257
height apparently of 1,200 ft, a shower of mud and water, descended vessels in the harbor and
An.
ow
The houses in the town, extending higher up the hill won than Government House which must have been 2¾ miles distant from the Powder Hulk.
17
The Chinese Village at Hongkong was much shaken, and several persons there were more or less injured, but not fatally. Nevertheless, when the large quantity of powder that exploded, is considered, I think there is reason for congratulation on the comparatively trivial results of the accident. I would also infer that the safest position for storing any large quantity of powder is a floating Magazine anchored in a safe place, because an explosion taking place in a hulk placed on a yielding body like water should seem to be less destructive than that of an equal quantity on land.
10.
I am now circulating with the Attorney General a draught of an Ordinance for improving the Regulations regarding storage of Gunpowder on land and on water with a view to placing the whole in direct charge of the Ordinance Department of Government, whose authority is limited at present by Section 12.
- power of compelling vessels with 400 lbs and upwards of powder on board to take up such anchorage as the Harbor Master may direct.