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system much of the progress and excellence | of modern architecture may be ascribed. Not only are competitive designs invited, but it is also a usual thing to exhibit the designs publicly, and in every way to encourage public interest in the matter. The magni- ficent piles of municipal buildings which adorit most of the large towns of England are the result of the competitive system, and it is reasonable to suppose that if instead of inviting competition the municipalities had in every case confided the work to their own permanent officials the result would have been less satisfactory. It is in the nature of things that it should be so. Com petition is not only the soul of business, but is also the incentive to excellence in all departments of life..
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
offices should not only answer all requirements from a utilitarian point of view, but that they should also constitute an adornment to the colony. In that opinion they will be supported by the general body of rate- payers, and we trust the unofficial members of Council will do their best to give effect to the public wish. It would be no slur on the Director of Public Works to adopt the same plan here as is followed in England and invite competitive designs. Outside Government work that plan is not an innovation in Hongkong. The plans for the City Hall, the Hongkong and Shang- hai Bank, the Jockey Club Grand Stand, and the new building in course of erection for the Hongkong Club were all decided upon after competition, and the system which has led to such satisfactory results in these cases would produce equally satisfactory results in the case of Government buildings. If the Director of Public Works produced a better design than any of the private architects it would of course be adopted, but to rule out private architects merely because the Director of Public Works thinks the possible adoption of plans prepared outside his office is inconsistent with his official dignity is to subordinate the public interest to private sentiment. We trust, therefore, that the unofficial members will bring forward a resolution in favour of inviting competitive designs and that if the resolution is negatived by the official vote they will bring the matter before the Secre- tary of State and oppose any vote of funds for the proposed building until their views on this point are complied with.
THE MILITARY CONTRIBUTION
AND BARRACK |SERVICES,
The unofficial members of Council, in the
[September 12, 1895. no desire to be consulted, except perhaps as to the selection of sites, and upon that point its repre.entations to
are not likely meet with much attention if they happen to run counter to the ideas of the War Office Authorities. The proposal that the colony shall pay a proportion of the cost of baracks and in return shall have a consultative voice in regard to their erec- tion, if carried into effect, will lead to con- stant bickering and as much unpleasantness hitherto done. If the colony has to pay for as the whole military contribution has the barracks it will be the duty of the un- official members of Council as guardians of the public purse to show, if they can, either that the proposed barracks are unnecessary or that the accommodation is in excess of the requirements, and as the military will never pay any attention to their representations there will always be an open sore. trust the unofficial members will reconsider their position on this subject and steadily resist any saddling of the colony with the cost of barrack services. want barracks, let them build them accord- If the military ing to their own ideas and pay for them.. The colony wants to have nothing to do with the matter. On paying 173 per cent. of its revenue as a military contribution it ought to be freed from any further monetary de- mands for military purposes.
We
ANOTHER ANTI-FOREIGN OUT RAGE IN SZECHUEN.
It is in contemplation to erect new public offices in Hongkong. The project has not yet been formally approved by the Legisla- tive Council, no vote has been taken for it, and it is not included in the Public Works programme attached to the 1895 Estimates. Practically, however, it has been under- stood that a site for a new Court-house and Post Office should be be reserved on the Reclamation, though it was not under- stood the work was to be proceeded with at a very early date. On the 15th March, 1894, the Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD asked if the Government would procure and lay upon the table an estimate of what money the Post Office, Treasury, Court-house, Land Office, etc., would probably realise if exposed to auction, and what would be the probable cost of erecting a suitable Post Office and Court-house, including a Land Office, etc., on Government ground on the new Praya Reclamation. The Colonial Secretary made the following reply:-" The Director of "Public Works estimates the amount realis- "able at the present time by the sale of these premises, including Crosby's store, at about $230,000; and the cost of erect-representation they have made on the sub-waiting for him by the wayside. The horse ing suitable buildings on Government ground on the Praya Reclamation, ex- “clusive of the value of that ground, which "is very valuable, and not including a building to replace Crosby's store, at about "8240,000. The estimate of the amount realisable is, of course, a matter of specula- tion, and the present time is not opportune for throwing a quantity of Government "land on the market." Since that time it appears to have been determined to proceed with the work forthwith, and when Mr. BELILIOS asked his question on the 16th August as to whether local architects were to be invited to submit competitive designs plans had already been prepared in the Public Works department. Why it should have been sought to throw any air of secrecy over the matter it is impossible to say, except that it is in accordance with Hongkong official tra- dition. It would have been in every respect better had the Colonial Secretary stated that the plans were already prepared and given a general outline of the Government's pro- posals in the matter.
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The Governor, however, took a very wise step in inviting a committee to examine the plans prepared by the Public Works de- partment and report upon them. That re- port has now been sent in and is said to be adverse to the plans, on the ground, we understand, that the proposed building would be unworthy of the colony. Mr. COOPER seems to have studied utility and economy and to have taken as his model the present Government Offices, which, if not very handsome, are exceedingly comfortable for those who have to work in them, being in summer the coolest place ill the colony with the exception of the ice-house. The committee, however, think that the new
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ject of the military contribution, present very fairly the just claim of the colony to an exemption of its municipal revenue from the mulet. The claim might perhaps have been urged in more forcible, or at least less obsequious language, but the arguments used ought to carry conviction to the mind of the Secretary of State. The last paragraph of the letter is, however, disappointing and will have been read by the community with some surprise. It runs as follows:- With regard to the colony's contribution for "Barrack Services,' we know that the ratepayers will very much resent being "called upon to pay for works which, with out any reference to them or their repre- sentatives, have been already completed or are nearing completion. We may say that we concur in this feeling, and therefore feel ourselves bound to oppose any pro posal that the colony should be called upon to bear a share in this expenditure, The case is different with those works “which have not yet been begun, and if His Excellency the Governor would bring for- "ward a financial minute regarding them we should be prepared to consider it." The proposal of the Imperial Government to charge the colony with barrack services ought to be resisted in foto. It makes no difference whether the rate payers through their representatives are consulted with regard to the plans or not, because such con- sultation under the circumstances could never be anything more than a sham. If barracks or hospitals are required they must of course be built according to military ideas, and the military ought to be the best judges of what is wanted. It is a matter in which the comniunity has only a remote and very indirect interest and upon which it has
44
From Szechuen comes intelligence of a fresh attack on a missionary at Wahsien, an important place midway between Ichang and Chungking. There was no provocation. The missionary was out riding on horseback and was first assaulted by two coolies who, armed with stout cudgels, appeared to be was startled and ran away with its rider, who was pelted by the mob with mud and stones and sustained several blows and con- tusions. On his arrival home his colleagues set off at once to the magistrate's yamen to appeal for protection. That personage, how- ever, refused to see them, sent word that he did not want to see them, he was busy, and if they were injured he could not help them. They managed, however, through the good offices of a friendly clerk at the telegraph · office, to get an urgent message sent to Chungking. Mr. TRATMAN, the British Consul, at once requested the Taotai to send instructions to the Wanhsien magistrate to protect the missionaries, and presumably something was done, but the truculent man- darin paid no attention, it would seem, and allowed the most baseless charges to be cir- culated about the missionaries. This is the sort of thing that still goes on in the province where a Commission of Inquiry has been so lately appointed to investigate the charges made against the mandarins, and especially the ex-Viceroy, of complicity in the recent out- rages. So far the most lamentable results have attended the inquiry. The infamous ex- Viceroy has positively been appointed to sit on the Commission, a body pledged to in- vestigate this man's acts. How is it likely to prove anything but a faree when the principal offender occupies a position in the court as judge? The Chinese Government can have no sense of honour or they would never have wished to make such an appoint- ment. As may be expected, the inquiry at Chengtu makes no progress and must end in smoke. The only result achieved so far, according to all accounts, has been to cause an official persecution of such natives as have shown themselves well disposed towards the