1841-1886
OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
329
21
Shanghai. Now, if the public wish the luxury of an early and sure delivery of their letters, I presume they expect to find the charge included in the estimates. It nevertheless swells the cost of the post-office and may possibly furnish scope for various judicious remarks as to the folly of maintaining such an unwieldy establishment. Now, if you really think this luxury useless and extravagant, you have only to say so and I shall strike it from the estimates. If, however, you think it may reasonably be maintained, and that nearly $7,000 is thus wisely expended every year to promote general convenience and the interests of merchants specially, I count on your influence with the Council to abolish the present perverse usage of sending clandestinely large packages of letters by the very mail steamers which are actually carrying marine sorters, at great expense, to arrange and facilitate the delivery of such correspondence without any extra charge.
32. Nevertheless, in a Council where, practically, I assert there is the most substantial liberty of suggestion, speech, and action, and where it has always been the anxious desire of the Executive to encourage the free interchange of thought for the improvement of each legislation as may be proposed, I do not think it necessary to go seriatim through all the establishments or items now offered for consideration. You have had copies of the estimates supplied to you beforehand, and no doubt your own experience is sufficiently suggestive.
32. In reference to Public Works, however, as being the branch of expenditure in which the Executive is most responsible because its greatest power of initiation and "veto" lies there, I have to call your attention to the fact that in reality circumstances have greatly narrowed the margin of choice in that direction. You will observe that out of $137,000 estimated for Works and Buildings, no less than $98,000 are required for completion of the reservoir at Pokfoolum. The original estimate for that work by which the Government was induced to undertake it at all, was $100,000, whereas it now appears that it will cost double—whilst, as it is half completed, you have no option but to proceed with the work. Its whole history, however, has been most discouraging, as showing how heavily, even when attempting the most useful and necessary objects, the Colony can lose by the occasional incompetence of its employés, and how seldom the most obvious deficiencies of such persons can restrain them from projecting schemes beyond their strength. I only regret that the work had been proposed and launched before my arrival here.
33. It is true that suggestions by an eminent engineer in England have added to the cost of the work whilst in progress. Those suggestions, however, were few, as indeed the most eminent professional man could suggest little as to a scheme, whose general propriety and fitness, depended mainly on circumstances not before him. The most costly change was the substitution of cement for ordinary mortar, and if the change was essential, I see no reason why that point should have escaped attention here.
34. Be that as it may, the large sum of $100,000, and possibly much more, being required to finish what you were led to believe would have been completed without such additional expense, it would be useless to discuss at present projects for either a new Court House or a new Civil Hospital. The former building I hope can easily be made to serve the purposes of the Colony for several years yet, though the same cannot be said of the Civil Hospital.
35. For "Roads, Streets, and Bridges," the sum of $41,000 is put down, including the item of $15,000, to be expended in 1870, on account of the continuation of the Upper Road to the gap above the Race Course. This item has now appeared for four consecutive years on the estimates as laid before you by the Government, but has hitherto been obliged to give way to some more pressing claim. Now, however, as all differences between the Colony and the Military concerning the ground through which part of the road would pass are at an end, and as, moreover, the inconvenience of the city's possessing only one mode of ingress and escape to the eastward, has, during the last twelve months, become more obvious than formerly, I think this useful and possibly reproductive work has some chance of being at last commenced.
36. I have, however, no desire to press it specially against your opinion if unfavourable, for if you maintain the public credit by ensuring a sufficient revenue to meet all reasonable duties, I hope you will not suppose the Government has any pet immutable scheme for appropriation of the disposable revenue. The duty of the Executive, it is true, necessitates the initiation of all expenditure, but, as you are aware, it is and has been my desire to found such proposals, as far as possible, on some basis which I may have had previous reason to consider in harmony with our common wish and duty.
1841-1886
OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
329
21
Shanghai. Now, if the public wish the luxury of an early and sure delivery of their ders, I presume they expect to find the charge included in the estimates. It never- heless swells the cost of the post-office and may possibly furnish scope for various adicious remarks as to the folly of maintaining such an unwieldy establishment. Now, you really think this luxury useless and extravagant, you have only to say so and I Shall strike it from the estimates. If, however, you think it may reasonably be main- alned, and that nearly $7,000 is thus wisely expended every year to promote general convenience and the interests of merchants specially, I count on your influence with the Alter to abolish the present perverse usage of sending clandestinely large packages of letters by the very mail steamers which are actually carrying marine sorters, at great expense, to arrange and facilitate the delivery of such correspondence without any extra Charge.
31. Nevertheless, in a Council where, practically, I assert there is the most substantial liberty of suggestion, speech, and action, and where it has always been the anxious desire of the Executive to encourage the free interchange of thought for the improvement of ach Legislation as may be proposed, I do not think it necessary to go seriatim through ill the establishments or items now offered for consideration. You have had copies of The estimates supplied to you beforehand, and no doubt your own experience is suffi- Hently suggestive.
82. In reference to Public Works, however, as being the branch of expenditure in hich the Executive is most responsible because its greatest power of initiation and "veto" lies there, I have to call your attention to the fact that in reality circumstances have greatly narrowed the margin of choice in that direction. You will observe that out of 137,000 estimated for Works and Buildings, no less than $98,000 are required for com- pletion of the reservoir at Pokfoolum. The original estimate for that work by which the Government was induced to undertake it at all, was $100,000, whereas it now appears that it will cost double-whilst, as it is half completed, you have no option but to pro- red with the work. Its whole history, however, has been most discouraging, as showing how heavily, even when attempting the most useful and necessary objects, the Colony can lose by the occasional incompetence of its employés, and how seldom the most obvious deficiencies of such persons can restrain them from projecting schemes beyond their strength. I only regret that the work had been proposed and launched before my arrival here.
33. It is true that suggestions by an eminent engineer in England have added to the cost of the work whilst in progress. Those suggestious, however, were few, as indeed the most eminent professional man could suggest little as to a scheme, whose general propriety and fitness, depended mainly on circumstances not before him. The most costly change was the substitution of cement for ordinary mortar, and if the change was essential, I see no reason why that point should have escaped attention here.
34. Be that as it may, the large sum of $100,000, and possibly much more, being re- quired to finish what you were led to believe would have been completed without such additional expense, it would be useless to discuss at present projects for either a new Court House or a new Civil Hospital. The former building I hope can easily be made to serve the purposes of the Colony for several years yet, though the same cannot be said of the Civil Hospital.
35. For "Roads, Streets, and Bridges," the sum of $41,000 is put down, including the item of $15,000, to be expended in 1870, on account of the continuation of the Upper Road to the gap above the Race Course. This item has now appeared for four consecutive years on the estimates as laid before you by the Government, but has hitherto been obliged to give way to some more pressing claim. Now, however, as all differences between the Colony and the Military concerning the ground through which part of the road would pass are at an end, and as, morcover, the inconvenience of the city's possessing only one mode of ingress and escape to the eastward, has, during the last twelve months, become more obvious than formerly, I think this useful and possibly reproductive work has some chance of being at last commenced.
36. I have, however, no desire to press it specially against your opinion if unfavour- able, for if you maintain the public credit by ensuring a sufficient revenue to meet all reasonable duties, I hope you will not suppose the Government has any pet immutable scheme for appropriation of the disposable revenue. The duty of the Executive, it is true, necessitates the initiation of all expenditure, but, as you are aware, it is and has been my desire to found such proposals, as far as possible, on some basis which I may have had previous reason to consider in harmony with our common wish and duty.
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