THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 14TH MAY, 1892.
439
22. The Department lost two valuable Officers in Mr. J. M. E. MACHADO, who retired on pension owing to ill-health after 28 years' service, and Mr. A. M. PLACÉ, Marine Sorter, who died in the Government Civil Hospital after 21 years' service. These Officers were succeeded by Messrs. A. M. DA SILVA and T. A. BARRADAS.
23. The health of the Indoor Staff during the year has, as usual, been somewhat unsatisfactory. A large percentage of sickness is traceable to the unhealthy condition under which the working of the Mails and night work generally are carried out. In working the Mails it is necessary, in order to be free from interruption, to close the windows and the work is nearly always done by gas light owing to the darkness of the Post Office. In the summer months with all the Staff at work, the windows closed, and the gas full on, the heat and bad air are nearly stifling and cannot fail to be injurious to health. I would strongly recommend that the Office be lighted with the Electric Light. The Staff would then work in a pure and comparatively unheated atmosphere, and, I believe, that their health would much improve. I have lately seen a report by the Engineer in Chief of the London Postal Telegraphs, in which he says, speaking of the introduction of the Electric Light into the General Post Office, London-"We find in the Savings Bank Department of the General Post Office the cost of the "Electric Light is actually paid for by the increased service we get out of our Staff. 'light has diminished the hours of sick absence two hours
The electric "10d. per hour, which is the ordinary over-time rate in the Government Service, means we save £680 per head per annuin. That put down at Our electric light costs us £700 per annum, so our electric light is really costing us "only £20 a year. In the General Post Office itself we succeeded in putting in the electric light just "before Christmas, and the Chief Controller told me the electric light enabled them to do their work "quicker than ever before, and that the light was equal to 200 men." Telegraph Company have had experience of the electric light in their Local Offices for nearly three The Eastern Extension years and their Manager assures me that he can fully endorse the above statement of its benefits to the health of the Staff from his own experience locally.
per annum.
24. Now that the Cable to the Gap Rock is completed a proper system of signalling incoming steamers should be introduced. The present system is most unsatisfactory. When the Peak is clouded we have absolutely no means of ascertaining the approach of vessels, and the delivery of mails is considerably delayed in consequence. To get over the difficulty I would suggest that this Office be placed in telegraphic communication with the Gap Rock and Cape D'Aguilar. I touched upon this matter in my report for 1890.
25. His Excellency the Governor has appointed a Board to enquire into the question of devising means to stop the system of illicit Chinese Post Offices which prevails in this Colony.
26. It is hoped that additional Post Office accommodation will soon be provided to meet growing requirements. The matter is now, I understand, receiving the attention of the Honourable the Surveyor General.
27. The Postal Work at our Agencies has been carried on most satisfactorily by the Officers in charge. I regret to have to record the death of Mr. SAGE, who was in charge of the Swatow Agency during the greater portion of the year.
28. Reference was made in my last report to the probable establishment of a direct exchange of Money Orders between this Colony and the Dominion of Canada. I am now able to state that on the 4th June last, arrangements were completed with the Postal Authorities of Canada for this service.
29. A direct exchange has also been established between Hongkong and New Zealand.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
The Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary,
&c.,
&C..
&c.
ARTHUR K. TRAVERS, Postmaster General.
APPROXIMATE STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1891.
INTERNATIONAL.
LOCAL.
COMPARISON WITH 1890.
DESCRIPTION OF CORRESPONDENCE.
TOTAL.
Des.
Received. patched.
Des. patched.
Received.
Total in 1890.
Increase.
Decrease.
Ordinary paid Letters,
Unpaid or short paid Articles,
595,600 591,600 78,900
8,900 19,200
450
79,950 200
1,346,050 | 1,325,750
20,300
Letters on Postal Business,
28,750
22,800
5,950
2,750
1,750
1,850
1,400
Post Cards,
7,750
8,100
350
8,800
7,050
5,100
Newspapers, Periodicals, Books, Circulars, &c.,
2,400
23,350
24,300
960
278,550
641,700
52,500
28,500
Patterns,
1,001,250
949,350
51,900
9,500
20,600
1,300
Registered Articles,
32,500
70,750
5,400
Do.,
with Return Receipts,
300
1,650
50
Parcels,
7,600
10,700
5,000
300 6,250 80 2,600
31,700
20,000
11.700
114,900
110,600
1,800
2,080 25,900
1.450 25,050
630 850