338
( 206 )
(Enclosure.)
Hk. 256.
ST. ANNS, KILLINEY, IRELAND, August 3rd, 1901.
SIR, I have the honour, acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 25364/1901 of the 30th ultimo and to return as directed the enclosure therewith received.
2. I note that Mr. CHATHAM proposes (a) the promotion of Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH. to the rank of Executive Engineer; (b) the appointment of two additional Assistant Engineers from England; (c) the appointment of a Principal Land Surveyor (also I presume from England) and one additional Land Bailiff.
3. With regard to (a) I agree with Mr. CHATHAM. Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH, since Mr. CROOK'S transfer to Gibraltar, has been in full charge of the Water Works and Drainage Works of the Colony, a distinct branch of the Department, which, I believe, was always in charge of an Executive Engineer. It would practically cause no change except in Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH's title, as he has been for a year carrying on the duties of an Executive Engineer, directly under the Head of the Department.
4. I do not agree that two additional Assistant Engineers are now required, Last year, Mr. CROOK's transfer to Gibraltar and Mr. GIBBS' resignation occurring within a few months and thus weakening the Department by the loss of two of the most ex- perienced and efficient officers, caused a great strain on the staff, while not much help could be expected from the three newly appointed officers-Messrs. Mossop, FISHER, and TRIMMINGHAM. But now it may be assumed that these officers have acquired the needful experience of local conditions and methods of work, and become useful and efficient members of the staff.
5. It must be borne in mind that in Hongkong there is little or no Departmental work, but that all work is done by contract, also that all payments are made in the Treasury, and thus the Engineering Staff spared duties which take up fully half of the time of officers holding similar appointments in Ceylon, while it is always possible to obtain, for special works, the services of private Engineering Firms, as has been done lately in regard to the New Kowloon Water Supply, the Victoria Jubilee Road and Hospital and other works.
6. Five large permanent Police Stations have been built in the New Territory, two more have been contracted for, which completes all the buildings required in that district for a long time to come. If no special loan for the more rapid development of the Territory is contemplated, the construction of the main road to Taipó and Sam-chun must necessarily go on slowly, at, say, the rate of three or four miles annually, and this only takes up the time of an Assistant Engineer (Mr. HUGUES) who has been on this special work since its commencement. The whole of the construction and maintenance- work in the New Territory would be considered a small charge for one District Engin- eer in Ceylon.
7. Keeping in mind the comparatively small area of the Colony, I think great care should be taken not to unduly increase the permanent and pensionable establishment, I am therefore of opinion that one additional Assistant Engineer will be sufficient.
8. I see no necessity for the appointment of a Land Surveyor from England. Owing to the very limited area of the Colony, and the smallness of the lots put up for sale, surveys are of the simplest nature. The Department have in Mr. B. W. GREY an officer fully qualified to do the work of Land Surveyor, with Mr. JACOB ns Assist- ant. Mr. GREY was trained in the Ceylon Survey Department and holds a licence, obtained after examination by the Surveyor General of that Colony, to practise as a Land Surveyor.