Sessional_Paper_1886-1887 — Page 490

REPORT FROM THE LAND COMMISSION OF 1886-87.

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increased Crown rents and rates to be obtained have not been taken into consideration, and that it may not be advisable to spend all the money estimated as the cost of the new Gaol for some time to come, if sufficient space is reserved for extension. Still, as a measure of relief, its removal would open out a considerable space for building houses for some of the European population who are unable to find or afford the expense of a house on the higher levels.

These reasons, apart from any other questions, make it avisable for the Gaol to be removed from the centre of the Town.

If the Magistracy is continued there, of course provision would have to be made for prisoners before trial, and for those who are committed to trial at the Supreme Court.

The Commissioners are of opinion that if the Naval and Military Authorities can be prevailed upon to remove from the centre of the Town, and if the public buildings to which they have referred are also removed there will be sufficient available space to be filled up for some time to come.

If this is, however, impracticable, the Commissioners think that some relief may be obtained by having free communication by Railway or Tramway with the villages and outlying districts, and by reclamations that may be effected at a moderate cost.

It is impossible, at present, to say what effect the making of Railways would have, but judging from other places it is reasonable to suppose that it would have the effect of removing many work- shops, and a large number of people, from the central part of the City, and, with better protection, the better class of Chinese might be induced to remove their family houses out of the city. The Villages would be increased; a portion of the Junk trade would find it convenient to go to the outports, espe- cially if some allowance were made with regard to the payment of fees, and it would certainly make the Crown lands in the neighbourhood of considerably increased value.

If it is thought desirable the construction of a Railway as an experiment might be tried, but seeing that if it fell into the hands of private persons it must inevitably be a monopoly, the Commis- sioners think if it were undertaken, (and there are no engineering difficulties in its way), it would probably be better that it should be undertaken by the Government, even if it were subsequently leased to a private Company; and considering the vast numbers of Chinese who are constantly passing through this place it would have a considerable effect in introducing improved means of communica- tion, and railways, into the Southern part of China, thus increasing the commercial importance of the Colony.

If the propositions for transferring Crown Lands to the Crown Land Board are entertained the Crown Land Board will be able to undertake public works which would be remunerative; they would be in a position, probably to entertain some such scheme; and with reclamations in the harbour, and removal of public buildings from the centre of the Town, the Government could provide a considerable amount of space.

REDEMPTION OF CROWN RENTS.

The whole of the purchase moneys received from the sales of land are not now brought into the general Revenue of the Colony, but are placed to a separate account, on the ground that the present population ought not to be spending the assets of the Colony except in permanent improvements which will be to the benefit of their successors.

The Crown rents, the Commissioners think, might well be put on the same footing and ought to be expended in the first instance in the improvement of the Crown property, transferring only the annual profits received by the Crown Land Board, and not required for the purposes of improvement, to the general revenue.