CO129-573-15 Rebuilding of Government House 11-7-1938 - 30-9-1938 — Page 16

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as regards both the accommodation which they offer and their appearance; and they also,

for structural reasons, will need to be

But no

replaced before many years are out.

development is possible of their present site,

which is considered to be the most suitable

for the Government's Headquarter Offices, until the occupants of the existing buildings

have been housed elsewhere. This could best

be done in the present Government House which

must, of course, first be evacuated and made

ready for their accommodation.

(3) Another economic advantage derivable from

the removal to Magazine Gap

which lies on

the cool side of the island at a height of

900 feet above Ordnance Datum and is, therefore,

below the worst of the mists would be that

Mountain Lodge could be given up, thus saving

the cost of maintaining a third house for the

Governor: the average expenditure during the

last five years on repairs and redecoration

the latter being necessary throughout the

house annually owing to the damp mists which

surround it for so much of the year is

$7,000: to the saving which would thus be

effected must be added the cost of two

removals yearly, extra staff for care of the

house and grounds when not occupied, etc. I consider therefore that the project of removing Government House to another site should be

proceeded with at once, both on economic grounds and

4.

as an essential preliminary to a worthy development of