Sessional_Paper_1895 — Page 148

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12. Block C, to the west of block B, is 210 feet in length and 68 feet in width, bounded on the north by Taipingshan Street, on the south by Market Street, east by Tank Lane, and west by Square Street, and contains 14 building lots, 68 feet in depth and 15 feet in width. The total area of these lots is 14,280 square feet. The area of private property resumed is 18,594 square feet.

Between Square Street and Tank Lane, there is a difference of 20 feet in level at the northern end of this block and a difference of 30 feet at the southern end, practically necessitating the existence of basements, but, owing to the depth of the lots, there is no reason why these basements should not be constructed with ample provision of light, air and other sanitary requirements.

13. Block D, bounded on the north by Taipingshan Street, on the south by Market Street, on the east by Square Street and on the west by Upper Station Street, contains in all 65 building lots 45 feet in depth and 15 feet in width, having a total area of 43,875 square feet. The area of the private property resumed was 46,565 square feet.

Of the proposed building lots, 15 face Taipingshan Street, 20 East Street, 20 West Street and 10 Upper Station Street.

14. Block E, bounded on the north by Taipingshan Street, on the south by Market Street, east by Pound Lane and west by Upper Station Street, is divided into 26 building lots, 13 of which are 45 feet in depth and 15 feet in width. Three lots are 45 feet in depth and 13 feet 4 inches in width, and ten lots are 40 feet in depth and 15 feet in width, the total area being 16,575 square feet.

The area of private property resumed in this block was 18,360 square feet.

15. Block F, bounded on the north by Taipingshan Street, on the south by Station Street, on the east by Pound Lane and on the west by Inland lot 361, is divided into six building lots, three of which front on Taipingshan Street and three abut on Station Street.

The total area of these lots is 3,253 square feet and that of the private property resumed is 4,500 square feet.

16. Block G, bounded on the north by Market Street, on the south by Caine Lane, on the west by Upper Station Street and the east by Ladder Street and Caine Lane, consists of twenty-two building lots 45 feet in depth and 15 feet in width facing Market Street, ten lots 45 feet in depth and 15 feet in width facing Tank Lane, and six lots 42 feet in depth and 15 feet in width also facing Tank Lane. The total area of these lots is 25,380 square feet and the area of private property resumed 44,930 square feet.

17. Block H, bounded on the north by Market Street, on the south by Rutter Street, on the east by Upper Station Street and on the west by Pound Lane, consists of eighteen houses 45 feet in depth and 15 feet in width.

The total area of these lots is 12,150 square feet and that of the private property resumed 21,600 square feet.

18. Block I, bounded on the north by Market Street, on the south by Rutter Street, on the east by Pound Lane and on the west by Inland Lot No. 700, consists of fifteen building lots, each 45 feet in depth and 15 feet in width.

The total area of these lots is 10,125 square feet and that of the private property resumed 20,000

square feet.

19. Block K, bounded on the north by Station Street, on the south by Market Street, on the east by Po Yan Street and west by Pound Lane, consists of the two Inland Lots Nos. 592 and 593, with a private lane (Yun Wo Lane) intersecting the lots from east to west.

On this property were erected comparatively recently 28 four-storied houses and 2 two-storied buildings over the private lane.

For the resumption of this property, the Board awarded $79,000 and costs against the Crown. Though the houses are not all that could be desired, I am not disposed to recommend that they be destroyed and the property laid out afresh at the present time, but recommend that the Government retain the private lane as a public one and remove the buildings erected over it at each end coloured yellow on plan.

20. The two lots hachured red facing Market Street are the sites of two temples, and I advise that the late owners be approached with a view to their re-entry in lieu of the compensation awarded, and further advise that the title to Inland Lot No. 361 be restored to the late registered owners thereof without disturbance.

21. In the appendix will be found a tabular statement, shewing the area of private property resumed, which does not include the two Government buildings, viz., Taipingshan Market and the old No. 8 Police Station, but includes the area of private lanes, the area available for rebuilding, the area retained for new public streets and lanes, and the proposed expenditure, this latter includes the cost of streets, drains, sewers, and water pipes divided pro rata according to the frontages of each block.

22. It is most important, if this project receives the approval of Government, that steps should at once be taken to carry out the improvements and put the building lots up to sale by public auction.