504 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 18TH NOVEMBER, 18
Section VI of the proposed Ordinance provides for taking decla- rations of Post Office agents and employés appointed at Consu ar ports and paid from the colonial revenue, before one of Her Ma- jesty's Consuls, and the declarations are amended to meet those changes, (schedules A & B). Two forms have been provided, one for officers in charge of a Post Office, the other for clerks and
servants.
Section X provides a proper means of regulating, from time to time, the rates of postage to be charged in the Colony, whilst sections XI and XII provide for the regulation of minor inatters of detail which it is not desirable to stereotype by embodying them in the Ordinance.
By section XVIII, fines formerly levied on freight parcels brought to the Post Office by mistake are abolished.
Section XIX provides for the opening or returning of a letter at any of the out ports on the warrant of H. M.'s Consul. The want of such a provision hitherto has been found a great public inconvenience.
Sections XXI, XXII, and XXIII amend the law as to ship- masters' gratuities, and legalise the existing practice in reference to certain classes of correspondence.
Section XXII gives an optional power to pay gratuities on the despatch of correspondence which is rendered necessary by the adoption of that rule in other countries.
Section XXIV provides for the delivery of mails at foreign ports.
Section XXV amends the law as to giving notice of a vessel's departure. Under the existing Ordinance, notice cannot be en- forced unless the departure is advertised. The amended section provides for the giving of notice under any circumstances, which is found to involve no practical hardship.
Section XXVI relieves the Postmaster General from the obliga- tion of attending on board every steamer leaving the harbour, a duty which has been found impracticable and useless, and has in fact been long since discontinued. The new section provides for an optional attendance.
The remainder of the Ordinance consolidates the law as to offences against the Post Office, including certain matters not provided for before, for instance the wilful misdelivery- of a letter, and simplifies the recovery of penalties.
The foregoing are the principal changes in Ordinance 8 of 1862, which is virtually re-enacted with, it is hoped, a clearer arrange- ment of sections.
J. RUSSELL, Acting Attorney General.
Hongkong, 9th November, 1876.
No. 203.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint J. P. McEUEN, Esquire, to be Assistant Superintendent of the Hongkong Fire Brigade vice the Honourable JAMES RUSSELL resigned.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 13th November, 1876.
No. 204.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.
The following Return, received from Mr. JOHN JACK, of the quantity of Spirits distilled at the Hongkong Distillery, is published for general information.
Spirits manufactured during the quarter ending 11th November, 1876, .
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 16th November, 1876.
No. 205.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
Proof Gallons. .48,672
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.
Tenders will be received at this Office, until Noon of the 27th instant, for the repairs of Bonham Strand West.
The Specification can be seen on application at the Surveyor General's Office, where also a proper Form of Tender may be obtained.
The Government will not bind itself to accept the lowest or any Tender.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 18th November, 1876.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary.