316
(Copy)
(2)
SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, 24th April, 1879.
(3)
MINUTE BY CHIEF CLERK, COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
To the Surveyor General for his guidance.
10th May, 1879.
SIR—I am to request you to be good enough to favour this Department with the number of pupils for whom accommodation is to be designed in the proposed new Central School, together with any other details in respect of the internal arrangements of the building and the number of class-rooms and other rooms, quarters, outbuildings, &c., which you may deem indispensable.
F. STEWART, Esq.,
Head Master of the Central School,
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed)
J. M. PRICE,
Surveyor General
12th June, 1879.
H. E. WODEHOUSE,
for the Colonial Secretary.
MINUTE BY THE SURVEYOR GENERAL.
Noted,
J. M. PRICE.
HEAD MASTER OF CENTRAL SCHOOL TO SURVEYOR GENERAL.
(Copy)
No. 13.
GOVERNMENT CENTRAL SCHOOL,
HONGKONG, 24th April, 1879.
SIR,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date requesting me to furnish your Department with the number of scholars for whom accommodation will be required in the new Central School, together with any other details which I may deem indispensable.
12th June, 1879.
I do not think I can do better than refer you to the Report of the Site Commission of which you and I were members. It was then agreed that accommodation would be required for 700 scholars; and that consequently there should be 7 large class-rooms for 100 scholars each, with a smaller class-room for 40 scholars in connexion with each of the larger rooms.
You
MINUTE BY THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
File.
F. STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary,
LETTER FROM SURVEYOR GENERAL TO ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Substituting therefore 700 for the 500 which appears at page 4 of the Report, I am still of opinion that the accommodation there detailed is necessary.
I
102.
SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, 9th June, 1879.
SIR—With reference to any delays that may have lately arisen, or that may yet arise, during this season, in the despatch of public business by this Department, and in explanation of what may appear to be a want of promptness on my part in attending to the every day official matters referred to me
I may add, however, that as regards item 6, I am still strongly of opinion that quarters should be provided for the Assistant Masters on the school premises. On this point I would refer you to paragraph 15, page 7 of the report, which still contains my views on this important matter.
The Honourable J. M. PRICE,
Surveyor General.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
(Signed)
FREDERICK STEWART, Head Master.
MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
Government, it is my duty to bring to the notice of His Excellency the Administrator the extraordinarily heavy press of work under which the Public Works Staff is labouring at the present moment in connexion with the Praya works.
2. The consequence of a typhoon in the present defenceless condition of the Praya would be so disastrous that it is imperative for the present to subordinate all other description of work to the raising of the new sea-wall to such a height as will afford some degree of security to the houses in the event of a storm.
3. With this object every thing is being done, that lies in the power of this Department, to expedite matters, but in spite of the untiring energy of the Assistant Surveyor General and the zeal of the four Overseers sent out from England, the works do not progress as rapidly as Mr. BOWDLER and myself could wish, owing no less to the dilatoriness and want of system on the part of the chief contractor than to the natural delays and difficulties involved in so heavy a tidal work, and to the unpropitious season of the year for out-door labour.
4. I may mention that since the tide work began last year Mr. BOWDLER and the four Overseers have not had one day's rest or relaxation; they have remained on duty in all weathers, every Sunday as well as on Christmas day, Good Friday, the 24th of May and all other Government holidays, remaining on the works during the hours of low tide until after midnight, and sometimes till nearly daylight.
5. I do not touch upon this with the intention of parading before His Excellency the merits of the Officers of this Department, but simply to show how practically and zealously the latter is endeavouring to minimize the dangers arising from a possible typhoon.
No doubt, to provide accommodation for 700 instead of 500, and to build houses for the Assistant Masters, will not diminish the cost of the new School, but as I am anxious to meet Mr. STEWART's views in all arrangements relating to the Central School, let the Plans and Estimates be prepared in accordance with his wishes.
[Governor HENNESSY left the Colony for Japan on the 31st May 1879.]
J. POPE HENNESSY.
9th May, 1879.