C. S. 0. No. 663.
Hongkong, 4th March, 1874.
SURVEYOR GENERAL,
(J. M. PRICE, Esquire),
to
COLONIAL SECRETARY,
(The Hon. J. GARDINER AUSTIN).
HONGKONG WATER SUPPLY.
Amendment of original project.
Cendome N. 1 in Governor
Sir Arthur I Lennedy's
Despatch N. 44 of 7th
March 1874
THE CHINA MAIL.
HONGKONG, THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1874.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
SUMMARY,
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held, in pursuance to notice, this afternoon. Present, H. E, the Governor, the Hon. the Chief Justice, the Hot. the Col, Secretary, the Hon, the Acting Attorney General, the Hon, the Acting Col Treasurer, and the Elons. P. Ryrie, R. Row. tt, J. Whittall and W. H. Alexander. The minutes hav- lag been read and confirmed, H. E. the Governor stated that the Council had been called together to consider the Report on the Waterworks by the Surveyor General. He presumed the members had read the Report and did not need to point out the impurtance of the subject, bearing as it did pn the squitary condition of the Colony, Nor would he make any sensational speech which might possibly affect weak minds. Mr Price had in his opinion acquitted himself with great credit, the Report he furnished being throughly exhaustive. H. E. was of opinion that it did not follow because the project was a large one it was to be thrown aside. The Surveyor General had held several discussions with him on the subject of the water supply and after thoroughly considering the matter, the Surveyor Ge neral now proposed to curtail the allowance he before suggested, viz., 30 gallons in summer and 18 gallons in winter to 15 gallons per head per diem all the years round; this would reduce the esti- mate from £350,000 to £230,000. The Surveyor General in fact hoped to reduce it still more. Mr Price held the opinion, -in which H. E. concurred-that it was necessary before any work was entered upon, for the Council to vote the sum necessary for a thorough survey, as they would otherwise be simply groping in the dark. H. E. would propose the Council going into committee to consider the sub- ject. If any work were undertaken before a survey was made, it would be like putting the cart before the horse. H. E. then read the Surveyor General'a revised Report on the Waterworks suggesting reductions in various ways, observing that Mr Price would not of course pledge himself to any definite estimate without a detailed survey. If for instance rocks were found to exist at certain places it might be necessary to supplement the estimate of £230,000. If not, it might perhapa be reduced by £50,000. The report he had just read was only received yesterday. Had it come to hand before he would have had it print- ed for the benefit of members. H. E. concluded by recommending that the first step taken be the making of a detailed survey of the route. It would cost about $2,500 but the money would be well spent. He would therefore formally move that the Council go into Committee.
The Council then went into Committee on the Governor's motion, the Colonial Secretary seconding the proposition. Mr Whittall then said he thought it would be wiser before going into details as to the cost to find out what the Colony could afford to pay; as it would appear that even the reduced estimate was far too much to spend Be was quite aware of the importance of a good supply of water. But it must not be overlooked that the Colony was not so very badly off now, aud if more care were taken to prevent waate they might manage to do with the present supply. Again even supposing the estimate to be reduced to £100,000, the taxes on the Colony, including police rates, would be about 25 per cent. The Ool. Secretary, how- ever, said he thought it would be best to first ascertain the actual cost of efficient water supply. He was of the same opinion as H. E. the Governor vis. that a survey should be made, the cust not to exceed $2,500-Mr Rowett followed by remarking that he thought such a survey very desirable, in fact it should have been made before. But, as regarded the cost of the proposed scheme, he was of opinion that, even were it reduced to £200,000, it would still be too much for the Colony to
an
bear. He would also ask whether it was in contemplation to see if any subterraneau re- servoir or well existed which could be utiliz- ed? H. E. replied that no part of the surface had been left unexamined, and Mr Rowett observed that as it was possible something of the biod might exist a short distance from the town, it would be advisable to as- certain whether such was the fact,
The Governor thought the question was whether we were going to have a survey or not. He thought the sanitary condition of the Colony could not be in a satisfactory state without the increased supply of water. The only step practicable was to vote the aum necessary for a detailed survey, or to give up the project. Mr Whittall had said that the Colony should first find out what it could afford, and the Surveyor General be told not to exceed that amount in his estimate. He thought the survey should be made.Mir May said he had not had the good fortune of reading the Surveyor General's Report, but he could give his knowledge of the state of things antecedent even to the existence of the present supply. At that time it was supposed that the original plana would give an ample supply. The Chinese do not on an average use 2 gallons a bead per day in winter. As regarded water for sanitary purposes he thought the drains might be flushed with sea water and in bis opinion the Colony ought not to be called upon to pay any more for water than was now paid. He thought the Pokfoolum reservoir sufficient for present wants and that an unlimited supply would lead to waste. Mr Ryrie did not think the Chinese used or required 15 gallons each a day, and the Surveyor General should be requested to base his estimate on that assumption. The drains might be flushed by fire engines, and as regarded fires surely some engineer- ing method could be adopted of utilizing the sea water.
Mr Austin bere begged to differ from the last speaker as to the amount of water re- quired by Chinese. They wanted as much as the lower orders in England, He thought it too late now to discuss the pri- mary question of supply. The Council bad tbought it insuficient and had called for a report. The Chief Justice wished to know the exact wording of the motion by which the council was bound, while Mr Whittall remarked that if they had made one mistake, it did not necessarily follow that it was to be continued or repented. Mr Rowett, while complimenting Mr Price on his Report, said the scheme would cost too much. The Colony most cut ita coat according to its cloth. If he had a scheme within our means, it might be considered. The Acting Attorney General observed that the question seemed to him to be whe- ther the new water works were a nece8- sity or not. They must go from step to step.
H. E. then gare a short sketch of the way in which the water supply bad been forsed on his attention, and remarked that if the Chineso did not require fifteen gal- lone a day, we should teach them better habits. A full supply was necessary on sanitary grounds, as without it stuall pox or typhoid fever might break out. H. E. would put the matter of a vote for preli. minary expuses to the Council. Mr Rowett proposed that the sum should not exceed $6,000, which Mr Ryrie secondad, and the vote was passed.
An Ordinance was then introduced by E. E. to empower the Governor to exerciss certain powers under the Merchant Ships ping Act, 1878. The objects and reasona were explained by the Acting Attorney General. They were to secure efficient surveys of vessels and bore reference to the facts evolved at the enquiry into recent Was buong disaster. Some discussion took place as to the appeal to the Vice Admiralty Court! in case of an owner being dissatisfied with the survey, but (the standing rules being suspended) the Ordinance was finally read a first and second time, and passed, being No. 1 of 1874.
The following votes were then reported from the Finance Committee.
Furniture, Supreme Court, $ 362.80. Medical Department, Small-
poz Hospital
Fire Brigade,
86.14.
288.00,
43150 97
74
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1
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