126
116
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
In other works of importance, referred to in my last Report, I presume it is unnecessary for me to recommend again, as the same cause which deferred their construction then exists at the present time.
(Signed) Chas. St. Géo: Cleverly.
The Hon. Major Caine, Colonial Secretary;
(True copy.)
W. CAINE, Colonial Secretary
Enclosure 2 in No. 15
REPORT by the SURVEYOR-GENERAL 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 few 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 contracts which were delayed for want of funds, and upon roads, both in construction and repair; the sum of £5037. 5s. 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 same 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 scamp the 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 as general overseers, but who nevertheless 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 overseer, whose services, I must admit are extremely useful, as well in the office as on the works; he has had now good training in all sorts of duties, and although he could not himself execute any particular work, he will see that my drawings and instructions are fully attended to. I have much cause to 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 blacksmith 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 sufficient 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 commenced to break stones for the roads; for if I had a blacksmith, in addition to his other works, he might take charge of their hammers and repair them daily, if need be, and so keep them in much 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 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 rope, and 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 devolved 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 have no particular public works to carry on next winter, I must myself undertake the task again.
Page 145
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126
116
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST" ANDI PRESENT-
है
In other works bfgimportance, referred to in niy last Report, I prosumé it is unnecessary for me to recomiend again, as the same cause which deferred their construction then exists at the present time. boyun, di buts pindaroj 192 19 ch vo bainteri -*** I'have,' &c., ki bara namnge for all'
(Signed)lter Chas, St. Géo: ClEVERLY. · The Hon. Majur Caine, Colonial Secretary; way when Surveyor-General, @¢I
word en mal all in muitalumus a (True copy.) dieteting panemale mubnía consul mit di endub W. CAINE, Colonial Secretary strangers care sa goli la madurorja sa
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Enclosure 2 in No 15, 9 del mat al bola onun pasni not manarkistie Wight hat man næg der bulgary Slución d $:
REPORT by the SURVEYOR-GENERAL on the State and Progress of his Department during 1849. SIR, wirefu hi
Surveyor-General's Office, Victoria, 12th March, 1850."
*****
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TÆ A
I HAVE the honour to submit my al report upon the state and progress of this department for the year last passed. na
:
..But few new public works of any importance were undertaken during the year; the services upon which yo were principally engaged consisted in the completion of some of the old con- tracts whichi wore'delayed for want of funds, and upon roads, both in construction and repair; the sum of 5037. 5s. 3d. only was exponded, the details of which," being fully specified in iny Report upon Public, Works, it is unnecesssary; 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 same 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 scump the 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 bo frequently found at home, who act in all capacities as 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 has had now good training in all sorts of duties, and although he could not himself execute any particular work, he will see that my drawings and instructions are fully attended to. I have inuch cause to 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 sce 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 sufficient 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 1 had a blacksmith, in addition to his other works, he might take charge of their hammers and repair them daily, if need be, and so keep them in much better order than I can possibly do at present. A
*
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 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 rope, and re-twisted with the common Chinese machine; cure would be necessary, however, that none of it was secreted, whereby any of the prisonors might effect their escape, but this could easily be arranged by an efficient gaoler.
ད་་་
The entire working of the convicts on the roads devolved 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 sonie portions of it, but unfortunately he became sick und was unable to give mo any data to work from, to enable me to carry on the service where he had terminated, or lay down the survey on puper from his field-notes: "I regret very much this circumstance, for so inuch has been done both public and private since my own original survey in 1843, that a new map is indispensable'; if, therefore; circumstances should pernut, or I have no particular public works to carry on next winter, I must myself undertake the task again.
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