1868 — Page 137

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

TILLLC.O.133

25

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO] BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF DEAD

PUBLIC

RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

[250]

18. Small Shopkeepers have perhaps su Terod most, especially the chandlers. The number of Spirit Liveases which have been resigned alone shews that times are not good with them, and though the Markets continue full, the tenants complain much of the difficulty of making a living,

19. Rents have fallen everywhere. It is only fair to say that they were unreasonably high before, and there are some who think they are too high still. Those of larger Hongs are lowered from 16 to 25 per cent, and Chinese Landlords are mid to have lost more than $100,000.

20. A Rurt has already been sent in on the working of Ordinance 10 of 1867. In connection with that subject I may notice that very erroneous impression must have been given to many persons here, of a part of the Town quite unknowa to them, by a passage in the late charge of the Bishop of the Diocese." His Lordship has seen fit to isolate one sentence out of an Official Letter which gives a semblance of support to his views. The facts are patent, but what are the facts? That certain unseemly sights way he seen here occasionally, which may not be seen in Chinese Towns, proves nothing. Drunkenness is Bot seen in Chinese Towas.

91. His Lordship is pleased to assume that nothing has been done to lessen the evil. Everything has been done short of a foolish interference with the liberties which would be equally conserved elsewhere. If persons choose to go through the very lowest quarter of a Seaport Town, they must expect to sea course sights, but that they can go through every street of that lowest quarter without annoyance, risk, or insult, is saying a good deal for any large town.

2. A full Report on the Fire Brigade cannot be looked for from this Office. It may be said nevertheless, that the Chinese Contingent of it is working steadily and well, and that there is every disposition to carry out the wishes of the Execu tive. It is only justice to the Chinese to nild, that the long delay, which took place in forming the Brigade, is rare to be attributed to my utter ignorance of how to set about the task, than to any double dealing on their part. The District Watch- men have been found of great uso in the work of the Brigado.

23. An examination of the number of cases in which the District Watchmen have brought Offenders to Justice, shews that they have been concerned in 08 such cases, including 126 Defendants, of whom only Nine were discharged. The class of Persons punished through their endeavours may be broadly described as “Thieves,” inasmuch as at least three fourths of the cuses consist of “Larceny," "Robbery," or "Unlawful Possession.” Sotae few, however, were simply charged with being bad or suspicions characters, and there are also one or two notorious kidnappers who are, happily, in Geol.

24. The Records however fram which these facts are taken, and which only extend over Ten months of the year, (Mr. SMT having previously reportel on January nud February) do not mequately represent the service the Watchmen have rendered the Colony, Many cases which must otherwise have gone before the Magistrate, or even before the Supreme Court, have been quietly settled by them to the satisfaction of all parties. The Heyl Watchmen from their age and authority are often accepted as arbiters of perplexing disputes. Very valuable information has also been collected through them.

25. It is true that a Chinese Police Force will never carry out some of the views of the European Community, but then it is not paid by the European Community. The chief object of the Chinese in paying these Watchinen is to drive away thieves, the cardinal evil of a Shop-keeping population. And it is thought that the Watchmen succeed, not only in arresting actual Offenders, but also in keeping away those who live by pilfering.

20. The Report which appeared, some weeks ago, in a public print, as to a panic amongst the Chinese in regard to the voluntary tax collected amongst themselves for the support of the force, was wholly without foundation. No such panic existed, und if ever it does, it will take the form of a simple discontinuance of the subscription.

27. Much attention has been given to the organization of our Streets. Reforms are in progress for the better control of Street-chairs. An attempt has been mule to lessen the number of Hawkers, by a new arrangement of Licenses, which makes unlicensed hawking inore difficult. The currying of Ment through the Streets has been put a stop to, except in stormy weather when boats are unavailable, and up the hill in Sai-Ying-Pan where no plan but carrying is possible. Though more strictly a Police matter, an effort was male last summer, to prevail on the Chinese Building Contractors to stop the squeaking of the barrows used by their men. It became very evident that the noise can be stopped.

28. I may perhaps be allowed to suggest that if the police obtained authority to clear the Streets of the most noisy class of unlicensed hawkers, those, namely, wlio profess to buy old Copper and Iron, (Mái lan tung lán cit) not only a great annoyance, but also a set of receivers of goods stolen by domestic Servants would be got rid of.

I have the honour to be,

The Honourable J. GARDINER AUSTIN,

Colonial Secretary.

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

ALFRED LISTER,

Acting Registrar General.