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5. Closely allied to these three Ordinances is that of No. 16 of 1887 empowering the Courts to award whipping for certain crimes--an Ordinance which it is hoped will act as a strong and effectual deterrent, and will therefore not be often put into force.
6. The Cattle Diseases, Slaughter House, and Markets Ordinance (No. 17 of 1887) is a useful and practical piece of legislation, the object of which is to secure the Colony from the introduction of cattle plague or other infectious diseases, the better regulation of our slaughter houses, and the cleanliness and good order of our markets.
7. The Ordinances relating to the
1. Post Office,
2. Police Force,
3. Juries and Licences,
have been amended and consolidated by several Ordinances passed this session.
8. The work of the Law Revision Committee and the preparation of the revised edition of the Ordinances has been furthered by the passing of these Ordinances and by the Statute Law Revision Ordinance No. 4 of 1887, which finally repeals and removes from our Statute Book no less than 102 Ordinances and parts of 5 others.
9. The protection of adopted daughters and young girls has been furthered by the passing of Ordinance No. 9 of 1887.
The necessity of such an Ordinance is clearly shown by the fact that there are at present no less than 205 young girls under the protection of the Registrar General, the most of whom, if not all, would have been brought up to a life of shame and immorality, had it not been for the intervention of the authorities. It is hoped that the manner in which this Ordinance, which at first was viewed with a certain amount of apprehension on the part of the Chinese, has been worked, has removed all those fears and proved to the Chinese residents that the only object which the Government had in passing it was to put a stop to a shameful traffic and to protect those who could not protect themselves.
The Annual Reports from the several Government Departments for the year 1886 have already placed the public in possession of the necessary information regarding them, and leave me but little to say excepting to testify to the zeal, energy, capacity for work, and devotion to the public service evinced by the heads of departments and their subordinates, and which I have seldom seen equalled, certainly not surpassed, in any Colony.
The recommendations of the Police Commission have mostly been adopted or are being adopted as opportunity offers, and considering the great difficulties the Police labour under, the facilities offenders have of escape and the little assistance rendered by the Chinese public in the detection of crime or apprehension of criminals, I think we may be well satisfied that good order is on the whole so well preserved.
A better acquaintance with the Chinese language, which it is desired to encourage on the part of the English Contingent, would much conduce to efficiency.
The improvement in the discipline and management of the Gaol has been well maintained, and acts as a wholesome deterrent to crime.
The large increase in the total tonnage of shipping entering this port, as shewn in the Harbour Master's report, speaks well for the growing prosperity of the Colony, which is still further evidenced by the steadily increasing population and extensive building and reclamation operations, either in progress or being planned.
There is apparently every sign that this prosperity, in which we are happy to see our Chinese fellow-citizens so largely participating, is of a substantial and lasting character, and that the Colony has a great future before it.
In respect of Public Works and Improvements, as satisfactory progress has been made as could be expected under the difficulties of the rainy season.
Among the more important undertakings of the year may be mentioned the extension on improved sanitary principles of the main sewers of the town." Another instalment of nearly two miles of these new main drains has been added to those previously existing since my predecessor last addressed you.
The new Victoria College works are now well advanced, and it is anticipated that the new building will be ready for occupation during the earlier portion of next year. Unforeseen legal difficulties in clearing the Central Market of its tenants have led to some delay in the commencement of the new Public Market, but these difficulties having now been surmounted, arrangements have been made to begin the new market buildings early next month when the rainy season will have practically come to a close.
The tunnel under the Tytam mountain range being now open throughout, the extension of the public water supply is rapidly approaching completion.