HKG-CAR1844-1886 — Page 264

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1841-1886

245

REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT

described, and contributing but slightly to our exchequer, for six markets and two slaughterhouses in a perfect state of repair, and yet the colonial treasury will not have been called upon to expend a shilling, and reports an already increased market rental.

Returning from this somewhat long digression, there is but one other point connected with the Surveyor General's department to which I would wish to allude. That one is the imperative necessity of commencing at an early day a thorough water supply to the town. In England this might be left to private enterprise; here it must be taken in hand by the Government or altogether neglected; and I fervently hope that there will be no great delay in the matter, for the continuance of a long drought, such as occurred within the last seven years, would, I really believe, threaten the very existence of this fast-growing community. We have now a permanent town population of nearly 40,000 souls entirely dependent on a few mountain streams.

I would very earnestly press this danger upon your Excellency, because its possibility presents itself to me each succeeding year as I see the houses extending now east and now west, and yet nothing done to prevent the also increasing diminution of our water supply during the dry season.

A famine of water would destroy all the progress that has been made during the last five years. An expenditure of about 20,000l., to be easily raised on loan at a moderate rate of interest, such interest to be charged on the rental of the Crown lands, would render us for ever secure,

5. Registrar General.

As the coloured population exceed the white in this community in the proportion of about 54 to 1, and everything connected with the Chinese, who compose nine tenths of the former class, passes more or less through this department, it is virtually the most important in the colony. I cannot speak in too high praise of the manner in which the present Registrar General discharges all his duties; and it is a pleasant duty incumbent on me to have to record that I am convinced your Excellency has no more zealous and certainly not so efficient a subordinate under your orders. The population returns furnished from this department have been prepared with unusual care this year, and after a close personal inspection of them I think I may say they can be taken as very fairly correct. The gross amount of inhabitants shows an increase of about 5,000 over the preceding year, and that chiefly in the boat population; but this comparison is scarcely to be relied on, and therefore it may be sufficient to say that there is hardly a vacant house to be found of any description in the town of Victoria, and that rents have gone up at least 30 per cent., for there can be no surer criterion than this of the present flourishing state of the colony.

I would, however, wish to point out one or two facts to be elicited from these lists; the first of which, that the average proportion of Chinese females to males is far higher than it has ever previously been, a result only to be produced from the colony being at last considered a home by the natives, and not a mere place of business; the other point is one of painful interest, and forces the conclusion on me that the killing of female infants must be a widely prevailing crime among our rural and boat population.

In the town districts,

Boys Girls 3254 2348

In the rural population,

Boys Girls 464 421

In the boats,

Boys Girls 3547 2141

I would fain attribute such a remarkable difference to another cause than the one above stated, but I am unable to do so. A comparison of the returns of the last nine years presents the same feature, and even shows the disproportion to be rather increasing than diminishing.

6. Colonial Surgeon.

All things are changed for the better, and will doubtless so continue while we retain the services of our present, active, zealous, and skilful surgeon. The fresh duties which devolved on him at the close of the year with regard to the Lock Hospital have been cheerfully taken in hand, and augur well for the success of that most necessary institution. Dr. Menzies having arrived in the latter half of the year, I shall take upon myself to add

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1841-1886 245 REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT described, and contributing but slightly to our exchequer, for six markets and two slaughterhouses in a perfect state of repair, and yet the colonial treasury will not have been called upon to expend a shilling, and reports an already increased market rental. Returning from this somewhat long digression, there is but one other point connected with the Surveyor General's department to which I would wish to allude. That one is the imperative necessity of commencing at an early day a thorough water supply to the town. In England this might be left to private enterprise; here it must be taken in hand by the Government or altogether neglected; and I fervently hope that there will be no great delay in the matter, for the continuance of a long drought, such as occurred within the last seven years, would, I really believe, threaten the very existence of this fast-growing community. We have now a permanent town population of nearly 40,000 souls entirely dependent on a few mountain streams. I would very earnestly press this danger upon your Excellency, because its possibility presents itself to me each succeeding year as I see the houses extending now east and now west, and yet nothing done to prevent the also increasing diminution of our water supply during the dry season. A famine of water would destroy all the progress that has been made during the last five years. An expenditure of about 20,000l., to be easily raised on loan at a moderate rate of interest, such interest to be charged on the rental of the Crown lands, would render us for ever secure, 5. Registrar General. As the coloured population exceed the white in this community in the proportion of about 54 to 1, and everything connected with the Chinese, who compose nine tenths of the former class, passes more or less through this department, it is virtually the most important in the colony. I cannot speak in too high praise of the manner in which the present Registrar General discharges all his duties; and it is a pleasant duty incumbent on me to have to record that I am convinced your Excellency has no more zealous and certainly not so efficient a subordinate under your orders. The population returns furnished from this department have been prepared with unusual care this year, and after a close personal inspection of them I think I may say they can be taken as very fairly correct. The gross amount of inhabitants shows an increase of about 5,000 over the preceding year, and that chiefly in the boat population; but this comparison is scarcely to be relied on, and therefore it may be sufficient to say that there is hardly a vacant house to be found of any description in the town of Victoria, and that rents have gone up at least 30 per cent., for there can be no surer criterion than this of the present flourishing state of the colony. I would, however, wish to point out one or two facts to be elicited from these lists; the first of which, that the average proportion of Chinese females to males is far higher than it has ever previously been, a result only to be produced from the colony being at last considered a home by the natives, and not a mere place of business; the other point is one of painful interest, and forces the conclusion on me that the killing of female infants must be a widely prevailing crime among our rural and boat population. In the town districts, Boys Girls 3254 2348 In the rural population, Boys Girls 464 421 In the boats, Boys Girls 3547 2141 I would fain attribute such a remarkable difference to another cause than the one above stated, but I am unable to do so. A comparison of the returns of the last nine years presents the same feature, and even shows the disproportion to be rather increasing than diminishing. 6. Colonial Surgeon. All things are changed for the better, and will doubtless so continue while we retain the services of our present, active, zealous, and skilful surgeon. The fresh duties which devolved on him at the close of the year with regard to the Lock Hospital have been cheerfully taken in hand, and augur well for the success of that most necessary institution. Dr. Menzies having arrived in the latter half of the year, I shall take upon myself to add
Baseline (Original)
1841-1886 245 REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT + described, and contributing but slightly to our exchequer, for six markets and two slaughterhouses in a perfect state of repair, and yet the colonial treasury will not have been called upon to expend a shilling, and reports an already increased market rental. Returning from this somewhat long digression, there is but one other point connected with the Surveyor General's department to which I would wish to allude. That one is the imperative necessity of commencing at an early day a thorough water supply to the town. In England this might be left to private enterprise; here it must be taken in hand by the Government or altogether neglected; and I fervently hope that there will be no great delay in the matter, for the continuance of a long drought, such as occurred within the last seven years, would, I really believe, threaten the very existence of this fast- growing community. We have now a permanent town population of nearly 40,000 souls entirely dependent on a few mountain streams. I would very earnestly press this danger upon your Excellency, because its possibility presents itself to me each succeeding year as I see the houses extending now east and now west, and yet nothing done to prevent the also increasing diminution of our water supply during the dry season. A famine of water would destroy all the progress that has been made during the last five years. An expenditure of about 20,000%, to be easily raised on loan at a moderate rate of interest, such interest to be charged on the rental of the Crown lands, would render us for ever secure, 5. Registrar General. As the coloured population exceed the white in this community in the proportion of about 54 to 1, and everything connected with the Chinese, who compose nine tenths of the former class, passes more or less through this department, it is virtually the most important in the colony. I cannot speak in too high praise of the manner in which the présent Registrar General discharges all his duties; and it is a pleasant duty incumbent on me to have to record that I am convinced your Excellency has no more zealous and certainly not so efficient a subordinate under your orders. The population returns furnished from this department have been prepared with unusual care this year, and after a close personal inspection of them I think I may say they can be taken as very fairly correct. The gross amount of inhabitants shows an increase of about 5,000 over the preceding year, and that chiefly in the boat population; but this comparison is scarcely to be relied on, and therefore it may be sufficient to say that there is hardly a vacant house to be found of any description in the town of Victoria, and that rents have gone up at least 30 per cent., for there can be no surer criterion than this of the present flourishing state of the colony. I would, however, wish to point out one or two facts to be elicited from these lists; the first of which, that the average proportion of Chinese females to males is far higher than it has ever previously been, a result only to be produced from the colony being at last considered a home by the natives, and not a mere place of business; the other point is one of painful interest, and forces the conclusion on me that the killing of female infants must be a widely prevailing crime among our rural and boat population. In the town districts, we find, Boys In the rural population, Boys In the boats, Boys 3254 Girls 464 Girls 4212 Girls 3547 $41 2348 I would fain attribute such a remarkable difference to another cause than the one above stated, but I am unable to do so. A comparison of the returns of the last nine years presents the same feature, and even shows the disproportion to be rather increasing than diminishing. 6. Colonial Surgeon. All things are changed for the better, and will doubtless so continue while we retain the services of our present, active, zealous, and skilful surgeon. The fresh duties which devolved on him at the close of the year with regard to the Lock Hospital have been cheerfully taken in hand, and augur well for the success of that most necessary institution. Dr. Menzies having arrived in the latter half of the year, I shall take upon myself to add
2026-05-10 16:35:42 · Baseline
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1841-1886

245

REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT

+

described, and contributing but slightly to our exchequer, for six markets and two slaughterhouses in a perfect state of repair, and yet the colonial treasury will not have been called upon to expend a shilling, and reports an already increased market rental.

Returning from this somewhat long digression, there is but one other point connected with the Surveyor General's department to which I would wish to allude. That one is the imperative necessity of commencing at an early day a thorough water supply to the town. In England this might be left to private enterprise; here it must be taken in hand by the Government or altogether neglected; and I fervently hope that there will be no great delay in the matter, for the continuance of a long drought, such as occurred within the last seven years, would, I really believe, threaten the very existence of this fast- growing community. We have now a permanent town population of nearly 40,000 souls entirely dependent on a few mountain streams.

I would very earnestly press this danger upon your Excellency, because its possibility presents itself to me each succeeding year as I see the houses extending now east and now west, and yet nothing done to prevent the also increasing diminution of our water supply during the dry season.

A famine of water would destroy all the progress that has been made during the last five years. An expenditure of about 20,000%, to be easily raised on loan at a moderate rate of interest, such interest to be charged on the rental of the Crown lands, would render us for ever secure,

5. Registrar General.

As the coloured population exceed the white in this community in the proportion of about 54 to 1, and everything connected with the Chinese, who compose nine tenths of the former class, passes more or less through this department, it is virtually the most important in the colony. I cannot speak in too high praise of the manner in which the présent Registrar General discharges all his duties; and it is a pleasant duty incumbent on me to have to record that I am convinced your Excellency has no more zealous and certainly not so efficient a subordinate under your orders. The population returns furnished from this department have been prepared with unusual care this year, and after a close personal inspection of them I think I may say they can be taken as very fairly correct. The gross amount of inhabitants shows an increase of about 5,000 over the preceding year, and that chiefly in the boat population; but this comparison is scarcely to be relied on, and therefore it may be sufficient to say that there is hardly a vacant house to be found of any description in the town of Victoria, and that rents have gone up at least 30 per cent., for there can be no surer criterion than this of the present flourishing state of the colony.

I would, however, wish to point out one or two facts to be elicited from these lists; the first of which, that the average proportion of Chinese females to males is far higher than it has ever previously been, a result only to be produced from the colony being at last considered a home by the natives, and not a mere place of business; the other point is one of painful interest, and forces the conclusion on me that the killing of female infants must be a widely prevailing crime among our rural and boat population.

In the town districts, we find,

Boys

In the rural population,

Boys

In the boats,

Boys

3254

Girls

464

Girls

4212

Girls

3547

$41

2348

I would fain attribute such a remarkable difference to another cause than the one above stated, but I am unable to do so. A comparison of the returns of the last nine years presents the same feature, and even shows the disproportion to be rather increasing than diminishing.

6. Colonial Surgeon.

All things are changed for the better, and will doubtless so continue while we retain the services of our present, active, zealous, and skilful surgeon. The fresh duties which devolved on him at the close of the year with regard to the Lock Hospital have been cheerfully taken in hand, and augur well for the success of that most necessary institution. Dr. Menzies having arrived in the latter half of the year, I shall take upon myself to add

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