46
17-
641
Public Works Department.
SIR,
No. 657.
## SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 10th November, 1891.
In reply to your letters of the 30th ultimo and 4th instant respecting the compensation claimed by you for the removal of the Pier in front of Marine Lot 184, I am directed to inform you that your claim will be considered together with those of the pier owners whose piers will have to be removed during the construction of the Praya Reclamation authorized by Ordinance 16 of 1889.
I have further to inform you there is no objection to your removing your pier at as early a date as you may think fit but the actual compensation to be given to you cannot be settled pending the settlement of the compensation to be given to owners of the other piers above referred to.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
FRANCIS A. COOPER,
Acting Surveyor General.
No. 526.
## COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 24th March, 1892.
In reply to your letter of the 15th instant respecting the continuation of the Praya Reclamation in front of Marine Lot No. 184 of which you and Mr. M. J. D. Stephens are joint Crown Lessees. I am directed by the Governor to inform you that His Excellency proposes to follow the provisions of the Praya Reclamation Ordinance of which His Excellency is advised sections 6 and 8 apply to this case while section 7 sub-section 6 appears to have special reference to it, since you have not signified your acceptance of the scheme.
I am to add that His Excellency proposes to consult with the Surveyor General before deciding whether any, and, if so, what compensation should be made to you, and that, as at present advised, His Excellency sees no necessity for resuming the lot in question.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
G. T. M. O'BRIEN,
Colonial Secretary.
T. HOWARD, Esq.
SIR.
## HONGKONG, 15th March, 1892.
By the Government Gazette of Saturday, the 12th instant, I see that it is intended to continue the Praya Reclamation in front of Marine Lot No. 184, of which Lot Mr. M. J. D. Stephens and myself are joint Crown Lessees.
From previous correspondence I have had with the Government, it will be seen that we are unwilling to agree to the Reclamation in front of our Lot; for the very obvious reason that when access by water is taken away, our godowns built upon that Lot, will be useless for the purpose for which they were specially built.
Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. have a mortgage of $90,000 upon these Godowns, and it will now be necessary to give them notice; but before doing so, I should feel obliged if His Excellency the Governor would inform me how he proposes to deal with us.
The Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN,
Colonial Secretary.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
THOS. HOWARD.
## HONGKONG, 26th March, 1892.
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th instant in reply to mine of the 15th instant in which I asked if His Excellency the Governor would inform me how he proposes to deal with Mr. M. J. D. Stephens and myself who are joint Crown Lessees of Marine Lot No. 184.
You tell me that His Excellency proposes to follow the provisions of the Praya Reclamation Ordinance, being advised that sections 6 and 8 apply to this case, while section 7 sub-section 6 appears to have special reference to it, since we have not signified our acceptance of the scheme.
You further add: His Excellency proposes to consult with the Surveyor General before deciding whether any, and, if so, what compensation should be made to us; and that as at present advised, His Excellency sees no necessity for resuming the Lot in question.
In reply, I have to say that, until I learn His Excellency's decision as to the amount of compensation, it is unnecessary for me to discuss the question of resumption further than to state that as Marine Lot 184 is occupied by Godowns, and as our business is that of Godown-keepers, storing goods mainly for Chinese, and as the value of our property for the purpose of our business depends upon its immediate proximity to the sea, the compensation to be awarded will be the difference between its present value and its value when the business that gives it that value has been destroyed by the interposition of the new Marine Lots between it and the sea.
For myself, I do not see how that difference can be ascertained except by resumption and sale.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
THOS. HOWARD.
The Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN,
Colonial Secretary.
46
17-
641
Public Works Department.
SIR,
No. 657.
SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 10th Noreniber, 1891.
In reply to your letters of the 30th ultimo and 4th instant respecting the com- pensation claimed by you for the removal of the Pier in front of Marine Lot 184, I am directed to inform you that your claim will be considered together with those of the pier owners whose piers will have to be removed during the construc- tion of the Praya Reclamation authorized by Ordinance 16 of 1889.
I have further to inform you there is no objection to your removing your pier at as early a date as you may think fit but the actual compensation to be given to you cannot be settled pending the settlement of the compensation to be given to owners of the other piers above referred to.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
No. 526.
SIR,
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 24th March, 1892.
In reply to your letter of the 15th instant respecting the continuation of the Praya Reclamation in front of Marine Lot No. 184 of which you and Mr. M. J. D. Stephens are joint Crown Lessees. I am directed by the Governor to inform you that His Excellency proposes to follow the provisions of the Praya Reclamation Ordinance of which His Excellency is advised sections 6 and 8 apply to this case while section 7 sub-section 6 appears to have special reference to it, since you have not signified your acceptance of the scheme.
I am to add that His Excellency proposes to consult with the Surveyor General before deciding whether any, and, if so, what compensation should he made to you, and that, as at present advised, His Excellency sees no necessity for resuming the lot in question.
I have the honour to be,
T. HOWARD, Esq.
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
6. T. M. Ü'BRIEN,
Colonial Secretary.
T. HOWARD, Esq.
SIR.
FRANCIS A. COOPER,
Acting Surveyor General.
SIR.
HONGKONG, 15th March, 1892.
By the Government Gazelle of Saturday, the 12th instant, I see that it is in- ten led to continue the Praya Reclamation in front of Marine Lot No. 184, of which Lot Mr. M. J. D. Stephens and myself are joint Crown Lessecs.
From previous correspondence I have had with the Government, it will be and seen that we are unwilling to agree to the Reclamation in front of our Lot; for the very obvious reason that when access by water is taken away, our godowns built upon that Lot, will be useless for the purpose for which they were specially built.
Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. have a mortgage of $90,000 upon these Godowns, and it will now be necessary to give them notice; but before doing so, I should feel obliged if His Excellency the Governor would inform me how he proposes to deal with us.
The Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN,
Colonial Secretary.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
HONGKONG, 26th March, 1892.
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th instant in reply to mine of the 15th instant in which I asked if His Excellency the Governor would inform me how he proposes to deal with Mr. M. J. D. Stephens and myself who are joint Crown Lessees of Marine Lot No. 184.
You tell me that His Excellency proposes to follow the provisions of the Praya Reclamation Ordinance, being advised that sections 6 and 8 apply to this case, while section 7 sub-section 6 appears to have special reference to it, since we have not signified our acceptance of the scheme.
You further add: His Excellency proposes to consult with the Surveyor General before deciding whether any, and, if so, what compensation should be made to us; and that as at present advised, His Excellency sees no necessity for resum- ing the Lot in question.
In reply, I have to say that, until I learn His Excellency's decision as to the amount of compensation, it is unnecessary for me to discuss the question of re- sumption further than to state. that as Marine Lot 184 is occupied by Godowns, and as our business is that of Godown-keepers, storing goods mainly for Chinese, and as the value of our property for the purpose of our business depends upon its immediate proximity to the sea, the compensation to be awarded will be the dif ference between its present value and its value when the business that gives it that value has been destroyed by the interposition of the new Marine Lots between it and the sea.
For myself, I do not see how that difference can be ascertained except by re- sumption and sale.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
THOS. HOWARD.
The Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN,
Colonial Secretary.
Your most obedient Servant,
THOS. HOWARD.
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