1849

Reference:

133 / 6

PUBLIC

To le le le le Li

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

HONG KONG.

Endl. 2 in No 13.

116

REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT

Other works of importance, referred to in my last Report, I presume it is unnecessary for we to recommend again, as the sante caus; which deferred their construction then exists at the present time,

The Hon. Maj. W. Caine, Colonial Secretary.

(True copy.)

W. CAINE, Colonial Secretary.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

CHAS, ST. GRO. CLEVERLY. Surveyor-General.

Enclosure 2 in No. 15.

REPORT by the Surveyor-GenelAL on the State and Progress of his Department during 1849. Sir,

Surveyor-General's Office, Victoria, 12th March, 1850,

I HAVE the honour to submit my annual report upon the state and progress of this department for the year last passed.

But fer new public works of any importance were undertaken during the year; the services upon which we were principally engaged consisted in the completion of some of the old con- tracts which were delayed for want of funds, and upon roads both in construction and rejair; the sum of 503. r. 3d. only was expended, the details of which, being fully specified in my Report upon Public Works, it is unnecessary here to recapitulate.

With regard to buildings or repairs thereto, about the same amount of duty is generally demanded annually, and this service occupies much time and attention, for it frequently happens that although the expenditure for the sanie is of small amount, and therefore apparently of a trivial nature, it is indispensably necessary that a strict supervision be made of the service performed, or the Chinese workmen will scampthe work and cheat to the utmost of their power; and it is in this respect where I miss the services of a good practical workman, such as are to be frequently found at home, who act in all capacities is general overseers, but who neverthe less have been brought up to some trade; for such services I have always found a carpenter the most efficient person, and if such a one could be attached to the establishment in lieu of the civil engineer and clerk of works, whose situation it is proposed to abolish, much good would result thereby. The only assistant I now have for all out-of-door works is the Chinese over- seer, whose services I must admit are extremely useful, as well in the office as on the works; he I have has had now good training in all sorts of duties, and although he could not himselfexecute any particular work, he will see that my drawings and instructions are fully attended to. much cause 10 be thankful for the horse allowance granted him, as from the distance between works sometimes carried on simultaneously, he is enabled to visit them much more expeditiously and frequently than hitherto.

The three coolies under his charge also perform similar duties, and attend to the general repair of drains and roads, and whose particular service is to go out during heavy rains, and see that the surface drains act efficiently, or apply the necessary remedies if they do not.

Only one new building was erected during the year, the lodge at the cemetery, the pier at the harbour-master's wharf was finished, and the other services undertaken were of general or miscellaneous character, the whole, however, fully specified as before alluded to.

I beg again to refer to a circumstance alluded to in my last Report, viz., the advantage that I feel confident would accrue to the department, both pecuniarily and otherwise, if a paid black- smith and carpenter were attached thereto; there is a considerable quantity of material in store, from old buildings pulled down, &c., and as I have 23 buildings under my charge, to repair wooden bridges and convict tools, I am sure I could employ them in several ways, and effect a saving also; besides tools in particular might be repaired directly they require it, instead of waiting until a sufficiem number are out of repair to enable me to estimate the sum requisite to put them all in order, and then obtain the necessary sanction from the Governor for the outlay; all this would be avoided, and so large a stock would not be required, and indeed this is becoming more apparent since the prisoners confined to hard labour within the gaol have com- menced to break stones for the roads; for if I had a blacksmith, in addition to his other works, he night take charge of their hammers and repair them daily, if need be, and so keep them in nuch better order than I can possibly do at present.

For work in the interior of the gaol, it would be an advantage if they were employed in making baskets and soft rope, both of which I am obliged to use very much, and occasionally and a great deal is expended according to the work upon which the road convicts are engaged; oakum, I imagine, might be obtained at the naval stores, or made from condemned repe, re-twisted with the common Chinese machine; care would be necessary, however, that none of it was secreted, whereby any of the prisoners might effect their escape, but this could easily be arranged by an efficient gaoler.

The entire working of the convicts on the roads dovolved upon myself after the resignation of Mr. Bowden, the road overseer, in May last, as I wished the civil engineer and clerk of works to complete a new survey of the entire town, and in consequence exempted him from other duties; he made preparation for the triangulation and other preliminary services, and had completed some portions of it, but unfortunately he became sick and was unable to give me any data to work from, to enable me to carry on the service where he had terminated, or lay down the survey on paper from his field-notes; I regret very much this circumstance, for so much has been done both public and private since my own original survey in 1843, that a new map is indispensable; if, therefore, circumstances should permit, or I hate no particular public works to carry on next winter, I must myself undertake the task again,

STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.

117

I was confined to the office more than usual by lameness, otherwise I might have rendered as-istance to the civil engineer in his survey, but unfortunately it was impossible for me to walk or undertake such exercise.

The civil engineer and clerk of works, was invalided on the 30th September, and departed for England on lease for twelve months.

Towards the termination of the year, the works at the church were recommenced for the completion of the tower, fixing the iron window-frames, eares-gulters, &c.

Mr. Power, the book-keeper, has been fully occupied in executing bis several duties; in the preparation of the documents required by the office accounts, returns, and other official service matters, much of which was increased by the voluminous statements affecting lands, and copies thereof demanded by the House of Commons.

In the Registry Office, 85 memorials afecting land were registered, 49 of which were for absolute sale, and 10 surrenders to the Crown, the remainder being of a miscellaneous cha- racter; of the above, 27 have been prepared au copied in the office, being for Chinese, with translations attached by the Chinese Secretary.

The reduction that has taken place in the department consists in the road overseer, amount- ing to 1807. per annum,

(Signed)

I have, &c.

CHAS. ST. GEO. CLEVERLY,

Surveyor-General.

Hon. Major W. Caine, Colonial Secretary.

(True copy.)

W. CAINE, Colonial Secretary.

HONG KONG.

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