tion may be again fixed at the former figure of 240,000 I can, however, hold out no hope that this request of the unofficial members will be acceded to. I have no option therefore but to o ask you to pass this Bill into law, and so finally settle the much-vexed question of the Military Contribution.
The next item of importance, and indeed the most pressing one on the order paper, is the Appropriation Bill for 1897. .
From the draft Estimates, which have been in your hands for some time, and which I now lay upon the table, you will have observed that the revenue for 1897 is estimated to yield $2,438,823. This estimate has been arrived at with due caution; it is less than the actual re- venue for 1895 and the probable total for the current year, and I have every reason to expect that it will be realised. The various items do not, I think, call for any special remark at this stage,
The total expenditure for 1897 is estimated at $2,769,083, but of this $368,000 is chargeable to the Loan. The estimated sum chargeable to current revenue is therefore $2,401,083, or $37,740 less than the estimated
revenue.
The principal increases in expenditure, as compared with the Estimates for 1896, appear under the following heads-
1. Public Works Extraordinary charge-
able to Loan
2. Military Expenditure
5. Pensions
4. Public Works Recurrent...
5.- Post Office
6. Public Debt
7. Sanitary Department
8. Medical Department..
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND appointment of an additional Sister, and to well deserved increases in the pay of Dr. Lowson and the Analyst and Assistant Analyst, and a few minor appointments, including the Chinese staff for the new Isolation Hospital.
Economies have been effected as opportunity offered, on the lines suggested by the Retrench- ment Committee, but such opportunities have been rare.
The rate of exchange for the estimates for 1897 has been taken at 2/1, the same rate as was taken for 1896, which may be regarded as a safe rate so far as the word "safe can be applied to exchange.
If any further information is desired with regard to the Estimates it will be furnished in Finance Committee or when the Council is in Committee on the Bill. I have now only to ask you, gentlemen, to vote the sum necessary to defray the charges for the coming year.
I will now make a few remarks upon the general condition of the colony financially and
otherwise.
The total estimated revenue for 1896 · was $2,288,366. Of this sum $2,120,680 had been collected up to the end of October, and the total revenne will probably be about $2,495,000, while the total expenditure chargeable to revenue will be about $2,445,000, leaving a surplus of revenue over expenditure of $50,000.
...$170,800
The increase in receipts over the amount which 30,079 was estimated is principally due to premia on - 26,000 land sales, which have yielded already over 23,300 $250,000 as against an estimated total for the 22,181 whole year of $70,000. 11,447 There are also noticeable increases in the 9,800 receipts up to the 31st October, under the 4,542 headings Light Dues," "Licences and In- " and ternal Revenue not otherwise specified "Post Office," over the estimated receipts up to that date.
The increase in military expenditure is due partly to an increase of $9,000 in the amount set apart for "Barrack Services," but chiefly to increased (estimated) revenue. Only $61,000 of the estimated total military ex- penditure is included in the Appropriation Bill, viz., 849,000 for Barrack Services and $12,000 for the Volunteers, as the Bill to which I have already referred and which is designed pur- posely to remove the question of voting the Defence Contribution from the arena of yearly debate, will provide for the appropriation of 171 per cent. of the revenue, less premia on land sales, to meet that contribution.
The increase under the iteni of Public Works Recurrent is accounted for chiefly by the cost of maintaining the new waterworks at Shaukiwan and Aberdeen, and increased cost of maintenance of roads and bridges, and of the repairs to buildings which will probably be necessary during next year.
The additional charge on account of the Public Debt is due to the increase in the con- tribution to the Sinking Funk, which com- menced only in October last.
The large increase in the cost of the Sani- fary Department calls for some special ex- planation.
46
The principal items of unforeseen expendi. ture, which were not provided for in the estimates for 1896, are $20,000 for a new floating engine for the Fire Brigade and $70.200 for expenses incurred in connection with the repression of the plague.
|
•
scientific investiga prove of much rible disease, undertaken by the
aber 9-1896!
the prevention of overcrowding provement of the sanitary condit quarters of the city. This qu so difficult a nature that I ha mission to enquire into the tary properties and to report. of dealing with them. The under their consideration.The col congratulated on its immunity break of cholera such as has visit colony of Singapore.
ver the
A typhoon of unusual severity swep colony on the 29th July last. It car damage to property, but fortunately the timely warning of its approach given Director of the Observatory, the loss of life was not great.
Improvements have been made in the con dition of the Tung-wah Hospital.. ability of reforming that institution has the subject of enquiry and report by mission. I am in possession of their views on the matter and am devoting my earne tion to the question, which is one of considerable difficulty and delicacy: us k
Catten
With regard to the constitution of the Sanis tary Board I regret that I am not yet in possession of the Secretary of State's final decision, which, however, I hope to receive shortly.
As regards Public Works, the extension of the Wongneichong Recreation Ground been undertaken and is progressing The p ject includes the widening and impr the roads and an addition to the Reorea Ground of about 74 acres. ( - )
The extension of the Gaol has been proceeded with and accommodation has been provided within the Gaol compound for a prison for females, instead of the unsuitable house in Wyndham Street hitherto rented for that pur pose.
The provision of an adequate supply of water Turning now to the question of the health to the City of Victoria has received my careful and sanitation of the colony, the present year attention, and projects have been prepared for an ultimate supply of 4,000,000 gallons a day will be a memorable one owing to the unfor. tunate recurrence of the disease known as throughout the year, The present state of the bubonic plague, which was so disastrous in 1894. water supply and particulars of the proposed The oubtbreak commenced early in the year.extensions have been dealt with in an able and the disease was at its worst stage in April and May, and was not finally stamped out till the end of September. The total number of cases brought to notice was 1,204, of which 1,097 ended fatally. The Europeans attacked numbered 15, of whom 7, including two soldiers and one inspector of nuisances, suc- cumbed to the disease. Sister Catherine, one of the two sisters who were engaged in nursing at the Plague Hospital. was also attacked by the disease, but fortunately recovered. The largest number of fresh cases in one week was 100, from the 23rd to 30th May, and the greatest number of deaths was 87, for the week ending 9th May.
During the whole of this period the Sanitary Board and its staff, ably assisted by members of the police and of the garrison, whose services were kindly lent, and all those connected with the work of suppressing the plague, were untir ing in their efforts, and they deserve great credit for their zeal and energy. It is perhaps too much to hope that disease will not again visit this colony, and wo must, I fear, be pre- pared for its re-appearance in spite of every effort to prevent it.
crate report by the Director of Public Works which has already been laid before you (Sessional Paper). That report has been referred to Mr. Osbert Chadwick, who concurs in the proposals contained therein. The Secretary of State has communicated to me his approval of the scheme, and contracts have been entered into, with the approval of this Council, for the commencement of the works. The waterworks for Kowloon have also been com pleted, and a constant supply is now available over the southern portion of that peninsula,
The new system of signalling the approach of vessels has been completed in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee ap pointed in 1893.*
It has been found that the present staff of inspectors is not sufficient to provide for the Inspection of the Chinese houses with the fre-
The statue of the Queen in commemoration o quency and regularity which are necessary.
been The Sanitary Board has accordingly recom-
Her Most Gracións Majesty's Jubilee mended, and the Secretary of State has sauc-
erected on the Praya Reclamation { tioned, the appointment of two more inspectors
unveiled by me on the 28th May, amidst ge of nuisances, with the necessary additional
rejoicings and loyal demonstrations. * interpreters and foremen of street cleansers.
With respect to Taipingshan considerable emolition of The salaries for these new appointments, with
progress has been made with the various stipulated increments in the pay of
insanitary, dwellings, and the neces other officers, and the salary of a temporary
for relaying out the resumed area for olerk who was appointed in April, 1895, and
purposes. Contracts have been entere whose salary does not appear in the 1896 ești-
It is satisfactory to record that though many dealing with about one half of the mates, accounts for the increase in personal of the wealthier Chinese sent their wives and and works in connection with the gr emolaments, while the increase under "other families to the mainland, there was no general of the remainder will shortly b is principally due to the higher exodus of the popplatiun such as occurred in A report on the subject will be lai figures at which the scavenging contracts are 1894, and business proceeded much as usual. to which I direct your attention, let.
Dr. Yersin and Dr. Kitasato, whose names and pations which I was led to form The inorease under the heading " Post Office"
attainments are so well known, have each pre-year liave not been fulfilled. due entirely to estimated increase in transit pared an antitoxin for the treatment of the charges or the sum which this colony has to plague, and I am taking steps to secure a supply pay for the convevance of its mail matter. This of the preparation. Finally, I cannot dismiss increase need cause no alarm; on the other hand the subject of the plague withont recording the it is a matter of congratulation, for it indicates colony's indebtedness to the Medical Depart
imated expansion of business and con-
ment of this colony, including the Sisters. Dr. it increase of profit.
Wilm, of the Imperial German Navy, whose Base in the cost of the Medical services were kindly lent by Admiral Hoffman ints is owing to the appointment of an also rendered invaluable assistance throughout *Surgeon in place of the Medicalin treating the patients at the Kennedytown Officer of the Gaol, at a higher salary, to the Hospital, of which he was in charge, and by his
charges
100
302
As to the Praya Reclamation difficulties have arisen in con rapid completion of certain gress has been made. The have, in several to enter into the are in course of reclaimed.
In addition to the fore dition of the villag and works of dr