1887-1903
319
9
COLONIAL REPORTS-MISCELLANEOUS.
where the proper forms are filled in for them by the clerical staff. After the last day for presenting claims all land unclaimed in the district is the property of the Crown. The claims themselves are sorted, undisputed ones being available for the rent roll, while those which are contested are set down for hearing. The holdings are very small and the idiosyncrasies of the people are so productive of delay that it is very difficult to secure even a moderate amount of expedition without a corresponding sacrifice of accuracy.
There can be little doubt, however, that the operations of the Court will be far more rapid and the difficulties less in the districts to the north of the Kowloon watershed, from which most of the land revenue must be drawn in the future.
The land outside permanent cultivation has been regarded by the Chinese as of little value and will therefore be rarely claimed, while the ownership of land under crops is usually well known and will hardly ever be the subject of dispute.
## SURVEY
Mr. Tate and his assistant, Mr. Newland, with their staff of trained Indian Surveyors and coolies have been continuing the survey of the New Territory throughout the year.
An area of 4,000 square miles has been triangulated, and of the points laid down, those which are situated within the New Territory are being marked.
An area of 300 square miles has been surveyed on the scale of one inch to a mile for the topographical map, while an area of 4,500 acres has been surveyed partly on the scale of 16 inches and partly on the scale of 32 inches to a mile.
A special survey of the Chinese town of Kowloon together with its walled or fortified portion has also been made on the scale of 64 inches to a mile.
Progress has not been rapid, partly owing to unfavourable weather, and it is evident that the work will cost more than was anticipated by this Government on the report of the Surveyor General of India. As, however, the triangulation and the topographical survey are almost complete, it has been decided that Mr. Tate should return to India and that Mr. Newland should be retained with such staff as may be considered necessary for the completion of the cadastral survey.
I attach a report* by Mr. Tate on the progress of the cadastral survey up to the 15th of February, 1901.
The cadastral survey, which gives the position and area of individual holdings, is of course necessary as the basis of a permanent Rent Roll. A commencement was made with a scale of 16 inches to the mile, and the first 40,000 acres of cultivated land were surveyed on this scale, which is probably adequate
* Not re-printed.
1887-1903
319
9
COLONIAL REPORTS-MISCELLANEOUS.
where the proper forms are filled in for them by the clerical. staff. After the last day for presenting claims all land un- claimed in the district is the property of the Crown. The claims themselves are sorted, undisputed ones being available for the rent roll, while those which are contested are set down for hear- ing. The holdings are very small and the idiosyncracies of the people are so productive of delay that it is very difficult to secure even a moderate amount of expedition without a corre- sponding sacrifice of accuracy.
There can be little doubt, however, that the operations of the Court will be far more rapid and the difficulties less in the districts to the north of the Kowloon watershed, from which most of the land revenue must be drawn in the future.
The land outside permanent cultivation has been regarded by the Chinese as of little value and will therefore be rarely claimed, while the ownership of land under crops is usually well known and will hardly ever be the subject of dispute.
SURVEY.
Mr. Tate and his assistant, Mr. Newland, with their staff of trained Indian Surveyors and coolies have been continuing the survey of the New Territory throughout the year.
An area of 4,000 square miles has been triangulated, and of the points laid down, those which are situated within the New Territory are being marked.
An area of 300 square miles has been surveyed on the scale of one inch to a mile for the topographical map, while an area of 4,500 acres has been surveyed partly on the scale of 16 inches and partly on the scale of 32 inches to a mile.
A special survey of the Chinese town of Kowloon together with its walled or fortified portion has also been made on the scale of 64 inches to a mile.
Progress has not been rapid, partly owing to unfavourable weather, and it is evident that the work will cost more than was anticipated by this Government on the report of the Surveyor General of India. As, however, the triangulation and the topo- graphical survey are almost complete, it has been decided that Mr. Tate should return to India and that Mr. Newland should be retained with such staff as may be considered necessary for the completion of the cadastral survey.
I attach a report* by Mr. Tate on the progress of the cadastral survey up to the 15th of February, 1901.
The cadastral survey, which gives the position and area of individual holdings, is of course necessary as the basis of a permanent Rent Roll. A commencement was made with a scale of 16 inches to the mile, and the first 40,000 acres of cultivated land were surveyed on this scale, which is probably adequate
* Not re-printed.
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