CO129-370 - Governor Sir Lugard & Public Offices - 1910 [12] — Page 38

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ober

in the hands of foreign firms. Any restriction as to the

area of land or wharfage to be held for such a purpose,

or the quantity of coel which might be stored would in-

-volve legislation which would operate to restrict the

free sale of land, and unless such restriction were deemed

essential to the safety of the Empire would be disadvanta-

-geous to the Colony.

14.

Assuming that His Majesty's

Government offer no objection to the present application

I submit a few observations upon the alternative proposals.

(a).

The 5 acres on the Railway Reclama-

-tion (a lease of which has already been offered verbally)

has no deep-sea frontage and the necessary wharfage must

therefore be securedby the erection of two piers at an

estimated cost of $100,000 upon which sum the applicants

are required to pay 7 per centum during the currency of the

lease, or alternatively to construct the piers themselves,

the Colonial Government taking them over at a valuation on

the expiry of the term. This heavy capital expenditure can

only be justified if there is a reasonable expectation-

that the expension of traffic on the Railway will by the

time the 10 years have expired have rendered their con-

-struction necessary in any case. Mr. Lindsey is of

opinion