1841-1886
199
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
11. I beg to transmit herewith two statements for the year 1853, showing respectively, the causes under cognizance at the chief magistrate's office and the Court of Petty Sessions, and the criminal cases tried in the Supreme Court; also, a return of the number of civil cases tried and actions commenced in the Supreme and Vice Admiralty Courts, during the same period.
General Observations.
12. As I am about to quit the colony in a few days, after having administered its government for upwards of six years, I beg to annex some statistical tables showing its rise and progress from 1848, the date of my taking charge of it. From these, your Grace will observe that the call on the home Government for parliamentary grant has been reduced from 25,000l. to 8,500l. for the current year; that the expenditure has been reduced from 62,658l. to 36,418l.; that the number of square-rigged vessels frequenting the port has increased from 700 to 1,103, while their tonnage is nearly double; and that the population has in like manner advanced 82 per cent. during the past six years. In conclusion, I have no hesitation in saying, that were this colony taxed in the same way as are the settlements in the straits under the government of the East India Company, it could in a year or two be made to pay its own expenses, without the efficiency of the government being impaired; but I have considered myself bound by the opinions expressed by the committee of the House of Commons, in the session of 1847, upon our commercial relations with China, and in consequence refrained from the imposition of any new taxes. I must, however, with great deference say, after an experience of twenty-two years in the settlements of Prince of Wales Island, Singapore, and Malacca, and six at Hong Kong, I am by no means satisfied with the conclusions which the committee appears to have arrived at in this respect.
The Duke of Newcastle,
&c. &c. &c.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
S. G. BONHAM.
Enclosure in No. 36.
SIR,
Surveyor General's Department, Victoria, Hong Kong, March 27, 1854.
I HAVE the honour to submit my annual report upon the public works undertaken during the last year.
Buildings.
New Government House progressed very slowly indeed, in consequence of the partial failure of the contractor, and a strike amongst the masons to whom a considerable sum of money being due, I was obliged to make arrangements myself for payment, and enter into agreements for the completion of certain unfinished portions, both of the stonework and brickwork, in accordance with the terms of the contract, which empowered me to do so, charging the cost of the several portions against the amount of contract. By these means I have been enabled to expedite the work in some degree, and force the contractor to attend to his own interest, by a closer attendance to his duties and the regular payment of the men. With regard to the workmanship, I have the greatest satisfaction in stating that it is of the very best description, and would do credit to European artisans. I have adopted every expedient I could devise for the preservation of the timber, by giving to it ample ventilation, by saturation in a solution of arsenic, and coating it with coal tar according to circumstances, which my experience in buildings here has taught me to be essentially necessary for the prevention of dry rot, and the destructive effects of white ants.
Contracts have been entered into for the erection of the stables, kitchen and servants' quarters, as well as for the guardhouse or lodge, considerably within the estimate. The whole of the works required for the completion of the service will be completed and the premises fit for occupation about the end of the present year. Expenditure during the year, 3,843l. 3s. 6d.
Debtors' gaol, guardhouse and gaoler's house (Report and estimate, No. 5 of 1851). The two last-named buildings were commenced at the latter end of the year 1852, and the service is now fast approaching completion. The site for the debtors' gaol being occupied, this building was not commenced until the month of August last. Expenditure during the year, 1,153l. 18s. 4d.
A new police station for Wong-nei-chung, upon the site of Leighton's Godown, was authorized under Report and estimate No. 19 of 1853, and commenced in the month of August.
Site (and road to) Government House (Report and estimate No. 11 of 1853).
1841-1886
199
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
11. I beg to transmit herewith two statements for the year 1853, showing respectively, the causes under cognizance at the chief magistrate's office and the Court of Petty Sessions, and the criminal cases tried in the Supreme Court; also, a return of the number of civil cases tried and actions commenced in the Supreme and Vice Admiralty Courts, during the same period.
General Observations.
12. As I am about to quit the colony in a few days, after having administered its government for upwards of six years, I beg to annex some statistical tables showing its rise and progress from 1848, the date of my taking charge of it. From these, your Grace will observe that the call on the home Government for parliamentary grant has been reduced from 25,000l. to 8,5001. for the current year; that the expenditure has been reduced from 62,6581. to 36,418/.; that the number of square-rigged vessels frequenting the port has increased from 700 to 1,103, while their tonnage is nearly double; and that the population has in like manner advanced 82 per cent. during the past six years. In conclusion, I have no hesitation in saying, that were this colony taxed in the same way as are the settlements in the straits under the government of the East India Company, it could in a year or two be made to pay its own expenses, without the efficiency of the government being impaired; but I have considered myself bound by the opinions expressed by the committee of the House of Commons, in the session of 1847, upon our commercial relations with China, and in consequence refrained from the imposition of any new taxes. I must, however, with great deference say, after an experience of twenty-two years in the settlements of Prince of Wales Island, Singapore, and Malacca, and six at Hong Kong, I am by no means satisfied with the conclusions which the committee appears to have arrived at in this respect.
The Duke of Newcastle,
&c. &c. &c.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
S. G. BONHAM.
Enclosure in No. 36.
SIR,
Surveyor General's Department, Victoria, Hong Kong, March 27, 1854.
I HAVE the honour to submit my annual report upon the public works under- taken during the last year.
Buildings.
New Government House progressed very slowly indeed, in consequence of the partial failure of the contractor, and a strike amongst the masons to whom a considerable sum of money being due, I was obliged to make arrangements myself for payment, and enter into agreements for the completion of certain unfinished portions, both of the stonework and brickwork, in accordance with the terms of the contract, which empowered me to do so, charging the cost of the several portions against the amount of contract. By these means I have been enabled to expedite the work in some degree, and force the contractor to attend to his own interest, by a closer attendance to his duties and the regular pay- ment of the men. With regard to the workmanship, I have the greatest satisfaction in stating that it is of the very best description, and would do credit to European artisans. I have adopted every expedient I could devise for the preservation of the timber, by giving to it ample ventilation, by saturation in a solution of arsenic, and coating it with coal tar according to circumstances, which my experience in buildings here has taught me to be essentially necessary for the prevention of dry rot, and the destructive effects of white ants.
Contracts have been entered into for the erection of the stables, kitchen and servants" quarters, as well as for the guardhouse or lodge, considerably within the estimate. The whole of the works required for the completion of the service will be completed and the premises fit for occupation about the end of the present year. Expenditure during the year, 3,8431. 38. 6d.
Debtors' gaol, guardhouse and gaoler's house (Report and estimate, No. 5 of 1851), The two last-named buildings were commenced at the latter end of the year 1852, and the service is now fast approaching completion. The site for the debtors' gaol being occupied, this building was not commenced until the month of August last. Expendi- ture during the year, 1,153 18s. 4d.
A new police station for Wong-nei-chung, upon the site of Leighton's Godown, was authorized under Report and estimate No. 19 of 1853, and commenced in the month of August.
Site (and road to) Government House (Report and estimate No. 11 of 1853).
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