158
45. On the 8th April the S.S. Polyphemus went on shore on Jubilee Island during a fog. From the evidence advanced at the Court of Inquiry it was shown that she must have passed within about a mile of the Gap Rock while the fog signal was going without hearing it.
Investigation with regard to the audibility of the signal was afterwards made by me and the result reported in my letter of 30th April, 1895.
During my absence on leave the "High Explosives" sound signal was abolished in favour of the old-fashioned gun signal.
46. Telegraphic and telephonic communication has been kept up with the Gap Rock and Cape D'Aguilar during the year. From the former station 488 vessels have been reported as passing and in addition 294 messages were received and 2,199 sent including the daily weather report for the Observatory.
From D'Aguilar 968 vessels were reported and in addition 348 messages were sent and 75 received. 47. From the 9th of June the telegraph at Gap Rock has been worked by the Light-keepers in accordance with the recommendation of the Signalling Committee, and 2 Chinese have been engaged as watchmen.
GOVERNMENT GUNPOWDER DEPOT.
48. During the year 1895 there has been stored in the Government Magazine, Stonecutter's Island :-
No. of CASES.
APPROXIMATE WEIGHT.
lbs.
Gunpowder, privately owned,
Do., Government owned,.
Cartridges, privately owned,..
Do., Government owned,
Explosive Compounds, privately owned,
18,481 11
562,662
1,188
18,986 40
2,283,722
2,508
3,151
153,983
Do.,
Government owned,.
29
1,470
TOTAL,.
40,698
3,005,533
On the 31st December, 1895, there remained as under :-
No. of CASES.
APPROXIMATE
WEIGHT.
Ibs.
Gunpowder, privately owned,
Do., Government owned,.
Cartridges, privately owned,..
3,991
106,990
11
1,188
488
157,641
Do., Government owned,
90
13,382
Explosive Compounds, privately owned,...
163
12,710
Do.,
Government owned,.
25
1,853
TOTAL,..
4,768
293,264
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS (OPIUM) OFFICE.
49. The Return shows that during the year the amount of opium reported was as follows:-
1894.
1895.
Decrease.
Imported,
.41,578
36,609
4,968
Exported,
.38,978
36,241
2,737
but not landed,
Through cargo reported) 22,986
16,190
6,795
17,034 permits were issued from this Office during the year, being a decrease of 2,122 as compared with 1894.
A daily memo. of exports to Chinese ports was during the year supplied to the Commissioner of Imperial Maritime Customs at Kowloon.
Surprise visits were paid to 98 godowns during the year.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
R. MURRAY RUMSEY, Retd. Comd., R.N., Harbour Master, &c.
The Honourable J. H. STEWArt Lockhart,
&c.,
Colonial Secretary,
$c..
fc.