REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
As regards our income, I have been enabled to reduce the police rates from 10 to 8 per cent., in consequence of the increased value of property on the island, which has, with the augmented rate (upon the original 5 per cent, as before levied), enabled me nearly to accomplish the desirable object of paying from the police rate all the charges of police. I have also been enabled from the augmented returns of the lighting rate to increase the number of lamps from 250 to 350.
Most of the now available land in the colony, especially that having sea frontage, having been disposed of, I cannot look to premiums on future sales of land as an important aid to our revenues. It is, however, to be anticipated that the building of docks and other attractions on the south side of the island, will bring us some resources from that quarter.
I have little doubt the opium monopoly, under the new arrangements reported by this mail, will give us at the least an increase of from 5,000l. to 6,000l. a year.
Though it is not possible to estimate the augmentation of income likely to result from the proposed changes in the market system, there is every reason to believe that while the public will be relieved from the oppression of an intolerable monopoly, the treasury will be considerably benefited.
It may also be fairly expected that from no longer allowing the public monies to be dormant in the strong vault, but by using the chartered banks for the deposit of our balances, there will be a considerable receipt in the shape of interest.
We have now under consideration the system of licensing taverns and other places of public entertainment, and hope to improve the existing arrangements, and thereby also to serve the revenue.
With regard to the police*, I am quite alive to its many defects, and the desirableness of increasing its activity and efficiency; but we have very indifferent materials for constructing a thoroughly satisfactory corps. Europeans, under the influence of the climate, so easily fall into habits of intoxication and other irregularities; the mixed races, to whom we must principally look, are tainted with so many oriental vices; the inquiries I instituted as to the aptitudes of the Malays, and the practicability of importing a body of them with their families, were very discouraging; while the Chinese population is almost universally so mendacious and corrupt as to render them for the most part wholly untrustworthy; these, and other practical difficulties, entitle any shortcomings to be regarded with leniency. But I have found a general concurrence in the opinion that in the last year there has been a very marked improvement, both in the appearance and in the real value of the police. The augmentation of its numbers during the period of our greatest anxieties and perils enabled the Superintendent, as it returned to its normal state, to root out many of its most defective members.
It is due to Mr. Bridges to say, that he has been specially active in his attention to this important arm and instrument of Government.
In the opinions conveyed to you by Mr. Bridges, as to the improved management of the jail under Mr. Inglis' governorship, I most heartily concur. He appears to me to be doing all that he can in the present inappropriate and ill-constructed edifice. Your views with respect to the construction of a new gaol will, of course, influence my decision, as to the suggestion of the Acting Colonial Secretary, for the future appropriation of the present building to prisoners under short sentences.
Under the Surveyor General's Department I have little to add to the remarks of Mr. Bridges. The expenditure which is applicable to public works must mainly depend upon the balance which the cost of fixed establishments and other absolutely necessary outlays may leave at the disposal of the Government. Charges of an uncertain character must necessarily be provided for, though they can scarcely be approximately estimated. Our buildings, roads, drains, watercourses, bridges, and public works of every description are so much affected by the fluctuation of the seasons, by typhoons and storms, and the fierce elements which the tropics bring into irresistible activity, added to the entire dependence of the colony on foreign supply for most of the materials of construction (except granite, of which we possess a superfluity), that much uncertainty must attend the expenditure of the Surveyor General's Department.
I attach great importance to the question of an adequate water supply. Though the island owes its very name to the reputation of its waters, the vast increase of population, the enormous demands for the shipping, and the insufficiency of present arrangements (though much has been done) to provide a sufficiency of water, all serves to show that measures for providing for the necessity of the case should have early attention, which I will not fail to give.
£3,000 out of the Parliamentary grant is applied to police and gaol expenses.
1841-1886
239
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
As regards our income, I have been enabled to reduce the police rates from 10 to 8 per cent., in consequence of the increased value of property on the island, which has, with the augmented rate (upon the original 5 per cent, as before levied), enabled me nearly to accomplish the desirable object of paying from the police rate all the charges of police. I have also been enabled from the augmented returns of the lighting rate to increase the number of lamps from 250 to 350.
Most of the now available land in the colony, especially that having sea frontage, having been disposed of, I cannot look to premiums on future sales of land as an impor- tant aid to our revenues. It is, however, to be anticipated that the building of docks and other attractions on the south side of the island, will bring us some resources from that quarter.
I have little doubt the opium monopoly, under the new arrangements reported by this mail, will give us at the least an increase of from 5,000l. to 6,000l. a year.
Though it is not possible to estimate the augmentation of income likely to result from the proposed changes in the market system, there is every reason to believe that while the public will be relieved from the oppression of an intolerable monopoly, the treasury will be considerably benefited.
It may also be fairly expected that from no longer allowing the public monies to be dormant in the strong vault, but by using the chartered banks for the deposit of our balances, there will be a considerable receipt in the shape of interest.
We have now under consideration the system of licensing taverns and other places of public entertainment, and hope to improve the existing arrangements, and thereby also
to serve the revenue.
With regard to the police*, I am quite alive to its many defects, and the desirableness of increasing its activity and efficiency; but we have very indifferent materials for con- structing a thoroughly satisfactory corps. Europeans, under the influence of the climate, so easily fall into habits of intoxication and other irregularities; the mixed races, to whom we must principally look, are tainted with so many oriental vices; the inquiries I instituted as to the aptitudes of the Malays, and the practicability of importing a body of them with their families, were very discouraging; while the Chinese population is almost universally so mendacious and corrupt as to render them for the most part wholly untrustworthy; these, and other practical difficulties, entitle any shortcomings to be regarded with leniency. But I have found a general concurrence in the opinion that in the last year there has been a very marked improvement, both in the appearance and in the real value of the police. The augmentation of its numbers during the period of our greatest auxieties and perils enabled the Superintendent, as it returned to its normal state, to root out many of its most defective members.
It is due to Mr. Bridges to say, that he has been specially active in his attention to this important arm and instrument of Government.
In the opinions conveyed to you by Mr. Bridges, as to the improved management of the jail under Mr. Inglis' governorship, I most heartily concur. He appears to me to be doing all that he can in the present inappropriate and ill-constructed edifice. Your views with respect to the construction of a new gaol will, of course, influence my decision, as to the suggestion of the Acting Colonial Secretary, for the future appropriation of the present building to prisoners under short sentences.
Under the Surveyor General's Department I have little to add to the remarks of Mr. Bridges. The expenditure which is applicable to public works must mainly depend upon the balance which the cost of fixed establishments and other absolutely necessary outlays may leave at the disposal of the Government. Charges of an uncertain character must necessarily be provided for, though they can scarcely be approximately estimated. Our buildings, roads, drains, watercourses, bridges, and public works of every descrip- tion are so much affected by the fluctuation of the seasons, by typhoons and storms, and the fierce elements which the tropics bring into irresistible activity, added to the entire dependence of the colony on foreign supply for most of the materials of construction. (except granite, of which we possess a superfiuity), that much uncertainty must attend the expenditure of the Surveyor General's Department.
I attach great importance to the question of an adequate water supply. Though the island owes its very name to the reputation of its waters, the vast increase of population, the enormous demands for the shipping, and the insufficiency of present arrangements (though much has been done) to provide a sufficiency of water, all serves to show that measures for providing for the necessity of the case should have early attention, which I will not fail to give.
£3,000 out of the Parliamentary grant is applied to police and gaol expenses.
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