CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6] — Page 448

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a general forfeiture of all property would probably take

place and the position of such purchasers would be no worse

than that of their fellow colonists.

14. To put it plainly, the Military Authorities

impose a restriction on certain tracts and then claim a trans-

fer on special terms, if not a gift, of such tracts because they I have been rendered valueless (as alleged) by such a restric-

tion.

Having practically deprived the Colony of the

receipt of rates on buildings that might have been erected

on certain lands, they advance this as a reason for the Colony

waiving all or the larger part of the usual premium and Crown

Rent.

b B z ty

15. It has already been pointed out by me in

the second minute which accompanied Governor's despatch No.

156 of the 28th. May last, that this Government devotes the

same proportion of its Revenue to military expenditure as the

Government in England does. I have also observed that Crown

Rents, rates and premia constitute one of the main sources of

revenue in this Colony. If therefore the sites on the Kennedy

Road and at Gun Club Hill are transferred free or at a re-

underly

duction to the Military Authorities there will be two results

of which the one is that the Military Contribution this year

will be increased by a sum of about $130,000, being the com-

bined value of the aforesaid two sites or by the difference

between $130,000 and the price paid by the Military Authori-

ties, and the other is that in the future the Government will

lose