Enclosure 1.
216A
K
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION--No. 379.
The following preliminary report received from the Director of Public Works is published.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 19th October, 1893.
No. 1,077.
G. T. M. O'BRIEN, Colonial Secretary.
PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE, HONGKONG, 16th October, 1893.
S.--I have the honour, after visiting the Gap Rock in company with Captain RUMSEY, R.N., the Harbour Master, on the 11th instant, to report that from the information obtained from the light-keepers and from personal inspection it appears that during the gale that passed over the Rock on the 1st and 2nd instant the works in connection with the Lighthouse were damaged in the following particulars, viz.
Four panels of lantern glazing (an inch thick) on the east side were broken, mean height above sea level 140 feet.
Three centre lenses of dioptric apparatus broken and one damaged,
One upper panel of prisms broken and others slightly damaged.
Three bottom panels of prisms slightly damaged and Burner bent.
Six brackets carrying gallery round lantern and 3 gallery plates and portion of hand rail broken. Lower portion of lightning conductor carried away.
One panel in door of service room situated in tower below light room was broken to allow the water which entered the Tower through the damaged lantern to escape.
The eastern window of oil room in tower 106 feet above mean sea level was knocked in, this window was secured to masonry by four screw bolts screwed into cast iron sockets built into masonry. Two small windows on staircase gangway from lower building to Tower and Lightkeeper's Quarters broken, level above mean sea level 100 feet.
On the upper floor of the lower building 95 feet above mean sea level windows in bathroom and Chinese quarters facing north and east respectively broken.
On ground floor of lower building level 84 feet above mean sea level window of Telegraph Office facing east and entrance door facing north broken, the typhoon bar of the latter, dimensions 3′.0" × 3 × 24", being broken in two at centre.
Boiler house door 75 feet above mean sea level broken.
The railing along the eastern side of the embankment leading from Tower to landing was bent level with the ground. The railing along the path down the western side of the Rock and the derrick used for landing situated a few feet above mean sea level were carried away.
The old water tank situated near the north end of the embankment which had been converted into a hen house was carried away.
The door of the pump house and some thirty feet of piping situated on the west side of the Rock a few feet above mean sea level were carried away.
With the exception of the old water tank which had been converted into a hen house and five of the coping stones and masonry chimney of the lower building, the masonry work has not apparently suffered.
The internal fittings, and crockery in the Lightkeepers' Quarters suffered to some extent owing to the water which found its way into the buildings through the broken lantern, windows and door.
The short length of land wire in connection with the telegraph was displaced.
The salt water carried on to the roofs found its way by means of the down pipes into the fresh water tank.
TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS,
2. The Harbour Master informs me that the Lightkeepers fitted storm glasses in the lantern and The windows exhibited two lighted oil lamps in the Tower on the night of the 3rd, which are still in use.
in the Chinese Quarters and telegraph room have been boarded up and the telegraph land line repaired.
3. I regret that I have no evidence to enable me to state definitely the immediate cause of the lantern glazing giving way which led to the damage of the dioptric apparatus.
I have the honour to be,
The Honourable
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
FRANCIS A. COOPER,
Director of Public Works.