CO129-290 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [1-4] — Page 220

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Coolie labour is abundant and cheap, the pay of able-bodied men being about 20 ce of a dollar a day. The dollar is now is. 114d.

The Colonial Government is advised that a sufficient staff to undertake this sure would be as follows :---

One Chief Superintendent

One Assistant

Twelve Native Surveyors at $150

Six Draughtsmen at $407

Twelve gangs of six men (

P. A.

$7,500

5,000

1,800

2,880

$17,180

216

The latter can only be obtained in the Colony.

If this staff, at the salaries named, can be obtained from the Ordnance Surve

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Department of India, they should bring with them all necessary instruments, theodolite is Excellency the Governor desires the survey to be undertaken and completed with plane tables, steel tapes, drawing instruments, &c. The few tools required can last possible delay, and if the terms of engagement and pay can be satisfactorily obtained in the Colony. The instruments would be either taken over and paid for by thed, and your Government can lend the services of the required officers, trusts that Colonial Government or considered as a loan from the Government of India during they be possible to progress of the work.

The European officers, with some of the native assistants, shoulate. arrive in the Colony to start the trigonometrical work several months before the staff fe This Government is prepared to defray the travelling expenses of such officers as commence the preliminary work within four months from the cadastral work.

I have, &c.,

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

The officers engaged in the work, except in the territory immediately adjoining British Kowloon, would have to live in temporary camps, placed in convenient situations for the work.

There is available a fairly correct map of the country, on a scale of of an inch o the mile, prepared by the Jesuit missionaries. It shows the coast line correctly; the position of all villages, streains, roads, &c., approximately.

Travelling in the territory can be done in chairs, on ponies, or on foot. Hong-Kong can be reached in a day by water from any part of the territory,

For the information of native assistants it may be said that food of all sorts abundant and cheap.

It is proposed that an office, containing also quarters for one or two of the officers should be rented in British Kowloon, where, during a continuance of bad weather, the

field surveyors could come to, to plot work, repair and adjust instruments, &c.

A rough map of the country is annexed, and a few photographs.

be selected.

Colonial Secretary.

(No. 13.)

SIR,

Enclosure 2 in No.

Colonial Secretary's Office, March 10, 1899.

As your Government is doubtless aware, a considerable strip of territory on the mainland of China, opposite Hong-Kong, and certain large adjacent islands, have bee leased to the British Government by the Chinese Government for a term of years, and His Excellency the Governor has received the instructions from the Imperial Government ot arrange to take possession at an early date.

One of the most important matters in connection with such arrangements is the land question, and it is therefore proposed to undertake at once a survey of the new territory, and in this connection I am directed to request the co-operation of the Government & India in obtaining the services of qualified officers for the work.

I enclose a memorandum on the proposed survey by the Director of Public Works and I am to state that His Excellency trusts that it may be possible for the necessary officers and instruments to be lent by the Survey Department of the Government of India. as he is of opinion that the work of surveying the territory could not otherwise be per- formed in such a satisfactory and expeditious manner.

I am to enquire whether, in the opinion of the Surveyor-General, one European officer would be sufficient, and what rate of salary should reasonably be offered; or, if two European officers are in his opinion necessary, what rate of salary should be fixed in each and whether the native assistants can be obtained at the salaries mentioned in the memorandum.

case,