We have received what is called a "Memorandum on the proposed Bund Scheme for the English Settlement," accompanied by a well-drawn and coloured plan, showing the alterations proposed to made—both of which we shall, for the present, permit to speak for themselves. The memorandum is as follows It is proposed that the foreshore shall be raised and extended into the river from the Yang-king-pang Creek to the Peking Road Jetty, following a curved line drawn between the heads of each existing public jetty. A now bund line would thus be formed which, it is conceived, should receive the approval both of those in charge of, and of those interested in, the conser-fancy of the harbour. The proposed line would leave untouched the pontoons and their bridges, and, with the supervision assumed will henceforth be given to the river banks under the new "Har-hour Rules," no apprehension need be entertained as to further encroachment on this side of the river.
A scheme of the nature now set forth was brought before the ratepayers at meetings held in May and August, 1872, when it was suggested that the reclaimed ground should be converted into a public garden. Doubtless it was the expense attending such scheme that led mainly to its being for a time put aside; it is now intended to show how the advant proposed when the curved line of bund was first suggested, can dest be obtained with a minimum of expenditure to the public.
'A reference to the accompanying plan will show the river bunded out as suggested—an even curved line being drawn from the present stone bunding at the mouth of the Yang-king-pang to the head of the Peking Road Jetty. (This line could be continued past i Garden and towards Or it were hereafter deemed desirable by the river authorities.)
From the Yang-king-pang and alongside the river, as far, say, as Kiukiang Road, it is proposed that a new road (of 100 feet in width, including side-walks) be formed leaving the river at that point it would be directed so that its inner sidewalk should merge into the present one at the boundary wall between the properties of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Ca. and Messrs. David Sassoon, Sons & Ca.; or be so aligned as to suit the convenience of the owners of these and the adjacent properties.
The substitution of this proposed new road (coloured yellow on the plan) for the one now existing, would leave unoccupied spaces (coloured pink) between the former and the boundaries of certain bund lots these spaces there is fair reason to believe the several proprietors would consent to take over, and at a valuation that would go far to meet the expenditure entailed by the scheme now suggested. It is calculated that the area that might thus be acquired is 164 mow.
If the line of the new road (still 100 fect wide) be brought into the present road as sketched in the plan, a space of about 2k mow would be left between that ne and the river between Kinki Nanking Roads; and a larger spa mow, between the latter and Peking Road. These spaces (coloured green) would be available for the extension of the present publi garden.
Rough estimates have been made of the expense of this undertaking, that. is—the extending the foreshore-bunding (with solid backing faced with granite)—making the new road—relaying the gas and drain pipes—transplanting trees, de. One estimate makes it 104,000 Taels (of which 70,000 Taels is put down for bunding); a second gives 84,000 Taels as the probable cost.
reason to believe, however, that both estimates are too high, for, as regards" the main item of bunding, only 42,000 Taels were set down for a brick and stone bunding inthe "Estimates for the New Bunding Scheme," laid before the Ratepayers on the 12th August, 1872.
Shanghai, 11th May, 1878,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.