9. The Acting Colonial Surgeon visited the Stations with the object of discovering, if possible. any local reasons for the large number of cases of fever; but the Stations were all clean and in good order. and the water appeared, as a rule, to be good; moreover, of late years filters have been freely supplied. At Causeway Bay, notice was served on squatters to vacate garden plots near the Station, as the water supply was probably contaminated by drainage from the gardens.
10. At Aberdeen, it is very essential that the waste ground near the bridge below the Statio should be filled up, as the foul mud collected there must, especially at low tide, generate disease. 1, too, instructions are given to clear away the undergrowth among the trees near the Station. I thi that, under the able supervision of the Superintendent of Government Gardens, the health of the wo and the appearance of the grounds would be improved.
11. I may mention that efforts are being male to rear the Eucalyptus tree, so that trees of thi species may be planted near the St..ions, but it is feared that their want of strength during their five two or three years of growth will prevent any extensive use being made of them.
12. Notable benefit has arisen from the erection of the new Station at Shau-ki Wán. The old bail.
ing was located among the trees on the hill side, and the cases of fever among the men were both numerous and fatal; but now Shau-ki Wán compares favourably with other Stations in Villages.
13. Since the Yau-ma-ti Station has been built, the village has nearly doubled in size, and erine has greatly diminished. The Tsim-tea-tsui Station has again become useful, owing to the numerous Bungalows that have been erected in its vicinity.
14. The City of Victoria has increased so much to the Westward that the accommodation at No, 7 Station is far below the wants of the men. The Lokungs are crowded in a room that is little he than a barn.
15. The want of better accommodation at the Central Barracks has been so often reportel ng that it is needless to do more than merely to allude to it in this Report.
16. In forwarding the draft Police Estimates for 1876, I attached a memorandum in whi... } drew attention to the low value of the dollar as compared with the rate at which the men are p This appears to press with great hardship on the men who joined from England and Se aflan l. as the were engaged at the pay of $40 a month, which they were told, and at the time with strict truth, w equivalent to £100 a year. The lowness of exchange now causes a loss of between 4 and 5 per cent on all monies that they may desire to remit home. I think, therefore, that the men merit some co- pensation on this point.
17. The conduct of the Force has been, on the whole, very satisfactory, and the number of men leaving, compulsorily or otherwise, less than in 1874.
18. I have the honour to enclose the following Returns for 1875.
A., Table of Crimes and Offences reported.
B., Table of Miscellaneous Offences.
C., Comparative Returns with years 1873, 1874.
D., Table of Casualties in the Force.
E., Table of Criminals arrested for Return from Deportation, or for breach of Conditieul
Pardon.
F., Report on the Police School by Mr. FALCONER.
The Honourable J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Colonial Secretary,
HONGKONG.
Your most obedient Servant,
W. M. DEASE, Captain Superintendent of Police-
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