CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4] — Page 327

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I give the above figures as estimated averages. The claims 319 payable under anyone of the above Sections may be largely increased at any time by an extensive conflagration, such as occurred last year, destroying a considerable block of property. It will be best therefore to provide a lump sum in the Estimates for 1904 for compensation under this Ordinance making no attempt to distribute sums under the various Sections, and I have to ask your authority to provide a sum of $210,000

in the Estimates for 1904 for the purpose.

8.

As compensation under this Ordinance will

not be payable until the houses in respect of which compensa- tion is claimed are actually re-built and fit for occupation, compensation during the current year will be limited to Sections 89 and 185 and a sum of from $10,000 to $15,000 will probably suffice for claims under these Sections.

9.

This Ordinance will, it is hoped, gradually

effect considerable improvement in the Sanitary Condition of the Colony, but the fact must not be lost sight of that, as pointed out in the ante-penultimate paragraph of Messrs. Chadwick and Simpson's Report, recourse must be had to consider- able resumptions of Insanitary Property in Victoria if any

real improvement in its Sanitary Condition is to be effected.

I am of opinion that much may be effected by the

annual expenditure of a sum of $200,000 on such resumptions

and I have to ask your authority to make provision in the

Estimates for next year for such a sum.

10.

The provision of the two sums mentioned

above (aggregating $410,000) will if approved by you neces-

-sitate