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is called on to perform duties of no ordinary description, and which must prove very harassing. This however arises from the system in force, and in my judgment is very considerably increased by the presence of what is called "The Board of Respective Officers." What the precise duties of these officers are, cannot clearly understand; but it appears to me that one of their principal avocations is to recommend what to them may seem fit and necessary for the public service.
The Board consists of—
A Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers.
A Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery. The Ordnance Storekeeper.
The Acting Deputy Storekeeper.
20. In my despatch of 25th January, No. 10, I have suggested that in a military point of view I cannot conceive it possible that the presence of the two first officers is requisite with a force composed of 1,200 men; and if this opinion be in conformity with that entertained by those more competent to offer one, and there be no other objections, of which I am unaware, I would urgently recommend the abolition of this Board altogether. In all boards the responsibility is so much divided, that suggestions involving expense are much more likely to be made by them than by an individual; and there seems no cause why such occasional alterations and additions as may be required, cannot, on their necessity, being brought to the notice of the General or other officer commanding, be sanctioned by him without the intervention of this Board, which cannot, if Mr. St. Hill's statement be correct, and of which there can be no doubt, but materially add to the labour not only of his own but of that of other departments, as far as I am able to judge, without any commensurate advantage being derived.
21. But should the proper authorities not see fit to place this power in the hands of the commanding officer, it might be ordered that no military expenses should be incurred or recommended beyond £100 without being also approved of by the Governor of the colony.
22. The Ordnance Storekeeper's Establishment is as follows, and amounts annually to £4,165 6s. 7d.
1 Storekeeper. (first class) £ s. d. 936 0 0 1 Deputy Storekeeper 540 0 0 1 First Clerk 362 0 0 1 Second Clerk 322 0 0 I Assistant Firemaster 45 12 623 The expenses of this department amount annually to £1,785, to which must be added £500 per annum for offices and stores; and on the whole I do not consider it susceptible of any material reduction; but from Mr. Assistant-Commissary-General Smith's own showing, I think it is capable of undertaking a very considerable addition to its duties. At present the department has in its charge provisions to the value of £2,424 19s 4d., and the actual value of the supplies issued during the past year, 1848, amounted only to £7,335 4s. 8d. and this includes, as will be seen on reference to Enclosure No. 12, every article of consumption ordered by the commissariat, embracing all hospital comforts. The fresh beef and bread provided by Chinese contractors, as also the fire-wood, form a sum of £3,878, which would leave the actual distribution by the commissariat, of only £3,457 per annum.
Page 41.
24. In explanation of this small expenditure of provisions, it is right, I should again observe, that the European troops amounting to only 600 are supplied with bread and fresh meat by contract, so that with the exception of one day in each week, when salt meat is supplied to them during the six winter months, the commissariat department has indeed in this branch of its duty, but little to do, as the Ceylon Rifles do not draw any rations from the department.
25. Mr. Smith appears to make some difficulty in undertaking the duty of provisioning the navy, and if, as he states, that Hong Kong was the headquarters of the Indian station, and that a large force was always stationed here, his objection might be entitled to consideration; but instead of a line of battle ship, a frigate, three steamers, and five sloops, being ordinarily stationed here, the force intended for Hong Kong as agreed upon between Viscount Palmerston and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty is fixed at one frigate, and a steamer, a force about equivalent to that which Mr. Smith states in the Australian colonies is supplied by the army commissariat under the commissariat regulations; and with this precedent before me, I certainly cannot see why a similar plan may not be adopted in this colony.
26. It appears also evident that the building used for a commissariat store, is at present unnecessarily large; and so far as I can judge, would hold the extra supplies required for the navy. Should it be found insufficient there would be no difficulty in hiring good and dry warehouses elsewhere.
27. With respect to Mr. Smith's animadversions on the civil department, I have nothing to say, except that he is clearly writing on subjects with which he is not familiar, and with the particulars of which he has not the means of being very intimately acquainted. In his remarks I see he says, that on negotiating bills during the past year, a profit of £2,949 has been realized. This is no doubt very satisfactory, but whether the rate of exchange is favourable or otherwise, does not depend on him, but on circumstances over which he can possibly have no control. So long as money can be procured for bills under 4s. 2d. per dollar, a saving will accrue to Government. When the exchange is higher than this rate the Government will sustain a loss.
28. The Barrack Department stands as follows:-
1 Barrack Master £ s. d. 689 15 0 I Clerk @ £50 per mensem 1 Superior Barrack Sergeant 2 Barrack Sergeants 525 0 0 3 Temporary Clerks @ £60 ditto 1 Temporary Clerk @ £70 per month each 150 0 0 1 Foreman of Storehousemen @ 5s. 6d. per day 86 1 6 1 Foreman of Magazine 86 1 6 1 Cooper 86 1 6 2 Storehousemen @ 5s. per day 156 10 0 2 Storehousemen @ 4s. 2d. per day 130 8 4 1 Painter at £13. 3d. per day 19 11 3 Royal Artillery employed in Magazine 100 0 0 Chinese, as Artificers, Watchmen, Porters, Coolies, &c. 620 0 0 £1,014 18 0Page 44.
29. The duties this officer has to perform are stated in a memorandum furnished by the officer at present in charge of the department. I certainly cannot see why the duties should not be transferred to the engineer department or to an old subaltern officer of the force serving on the island on an allowance of £100 per annum.
Page 47.
30. The Royal Engineer Department stands as follows:-
ROYAL ENGINEERS. £ s. d. 1. Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding 1,322 10 10 1 Captain or Brevet Major 789 10 10 1 First Lieutenant 357 8 4 1 First Lieutenant attached to Royal Sappers and Miners 378 13 4 ROYAL ENGINEERS CIVIL DEPARTMENT. 2 Clerks of Works, fourth class 589 0 0 I Foreman of Works, second class 258 0 0 1 Clerk, fourth class 203 5 0 ROYAL SAPPERS AND MINERS. 2 Sergeants, 1 Corporal, 2 Second Corporals, and 39 Privates 885 17 1 1 Office Keeper 25 0 0 1 Office Coolie 2 Watchmen 25 0 0 CHINESE. 12 10 £4,846 15 5Royal Engineer Department.
Page 48.
31. From the enclosed statement will be seen the duties which the individuals connected with this department are called on to perform. In my despatch, No. 10, of 25th January, I recommended that certain reductions should be made in this department, from which further experience and observation afford...