116
T
to cover
"the cost of erection",
• Agreeably to the spirit of this resolution, I now beg, on behalf of the Committee of this Chamber, to request that His Excellency the Administrator will be pleased to give effect to the above expressed opinion by bringing this important matter to the notice of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, coupled with such recommendation as His Excellency may consider the urgency of the case demands.
Some years since, when this subject was submitted for the consideration of the Government, the Committee were informed that the reasons then assigned for leaving the matter in abeyance were that the site in question was not within the jurisdiction of the British Government, and that refunds were available for the construction and maintenance of the proposed Lighthouse.
In the opinion of the Committee, these objections are not valid at the present day, in so far as the question of erecting a Lighthouse on Chinese territory is concerned, and its maintenance; all material obstacles have been removed by the recent offer, on behalf of the Chinese Government, made by Robert Hart, who has expressed himself disposed to arrange to undertake the creation and defray the expense of keeping up a Light, provided that the Government can arrange to meet the cost of its construction.
With regard to the necessary cost, which is estimated by Sir Robert Hart at $90,000, I am directed by the Committee to state that the majority of the representatives of the Ocean Steamship Companies, and of private Companies, steamers and sailing vessels arriving from the South, are disposed to acquiesce in the payment of one cent per ton extra light dues, for the term of three years, or longer if necessary, as a contribution to the cost of the proposed Lighthouse.
It is estimated that these dues would realize fully $15,000 per year, which sum, added to the surplus...