520
PLAGUE.
Bath-houses, Coal, etc.-Maintenance charges incidental to the establishment of bath-houses in various parts of the City. Owing to an oversight they were not previously estimated for and have been met out of "Disinfecting Tanks-Coolie Hire" during 1904.
COOLIE LABOUR AND DISINFECTANTS.
Incidental Expenses.-The first of these items has been relieved by separate provision and a further decrease on both has been found possible.
CHARITABLE ALLOWANCES.
Grant to Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.-It has for years past been cus- tomary to grant $100 at Christmas time for the provision of comforts and goods to the Society. This sum is now placed on the Estimates, that course being more regular.
Grant to LAM KAM CHUK.-She is the widow of CHONG Mo Kwai who died as the result of an assault by a Chinese Constable. The woman, who is 37 years old, has two children, is very poor, and has no relative capable of supporting her.
TRANSPORT.
Passage Allowance to Officers.-For many years past this vote has been far too small to meet the demands upon it and $10,000 is still only a modest estimate.
MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES.
District Watchmen Grant, $2,000.-The District Watchmen Fund was in receipt of an annual grant of $2,000 up to 1893 when the state of the Fund did not warrant its continuance but a promise was made to renew the grant whenever the Fund required assistance. The grant was restored for 3 years beginning with 1902, but is continued for 1905, although the Fund is in a good position at present, because a considerable expenditure is anticipated for accommodation at Wanchai and Saiyingpun and also in connection with a scheme for raising the District Watch- men's wages to the same rates as for the Chinese Police with the object of attracting better men. See Governor's despatch No. 166 of 1904 as to constitution, &c., of Force.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS, Engineering Staff
Junior Draughtsman.-This provision is inserted for an experiment in the employment of a Queen's College Boy (Chinese) on the routine work of tracing, inking in plans, etc., in the Drawing Office. The boy selected is being tried for six months from July without pay. If he proves useful he will come on to the scale provided.
CROWN LANDS AND SURVEYS.
Land Bailiff-The scale of salary in the Sterling Salary Scheme is £260 rising to £300, but in Mr. MAY's despatch No. 252 of 11th June the scale now provided was proposed for an additional Bailiff and as the duties of the two Bailiffs are identical both must be on the same scale, and on the recommendation of the Director of Public Works the scale for a first class Overseer has been adopted as suitable.
DREDGER.
Engineer, Foreman.-The small increases provided are granted under the authority of the Secretary of State, despatch No. 48 of the 16th February, 1900. The instructions issued in consequence of that despatch have up to the present been overlooked in the Public Works Department as regards these two men.