CO129-329 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [7-12] — Page 420

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33688/03.

417

Bl

Cl

? Say we shall be glad to know the probable

cost in due course.

The Law Courts and the Post Office are approaching com- pletion but I see that the former is now estimated at $768,000 instead of $400,000 and the latter at $872,000 instead of $500,000.

In the former case, I don't think there is

any use making enquiries as to the increase because,

so far as I can ascertain after a search through all the

p.p.

the original estimate does not seem to have been

based on any data but to have been merely a guess,

made apparently a bad one, before designs were prepared.

As to the General Post Office I would ask for

an explanation.

So late as August 1903, after full plans had

been drawn up, the estimated cost of the original build-

ing was "not to exceed $500,000", and the addition of the fourth storey, agreed to at that time was to cost $85,000

The Architects' charges were to be 5%, on a maximum of

$500,000 for the first 3 storeys, and presumably at the

same rate on the fourth storey, i.e. less than $30,000.

There is therefore more than $240,000 to be accounted

for.

The only other large works now going on are the Waterworks, the resumption of insanitary property and the Kowloon roads; these may last any time and cost almost anything. Certainly large sume will be required for the next few years.

The total of this vote shews a reduction of

nearly a quarter of a million on last year.

?

Approve Estimates sanction ordinance refer to the few points above specified and appreciate manner in

which Estimates have been framed.

Estimates and ordinance to Audit Office B/12.

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