GENERAL.
17. It may not be out of place in reporting on the Marine of the Colony to call attention to what is, and has long since been admitted as a great want, a Time Ball for the benefit of Shipmasters.
As there is some delay in building the contemplated Observatory at Kowloon, I take the opportunity of suggesting that the Colonial Government should make an application to the Naval Authorities with a view to a Ball being dropped daily at one o'clock on board H.M.S. Victor Emanuel. Ships are now so short a time in Port that the Captains are unable to regulate their Chronometers in the old fashion of landing them to be rated by Messrs. FALCONER, NOBLE, and others. I would submit that, if Vice-Admiral WILLES, C.B., the Commander-in-Chief, consents to the arrangement, the Officer having charge of this duty be paid for his responsibility out of the Light Dues, which are ample to meet this charge.
FEES.
18. The fees collected by this Department during the year were as follows:-
Emigration fees, under Ordinance No. 5 of 1874, No. 5 of 1876, and No. 11 of 1878,........ $ c. 21,839.25
Fees under Section III of Ordinance 8 of 1879, Registry of Ships, 317.00
Survey and measurement of Ships, 7,231.17
do. under 50 tons, 382.50
Examination Masters, Mates, &c..... 2,090.00
Shipping Seamen, 6,940.00
Light dues, (not paid by Chinese Junks) 20,755.14
Storage of Gunpowder, 17,787.35
Registration &c. of Junks, 19,839.50
Cargo-boats' Certificates, 487.00
Harbour Regulations, Sale of, 61.00
Sale of Printed forms, 814.50
Total,... $98,544.41
It will be seen from the above return that, although Chinese Junks pay for licences, &c., under Section 38, they are exempt from the payment of light dues under Section 34, and that the difference was, for the last year, $915.64 in their favour.
BREAKWATER.
19. The construction of the Breakwater for the Harbour of Refuge is progressing, but to make this Refuge complete it will be necessary to dredge a considerable portion of the inclosed space. A good dredging machine, if the Colony possessed one, would always find employment, as the foreshore is constantly silting up, forming an embankment along the Praya, which, at low water, not only prevents cargo and other boats from getting close inshore to discharge and load, but the filth deposited by the drains creates such a stench, especially in the summer months, that it only requires one's hours to be spent as mine are, in an Office on the Praya, fully to appreciate the evil.
I have the honour to be,
The Honourable
THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY,
&c.,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
&c.
&c.,
H. G. THOMSETT, R.N., Harbour Master, &c.
GENERAL.
17. It may not be out of place in reporting on the Marine of the Colony to call attention to what is, and has long since been admitted as a great want, a Time Ball for the benefit of Shipmasters.
As there is some delay in building the contemplated Observatory at Kowloon, I take the oppor- tunity of suggesting that the Colonial Government should make an application to the Naval Authorities with a view to a Ball being dropped daily at one o'clock on board H. M. S. Victor Emanuel. Ships are now so short a time in Port that the Captains are unable to regulate their Chronometers in tht old fashion of landing them to be rated by Messrs. FALCONER, NOBLE, and others. I would submie that, if Vice-Admiral WILLES, C.B., the Commander-in-Chief, consents to the arrangement, the Officer having charge of this duty be paid for his responsibility out of the Light Dues, which are ample to 'meet this charge.
FEES.
18. The fees collected by this Department during the year were as follows:-
Emigration fees, under Ordinance No. 5 of 1874, No. 5 of 1876, and No. 11
of 1878,........
$ c.
21,839.25
Fees under Section
Do.
"J
III of Ordinance 8 of 1879, Registry of Ships,
317.00
Do.
V
VII
Survey and measurement of Ships, 7,231.17
do. under 50 tons,
382.50
"2
X
"1
Do.
XV
Examination Masters, Mates, &c..... 2,090.00
37
"
Do.
XVI
**
57
Shipping Seamen,
6,940.00
Do.
XXXIV
""
11
Light dues, (not paid by Chinese
Junks
20,755.14
Do.
XXXVII
"1
"}
Storage of Gunpowder,
17,787.35
Do.
XXXVIII
""
Registration &c. of Junks(se),19,839.50
A
Do.
XXXIX
事事
11
Cargo-boats' Certificates,
487.00
Do.
XLIV
Harbour Regulations, Sale of,
61.00
"}
??
Sale of Printed forms,
814.50
Total,...
$98,544.41
•
It will be seen from the above return that, although Chinese Junks pay for licences, &c., under Section 38, they are exempt from the payment of light dues under Section 34, and that the difference was, for the last year, $915.64 in their favour.
BREAKWATER.
19. The construction of the Breakwater for the Harbour of Refuge is progressing, but to make this Refuge complete it will be necessary to dredge a considerable portion of the inclosed space. A good dredging machine, if the Colony possessed one, would always find employment, as the foreshore is constantly silting up, forming an embankment along the Praya, which, at low water, not only prevents cargo and other boats from getting close inshore to discharge and load, but the filth deposited by the drains creates such a stench, especially in the summer months, that it only requires one's hours to be spent as mine are, in an Office on the Praya, fully to appreciate the evil.
I have the honour to be,
The Honourable
다
THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY,
&c.,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
&c.
&c.,
H. G. THOMSETT, R.N., Harbour Master, &c.
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