CO129-358 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [10-11] — Page 449

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December, 1894, no cash payment should be required of the

Military Authorities in respect of Crown Rent but that the

Crown Rent should be annually entered to the credit of the

Colony in the special account referred to in the Circular

Despatch. Mr. Bramston in forwarding Sir William Robinson's

Despatch to the War Office stated that the Secretary of

State for the Colonies (Mr. J. Chamberlain) was of opinion

that the rent should not be extinguished as it is evident

that the land in question is leasehold property only and

that the freehold is vested in the Crow, so that in the

event of the Military Authorities selling the property at

any time the purchaser would be required to pay such rent

to the Colonial Government". He added that the Secretary

of State considered that the Governor had indicated the

right course to pursue "in view of recent correspondence

on the subject of Colonial Military Lands and Buildings".

The War Office in letter of 3rd. August, 1895, accepted

the view of the Governor and the Secretary of State but

suggested that instead of recording the rent as a credit

to the Colonial Government annually it would be a simpler

course as the land was permanently required by the War

Department to capitalize the Crown Rent at 25 years'

purchase.

Mr