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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
apportion the work as tasks. The men are merely kept at the labour, light as it is, a certain number of hours. It is to be hoped, however, now that the treadwheel has arrived, a degree of punishment will be given to each according to his deserts, and have no doubt the very name of a treadwheel in a few months will deter many a bad or idle character from placing himself in a situation to try it, and the gaol will not be so crowded with that class of men for the future.
The value of labour which I can estimate as performed within the gaol may be taken at 350 tons of stone broken at 3s. 6d. per ton, £61 4s. 6d.; and sundry carpenter's work in repairs to the gaol wheelbarrows, £10 4s.; making mats, &c., exclusive of oakum picked for the navy at £5 only; or a total of £76 12s. 6d. for the whole labour within the gaol.
In addition to the above number of men employed at hard labour within the gaol must be enumerated an average daily number of ten Chinese employed as cooks, scavengers, water carriers, &c.
The work outside the gaol comprises the following services, viz.: 450 men employed under surveillance of police as scavengers, £91 7s. 6d.; in constructing and improving roads, &c., viz., in the Lower Bazaar 3,794 men, roads to Government House and offices 4,495, Albert Road 2,430; sundry small improvements, 155 men; valued at £226 10s. 10d.
In the general ordinary repair of roads and streets I have employed 5,093 men upon a length of six miles and three quarters, equal to an expenditure of £1062 2s. 1d. This gives a much heavier rate per yard than last year, which is to be accounted for by the necessity which existed for a thorough remodelling of some of the streets in the city, particularly those of a steep inclination, and which were most difficult to keep in order. I arranged the drainage differently, by placing the stone channels at the sides instead of in the centre as heretofore.
In the clearance of drains, particularly that near the old ice-house, which was completely choked up with silt driven in by the sea, I employed 420 men, equal to an amount of £81 15s.
In the Lower Bazaar and on the Queen's Road 355 yards of drains were made under contractors, the stone for which being supplied to them, I employed 2,188 convicts upon that service, as well as in removing to store such materials as were of a valuable nature, and which were constantly being stolen. This service I estimate at £45 11s. 8d.
In miscellaneous services I employed 674 men, expressing the value of £14 0s. 10d. Thus the total number of men employed outside the gaol during the year has amounted to 19,699, or 7,324 more than last year, the aggregate value of work performed amounting to £410 7s. 11d.
The Department coolies, three in number, have also had their services turned to account, when not in attendance upon me for other duties, upon the works, as follows, viz., planting trees and other services connected therewith, such as watering those newly planted, and preserving them from the attacks of a worm which to some of the trees does very considerable damage by perforating them in a peculiar manner, and then, at night only, they leave their holes and eat the bark, which eventually causes the stoppage of the sap and the destruction of the tree. I have tried lime and tobacco water, oil, and ashes without effect, and latterly have used arsenic; and this latter, I have no doubt, will correct the evil, if its application does not affect the tree itself.
On a variety of small repairs to the roads and streets, where it would be inconvenient to send convicts, I have employed these men 177 days, and in repairing seawalls and rough stone parapets 32 days, and in the clearance of drains, &c. 210 days.
When special portions of work undertaken by contract require constant supervision, the overseer and coolies are instructed in the mode it is to be executed; and in this manner I have employed them 121 days, in surveying twelve days, marking out ground for work or otherwise.
In measuring and removal of timber purchased, 54 men, being a total of 931 days work in services, all of which are essential, and must be performed by the Department.
In conclusion, I have to recapitulate, that the total expenditure on account of works of every description, as executed under my supervision, is as follows, viz.:
£ s. d. Actual expenditure 4,955 0 8 Total value of convict labour on roads, &c. 410 7 11 Within gaol 76 5 0 Total 486 12 11 £5,441 13 7I have, &c.
(Signed)
CHAS. ST. GEO. CLEVERLY,
Surveyor-General.
The Hon. Lieut.-Col. W. Caine,
Colonial Secretary.
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Enclosure 3.
CENSUS of HONG KONG, 31st December 1852.