CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6] — Page 454

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Crown Rent, if capitalized at 25 years' purchase, will amount

to $52,500,making a total of $80,484 as the value of the site

4.I shall be glad to learn whether His Excel-

lency the General Officer Commanding agrees to this valuation

and, if not, to learn the value set upon the land by the Mili-

tary Authorities and the means by which such value is reached.

5. If a deduction from the value as assessed

by Mr.Ormsby is claimed on account of any alleged military

rights over the site in question, this Government will be

obliged if you will distinctly state the nature of those

rights and the reasons that can be advanced in support of the

claim,

6. Should it be impossible to arrive at an un-

derstanding with regard to the value of the site it is pro-

posed to refer the question to the Secretary of State for de-

cision and further to leave over the method of the payment of

the amount settled in England to await the result of a re-

ference already made to Mr. Chamberlain in respect of a similar

transaction in another piece of land.

I have, &

&C. 2

(sd.) T.Sercombe Smith,

Acting Colonial Secretary.