Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 692

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12. Resumptions.-The sale of K.I.L.. 1,203 necessitated the resumption of 32 houses and a plot of cultivated land (24 mows) at Ma Ti at a cost of $11,609 of which $10,306 was defrayed by the Purchaser of the lot. There were 10 small lots resumed by the Assistant Land Officer, Hongkong, in connection with the extension of the Kowloon City Road towards Customs Pass, the total area being .61 acre and cost of resumption $442. An area of 20,517 square feet near Kowloon City was resumed under the Crown Lands Resumption Ordinance. at a cost of $2,000 with a view to the construction of future roads. Claimant's costs, interest and valuers' fees amounted to $1,447.76. The matter was settled by a Board of Arbitrators consisting of His Honour Mr. Justice Wise, Puisne Judge, the late Mr. W. Danby and the - Director of Public Works. Three small areas of land (.36 acre) were resumed by private treaty for the Kowloon-Canton Railway at a cost of $79 and recourse was had to arbitration for the resumption of 92,347 square feet of land from K.F.L. 4 in connection with the same work. The total cost, including all expenses, amounted to $23,548.47, which included compensation for the removal of a house. The actual award was $20,910.97, the balance ($2,637.50) being for Umpire's, Arbitrator's and Valuer's fees. 21.46 acres of land in the Southern District of the New Territories were either surrendered voluntarily or resumed by the Crown without compensation for non-payment of Crown rent. Ping Shan I.L. No. 1, was re-entered on account of non-fulfilment of the building covenant.

13. Lease Plans.-Plans and particulars in duplicate of 68 lots and 2 piers were forwarded to the Land Officer in connection with the issue of leases.

14. Boundary stones -Boundary stones were fixed for 3 lots in Hongkong, 3 in Kowloon and 28 in the New Territories.

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15. Surveys. Many surveys of considerable extent were undertaken for the purpose of defining the boundaries of lots or preparing sale or lease plans. The most extensive work of this nature was a survey of Deep Bay to define the boundaries of the Oyster Beds there, regarding which serious disputes had arisen.

16. Sites for booths at the Racecourse.—A sum of $4,308.25 was realised by the letting of sites for the crection of booths and stands at Happy Valley during the Race Meeting.

17. Squatters' Licences.-At the beginning of 1906 there were 304 Squatters' Licences on the roll, representing an annual rent of $916.06. It was anticipated that the claims in connection with several villages would be dealt with by the Squatters' Board during the year and these were accordingly struck off the roll, but as the anticipations were not realized it was found necessary to restore them again; 10 licences were however written off. This left 294 Squatters' Licences on the roll at the beginning of 1907, representing an annual rent of $895.43, and during the year 2 licences were written off. Owing to insufficiency of staff but little was done towards preparing the necessary information to enable the Squatters' Board to deal with claims.

18. Military Lands.-Some further progress was made with the surveys in connection with the exchanges of land under the Lewis Agreement; the War Department properties at Lyemun. Sywan Hill, Pinewood, High West and Kowloon East Battery, and an area of land between Bowen & Kennedy Roads, below the new Military Hospital, which has been transferred to the War Department, being demarcated. I.L. 1565 which was handed over to the Military Authorities for the erection of a slaughterhouse for the use of Sikhs was transferred back to the Colonial Government, the sum of $330 being credited to the War Department in the Lands Account. The Colonial Government arranged to pay $1 per annum for an obelisk marking the Cable Reserve which has been placed on War Department. Land at Hung Hom Point.

19. Naval Lands.-The Naval Authorities having completed the extension of Murray Pier which it was arranged they should carry out for the accommodation of the Victoria Recreation Club, the area was handed over to that Institution and the erection of the Club's new premises was begun. A small re-adjustment of the boundaries of the Naval property ar Kowloon (K.M.L. 41, &c.) was arranged, to admit of the proper alignment of Macdonnell Road.

20. Piers.-Long leases of pier rights were granted in two cases in Hongkong. The premia derived amounted to $15,000 and the annual Crown Rents totalled $1,320. Licences for the following temporary piers for various periods were issued:-12 in Hong- kong, 16 in Kowloon and 13 in the New Territories, the amount of fees payable for these being $9.562.50. Licences were also issued or renewed for 10 slipways in Hongkong and 3 in Kowloon, the fees for which amounted to $3,139.75.