CO129-263 - Acting Governor Barker Governor Sir Robinson - 1894 [5-8] — Page 644

No. 20.

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No. 28.

18. Bank Buildings. Hongkong, May 19th, 1894.

SIR,

18, Bank Buildings, Hongkong, 3rd May, 1894.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date written in reply to mine of the 27th ultimo,

Referring to your letter under reply I would point out that the Pier in question opposite to Marine Lot 184 is situate in Section No. 1 of the Reclamation, such Section being a portion of the said Reclamation actually in course of construction.

In the course of the progress of the works of the Reclamation of such Section, the greater portion of the Pier above referred to, and being that portion which alone had an earning power from the fact of Steamers being enabled to come alongside was so damaged that it was removed with the knowledge and consent of the Government.

I would refer you to letter No. 1918 C. 8. O. dated 24th October 1891 addressed to Mr. Thos. Howard by the Honourable W. Meigh Goodman the then Acting Colonial Secretary.

Also to letter No. 657 8. G. O, dated 10th November 1891 addressed to Mr Thos. Howard by the then Acting Surveyor General Mr. Francis A. Cooper.

I am sure you will at once see on the perusal of the letters above referred to and from the fact that the Pier was damaged and removed as stated above that the sum awarded under the Ordinance is now payable.

I shall therefore be much obliged if you will kindly give the necessary directions for payment.

The Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Acting Colonial Secretary.

I have, &c. (Signed)

MATTHEW J. D. STEPHENS.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date in reply to my letters of the 3rd and 17th instant asking that payment of the compensation awarded for Pier in front of Marine Lot No. 184 may now be made.

Your reply that the matter is still under the consideration of the Government is not satisfactory, inasmuch as the matter has already been considered and decided as will be seen from the former correspondence to which I have already referred you.

The damage to the Pier has been sustained, and the compensation awarded; and I therefore again repeat that immediate payment ought to be made.

The Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Acting Colonial Secretary,

No. 738.

SIR.

I have, &c. (Signed)

MATTHEW J. D. STEPHENS.

No. 24.

Colonial Secretary's Office. Hongkong, 22nd May, 1894.

SIR,

No. 21.

18. Bank Buildings, Hongkong, 17th May, 1894.

A PERIOD of two weeks has elapsed since I wrote to you on the 3rd instant, with reference to the payment of the amount of compensation awarded for the Pier in front of Marine Lot No. 184 and still I am without a reply.

In my letter I referred you to two letters addressed to Mr. Thos. Howard, one written by the Honourable W. M. Goodman, legal adviser to the Crown, and the other by the Honourable F. A. Cooper, Director of Public Works.

From these it is clear beyond doubt that the compensation ought now to be paid, seeing that the part of the Pier which alone had an earning power has been removed.

I have therefore again to ask that instructions be given for the amount to be paid forthwith.

The Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Acting Colonial Secretary.

I have, &c. (Signed)

MATTHEW J. D. STEPHENS.

In reply to your letter of the 3rd instant. I am directed to inform you that the Governor has given every consideration to your claim for compensation in respect of the Pier in front of Marine Lot No. 184 and is advised that such claim is untenable.

I am to point out that the object for fixing a date for payment of compensation was that the payment should be made when the wharf had been removed and rendered useless by reason of the progress of the Reclamation Works, and that as your wharf or the greater portion of it still stands and is in daily use you have no cause to complain in respect of the non-payment of the compensation.

SO,

M. J. D. STEPHENS, Esq.

&c., &c. &c.

I have, &c. (Signed)

No. 25.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Acting Colonial Secretary.

No. 713.

SIR,

No. 22.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 18th May, 1894.

In reply to your letter of the 17th instant, I am directed to inform you that the matter of the payment of the compensation for the Pier in front of Marine Lot No. 184 is still under the consideration of the Government.

M. J. D. STEPHENS, Esq.

&c., &c. &c.

I have, &c. (Signed) J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Acting Colonial Secretary

18. Bank Buildings, Hongkong. 23rd May, 1894.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, written in reply to mine of the 3rd instant, regarding Pier compensation.

I am unable to agree with the advice referred to in your letter that my claim for compensation in respect of the pier in front of M. L. No. 184 is untenable in the face of the fact that the amount of the said claim has been already awarded and published in the Government Gazette; the only point to be determined being the time when the amount awarded becomes payable.

And as to the time for payment, you state in your letter under reply that the object for fixing a date for payment of compensation was that the payment should be made when the wharf had been removed and rendered useless by reason of the progress of the Reclamation Works, and that as your wharf or the greater portion of it still stands and is in daily use you have no cause to complain in respect of the non-payment of the compensation.”

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