CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6] — Page 314

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Excellency. I would invite special attention again to clauses

4 and 11 of the Circular Despatch dated 30th. December 1894,

in order to show that, if no antithesis between military and

defensive lands is intended, the limits within which the ar-

rangement, by which a book account is to be kept, applies, are

very narrow and well defined.

21.I will first however point out what the

introductory clause of the despatch professes to explain the

mode of dealing with Colonial Military lands and buildings

when such lands are no longer required for military purposes.

If this is read along with clause 11 which

states that the foregoing relates solely to the terms on

*which Colonial Military lands in the hands of the War Depart -

*ment should be surrendered to a Colonial Government" and with

the second paragraph of clause 2 which speaks of ་ the free

surrender to the Colony of all Colonial Military lands and

buildings no longer required, &c.,

" &c. it appears plain bey-

ond dispute that the system of keeping a book account is li-

mited to the price of lands surrendered as being no longer

required by the Military Authorities and to the value of

lands to the extent of that price thereafter acquired by the Military Authorities.

22. Under clause 4 it is provided that the

price of lands surrendered to and sold by the Colonial Go-

vernment shall go into the Treasury to the debit of the Colo- nial Government in a special account. If new lands,&c. are re- quired by the Military Authorities for defensive purposes

which