CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6] — Page 170

COP Y.

Enclosure 2.

Sir,

REC

C. O.

10105

167

(REG 30 MAR 05.

Government House,

Hongkong, 5th. December, 1904.

I have the honour to recall to Your Excel-

lency the suggestion contained in Sir Benry Blake's Despatch No.

205/6 dated the 9th. October, 1901, that, in view of the Imperial

nature of the institution, the grant of land required for the re-

building of the Post Office at Shanghai, should be rade free of

charge by His Majesty's Office of Works. To this letter Mr.

Tower, in your absence, replied on the 28th. of the same month

stating that the Acting Surveyor to the Office had promised to

suspend action in the matter of a contemplated scie of the land

in question.

2.

On it being pointed out to me shortly after

my arrival in this Colony that the present Fost Office at Shan-

ghai was quite cut of date and compared unfavourably with the

corresponding establishments of other Governments, I directed the

amount of $25,000 which had been estimated by the Surveyor of

the Office of Works as that required for the proposed extension

of and Biterations to the building to be included in the Esti-

metes for the year 1905. These estimates are now before the

Secretary of State for sanction.

3.

In reply to an application to the Surveyor

for permission to make use for the extension of the vacant space

in rear of the present Office I have been surprised to learn

that, on a valuation of this land at Taels 25,000, it is proposed.

to lease it for the purpose mentioned at faels 1,200 per annum, say $1,800 per annum. This sum seems excessive seeing that the is Eritannic Majesty's Minister,

Post

PEKING.