174
were partly destroyed, and the value of the damage done was estimated at $34.000.
The spread of the fire to the adjoining houses in this case was entirely due to the large and stoutly constructed sunshades existing in Jervois Street, the removal of which had to be offegted before the Brigade could work with their ladders. The delay that was thus caused was considerable, and was undoubtedly the cause of the fire spreading.
Since then the shop-keepers in Jervois Street have been induced by Mr. Chatham, when Acting Director of Public Works, to makė their sunshades moreable so as to avoid such obstruction in future.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
3. Paragraph 14 of the report of that Com mittes describes the present accommodation used by the Department, which I here again enumerate.
|
[March 5, 1898.
evidently advantageous and a saving to Govern- ment as to warrant its early sanction.
12.-In conclusion, I submit for the approval of His Excellency, the Governor that I be anthorized to lay this proposal before the Public Works Committee, and, if it meets with_appro- val, proceed at once with the work, the neces- sary funds being provided by a special supple- mentary vote-I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
R. D. ORMSBY, Director of Publia Works.
The Public Works Department Stores are now located in three separate buildings, viz., Crosby Store, No. 34, Blue Buildings, and at Wanchai Store on Government land reclaimed from the foreshore, in addition to which a small store is maintained at No. 2 Tank in connection with the workshop there, and some goods are also stored opposite the Sailors' Home.
4-Crosby Store occupies an area of 4,131 The Honourable the Colonial Secretary. square feet and the old Education Offices (form- ing part of the same building but now unsafe and unoccupied) an area of 6,947 square feet, a total of 11,078 square feet of most valuable land in the heart of the city.
5. At the fire in No. 64, Third Street on the 24th of November, 15 persons unfortunately lost their lives. They were occupants of the first floor. The fire originated under the only These buildings are in such a dilapidated staircase leading to the floor, and the wood-condition as to be positively unsafe, rendering work being light (as in most Chinese houses) it their use as stores very limited, and should they immediately burned so fiercely that no person collapse, likely to lead to considerable loss of could venture down the stairs.
the property stored there. I estimate that less than one-third of the space is capable of being used.
The occupants retreated to the kitchen, and before assistance could arrive the whole floor was in flames and they were suffocated.
The houses on each side of that burned had ladders leading from the kitchen to the roof, but unfortunately such was not the case in house No. 64.
6. The water in the mains was not turned off at any time during the year.
7.-The new floating fire engine. (the engines and appliances of which are by Messrs. Shand and Mason) was completed and available for service in February last, and bas given satis- faction.
8. I attach a list of places where fire des- patch boxes are kept, and of private telephones to which the police have courteously been granted access in case of fire, together with copy of a report from the Acting Engineer on the state of the various fire engines, which are all in good working order.
9.-It has not been found possible yet to carry out the extension of the Central Fire Station that I recommended last year. Till that is done it is impossible to effect auy material improvement in rapidity in dealing with fires from the Central Fire Station.
10. By an acceleration in sounding the alarms, a gain of two minutes has been effected in the turn-out of the firemen at the Central Police Station.
Electric alarms have now been fixed at East and West Point Police Stations. the Central Fire Station, and Central Police Station, from which further improvement in the rapidity of communicating alarms is expected,
11.-On the 11th of May the Nam Pak Hong Fire Brigade was by the consent of the Com- mittee, placed under the supervision of two European engine drivers, who take charge of this auxiliary Brigade at fires. The result has been satisfactory, and further improvement may
be looked for.
12. The conduct of the Brigade throughout the year has been good.-I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
F. H. MAY, Superintendent of Fire Brigade. The Honourable, the Colonial Secretary.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STORES,
The site is probably as valuable as any in the City, and I have little doubt would sell now for over $12 a square foot, and thus bring in $133,000 to Goverumeut.
5.-The store in Blue Buildings is rented by Government from the Land Investment Com pany at an annual rental of $949.20 including taxes.
6.—The store at Wanchai on the Reclamation in front of Marine Lots 117 and 118 Praya East, though very small, is undoubtedly the most conveniently situated store we possess, and on this site I would recommend the erection of a suitable permanent building to contain all our. stores, and a small residence for a storekeeper with accommodation for our workshops.
7-The present staff employed in connection with our Store Department are as follows:
Head storekeeper, Clerk,
Four store coolies, One watchman, Six Do.,
$60.00 per meusem
10.00
33.00
7.00
36.00
(ne Indian constable, 13.50
$159.50
or $1,914.00 per annum. With all our stores concentrated in one place I would consider the following staff ample:
Head storekeeper (to do clerk's work
also), Two store,coolies $10 and $7, Two watchmen $7,
rr
.$70.00 17.00 14.00
HONGKONG EIRE INSURANCE CO., LIMITED.
The twenty-ninth ordinary general__meeting of the Hongkong Fire Insurance Company, on the 28th February Limited, was held in the offices of the General Managers, Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. The Hon. J. J Bell-Irving presided and there were also present-Hon. C. P. Chater, Messrs. A. J. Raymond, J. H. Lewis, A. Ross, F. Maitland, (Consulting Committee), G. T. Veitch (Secretary), J. H. Cox, G. C. Anderson, Henry Humphreys Ho Tung, A. Fleet, F. A. Gomes, K. McK. Ross, T. Arnold, Victor H. Deacon, W. Parlane, J. R. Michael, R. C. Wilcox, Ho Fook, B. Byramjee, D. D. O'Keefe, A. G. Morris, Lo Cheung Shiu, J. M. G. Pereira, K. A. Chinoy, and J. M. S. Alves.
The SECRETARY read the notice calling the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, I presume you will acquiesce in the report and accounts being taken as read. At our last annual meet- ing, it was with much pleasure I congratulated shareholders on the satisfactory statement of accounts then presented. To-day, it is with a feeling of equal pleasure I am enabled to come before you with what is a more satisfactory ao- count; in fact, it is the best presented by the Company for several years past. It enables us to propose the payment of a bonus to contri- buting shareholders, an increase of $4.50 per share, that is to say $26.50 as against $22 last year, and also the strengthening of our reserve fund adding thereto the maximum amount allowable under our Articles of Association. Now, as regards the position of the 1897 account. As you are all doubtless aware last year was marked by the occurrence of severe conflagrations, and we, like all other offices, have had to bear our proportion of heavier losses than usual, in consequence of which the balance at credit of the account is somewhat less than for 1896. You will observe the net premia income shows an appreciable increase. Our losses, unfortunately are considerably greater, being $62,618, against $31,588 in 1896. Since the account was made up, I regret having to state the occurrence of further losses to the extent of $33,000, the larger portion of which was incurred › 9.I have gone over the existing stores and in Manila, where a most disastrous fire recently noted the space now occupied, and what our
occurred. Some short time ago, we fortunately reduced our risks in the particular locality of maximum requirements in that respect are likely to be, and have come to the conclusion the Manila fire, otherwise our loss would have been much heavier. The various tariffs I that a building 110 feet by 35 feet with 2 floors
referred to at our last meeting continue will be sufficient. There should be also an open shed for nonperishable articles which should, to work satisfactorily, although in Yoko- dissatisfaction at the rates there however, be under cover, and a residence for hama the storekeeper; and I estimate the total cost established has taken the shape of a proposal will not exceed $18,191.00 as per enclosed parti..to start a new Fire Insurance Company. Our experience of fire underwriting in Japan, especi culars.
The saving to Government by carrying out ally of late years, has not been satisfactory.
101.00
or $1.212.00 per annum. 8.-The store at Wanchai is in a convenient position as regards our work; it is within a mile of the office, has water carriage up to the entrance, and on a portion of the site the work- shops and small connected store now on No. 2 Tank near Taipingshan can be transferred..
The following report has been laid before the this proposal would be as follows :- Legislative Council:-
Public Works Office, Hongkong, 5th January, 1898. Sir-The necessity for proper store accom. modation for the use of the Public Works De- partment, in some fairly central site, has been more than once bronght to the attention of Go- vernment, but as nothing has been done yet to meet this undoubted want, it seems scarcely necessary to refer to previous files, and I have the honour now to bring the matter to your notice hoping that it may be possible to bring
it to a definite issue.
.$1,914.00 949.23
$2,863.20 Deduct cost of proposed new staff... 1,212.00
Annual cost of present staff Rent paid for Blue Buildings.....
Saving.. $1,651.20
which capitalized may be taken to represent about $33,000.00.
11.-I do not refer to the large sum that is certain to be realized by the sale of Crosby Store and adjoining premises, as I have in an other paper proposed devoting the money so rea- 2.-The question was dealt with by the Com-lized to the construction of new Public Offices, nor do I refer to the fact that it was at one mittee appointed by His Excellency the Go- vernor to report on the condition of Public time proposed to reserve a most valuable site on (ffices, from which subject, however, I think the new Reclamation `opposite the Sailors' it should now be disassociated as it really stands Home for Public Works Department Stores, as my proposal seems on its own merits to be so ou a quite different footing.
Keen competition brought rates down to a point at which it was impossible to work at a profit, and to remedy this unsatisfactory state of affairs the various offices combined for the purpose of - forming an equitable tariff. This was done, but it appears a portion of the insuring public thinks the rates fixed too high. I trust the remainder of our 1897 risks will run off without more than the average losses, and that our next meeting, if not able to present such a report as to-day, still 1 hope it will be a satisfactory one. Before proposing the adoption and passing of the ac- counts, I shall be pleased to answer any ques- tions shareholders may have to ask relating thereto.
No questions were asked and the CHAIRMAN proposed the adoption of the report and the
Mr. T. ARNOLD seconded. passing of the accounts.
Carried.