177
3. On the 15th July, 1892,-Inquiry as to the loss of the British S.S. Haiphong, Official No. 88,838 of Hongkong, on the rocks about two miles West of Iro-osaki Light, Japan, on the morning of the 28th June. The Master's (WILLIAM YOUNG HUNTER) Certificate of Competency was suspended for two months.
4. On the 21st October, 1892,-Inquiry as to the loss of the British S.S. Bokhara, Official No. 68,397 of Greenock, on Sand Island, Pescadores, China Sea, on the night of the 10th October. The only surviving Officers being the Chief Officer, 3rd and 4th Officers. The Court was of opinion that the Master (CHARLES DAWSON SAMS) committed an error of judgment, and no blame was attached to any of the other Officers.
THE SUNDAY CARGO-WORKING ORDINANCE, 1891.
28. 31 Permits were issued during the year aggregating $4,800 in fees.
SEAMEN.
29. 12,769 seamen were shipped and 13,449 discharged at the Shipping Office and on board ships during the year, the discrepancy is owing to the number of seamen shipped at the Consulates of which we have no record.
30. 378 distressed seamen were received during the year; of these, 90 were sent to the United Kingdom, 7 to Sydney, 6 to Vancouver, 16 to Bombay and 2 to Calcutta, 4 died and 253 obtained employment. On the 31st December, 1892, 6 were in Government Civil Hospital, 1 in Lunatic Asylum, and 1 on board Hygeia (Small-pox Hospital). $6,599.50 were expended by the Board of Trade in the relief of these men, and $57.28 by the Colony.
MARINE SURVEYOR'S SUB-DEPARTMENT.
31. Return No. XXIII shows the work performed in this branch of the Harbour Department, and in forwarding this I desire to record my appreciation of the manner in which the work of this Sub- Department is carried out.
LIGHTHOUSES.
32. The amount of dues collected was as follows:-
Class of Vessel.
Rate, per ton,
No. Tonnage.
Total Fees: Collected...
$
Ocean Vessels paying full dues, 2 cents 2,936 | 3,492,382 | 87,309.54
Launches paying full dues,
River Steamers (Night Boats),.
"
Do.
(Day Boats),....
560
} cent 661
Free. 893
22,244
556.10
666,597 4,443.98
996,361
Total,.......
5,050 | 5,177,584 | 92,309.62,
33. The Gap Rock was established as a Lighthouse Station during the year, the light being exhibited for the first time on the 1st April. The European Lightkeepers selected by the Trinity House Corporation arrived and assumed their duties on the 13th June. Some difficulty was experienced with the "Douglass Burners sent out for use at this Station, these have now been replaced by 6 wicked "Trinity House Burners" with satisfactory results. The Fog Signal Apparatus was also erected during the year but up to 31st December there had not been occasion to make use of it.
"
34. Telegraphic communication has been established between the Gap Rock and the Post Office, from whence a branch telephone is taken to the Harbour Office and other places.
35. There is also communication fortnightly with the Rock for the purpose of changing the keepers and supplying stores. The tug Pilot Fish, belonging to the Dock Company, is hired for this purpose. Landing on the Rock on these occasions has never been absolutely prevented by the weather though on some occasions it has been attended with difficulty, and it was thought advisable on these occasions not to attempt to land such stores as required to be handled with care.
36. The other Lighthouse Stations remain as before and there is nothing that calls for remark concerning their working.
37. The establishment, however, of a Lighthouse on Waglan Island by the Chinese Authorities will render D'Aguilar Light unnecessary. I would recommend its being removed to Green Island, where, being a long distance light, it would "cut in" with the Gap Rock Light, and a vessel after getting hold of the latter would have a leading light right up to the Harbour. If this change were made, I would further recommend the present Green Island Light being placed at Cape Collinson, and the Cape Collinson Light, with a slight modification, placed as a Harbour Light on Kowloon Point. These changes would, I think, be a great improvement to the Lighting of Hongkong.
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