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Bay, and have their domestic offices properly at their rear, or so far at the side as not to be a nuisance and an obstruction.
So much for access to the Praya through the back door, instead of the front. And now for a fair consideration of the Praya itself, as conducing to the convenience or embellishment of Central Victoria.
One.
The undersigned affirms of this work, and calls upon His Excellency, with all respect, to cause the Surveyor General to report upon the following asseverations regarding it, for the guidance of the Secretary of State, that within the short distance of one-half mile, forming the entire frontage of Central Victoria, say from Pedder's Wharf to Circular Buildings, the proposed Praya must pass over every Culvert and main Sewer, both of the upper and the lower town, at their very outfall, and raised nowhere at a higher level than ten feet above that outfall, and its reeking odours at low tide, in a tropical latitude.
That during the whole working day, the said Praya must be the platform of a busy traffic in the frequent transit of foreign merchandise across it, to or from the European Godowns and numerous Ship-chandleries, and in the unceasing transit of native merchandise to and from the numerous Chinese Bazaars and the China town proper, known as Bonham Strand, and further, in the constant unlading of Provision Boats at the Central and Western Markets, abutting upon the Praya.
That several of these Chinese Bazaars, and lines of Chinese Hongs, abut, either gablewards or rearwards, upon the future Praya, and are already built out to the last available foot within the Praya line.
That immediately upon this inner line, are situated the Cesspools, the Public Privies and Urinals, of a densely populated Chinese Quarter, and that the same are thus placed, and are being completed at this moment under Government inspection, from the sheer impossibility of placing them anywhere else, with due regard to sanitary considerations.
Such constructions however on the Marine Parade, embellishing the City of Victoria, as viewed by Lord Stanley, are, to say the least, a novel supplement either abroad or at home.
If the foregoing averments be true, the undersigned can come to no other conclusion, than that the Bowring Praya along Central Victoria can never prove other than a crowded and bustling 50 feet gangway, fit for wharf purposes, and for no other purposes whatsoever.
The undersigned is quite willing to concede to this portion of the proposed work, viz., the centre, a high degree of usefulness under certain limitations, which he will explain by and by. What he challenges is, the opinion that it will conduce to the embellishment of the City of Victoria, or to the healthful recreation of its European inhabitants.
The undersigned has already protested against its extension Eastward or Westward, and now proceeds to exhibit the grounds of his objection.
Under the peculiar aspect which the sea-shore buildings took at the first projection of the City of Victoria, some sixteen years ago, fronting south instead of north, a line of Road, known as the Queen's Road, was formed on their south frontages.
This Road, constituting the highway and main thoroughfare of the Island, runs due east and west, the entire length of the City.
Now it does so happen, unfortunately for the claims of the Bowring Praya, that if ever constructed at all, it must run parallel or nearly so with this complete and perfect road under the following extraordinary circumstances.
The undersigned affirms, that the new road cannot be, at any one point throughout its line, (reserving Bonham Strand,) more than 100 yards distant from the old one—throughout a great portion of the line not one-half that distance, while at several points of it, the two roads must come into actual contact!
The only difference between the two would thus be, that the new one would be on the sea-beach,—the old one 100 yards inshore from it.
The undersigned conceives that he has only to state the position of two highways running nearly parallel to, and within 100 yards of each other—both upon the same level or nearly so throughout—both starting from the same point and leading to the same terminus,—to establish an anomaly in road-engineering, which requires some special apology.
The undersigned expresses himself content with the old road for all useful purposes, and refuses to buy a new one 100 yards nearer the sea, at a cost of £33,452 per mile, especially when the Colonial chest has not funds to construct the first half mile of it, after the appropriations of 8th December last, and even under the exclusion of all other Public Works.
The undersigned requests that His Excellency will be pleased to cause the Surveyor General to report upon the foregoing averments, for the guidance of the Secretary of State; the Report (with a ground plan shewing the two Roads), to include the difference of level per mile throughout the line, and with a scale to measure the distance between the two lines at such points as may strike the reader.
On the foregoing grounds the undersigned protests against the extension of the Praya line, eastward or westward, beyond the points he now proceeds to submit.
The undersigned is of opinion, that a Causeway at the water-line, which shall connect Webster's Bazaar with Gilman's Bazaar, embracing the Central Market, and the numerous Chinese alleys which have so unfortunately grown up in the very heart of the Foreign Quarter, constituting a standing danger to it, is a work preeminently necessary, both for sanitary and Police purposes, and to secure access for the engines in cases of fire.
Further, that a Causeway extending from Gibb's Pier to Robert's Shipyard, and thus embracing the entire China town, is necessary on the same grounds, as well as for facilitating the traffic of that quarter.
Both these sections are at this moment in course of construction, and the undersigned, on the 8th day of December last, voted funds towards completing them.
But beyond these sections, on either side, the undersigned protests against any disturbance of the existing Water-ways, every separate Establishment having a Pier of its own, of solid masonry, on the proposed Praya level and scale of construction, thus leaving nothing to be desired on the score of sanitary consideration.
He protests upon the grounds that, to throw all these private Piers into one by a connecting Causeway, is not only unnecessary and a waste of the Public funds, but involves a breach of that privacy of each separate House, which was bought and bargained for in the original contract.
Should it be supposed that such a Causeway would public convenience," the undersigned would ask, In what respect?
The only conceivable respect would be, that of providing more numerous Landing-places.
To this the undersigned rejoins, that within the space of 500 yards, forming the entire European Frontage of Central Victoria, there are already no less than three Government Wharves, three open Bazaar Wharves (thoroughfares for all classes) and four Private Wharves, open to all Europeans,—thus giving one Landing-place to every 50 yards.
With new Piers thrown out from the Government and Bazaar Wharves, nothing would remain to be desired.
That such a Causeway would not contribute to the convenience of the Marine Lot Holders, whose Lease-hold rights are at stake, is abundantly proved by the fact, that instead of asking for it as a boon, they, one and all, resist it as a trespass.
C
Lastly. The undersigned would commend to the serious consideration of His Excellency and this Honourable Council, the critical state of the Colonial Finances.
It is happily true they are free and unembarrassed at this moment, but to keep them so, and to bear out the cautious advice of Lord Stanley, is the difficulty.
The Colonial Revenue is balanced by the expenditure to such a nicety, that the failure of any one principal source of Revenue must almost necessarily beget a deficit on the year's transactions, the very last year's expenditure having actually exceeded the income.
There are no less than 28 separate sources of Revenue on the Treasurer's Books, all of which are unsecured and fluctuating, save one, the Land-rental; so that
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Bay, and have their domestic offices properly at their rear, or so far at the side as not to be a nuisance and an obstruction.
So much for access to the Praya-through the back door, instead of the front And now for a fair consideration of the Praya itself, as conducing to the con- venience or embellishment of Central Victoria.
one.
The undersigned affirms of this work, and calls upon His Excellency, with all respect, to cause the Surveyor General to report upon the following asseverations regarding it, for the guidance of the Secretary of State, that within the short dis tance of one-half mile, forming the entire frontage of Central Victoria, say from Pedder's Wharf to Circular Buildings, the proposed Praya must pass over every Culvert and main Sewer, both of the upper and the lower town, at their very out- fall, and raised nowhere at a higher level then ten feet above that out-fall, and its reeking odours at low tide, in a tropical latitude. That during the whole working day, the said Praya must be the platform of a busy traffic in the frequent transit of foreign merchandize across it, to or from the European Godowns and numerous Ship- chandleries, and in the unceasing transit of native merchandize to and from the numerous Chinese Bazaars and the China town proper, known as Bonham Strand, and further, in the constant unlading of Provision Boats at the Central and Western Markets, abutting upon the Praya. That several of these Chinese Bazaars, and lines of Chinese Hongs, abut, either gabelwards or rearwards, upon the future Praya, and are already built out to the last available foot within the Praya line. That immediately upon this inner line, are situated the Cesspools, the Public Privies and Urinals, of a densely populated Chinese Quarter, and that the same are thus placed, and are being completed at this moment under Government inspection, from the sheer impossibility of placing them anywhere else, with due regard to sanitary con- siderations. Such constructions however on the Marine Parade, embellishing the City of Victoria, as viewed by Lord Stanley, are, to say the least, a novel supple- ment either abroad or at home,
If the foregoing averments be true, the undersigned can come to no other con- clusion, than that the Bowring Praya along Central Victoria can never prove other than a crowded and bustling 50 feet gangway, fit for wharf purposes, and for no other purposes whatsoever. The undersigned is quite willing to concede to this portion of the proposed work, viz., the centre, a high degree of usefulness under cer- tain limitations, which he will explain by and by. What he challenges is, the opi- nion that it will conduce to the embellishment of the City of Victoria, or to the healthful recreation of its European inhabitants.
The undersigned has already protested against its extension Eastward or West- ward, and now proceeds to exhibit the grounds of his objection.
Under the peculiar aspect which the sea-shore buildings took at the first pro- jection of the City of Victoria, some sixteen years ago, fronting south instead of north, a line of Road, known as the Queen's Road, was formed on their south front- ages. This Road, constituting the highway and main thoroughfare of the Island, runs due east and west, the entire length of the City.
Now it does so happen, unfortunately for the claims of the Bowring Praya, that if ever constructed at all, it must run parallel or nearly so with this complete and perfect road under the following extraordinary circumstances. The undersigned affirms, that the new road cannot be, at any one point throughout its line, (reserving Bonham Strand,) more than 100 yards distant from the old one-throughout a great portion of the line not one-half that distance, while at several points of it, the two roads inust come into actual contact! The only difference between the two would thus be, that the new one would be on the sea-beach,—the old one 100 yards inshore from it. The undersigned conceives that he has only to state the position of two highways running nearly parallel to, and within 100 yards of each other—both
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upon the same level or nearly so throughout-both starting from the same point and leading to the same terminus,-to establish an anomaly in road-engineering, which requires some special apology. The undersigned expresses himself content with the old road for all useful purposes, and refuses to buy a new one 100 yards nearer the sea, at a cost of £33,452 per mile, especially when the Colonial chest has not funds to construct the first half mile of it, after the appropriations of 8th December last, and even under the exclusion of all other Public Works.
The undersigned requests that His Excellency will be pleased to cause the Surveyor General to report upon the foregoing averments, for the guidance of the Secretary of State; the Report (with a ground plan shewing the two Roads), to include the difference of level per mile throughout the line, and with a scale to measure the distance between the two lines at such points as may strike the reader.
On the foregoing grounds the undersigned protests against the extension of the Praya line, eastward or westward, beyond the points he now proceeds to submit.
The undersigned is of opinion, that a Causeway at the water-line, which shall connect Webster's Bazaar with Gilman's Bazaar, embracing the Central Market, and the numerous Chinese alleys which have so unfortunately grown up in the very heart of the Foreign Quarter, constituting a standing danger to it, is a work pre- eminently necessary, both for sanitary and Police purposes, and to secure access for the engines in cases of fire. Further, that a Causeway extending from Gibb's Pier to Robert's Shipyard, and thus embracing the entire China town, is necessary on the same grounds, as well as for facilitating the traffic of that quarter. Both these sections are at this moment in course of construction, and the undersigned, on the 8th day of December last, voted funds towards completing them. But beyond these sections, on either side, the undersigned protests against any disturbance of the existing Water-ways, every separate Establishment having a Pier of its own, of solid masonry, on the proposed Praya level and scale of construction, thus leaving nothing to be desired on the score of sanitary consideration. He protests upon the grounds that, to throw all these private Piers into one by a connecting Causeway, is not only unnecessary and a waste of the Public funds, but involves a breach of that privacy of each separate House, which was bought and bargained for in the original conduce to the Contract. Should it be supposed that such a Causeway would public convenience," the undersigned would ask, In what respect?
The only conceivable respect would be, that of providing more numerous Landing- places. To this the undersigned rejoins, that within the space of 500 yards, forming the entire European Frontage of Central Victoria, there are already no less than three Government Wharves, three open Bazaar Wharves (thoroughfares for all classes) and four Private Wharves, open to all Europeans,--thus giving oue Landing-place to every 50 yards. With new Piers thrown out from the Government and Bazaar Wharves, nothing would remain to be desired. That such a Causeway would not contribute to the convenience of the Marine Lot Holders, whose Lease-hold rights are at stake, is abundantly proved by the fact, that instead of asking for it as a boon, they, one and all, resist it as a trespass.
C
Lastly. The undersigned would commend to the serious consideration of His Excellency and this Honourable Council, the critical state of the Colonial Finances. It is happily true they are free and unembarrassed at this moment, but to keep them so, and to bear out the cautious advice of Lord Stanley, is the difficulty. The Colonial Revenue is balanced by the expenditure to such a nicety, that the failure of any one principal source of Revenue must almost necessarily beget a deficit on the year's transactions, the very last year's expenditure having actually exceeded the income. There are no less than 28 separate sources of Revenue on the Treasurer's Books, all of which are unsecured and fluctuating, save one, the Land-rental; so that
210
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