On the 31st December, 1890, there remained as under :-
No. of Cases, &c.
Approximate Weight,
ibs.
Gunpowder, Privately owned,
3,537
74,214
Government owned,
632
63,323
Cartridges, Privately owned,
245
56,314
55
Government owned,.
147
11,396
Explosive
Compounds Privately owned,
755
40,800
Government owned,.
12
585
"
Total,......
5,328
246,632
199
27. The condition of the Magazine is much improved, extensive repairs have been carried out making good ravages of white-ants, &c., but the tiled roof requires to be replaced.
A new Wharf is being built and is nearly completed.
The subject of excluding the public from the precints of the Magazine is one which, I submit, should receive consideration. At present, this is the only portion of Stone Cutters' Island where the public can land without special "Permit" and when it is considered with what care such like premises are generally guarded, the omission in this case seems to call for remark.
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS (OPIUM) OFFICE.
28. The Return shows that during the year the amount of Opium reported was as follows :--
Imported, Exported,
Through cargo reported but not landed,
.62,4631 15 chests.
12
58,023 10
..16,004
12
20,444 Permits were issued from this Office being an increase of 1,117 over last year, this is chiefly attributable to removers being now required to state the hour of removal, so that if two chests are to be removed at different hours, two Permits are now required.
A daily Memo. of Export Permits was during the year sent to the Kowloon Customs Office. By this means, we are able to verify that every chest for which an Export Permit is issued has really been exported.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
R. MURRAY RUMSEY, Ret. Com., R.N.,
Harbour Master, &c.,