Colony. That was purchased with a view to the erection of houses for the workmen employed at the dock, but the buildings are not yet commenced. The next I see was a lot sold to Messrs. BELILIOS and CHATER, for $12,525 and upon that lot godowns and houses are to be erected during the current year. Though the godowns are not yet finished, some of them are actually let, such is the demand for business premises in the Colony. The next lot was a small one, sold for $1,768, purchased by a European gentleman for a lawn tennis ground which has been constructed. The next lot, for $2,025, was also sold to my enterprising friend, Mr. CHATER, and upon that lot there have been erected four godowns for the storage of kerosine oil, and they will contain about 120,000 cases.
The buildings are nearly completed. There was a small inland lot sold to Mr. EDE, which is still unoccupied.
CHINESE SUGAR REFINERY.
Two very important lots were sold at Bowrington to LAI WAI YEUNG, one for $10,025 and the other for $6,025, and upon those lots that Chinese gentleman is constructing, as you all may see, a large sugar refinery. The site selected is one that, as you know, remained perfectly idle and grass-grown up to this year. It is between the premises of JARDINE, MATHESON & Co. and the city of Victoria. Upon that ground the sugar refinery is now being built. It is the first time that a sugar refinery, as such, has been constructed in the Colony of Hongkong, for the sugar refinery a little further to the east, which is called the East Point Sugar Refinery, consists of buildings which were constructed originally with a view of doing something to remedy the inconvenience felt with regard to the currency of the Colony by establishing here a Mint. Sir HERCULES ROBINSON constructed those fine buildings for a Mint. They were subsequently sold—I think it was unfortunate for less than a third of what they cost, but I am bound to say they are now usefully employed by an energetic company, the China Sugar Refining Company. With regard to the sugar refinery being built by the Chinese a little nearer the town, the machinery for that building is being obtained from Scotland; it is of the best kind, with all the latest improvements, and the machinery and buildings will cost about $350,000. I find that a small lot, inland lot No. 622, was sold for $510 to a European gentleman for the storage of timber. Next there is a lot sold for $2,525 to another European gentleman for kerosine godowns. These godowns have been nearly completed. The next lot, a small one, sold for $205, is still unoccupied.
SEA-WALL AND GODOWNS AT KOWLOON.
I come now to a very important sale that was effected at Kowloon of marine lots No. 20 and 21, sold, one for $29,025 and the other for $24,025. They have been purchased by Mr. CHATER. The ground is now being reclaimed from the sea. I had an opportunity some time ago of examining the plans and estimates, and with respect to that important work I have been furnished by Mr. DANBY with a memorandum in which he states—
"The ground on the beach at Kowloon between Tsimsha-tsui and the Royal Naval Coal Sheds was sold lately by Government to some influential capitalists in the Colony, who propose utilising it for commercial purposes by erecting large Godowns and Coal Sheds thereon. The ground will be reclaimed by them, a strong sea wall being erected in front and for the whole length of the ground, wharves will also be constructed at intervals along the front of the sea wall, so that vessels of large tonnage can lay alongside and either discharge or take in cargo, at any state of the tide and in all weathers, this position being sheltered from typhoons and strong gales by the Kowloon hills. Men-of-war and steam-ships anchor immediately in front of this place during the typhoon season. The storage capacity of the whole of the godowns will be about 375,000 tons, and the capital that will have been laid out on the project when completed will exceed one million dollars.” I find the next lots are lots bought by European gentlemen as sites for bungalows on the hills.
LARGE NEW Dock.
Next we come to a lot, at Belcher's Bay, which was sold for $36,100. On that lot there will be constructed a dock of large dimensions, for some of the Chinese gentlemen who purchased that valuable piece of Crown land have expressed to me their regret that Her Majesty's ship Inconstant should be seen leaving this harbour to proceed to Nagasaki to be docked, and they undertake that, when they have an opportunity of making their new dock, Hongkong will then have a dock capable of taking in the largest vessel in Her Majesty's service. I find certain works which were undertaken in Duddell-street, and for a small portion of which some Crown land was sold. My honourable friend on my left (Mr. BELILIOS) has those works in hand also. Upon that site there are now being built, as you see, substantial and magnificent godowns, and I think some of these, as many as nine of them, though not yet finished, are actually let.
NEW SUGAR REFINERY.
Finally, I come to inland lot No. 837, which was sold for $24,500 to Messrs. Butterfield & SWIRE. That is a lot about halfway between this and Shau-ki-wán, at a place called Quarry Bay, and the only reason why any one can speak of the Government having got larger prices than it ought to expect for land is, that with reference to the sale of this lot an incident occurred which
Colony. That was purchased with a view to the erection of houses for the workmen employed at the dock, but the buildings are not yet commenced. The next I see was a lot sold to Messrs. BELILIOS and CHATER, for $12,525 and upon that lot godowns and houses are to be erected during the current year. Though the godowns are not yet finished, some of them are actually let, such is the demand for business premises in the Colony. The next lot was a small one, sold for $1,768, purchased by a European gentleman for a lawn tennis ground which has been constructed. The next lot, for $2,025, was also sold to my enterprising friend, Mr. CHATER, and upon that lot there have been erected four godowns for the storage of kerosine oil, and they will contain about 120,000 cases.
The buildings are nearly completed. There was a small inland lot sold to Mr. EDE, which is still unoccupied.
CHINESE SUGAR REFINERY.
Two very important lots were sold at Bowrington to LAI WAI YEUNG, one for $10,025 and the other for $6,025, and upon those lots that Chinese gentleman is constructing, as you all may see, a large sugar refinery. The site selected is one that, as you know, remained perfectly idle and grass-grown up to this year. It is between the premises of JARDINE, MATHESON & Co. and the city of Victoria. Upon that ground the sugar refinery is now being built. It is the first time that a sugar refinery, as such, has been constructed in the Colony of Hongkong, for the sugar refinery a little further to the east, which is called the East Point Sugar Refinery, consists of buildings which, were constructed originally with a view of doing something to remedy the inconvenience felt with regard to the currency of the Colony by establishing here a Mint. Sir HERCULES ROBINSON constructed those fine buildings for a Mint. They were subsequently sold-I think it was unfortunate for less than a third of what they cost, but I am bound to say they are now usefully employed by an energetic company, the China Sugar Refining Company. With regard to the sugar refinery being built by the Chinese a little nearer the town, the machinery for that building is being obtained from Scotland; it is of the best kind, with all the latest improvements, and the machinery and buildings will cost about $350,000. I find that a small lot, inland lot No. 622, was sold for $510 to a European gentleman for the storage of timber. Next there is a lot sold for $2,525 to another European gentleman for kerosine godowns. These godowns have been nearly completed. The next lot, a small one, sold for $205, is still unoccupied.
SEA-WALL AND GODOWNS AT KOWLOON.
I come now to a very important sale that was effected at Kowloon of marine lots No. 20 and 21, sold, one for $29,025 and the other for $24,025. They have been purchased by Mr. CHATER. The ground is now being reclaimed from the sca. I had an opportunity some time ago of examining the plans and estimates, and with respect to that important work I have been furnished by Mr. DANBY with a memorandum in which he states-
"The ground on the beach at Kowloon between Tsimsha-tsui and the Royal Naval Coal Sheds was sold lately by Government to some influential capitalists in the Colony, who propose utilising it for commercial purposes by erecting large Godowns and Coal Sheds thereon. The ground will be reclaimed by them, a strong sea wall being erected in front aud for the whole length of the ground, wharves will also be constructed at intervals along the front of the sea wall, so that vessels of large tonnage can lay alongside and either discharge or take in cargo, at any state of the tide and in all weathers, this position being sheltered from typhoons and strong gales by the Kowloon hills. Men-of-war and steam-ships anchor imme- diately in front of this place during the typhoon season. The storage capacity of the whole of the godowns will be about 375,000 tons, and the capital that will have been laid out on the project when completed will exceed one million dollars.” I find the next lots are lots bought by European gentlemen as sites for bungalows on the hills.
LARGE NEW Dock.
Next we come to a lot, at Belcher's Bay, which was sold for $36,100. On that lot there will be constructed a dock of large dimensions, for some of the Chinese gentlemen who purchased that valuable piece of Crown land have expressed to me their regret that Her Majesty's ship Inconstant should be seen leaving this harbour to proceed to Nagasaki to be docked, and they undertake that, when they have an opportunity of making their new dock, Hongkong will then have a dock capable of taking in the largest vessel in Her Majesty's service. I find certain works which were undertaken in Duddell-street, and for a small portion of which some Crown land was sold. My honourable friend on my left (Mr. BELILIOS) has those works in hand also. Upon that site there are now being built, as you see, substantial and magnificent godowns, and I think some of these, as many as nine of them, though not yet finished, are actually let.
NEW SUGAR REFINERY.
Finally, I come to inland lot No. 837, which was sold for $24,500 to Messrs. Butterfield & SWIRE. That is a lot about halfway between this and Shau-ki-wán, at a place called Quarry Bay, and the only reason why any one can speak of the Government having got larger prices than it ought to expect for land is, that with reference to the sale of this lot an incident occurred which
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.