619
A. 6.
Report of Mr. J. Boulton, A.M.I.C.E. on Messrs. Howard and Stephens' Claim for Compensation in respect of the
Reclamation Works in front of Marine Lot 184.
1. I have been Executive Engineer in the Public Works Department since 15th April, 1889, and, from that date up to the present time, have been engaged on the Reclamation Works. I have also twice been Acting Assistant Director of Public Works.
2. The Reclamation Works under the Reclamation Ordinance of 1889 were constructed in sections, of which Section I was the Westernmost. This extends from a point about 600 feet to the West of the Claimants' Lot to the Sailors' Home. Work on Section I was, at first, only undertaken in front of the Lots to the East of the Claimants' Lot, and this portion was completed at the end of 1895, and was finished off at the West end by a sloping wall opposite Marine Lot 185, carried out at right-angles to the Old Praya,
3. I consider that the effect of the carrying out of the Reclamation Works to the Eastward of the Claimants' Lot was on the whole beneficial to them. The Reclamation sheltered their landing place from the prevailing winds, as well as from the prevailing current, which appeared to set Westward along the Old Praya Wall and to carry silt from the Sai Ying Poon Nullah, and from the Beach (now covered by the Reclamation) which extended nearly all the way from the Nullah to Claimants' premises. The temporary West end of the Reclamation forined a sheltered landing place 250 feet in length, with ample space for stacking and packing goods, which was taken full advantage of by the Claimants' customers.
4. In April, 1898, work was commenced opposite the Claimants' Lot. The first portion of the work consisted of the depositing of a large quantity of pierre perdue along the line of the foundations of the New Praya Wall. This operation took a long time, and, while it was going on, access to the Praya immediately in front of the Claimants' Lot was kept open, a gap, 50 feet wide and 6 feet deep at low water of Spring Tides, being left opposite the Claimants' Lot. This gap was quite sufficient to give all necessary access for cargo boats to the Praya Wall at all states of the tide.
5. The work of depositing earth filling between the lines of the New and Old Praya Walls was commenced in June, 1898, but there cannot have been any appreciable interference with the access of cargo boats to the Praya Wall before the end of December, 1898.
6. I consider that there cannot have been any practical interference with the Claimants' business before the end of 1898.
28th June, 1905.
A. 7.
(Sd.) J. F. BOULTON.
Table of Assessments.
RE HOWARD AND STEPHENS' GoDownS-MARINE LOT 184. Table of Assessments, 1888 to 1905.
Year 1888-89, Assessment, $ 6,600 from 1st July, 1888.
""
"
"
1889-90, 1890-91. 1891-92, 1892-93, 1893-94,
$ 6,600
1889.
19
"1
$ 6,600
1890.
**
$ 6.600
1891.
21
39
$ 6,600
1892.
29
$ 6,600
1893.
J
1894-95, 1895-96. 1896-97, 1897-98, 1898-99,
""
$ 6,600
1894.
12
$ 6,600
1895.
"}
1)
$ 6,600
1896.
11
**
""
$ 6,600
1897.
";
$ 6,600
1898.
1899-00,
$ 6,600
1899.
17
1900-01,
$10,800
1900.
4
1901-02,
$14,935
1901.
}}
22
19
1902-03,
$14,935
1902.
"
11
""
"
1903-04,
$14,935.
1903.
39
1904-05,
$13,200
1904.
,,
""
1905-06.
11.
$15,300
1905.
"
N.B.-There has been no important structural alterations during the above period.
(Sd.) A. CHAPMAN,
Assessor.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.