B
venture to recommend its adoption, and
to ask
- you for authority to submit to the
Legislative
Council.
carry it into effect.
a vote for #50,000 to
I have the honour to be,
C
Sir, Your Most Obedient
humble Servant,
The Daily Press.
Hovekova, September 24т¤, 1879.
THE EXTINCTION OF FIRES IN
HONGKONG.
A deputation representing the various loca! and other Fire Insurance offices doing business bin Hongkong waited upon the Governor yostord ay afternoon to lay before his Excellency their views on the organisation of the Fire Brigade and the supply of water available for the purpose of ex. tinguishing fires. The depatation consisted of "the ilon, W. Keswick, Hon. P. Ryrie, Messrs. T. Jackson, W. H. Forbes, H. Hoppius, W. Reiners. J. B. Coughtrie, and E. F. Alford.
Hon W. KESWICK said--The deputation that wait upon your Excellency consists of gentle. men who are directors of the two local Fire In- surance Companies; they also represent in- dividually and as representatives of their firms important interests connected with the Fire Insurance Companies of other countries who do business here. The position of the Fire Brigade has beau the subject of a great deal of considera- tion since the late great fire, and reform, and really perhaps the reconstruction of the brigade has been thonght necessary by the gentlemen who are now waiting upon your Excellency. There has been drawn up a paper which, as there are details connected with this question, better expresses what is to be said than I could' in any words of mine. If your Excellency will look over that, you will see contained in it the purport of the views of the depata tion. I think it will be generally admitted there is room for change and improvement. The serious effects of fires are not limited to the amount of property destroyed. The effect of people's all being destroyed and families brought to ruin is so great an evil that a Government, we conceive, should carefully consider if it be possible to prevent such catastrophes. To pre- vont them is impossible, but to mitigate the evil effects of them we consider to be possible and to be a first duty. We are of opinion that in Hong- kong, as we have just said, improvement is pos- sible. We consider, as you will observe by the statement put before you, that the present force is wrongly constracted. Its numbers, we consider, are decidedly to great, and the expense of the reconstruction we aim at would, we conceive, not į be greater than the present cost of the brigade. You will see the strength of the force is 126, at a cost of $7,438. The income is about $12,000, and bout $5,000 are thus left for appli auces such as new engines, fuel, and other pecessary expenses, Then the paper givus an analysis of the forca and over the leaf there are remarks made. I will read the first is generally admitted that the chief source of weakness in the present constitu. tion of the brigade arises from the fact that no less that 72 members out of a grand total inclusive of 30 coolies) of 126 are policemen, whose duties render their attendance at a fire very doubtful,” The duties of the Police Force are varied, and it is expecting too nch that when a fire occurs they should e immediately eligible for service at it Nua- bors 1 to 5 of the remarks bave reference to the office of superintendent and engineer, and iso on, and you will see details are given. It would only unnecessarily occupy yone time for me to go through all, but it is folt very desirable that should a new force be constituted, there should be a fire master and engineer combined in one persou possessed of full qualifications for the post. We deem it advisibie that such a man should be an artisan of a high class-not nevas- (sarily a gentleman. He should be a man who is pable and willing to undertake the proper esre of the engines and the proper instruction of the brigade, and he should be so closely scquainted ith all the members that he can see whether Their duty is done or not. The number of mem- gers that is thought by the depatation to be cessary is 59. I would further remark that thought this brigade should be solely Hfor fire parposes, that the men forming itį
should be altogether devoted to their work, that is, tending the engines and making them selves acquainted with every detail it is neces. sary they should know in order that when tires occur they should be efficient. The gost for salaries is put down at $10.688. These Ggures are of course approximate and given aa estimates. This would loave for repairs to ap- pliances and extra coolie hire $1,892, and the present rate would represent $12,500, which is the sum estimated as the total cost. The new engines of course are costly, but at the present time fortunately the wants in this respect have been supplied, I believe very efficiently. The Fire Brigade buildings would. we pre- sume, come under the head of Public Works department. The present plant is considered sufficient, that is, three steam fire engines and the necessary appliances for their use. Then thestations, it is considered, should be such as at present, only it is desirable there should be one in Hollywood-road. I come now to a matter f the very first importance, that is, the supply of water. I understand the Government have had under consideration a scheme for the fu ture supply of water. This is important not only for fire purposes, but for purposes of health, and I believe the property in the colony would be benefited greatly were a sufficient supply pre- vided, and that the population would be mach healthier and happier wore there a supply of water at all adequate to their wants. But apart from that, a supply of water for fire purposes is necessary if we are to smother fires when they break out. There are some details given in the paper your Excellency holds in your hands of the establishments at Manchester and Liver. poolt I was surprised when I saw those figures and the small number of men great things can be accomplished with. In Manchester the num ber is exceedingly small, and the number of firos which have occurred and which they have succeeded in extinguishing without difficulty is vory large. They have a system there of not employing the police at all, but to show a system where the police are employed Liverpool is given. The sum of it is that a small number of men trained to their work, knowing their positions, and understanding what is required of them can accomplish a great deal, whereas a large number of man promiscuously distributed and not knowing their duties are more hindrance than gain. We are well aware of the interest your Excelleney takes in this mat ter, and with these few remarks I beg to intro- duce the sabject,
Hon. P. RY&E-As one of the representatives of another company, your Excellency, I beg to say that the views which have beei expressed by Mr. Keswick are very nearly my own views. I would or uld to what Mr. Keswick has said, that shoni it ba found this brigade which is now proposed is even more costly than is put down here, the ratepayers would willingly pay the extra rate that would be required for tire purposes, As regards the supply of water. I have taken considerable interest in this branch of the sub- ject, as perhaps your Excellency is aware, having in your hands a report to which my name is attached. Myself and two other gentlemen have been considering the sabject; we have had a na ber of meetings, and the result is the report now in your hands. Water I certainly consider one first and foremost want to he supplied. The re- ! organisation of the brigade I think must be done gradually. We can hardly expect to meet with men at a moment's notice such as are described here, except perhaps the fire master, whom we understand your Excellency has already taken in hand. But as to the water supply, it is a grout question where the cost is to come from, and whe... · ther cost will be sanctioned. I assume this will take a little time, but I anderstand the actual
*The following are the figures referred to ---
ESTIMATE FOR 1879. The amount allowed is $12,500, which as the total P. L. W. & F. B. rates produce $200,000 at an assess- ment of 10 per cent. on Rentals, shows the sum ap. portioned to Fire Brigade parposes to be I per cent. STRENGTH OF GOVERNMENT BRIGADE AS PER BLUE BOOK FOR 1878.
Superintendont
C. V. Creagh.. Assist. Superintendent...J. P. Mo Enen Assist.-Superintendent...J. A. Carvalho Clerk
J. Parker
Engineer
Assistant Engineer Four Interpreters Overseer of Water.
SADA BY.
8060
$480
Si44
H. C. Baillie
$480
3600
$156
$40!
C. Wassenins Natir 18 ...G. Stainfield
372