1841-1886
257
STATE. OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
119
verification of my own opinion, and in this opinion, if I mistake not, I am supported by your Excellency.
20. Appended to the Registrar General's Returns will be found 1st, the Military Mortality for the year, and 2ndly, the Colonial Surgeon's Report.
21. As regards the mortality in the garrison, though 6.52 per cent. is an increase on 5.60 of the preceding year, yet keeping in view the severe summer and the hard work endured by the soldiery during 1858, it does not show any great cause for anxiety, for the per-centage was 4.62 in a year of almost perfect quietude (1856), and the present slightly increased rate falls into insignificance before the 17.89 per cent. of 1850, or the still more disastrous times, now long past, of 1843 and 1844, in which latter year the mortality was over 35 per cent.
22. The death of Dr. Harland, a serious public loss, occurred during the year; he is the fourth colonial surgeon whom I have seen fall a victim to the climate.
23. His temporary successor has given a very creditable report considering his short tenure of office.
24. The statistics suggested by Dr. Chaldecott might, I imagine, be procured, and the point is one worth consideration, but it must not be inferred from Dr. Chaldecott's words that no register of deaths is preserved.
25. There might be some difficulty in ascertaining particulars of disease, but record is made of all deaths occurring amongst the European community."
26. Dr. Chaldecott mentions two diseases as of novel appearance in the colony, and a knowledge of Hong Kong for nearly 15 years enables me to confirm his statement, that cholera and hydrophobia were never known here before.
27. Of the latter malady, the Acting Colonial Surgeon says little beyond registering the fact of its appearance, and I presume he is right in attributing cholera to the filthy state of the native parts of the town.
28. This is a point which has long engaged the attention of the Government, and though our efforts have been sometimes unworthily opposed, and sometimes even frustrated, I perceive much improvement in the general cleanliness of Victoria.
29. Still in a crowded city like this, with an oriental population, it is vain to expect freedom from nuisances such as are complained of.
30. The various suggestions of the Acting Colonial Surgeon will of course receive due consideration, and I observe nothing more in his report requiring special observation.
31. This report, however, establishes the fact which I have never heard disputed that the past summer has been unusually unhealthy.
32. Your Excellency will be happy to see that education has made some progress in the Chinese community, and considerable interest is attached to the Report of the Education Committee, which, by your Excellency's direction has been already published in the Government Gazette for general information.
33. On the subject of the specie circulation of the colony, the members of the Executive Council have recently given their individual opinions, and these are now before the Secretary of State for the colonies.
34. Concerning imports and exports I have but to repeat what has been stated in former years, that the judicious absence of a Custom House renders it impossible to give a return of these.
35. But a reference to the Harbour Master's Tables is very satisfactory, showing an increase in the tonnage arrived in port of 175,413 tons.
36. Of the gaol I have already spoken, and in the Blue Book will be found the fullest particulars connected with the conduct of it.
37. It remains for me to notice the dock in course of erection by Mr. Lainout at Aberdeen, a most important work, and one that will have much influence on the future of the colony. It will not, I believe, be opened for use before the next autumn, but when ready it will prove of great service to Her Majesty's navy, and the mercantile shipping resorting to the port.
38. When the road between Victoria and Aberdeen shall have been widened and completed, I calculate upon a rise in the value of portions of the land on either side, especially in the neighbourhood of Pokfoolum, where building is now commenced on one or more of the farm lots sold there in June 1856.
39. I may here mention one public work of the very highest consequence which is under consideration—the water-works. The paucity of hill streams on this side of the island renders the procural of a sufficient water supply for the city a matter of extreme difficulty. In the winter or dry season this want is severely felt by all classes of the community, and it is in this very season that conflagrations occur among the Chinese houses, when water in readiness and abundance is a demand of necessity.
40. In my opinion the best plan is to lead the water from Pokfoolum, round the side of the hill, attracting the smaller rivulets in the course; but I make this suggestion with diffidence, as I know that professional engineers are not agreed as to the proper mode to be adopted.
41. An early decision must be come to, as this is the most important work that presses on the attention of the Government.
42. I cannot refrain from bringing to notice the trouble, inconvenience, and even danger that arises from the growth of a village at Teem-cha-tsai, on the Kowloong shore. It has been raised by pirates, resetttlers, and vagabonds of every kind; and being within ten minutes sail of Victoria, it affords an easy refuge to criminals wishing to fly from justice.
43. It is of course on Chinese territory, but the Kowloong mandarin exercises no jurisdiction over it, and the evil will continue until a part of the Kowloong Peninsula shall become a dependency of this colony, a measure I would strongly advocate, and about which I cannot foresee much difficulty.
44. I may point out in support of this suggestion, that the Kowloong shore forms the northern side of Hong Kong-harbour, and it may be made a question with foreign nations whether a foreign vessel anchored on that side of the harbour is amenable to the laws of this colony.
1841-1886
257
STATE. OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
119
verification of my own opinion, and in this opinion, if I mistake not, I am supported by you Excellency.
20. Appended to the Registrar General's Returns will be found 1st, the Military Mortality for the year, and 2ndly, the Colonial Surgeon's Report.
21. As regards the mortality in the garrison, though 6.52 per cent. is an increase on 5.60 of the preceding year, yet keeping in view the severe summor and the hard work endured by the soldiery during 1858, it does not show any great cause for anxiety, for the per-centage was 4.62 in a year of almost perfect quietude (1856), and the present slightly increased rate fülls into insignificance before the 17.89 per cent, of 1850, or the still more disastrous times, now long past, of 1843 and 1844, in which latter year the mortality was over 35 per cent.
22. The death of Dr. Harland, a serious public loss, occurred during the year; ne is the fourth colonial surgeon whom I have seen fall a victim to the climate.
23. His temporary successor has given a very creditable report considering his short tenure
of office.
24. The statistics suggested by Dr. Chaldecott might, I imagine, he procured, and the point is oue worth consideration, but it must not be inferred from Dr. Chaldecott's words that no register of deaths is preserved.
25. There might be some difficulty in ascertaining particulars of disease, but record is made of all deaths occurring amongst the European community."
26. Dr. Chaldecott mentions two diseases as of novel appearance in the colony, and a knowledge of Hong Kong for nearly 15 years enables me to confirm his statement, that cholera and hydrophobia were never known here before.
27. Of the latter malady, the Acting Colonial Surgeon says little beyond registering the fact of its appearance, and I presume he is right in attributing cholera to the filthy state of the native parts of
the town.
28. This is a point which has long engaged the attention of the Government, and though our efforts have been sometimes unworthily opposed, and sometimes even frustrated, I perceive much improvement in the general cleanliness of Victoria.
20. Still in a crowded city like this, with an oriental population, it is vain to expect freedom from nuisances such as are complained of.
30. The various suggestions of the Acting Colonial Surgeon will of course receive due consideration, and I observe nothing more in his report requiring special observation.
1
31. This report, however, establishes the fact which I have never heard disputed that the past summer has been unusually unhealthy.
32. Your Excellency will be happy to see that education has made some progress in the Chinese community, and considerable interest is attached to the Report of the Education Committee, which, by your Excellency's direction has been already published in the Government Gazette for general information.
33. On the subject of the specie circulation of the colony, the members of the Executive Council have recently given their individual opinions, and these are now before the Secretary of State for the colonies.
34. Concerning imports and exports I have but to repeat what has been stated in former years, that
the judicious absence of a Custom House renders it impossible to give a return of these.
35. But a reference to the Harbour Master's Tables is very satisfactory, showing an increase in the tonnage arrived in port of 175,413 tons.
36." Of the gaol I have already spoken, and in the Blue Book will be found the fullest particulars connected with the conduct of it.
37. It remains for me to notice the dock in course of erection by Mr. Lainout at Aberdeen, a most important work, and one that will have much influence on the future of the colony. It will not, I believe, be opened for use before the next autumn, but when ready it will prove of great service to Her Majesty's navy, and the mercantile shipping resorting to the port.
38. When the road between Victoria and Aberdeen shall have been widened and completed, I calculate upon a rise in the value of portions of the land on either side, especially in the neighbourhood of Pokfoolum, where building is now commenced on one or more of the farm lots sold there in June 1856.
39. I may here mention one public work of the very highest consequence which is under considera- tion-the water-works. The paucity of hill streams on this side of the island renders the procural of a suflicient water supply for the city a matter of extreme difficulty. In the winter or dry season this want is severely felt by all classes of the community, and it is in this very season that conflagrations occur among the Chinese houses, when water in readiness and abundance is a demand of necessity.
40. In my opinion the best plan is to lead the water from Pokfoolum, round the side of the hill, attracting the smaller rivulets in the course; but I make this suggestion with diffidence, as I know that professional engineers are not agreed as to the proper mode to be adopted.
41. An early decision must be come to, as this is the most important work that presses on the attcution of the Government.
42. I cannot refrain from bringing to notice the trouble, inconvenience, and even danger that arises from the growth of a village at Teem-cha-tsoy, on the Kowloong shore. It has been raised by pirates, resetters, and vagabonds of every kind; and being within ten minutes sail of Victoria, it affords an easy refuge to criminals wishing to fly from justice.
'
43. It is of course on Chinese territory, but the Kowloong mandarin exercises no jurisdiction over it, and the evil will continue until a part of the Kowloong Peninsula shall become a dependency of this colony, a measure I would strongly advocate, and about which I cannot foresee much difliculty.
44. I may point out in support of this suggestion, that the Kowloong shore forms the northern side of Hong Kong-harbour, and it may be made a question with foreign nations whether a foreign vessel anchored on that side of the harbour is amenable to the laws of this colony.
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