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it will follow the Coast to Taipu, and then turn inland to Shakuhu and Samehun on the frontier. This section of the line is being constructed at the Colony's cost. The year 1906 will be remembered in the history of the Colony by two calamitous events. On September 18th, a typhoon struck the Colony with terrific force and with such disastrous results as to give it rank as the worst typhoon that the Colony has ever experienced. The Observatory was able to give but very short notice of its approach. The typhoon lasted only two hours, but it was roughly estimated that in that short space of time 10,000 persons lost their lives in the vicinity of the Colony, while the damage done to shipping and property ashore ran into many millions of dollars. A list, admittedly incomplete, compiled by the Harbour Authorities, showed sunk or damaged 67 large vessels, 652 junks, 54 lighters, and 70 launches. No accout is taken in this list of the hundreds of sampans which were sunk or battered to pieces against the sea walls. The Rt. Rev. J. C. Hoare, p.D., the Bishop of Victoria, was among those who lost their lives by this calamity. The second of the disasters referred to above occurred early on Sunday morning, October 14th, when the river steamer Hankor, while lying at her wharf, was completely gutted by a fire which developed with such extraordinary rapidity that over 100 Chinese passengers lost their lives in trying to escape. The majority of them were drowned; but miny, who were probably first suffocated or trampled to death in the rush for the gangway, were victims of the flames.
The following is a list of those who have administered the Goverament from the date on which the Island was erected into a Colony
1843 Sir Henry Pottinger, Bart., G.c.B. 1841 Sir John Francis Davis, Bart., K.C.B. 1848 Samuel George Bonham, c.B. 1851 Major-General W. Jervois (Lt.-Governor) 1851 Sir S. George Bonhum. Bart., K.C.B. 1852 John Bowring, LL.D. (Acting) 1853 Sir S. George Bonham, Bart., K.C B. 1851 Sir John Bowring, Knt., LL.D. 1854 Lieut.-Colonel Wm. Caine (Lt.-Governor) 1855 Sir John Bowring, Kuight, LL.D. 1859 Colonel Caine (Lient.-Governor) 1859 Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson, Knight 1862 William Thomas Mercer (Acting) 1864 Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson, Knight 1865 William Thomas Mercer (Acting) 1866 Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, Kut., C.B. 1870 Mj.-Gl. H. W. Whitfield (Lt.-tiovernor) 1871 Sir Richard G. MacDonnell, K.C.M,G., C.B. 1872 Sir Arthur E. Kennely, K.C.M.G.,C.B.
[ 1875 John Gardiner Austin (Administrator) 1876 Sir Arthur E. Kennedy, K.C.M.G., C.B. 1877 Sir John Pope Hennessy, K.C.M.G. 1982 Wm. Hy. Marsh, c.3.6. (Administrator) 1883. Sir Gorge Ferguson Bowen, a.c.M.G. 1835 Wm. Hy. Marsh, c.3.0. (Administrator) 1887 Mjr.-Gen. W. G. Cameron, c.B. (Adminis.) 1887 Sir George William Des Vœux, K.C.M.G. 189 Francis Fleming, c.M.o. (Administrator) 1890 Sir George William Des Vœux, K.C.M.G. 1891 Mjr.-Geu. G. Digby Barker, c в. (Adm.) 1891 Sir William Robinson, G.¢ M.G. (393 Mj.-Gl. Wilsone Black, C.B. (Adminr.) 1898 Sir Henry Arthur Blake, Ģ C.M.G. 1902 Mj.-Gen. Sir W. Gascoigne, к.C.M.G. (Adr.) 1902 Sir Henry Arthur Blake, G.c.M.G. 1903 Francis H. May, c.M.G. (Administrator) 1904 Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M.G.
1906-7 Hən F.H.May,c.M.G.,Ad'tɔr.(fo:1m ɔnth)
The Government is administered by a Governor, aided by an Executive Council of five officials and two unofficials. The Legislative Council is presided over by the Governor, and is composed of the Officer Commanding the Troops, the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney-General, the Treasurer, the Registrar-General, the Director of Public Works, the Harbour Master, the Captain Superintendent of Police, and six unofficial members, one of whom is elected by the Chamber of Commerce and another by the Justices of the Peace. The other four, two of whom are Chinese, but British subjects, are appointed by the Government.
FINANCES
The revenue for 1905 was, exclusive of land sales, $6,526,144, and the ordinary expenditure was $5,277,834. The Colony has a small public debt, a loan of £200,000 having been contracted in 1886. Another loan of £200,000 was contracted in 1893, and in 1894 the unredeemed balance of the first loan was converted from 4 per cent. debentures into 3 inscribed stock, thus bringing it into uniformity with the loan raised in 1893. The public debt at the end of 1905 stood at £341,800, repayment of which is provided for by a sinking fund, which at the end of 1935 had £34,523 16s. 8d. to credit. The railway loan of £2,000,000 sanctioned towards the end of 1995, did not figure in the official financial statement for that year.
The rateable value of the city of Victoria for 1906-7 is 89,207,595, while for the whole Colony the assessment is $10,930,273.
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