CO129-318 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [7-10] — Page 182

Rishis

180

¡

Goe

33300

the Public Works Committee on the occasion of selecting the

design from which you will learn that the Committee recommend

that the building which as indicated in the 7th. paragraph

of Sir Willian Gascoigne's Despatch No. 299 of the 9th. of

July, 1902, was designed to ultimately receive a fourth storey, Oshould now be built four instead of 3 storeys high.

I strongly support that recommendation on

the grounds of economy. To add a fourth storey hereafter would

be a costly undertaking, and it is evident that with the rapid

growth of this Colony more accommodation will be required for

the Post Office and other Offices in the not distant future.

In the meantime it is wasteful not to make

full use of such an expensive site commanding one of the best

positions in the business centre of the City. A fourth storey

can in the opinion of the Director of Public Works be added

at a cost of $85,000 and at a moderate estimate the floor

could be let as offices for an annual rental of $9,600 thus

giving Government a return of 11.20% on the extra outlay for

the additional storey.

There can be no question about securing

tenants for a floor in such a position, and I would therefore

ask your authority to increase the stipulated limit of ex-

penditure to $585,000 and to take the necessary steps for

making the building of four storeys.

I shall be glad to learn your decision in

the matter by telegraph as the addition of a storey will en-

tail some slight modifications in the design and additions

to the detailed specifications upon which the Architects are

at

'