prevent the Act being put in force to acquire this.land for the Royal Engineer Department.

The Commanding Royal Engineer has, in deference to the opinion of Government, brought the site for his battery nearer to the westward, which will in some small degree lessen the outlay to the State in the way of compensation to the proprietor of the land, but it would be well that some definite opinion should be expressed by the Commanding Royal Engineer, to the effect that the impossibility of obtaining any secure foundation for his battery on the Government reserve is the cause of his being compelled to ask the Colonial Government for this site.

I anticipate that a much higher sum will be demanded for the present proposed site than that stated in my minute, dated 27th December last, probably not less than 7,000 dollars.

I have, &c.

(Signed) J. F. A. MCNAIR, Major, R.A.,

The Hon, the Colonial Secretary,

Singapore.

Hon. Colonial Engineer,

Colonial Engineer, Straits Settlements.

MR. CRANE, the Agent for Mr. Dunman's land at Tanjong Katong, which is about to be assumed by Government for a public purpose, called here yesterday, and asked if it was quite settled that no alteration in the site for the battery is to be made.

[1098]

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Reference :-

C.O. 885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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