170
HONG KONG.
4
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
other causes the profits of the China trade formerly enjoyed by a few are now divided amongst many, and hence the maintenance of an expensive establish- ment here has become not only unnecessary but undesirable to parties having houses of business in Canton. The port, however, is not without its use, even to them; for goods are often landed here intended for the northern ports, as indeed they are sometimes when destined for Canton, especially when the market is dull there, and when it is conceived by their consignees that further importation would produce further depression.
From December 1850 to March of this year 15 American whalers have arrived laden with oil, of which a considerable portion, under the provisions of the New Navigation Law, has been shipped to England in British bottoms. I am informed, by a very respectable authority, that 60 or 70 vessels of this description are expected here next winter, and as each of these vessels is estimated, on an average, to expend some 5001, in the colony, by which each class of the community is benefited, this branch of trade deserves especial encouragement. I understand, moreover, that the masters of the above whalers, when here, convened a meeting, and passed a resolution that Hong Kong was the cheapest and most suitable port in the east for the resort of whalers, and for the transhipment of their cargoes. These vessels can refit here at a comparatively small expense, procure such supplies as they may be in need of, and return to the whaling ground as soon as the season opens. I entertain, therefore, every hope that this trade may prove of great use to the colony. A vessel has also lately arrived here, under American colours, from Oregon, for the purpose of entering into contracts for the supply of masts, spars, &c., which at times are much required here. The returns will be, of course, from Hong Kong.
1
In conclusion, I would add that although the colony is of great use to the few firms engaged in the opium trade, yet it is on the general foreign trade that Hong Kong must mainly depend for progressive improvement.
The Right Hon. Earl Grey,
Enel. 2 in No.
SIR,
&c.
&c.
&c.
I have, &c., (Signed)
Enclosure 2 in No.
J. G. BONHAM.
Surveyor-General's Office, Victoria,
February 11, 1851.
I HAVE the honour to lay before you, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, my annual Report upon the works which have been undertaken during the year, and upon the general state of repair, &c. of all civil roads, works, and buildings upon the island.
VICTORIA.
Roads and Bridges.
The district from the gap to the valley has been kept in repair by convict labour, amounting during the year to 2,234 men, being equivalent to an expenditure of 461. 10s. 10d., this is rather a large item for repair of so short a road, but it is caused by the necessary attention to the new portion of the road, and the expenditure is further enlarged by the distance the men had to travel to the work, which occupies nearly an hour both going to and returning from work, or nearly one-fifth of their effective day's labour.
The final payment for that portion of the road from the Wongneichung Valley to North Point, which was widened and improved, as alluded to in my last Report, and which was so much damaged by the storm of the 13th September, was made during the year, amounting to 2701. 168. 8d., which, with the previous advance of 757. made last year, makes the full cost of the service 3451. 16s. 8d. paid by Government, and in addition to which the sum of 115, was paid by private subscription. In consequence of the misunderstanding between the clerk of works and the contractor nothing was done to the road until May of the present year, when orders were received to repair the damages and render the road again serviceable for carriages. This repair was effected for an expenditure of 631. 19s. 2d., and although we had no typhoon during the year there were several gales which tried the unfinished portions of the walls and hewly deposited earth severely, I am happy to state without effecting any damage. I have endeavoured to protect the line of road by encouraging the growth of grass and shrubs, or prickly pear, upon a slope of sand outside the sea-wall, and in several places they are thriving very well, but the extreme drought of the last six months has caused many to wither; these, however, I hope I shall succeed in replacing at as early a period as the raius will permit.
Of the bridges in the Wongneichung Valley, I have much pleasure in reporting that the three remaining wooden ones were reconstructed with brick arches upon the old abutments, in
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
5
lieu of the timber platforms, which it was found quite impossible to preserve from rot and the ravages of the white ants,
Report and estimate 1 of 1850 authorized the construction of three bridges; the two small bridges, of 17 feet 6 inches and 12 feet span respectively, I experienced no difficulty in forming with the old materials (bricks) belonging to the Bungalow, abandoned by the proprietor and pulled down by Government, expenditure 377. 10s.; but the large bridge I found it impossible to complete according to the original intention, viz., in two semi-elliptic arches of 30 feet span, and was consequently obliged to build two additional piers, and form four segmental arches of 13 feet 9 inches span; these were completed more satisfactorily and the superstructure was finished, both spandrils and parapet, with the dressed stone belonging to the Bungalow, and only suitable for such work, the whole costing the sum of 1067. 58.
In the early part of the year, and before the above work was found to be absolutely essential, a repair, amounting to 47. 12s., was obliged to be made to secure portions of the framing and platforms.
Drains.
The final payment on account of the drain or brick sewer to join the Ordnance sewer, report and estimate 8 of 1847, which it was found so difficult to complete, in consequence of the extreme hardness of the rock through which it had to pass, was made during the year. This service must have entailed a considerable loss upon the contractor, and I was at last compelled to execute the work by day's labour, charging the expense against the balance due.
Repairs to drains in the whole city only amounted to 21. 7s. 3d. (Req. 39.)
Marine Works.
During the gales of the latter part of the year 1849 several large boats caused considerable injury to two of the piers in Tapingshan, and upon one of which a fast boat was entirely wrecked; the repairs demanded amounted to 117. (Req. No. 28); the other one was repaired at an expenditure of 3. (Req. No. 11).
Supply of water to Government house and offices was executed under the superintendence of the Royal Engineer department; the sum of 1517. 15s. 1d. having been paid on account, the remaining sum was paid in the early part of the present year.
Buildings.
At the Court-house the sum of 1567. 5s. was expended in the furniture and fittings for the Court-room, which was permanently arranged, giving the necessary accommodation applied for by the Chief Justice, together with the formation of a skylight, which was also arranged for the better ventilation of the room, which was much required in hot weather with a crowded Court. The heavy entablatures to both fronts of this building show some symptoms of failure, portions of the cornice have fallen down; but as I believe the greater part of the projections have been formed with teak wood, it is probable there is no great decay in the framing to render any repair necessary,
The tower of the cathedral was completed during the year for the. sum of 6977, 18s. 4d., and the total payments made on account of the whole building amounted to 1,2067. 5s., this sum, however, formed part of the private subscription.
For the protection of the Albany Godowns, a large building abandoned by the proprietors, the sum of 307. has been expended.
Also in pulling down the Bungalow in the Wongneichung valley, resumed by Government in removing to store some of the building materials which were being stolen by the Chinamen, an expenditure of 301. 10s. 4d. was made. With some of the above materials and others supplied from collected stores, and upon the requisition of the superintendent of police, approved of by his Excellency, I built a boat-shed and stabling for the police, rearranged the accommo- dation, and built new cells at the central station, repaired and whitewashed the kitchens, and built proper drains therefrom to the main sewer in the street, the whole being performed for the sum of 311, 5s.
Two prisoners effected an escape from the gaol by placing a plank upon the lean to roof of a privy, and thus gaining the summit of the wall dropped therefrom into the road, a height of 22 feet; in consequence of this a chevaux de frise was placed thereon 3 feet high, as well as for further safety an inner guard established, rendering the whole more secure, the above service cost 15. 13s. 11d. (Requisition No. 14).
Sundry repairs and painting were made to the flagstaves at Government house and offices, amounting to 77. 19s. 8d. under Requisitions 36 of 1849, and Nos. 3 and 9 of 1850.
The east side of the verandah to the Bungalow on Hospital Hill was rendered more secure against typhoons by removing the large jalousies, and filling in between the columns with brickwork, and inserting an ordinary sized window instead, also in bracing and strengthening a portion of the north front of the verandah; a part of this service was performed by the tenant, the remainder was executed by Government at an expenditure of 101. 8s. 4d.
The several police stations in the city, four in number, exclusive of the central station, were thoroughly whitewashed, repaired, and painted (the latter service not having been performed for three years) for the sum of 341. 13s. 7d.
The other police stations in the island, viz., at Aberdeen, Stanley, and East Point, underwent no repairs during the year; but on my inspection at the beginning of this year I had occasion to note several dilapidations, particularly at Aberdeen, but most of these are not strictly chargeable to Government, and notice to that effect has been given to the superintendent of police.
HONG KONG.
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