75
Under the existing arrangements, Messrs Punchard Lowther & Co. state that they cannot obtain the amount of stone required as some of the Quarry Owners are unable to supply owing to their limited resources, and others refuse to supply at all.
It is evident that with a tenure of only one year's duration no capital can be invested in developing a Quarry for a large output and therefore, whilst this annual system may be satisfactory where only small quantities of stone are raised for local purposes, it must entirely prevent any large quarrying operations.
As stated in their letter of 11th September 1901, copy of which was forwarded to Colonial Office with Admiralty letter of 30th September 1901, W.L.3546/2803, Messrs Punchard Lowther & Co. are prepared to pay any reasonable royalty to the Colonial Government, but they request that they may have unrestricted rights to quarry from any site which they may buy, without being at the mercy of the Quarry Farmers, year by year, who have no resources for producing the quantities they require.
This proposal of the Contractors appears reasonable and My Lords would be glad if the necessary permission may be given, as otherwise there appears to be a risk of the Admiralty Works at Hong Kong being stopped for want of stone.
My Lords regard this matter as both serious and urgent.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant
2
Evan Macchiage
75
Under the existing arrangements, Messrs Punchard Lowther & Co. state that they cannot obtain the amount of stone required as some of the Quarry Owners are unable to supply owing to their limited resources, and others refuse to supply at all.
It is evident that with a tenure of only one year's duration no capital can be invested in developing a Quarry for a large output and therefore, whilst this annual system may be satisfactory where only small quantities of stone are raised for local purposes, it must entirely prevent any large quarrying operations.
As stated in their letter of 11th September 1901, copy of which was forwarded to Colonial Office with Admiralty letter of 30th September 1901, W.L.3546/2803, Messrs Punchard Lowther & Co. are prepared to pay any reasonable royalty to the Colonial Government, but they
request that they may have unrestricted rights to quarry from any site which they may buy, without being at the
mercy of the Quarry Farmers, year by year, who have no resources for producing the quantities they require.
This proposal of the Contractors appears reasonable and My Lords would be glad if the necessary permission may be given, as otherwise there appears to be a risk of the Admiralty Works at Hong Kong being stopped for want of stone.
My Lords regard this matter as both serious and
urgent.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant 2
Evan Machiige
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