CO129-314 - Public Offices - 1902 — Page 672

ち

(

665

go far towards balancing the assessed value of the land

to be acquired at Devils Peak by the War Department.

Should, however, the deficiency prove considerable, it

will be for consideration whether land suitable for a

training ground at Devils Peak or elsewhere could not,

for a time at any rate, be hired from the Colonial

Government, and I am to request that you will furnish a

separate report on this question when the situation has

been cleared up as a result of the arbitration.

As the nature and scope of the exchanges of

land between the War Office and Colonial Government,

and the acceptance of arbitration, have been agreed to

by the War Department and Colonial Office, and approved

by the Treasury, the fresh proposals contained in your

letters 1811/1/z/17, of the 24th May, 1902, and 2072/1150

of the same date, involved matters of difficulty as

their adoption would necessarily re-open a question

which has already been decided. Had a telegram been

despatched at the time stating the intention to abandon

the more extended scheme at Devils Peak, this difficulty

would not have arisen. As it is, it appears preferable

that the arbitration should proceed as determined, and

that an authoritative assessment of values should be

obtained, before taking into consideration the new pro...

posals, or any alternatives that may meanwhile appear

desirable.

At the same time, provided the consent of the

Colonial Government be obtained, there will be no

objection