CO129-290 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [1-4] — Page 270

VI.

VII.

VIII.

266

his godown site into an inland lot. His godown is 260 feet

further from the sea than before, (3) also on compulsory dis-

turbance of business.

The Government assert that little if any silt-

ing has taken place and that it is not due to the reclamation

but to natural causes which have always existed.

In 1886 Mr.Howard dredged in front of the fore-

shore, in 1892 he complains of the silting preventing access

of boats to the wall, but it was only in 1894 that the reclama-

tion near his godown began.Moreover notwithstanding his bitter

complaints in 1892 and 1894 of the silting preventing access

to his godowns his humper year was in 1895, and the fact that

the nett income of 1897 was $1,052 more than in 1896 tends to

show that the lowering of the profits was not due to silting.

The bumper year of 1895 is entirely exceptional

and the Government assert that his reduced income comes from

great competition and from godowns having been somewhat over-

built.His largest customer in the past has now built a godown

for himself.

Howard says that the reclamation in 1898 has

prevented access to his godown. Up to June his books show a

clear income of $2,000 and the Police reports state that in

June the godowns were half full 17th. to 31st. August full

September three quarters full -

to 12th.October half full.

IX

Page 270Page 271