CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6] — Page 456

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(57.

MEMORANDUM.

Chief Staff Officer.

451

The General Officer desires that the Acting

Colonial Secretary should be further informed with reference

to the previous memorandum of this date on the subject of Gun

Club Hill site that he adheres to the view that this whole

question can only be decided by the respective Secretaries

of State.

The question of whether any or what compensa-

tion or purchase money should be paid by the War Department

to the Colony for sites occupied by War Department buildings

on Military Reserves or on what basis the sum should be cal-

culated is one which it is not within the competence of the

local officers to decide. Accordingly His Excellency in report-

ing to the Secretary of State for War is making no ex parte

valuation of the site, nor raising any detailed question of

the accuracy of the figures given by the Director of Public

Works.

When the Secretaries of State have settled the

basis of an agreement, it will be time enough to examine the

detailed figures.

The Officers of the Colonial Government have

made no distinction between the terms of purchase of lands

within the Military Reserves. This again is a question which

can only be settled jointly by the Secretaries of State.

10.6.98.

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(Sa.) H ELSDALE

Colonel, C.R.E.

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