33
The revenue from the sale of Postage Stamps in 1913 amounted to $397,083.40 and that for 1914 to $355,018.05, a decrease of $42,065.35, which is attributed to the dislocation of business and the diminished number of vessels sailing out of the Colony on account of the war. The expenditure in 1914 amounted to $371,646.06. The result of the year's postal transactions shows a credit balance of $26,780.32.
A branch Post Office was opened in the Saiyingpun district on the 1st May and is meeting a long felt want.
The mails sent from London by the trans-Siberian route have been very erratic since the outbreak of hostilities, taking 30 to 35 days in transit against 19 days during the antebellum period.
XI. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
1. The condition of the Province of Kwangtung improved considerably during the year though the Government found difficulty in suppressing the numerous robber bands which, owing to the disbandment of many soldiers who had been enrolled during the revolutionary period, were scattered throughout the provinces of Kwangtung and Kwangsi, and especially in the West River districts. Many acts of piracy occurred and the influx of undesirable characters to Hongkong gave the Police cause for extra vigilance.
On the 15th March a piracy of the Norwegian S.S. “Childar” occurred soon after this vessel had left Hongkong for Swatow and in this case the pirates escaped having run the ship close to Chinese territory near Bias Bay before they left it. The S.S. "Tai On" which was attacked by pirates on the 2nd April, 1913, was again the victim of a serious piracy on the night of the 27th April when in the vicinity of Kio Island. The pirates, who had embarked as passengers, attacked the bridge, but the Master, Mr. Wetherall, assisted by the Chief Officer, Mr. Evans, the Chief Engineer, Mr. McCartney, and two Portuguese, J. Conception and A. Dias, offered a most spirited resistance. Being foiled in their attempt the pirates then set fire to the vessel and about 300 lives were lost including that of the Chief Officer, Mr. Evans, who was injured, it is feared, in the struggle on board and was unable in consequence to keep himself afloat after the ship had been abandoned. The disaster was one of the worst that have occurred in the waters of the delta, but the gallant conduct of the officers in charge of the ship had a remarkable effect in stopping any serious attempts at piracy for some time afterwards. The Government and public of Hongkong marked their appreciation of the action of Mr. Wetherall, Mr. McCartney and Guard Dias by compensating them for the losses they suffered and by suitable presentations. The widow of Mr. Evans, the Chief Officer, was awarded an allowance by the Government. This piracy led to the
33
The revenue from the sale of Postage Stamps in 1913 amounted to $397.083.40 and that for 1914 to $355,018.05, a decrease of $42,065.35, which is attributed to the dislocation of business and the diminished number of vessels sailing out of the Colony on account of the war. The expenditure in 1914 amounted to $371,646.06. The result of the year's postal transactions shows a credit balance of $26,780.32.
A branch Post Office was opened in the Saiyingpun district on the 1st May and is meeting a long felt want.
The mails sent from London by the trans-Siberian route have been very erratic since the outbreak of hostilities, taking 30 to 35 days in transit against 19 days during the antebellum period.
XI. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
1. The condition of the Province of Kwangtung improved con- siderably during the year though the Government found difficulty in suppressing the numerous robber bands which, owing to the disbandment of many soldiers who had been enrolled during the revolutionary period, were scattered throughout the provinces of Kwangtung and Kwangsi, and especially in the West River districts. Many acts of piracy occurred and the influx of undesirable characters to Hongkong gave the Police cause for extra vigilance.
On the 15th March a piracy of the Norwegian S.S. “Childar occurred soon after this vessel had left Hongkong for Swatow and in this case the pirates escaped having run the ship close to Chinese territory near Bias Bay before they left it. The S.S. "Tai On" which was attacked by pirates on the 2nd April, 1913, was again the victim of a serious piracy on the night of the 27th April when in the vicinity of Kio Island. The pirates, who had embarked as pas- sengers, attacked the bridge, but the Master, Mr. Wetherall, assisted by the Chief Officer, Mr. Evans, the Chief Engineer, Mr. McCartney, and two Portuguese J. Conception and A. Dias, offered a most spirited resistance. Being foiled in their attempt the pirates then set fire to the vessel and about 300 lives were lost including that of the Chief Officer, Mr. Evans, who was injured, it is feared, in the struggle on board and was unable in consequence to keep himself afloat after the ship had been abandoned. The disaster was one of the worst that have occurred in the waters of the delta, but the gallant conduct of the officers in charge of the ship had a remarkable effect in stopping any serious attempts at piracy for some time afterwards. The Government and public of Hongkong marked their appreciation of the action of Mr. Wetherall, Mr. McCartney and Guard Dias by compensating them for the losses they suffered and by suitable presentations. The widow of Mr. Evans. the Chief Officer, was awarded an allowance by the Government. This piracy led to the
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