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23. As nothing is said in this, the latest communication received from Govern- ment, regarding Mr. ORMSBY's objections to the construction of the Mount Davis section of the road, the Committee infer that His Excellency the Governor was prepared to over-rule these objections which were chiefly grounded on the excessive cost of it as compared with the remaining sections. From the evidence given by expert witnesses when the scheme was under consideration, the Committee are disposed to think that Mr. ORMSBY has over-estimated the cost and that, if tenders were invited, it would be found practicable to construct the entire section with the funds in hand, which now amount to fully $100,000, and are earning interest at the rate of 5% until disbursed.

24. The onus of the deadlock which has arisen therefore rests with General BLACK.

25. Whilst deferring to General BLACK's experience in Military matters, the Committee unanimously venture to take exception to his objections to the proposed scheme. As the road is to be only eighteen feet in width, it is scarcely justifiable to describe it as a "broad' road. Again, it appears that the road could be rendered practically useless for hostile purposes by destroying a few short portions of it and, from the nature of the coast, the Committee have no hesitation in saying that the landing of a force under cover of darkness at any point between Sandy Bay and Kennedy Town, would be an exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, operation. The road as designed would traverse the hillside at a level of about fifty-five to sixty feet above sea-level and would therefore have to be gained, assuming the landing to have been effected, by scrambling over ground which General BLACK himself describes as "so steep and rugged that no formed body of soldiers could move along it at night."

26. Finally, the Committee regard General BLACK's objections as out-of-date and somewhat far-fetched.

27. The scheme for a road round Mount Davis is not a new one.

It was mooted on the occasion of the Colony's Jubilee in 1891, and was warmly taken up then but, owing to the depressed condition of affairs at that period, it was considered improbable that a sufficient sum of money could be raised to admit of its being carried out, and accordingly it was dropped, only to be revived again at the first opportunity which presented itself. No mention of any objections on military grounds was then made either by Major-General BARKER, who was in command of the Forces at the time, or by any other Military Officer.

28. The Committee venture to think that the road will ere long become an absolute necessity in order to open out new sites to provide for the influx of the wealthier class of Chinese which is constantly going on. Of late, there have been repeated instances of the purchase of villa residences on the upper levels of the city by Chinese and this is a tendency which should be encouraged. The number of such residences being limited, however, it is necessary that new sites be opened out, if the demand is to be met, and the Committee are informed that several Chinese have signified their intention of building villas along the new road, if constructed. It would also become possible for the Chinese to indulge in driving exercise as is common among them both in Shanghai and Singapore whilst an impetus would be given to cycling which has already gained a considerable bold in the Colony.

29. In this connection it is interesting to repeat a quotation from General BLACK's letter in support of his own proposal which was made use of by the mover of the resolutions of the 26th April, 1897. It runs as follows :—

"I need hardly urge the appropriateness of a road to mark a great "occasion; roads are the precursors of progress and civilization; they "distinguish a rising from a barbarous state. Roads for recreation and "health are one of the great wants in this island.”