1841-1886
OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
313
31'
it controls, and the shipments which it orders, are for the most part conducted many hundreds of miles away from Hong Kong. It is a mere depôt, which may be regarded as maintained for the general convenience of Her Majesty's Government and of British interests, so largely connected with the trade of China,
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86. Nothing can be more admirable than its geographical position, at the south-eastern extremity of China, offering equal facilities to vessels bound north, south, or west, and, as lately proved in the case of the Pacific Mail Steam Company, offering greater conveniences than any other place in China as a central station for the traffic between California and China. Nevertheless it is impossible to foresee what changes, by operation of telegraph and railway or other circumstances, may yet affect its prosperity; and I should gladly see the interval actively employed in making sanitary improvements, and, if possible, in rendering the loading and discharge of vessels a more easy and less expensive operation than at present.
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87. I must now refer your Grace, for further information as to the condition of the Colony, in respect to education, climate, and postal communication, to the accompanying reports of Mr. Stewart, Dr. Murray, and the Postmaster General. I cannot think of lengthening this Despatch by dealing with those subjects, especially as the two former do not admit of being at once treated briefly and usefully.
His Grace the
I have, &c.
(Signed) RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL,
Duke of Buckingham and Chandos,
Governor.
&c.
&c.
Enclosure 1 in No. 2.
Returns showing the Number of PRISONERS confined in Victoria Gaol, classified as under, from the 1st November 1866 to 4th October 1867.
Date. No. of Criminals. Debtors. Remand for Trial and Crown Witnesses. Total. Remarks. 1866. November 1 682 16 37 735 December 716 15 * 707 A co co to 3 1867. January 694 15 690 February 1- 610 13 553 March 1 579 16 576 April 1 492 15 * 440 ** May J* J June 447 1 417 + 722 2 38 808 Z 34 26 714 July 640 26 587 753 737 718 August 1 478 17 503 15 527 16 551 September 1. 498 16 523 Supreme Court in Recess. 15 510 24 542 ** October 1 601 528 + 502 30 533 Total 13,222 130 604 13,956From the 1st July up to the 4th October inclusive, no less than 86 European seamen have been received in gaol for refusal of duty, &c. During the same period 32 Indians from one ship alone, viz., “Glen-Roy," for the same offence, were also received in gaol.-Total 118.
(Signed) F. DOUGLAS,
Gaol Superintendent.
Memo,-The Prisoners belonging to the Hulk were borne on the books of that establishment until 31st October 1866; after that date they were transferred to the books of this department.
(Signed) F. DOUGLAS,
Gaol Superintendent.