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surprise visits and initials the distillation book. No alterations are permitted in this book and at fortnightly or monthly intervals the revenue officer collects the dues at the rate of 5 cents for each gallon distilled. This calculation is easily made from the daily entries in the distillation book. A certain amount of revenue is probably lost through false entries in the distillation book, but a thoroughly effective system could only be established at enormous cost and as I have latterly inflicted fines of $100 when false entries were proved I imagine that few shops will run the risk of so heavy a loss for so small a gain.
Thirty-seven (37) cases of offences against the Liquor Ordinance were heard, of these 21 were cases in which the distillers had made false returns in the distillation book. Fines amounting to $531.00 were inflicted.
The sum collected in duties from the distilleries in this district amounted to $19,632.30.
The total revenue derived from Liquor is as follows:-
Liquor Duties, $19,632.30 Distillery Licences, 2,581.97 Wine Licences (Chinese), 3,763.04 (European), 50.00 Total, $26,027.31IX.-CROPS.
Owing to the lack of rain during the early part of the year the first rice crop was late and was a partial failure especially in the Sheung Shui, San Tin and Au Tau districts. In consequence the collection of Crown Rent was postponed from 1st July to the 1st October.
The rent however then came in very rapidly and the collection was completed in the first week of November.
The second rice crop was a good one all through the District. Sweet potatoes were a good crop owing to the dry spring and laichis which had failed in 1909 were good this year. It has been an exceptionally good year for pears. Sugarcane, which is grown in large quantities in Ping Shan, Au Tau and Sheung Shui districts, was being cut at the end of December. The crop was good.
The cultivation of pineapples, an industry which is entirely in the hands of the Hakkas, maintains its level. Fresh ground is rarely broken, the only exception being at Sai Kung where an experiment started three years ago continues to prosper. Shing Mun is the chief pineapple district and the crop this year was good.
Therefore in spite of the drought in the early part of the year the farmers had little cause for complaint.
The rainfall was the smallest of which any record has been kept. Only 81.12 inches of rain fell during the year and this is 16 inches...