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The erection of a Light-house at Waglan would be far less difficult than at Gap Rock; and it is possible therefore that the Chinese Government might be more easily induced to undertake the work with its own staff, if a sufficient subsidy were promised by this Colony. But pending any such negotiation, the issue of which would of course be uncertain, the Governor considers that there should be no delay of the work at the Gap Rock, if the arrange- ment respecting it should meet with the approval of the Council, and receive the sanction of the Secretary of State.
For this reason the proposal recently made (with a view to save time in construction) for placing a flashing Light at Waglan and a fixed Light at the Gap, will require to be abandoned; and it is deemed to be on the whole expedient to revert to the original plan of a flashing Light at the Gap. Placed at the same height there seems to be no doubt that a flashing Light would be much more useful than a fixed Light; and apparently Sir ROBERT HART, whose experience on the subject is entitled to very great weight, is of opinion that the greater height required for the former is a disadvantage which would not be sufficient to out- weigh this superiority.
The two Light-houses, if we should succeed in obtaining both, would thus be more costly than would have been the case if the Governor's proposal to include them in the same arrangement had met with success; but considering that there now annually enter the Port of Victoria vessels with an aggregate measurement of nearly six millions and a half of tons (a tonnage it may be remarked which according to the published returns is larger than that of the Ports of all the British Possessions on the Continent of America and larger also than that of the total of the three leading Colonies of Australia) and considering that the Southern is, if anything, the more important of the two approaches to the Island, it may be taken as certain that no expense which is at all likely to be incurred can be otherwise than very in- considerable by comparison with the advantage gained in the saving of time alone, and without reference to the losses of vessels directly attributable to the absence of Lights.
The cost which would have been saved to the shipping trade, if a Light at the Gap Rock had been provided at the time when the subject was first mooted would now amount to a sum which could probably be only expressed in hundreds of thousands of Pounds; and the Governor trusts therefore he has reason in congratulating the Council and the Colony that a want of such very great importance is at length to be supplied.
By Command,
FREDERICK STEWART, Colonial Secretary.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
Hongkong, 27th August, 1888.
VOTES REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-Read the following Minutes by His Excellency the Governor :-
C.S.O. 815 of 1888.
G. WILLIAM DES VEUX.
(1.)
The Governor recommends the Council to vote the sum of Thirteen thousand Dollars for $13,000. the drainage of the Wongnaichung Valley.
C.S.0.
730 of 1888.
$46.
C.S.0.
1428 of 1889.
$531.
out.
The advantages to be found by this proposed work are too well known to require pointing
Government House, Hongkong, 18th June, 1888.
G. WILLIAM DES VŒUX.
(2.)
The Governor recommends the Council to vote the sum of Forty-six Dollars, to be awarded to members of the Police Force as Prizes for shooting.
The above amount was realised from the sale of empty ammunition boxes which the Police Authorities recommended should be devoted to prizes.
Government House, Hongkong, 27th July, 1888.
G. WILLIAM DES VEUX.
(3.)
The Governor recommends the Council to vote the snu of Five hundred and Thirty-one Dollars for general overhaul and repairs to Health Officer's Steam-launch Blanche, and hire of a Steam-launch while the repairs are being executed.
Government House, Hongkong, 27th July, 1888.