CO129-355 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [1-3] — Page 175

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price which the Wharf and Godown Company would be prepared to offer for it. Its value is greatly increased now that the Company desire a siding which cannot reach their Northern Godowns without crossing it, and the amount received for this area may enable Government to acquire Lot 1440 and the other areas required for the Station Sites without incurring any new capital expenditure. It is of course of the greatest importance to avoid increasing the Estimates of the Railway at present.

Workshops.

Mr. Barry thought we might count on requiring 3 engines and 8 Coaches and 100 goods trucks but thought 60 of the latter might be sufficient for all present requirements. Much will depend on the method of working with the Chinese. Of these 50, 20 should be large and 30 small.

He was of opinion that we must deal with our own heavy repairs. If the Canton Section has heavy shops they will be situated at Canton itself 100 miles from our frontier which is too far to be of use to us. The scheme of running a siding into the Dock Company's Workshops and contracting with them for repairs was considered not to be feasible, involving as it would resumption of land for the purpose. Sidings may be required to connect with the Cement Works and other industrial establishments to the East but at present no application has been made for any such facilities, and it would probably be more economical to carry such a branch line further to the North clear of the inhabited areas.

It was agreed by Mr. Barry and the Chief Resident Engineer that large shops would not be required, and that the area to North-West of the China Light and Power Company's buildings (which is Crown Land) would suffice. Mr. Eves estimated the total cost of the shops including sidings &c., at $120,000. Mr. Barry thought it would probably be less. It was in Mr. Barry's opinion useless to consider the question of repairing Chinese Engines.