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been carried through, owing to want of funds available at the time. A similar observation applies to the proposed reclamation of ground near Bowrington, for which the same vote is proposed as in former years, viz. $10,000.
32. It would however be most inconvenient, if I were to attempt to explain now every item of Expenditure. It is very desirable you should have the fullest explanations on each, but the details could not be compressed within the reason- able limits of an address such as this.
33. I invite attention, however, to some entirely new items, such as that of $15,000 for good conduct pay and special services of the Police. Till my efforts to obtain a superior class of European Police shall be more successful than hitherto, I object to an indiscriminate raising of the salaries of the different classes, though as you will perceive, a considerable addition has been made in that way also. I prefer holding out special inducements for learning Chinese and rewards for such services as may exhibit unusual intelligence and activity.
34. The Government has at least learned by the experiment recently insti- tuted that the magnitude of the sums at the disposal of the gamblers would render a contest with them hopeless on the part of the Government for prevention of Police corruption by the mere raising of salaries. It would probably only lead with men of that class to the acceptance of bribes in addition to increased salaries. Therefore, the present system which entirely removes the possibility of such corruption as once prevailed seems preferable.
35. The item of $7,000 for the Fire Brigade is also new, but will not nearly cover the outlay for that body, because much of the heaviest and most necessary expenditure, such as that for Fire Engines, will have to be defrayed this year and must therefore be provided for in the Supplementary Estimates.
36. There is also an item of $40,000 for the expense of construction and maintenance during 1869, of a Colonial Steamer and a Steam Launch. As you are aware, the duty of visiting the various outstations of the Harbor Master round the Island has been hitherto discharged by means of a Junk fitted for the purpose. Her want of speed and seaworthiness greatly impaired the effective character of her services, and has been a serious drawback to the working of the Coasts and Harbor Ordinance.
37. Above all there is no doubt that a Vessel of that class was very unsuitable to the position of the Colony. Her retention therefore so long in the service was only justified by the consideration that the duty could not be deferred but had to be carried out in some way, and as the Colony at the time was unable to afford a more suitable Vessel, there was no option in the matter. At present this Go- vernment can provide a suitable Vessel without being guilty of any undue extravagance, whilst the recent movements of Foreign cruisers about the Island and the erection of a cordon of Customs' stations round the Colony, are additional reasons why a less discreditable Vessel should be procured without delay.
38. The expediency of doing so was considered by myself and the Executive Council, and appeared to us sufficiently obvious and urgent to justify me in ordering an appropriate Vessel to be constructed. So far there was no probability of there being any difference of opinion--but when at a second meeting of the Executive Council it was urged on me that unless such Vessel was fitted with steam Engines she would not be suitable to the wants of the Colony, I felt that the additional annual cost entailed by the pay and maintenance of an Engineer, expenditure of Coals, &c., could only be justified by the previous sanction of this Council.
39. Therefore if you agree with the Members of the Executive Council, you will pass the vote, whilst, if you differ from them, you can reduce it to such aul amount as will leave you with a very desirable but less effective substitute for the vessel which you now possess, and which doubtless none of you wish to retain.
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40. Provision has also been made for an Assistant Superintendent of the Gaol, as I cannot but look forward with much anxiety to the consequences of the resig- nation, or even absence on leave, of the present very efficient Superintendeut whilst I am also of opinion, an opinion strengthened by recent occurrences, that inde- pendent of such contingencies, one man cannot suffice for the maintenance and control of the discipline and economy of so extensive and troublesome an establish- ment. It is scarcely fair to expect it, and probably you will think with me that the Public interests require an Assistant from Europe of such experience and position, as may qualify him hereafter for the duties which on the whole are now so ably discharged by Mr. DOUGLAS.
41. An additional Master is also needed for the Central School, an Institution now fulfilling all the purposes which could reasonably have been expected from it; whilst the daily attendance there is such as renders it altogether hopeless that two European Masters can adequately discharge all the duties, which they are obliged
to undertake.
42. With these observations 1 leave the Estimates for 1869 in your hands. I am quite aware that the form in which they are drawn up in conformity with instructions of H. M. Treasury is not of a very simple or intelligible nature. On the contrary I have always observed that the present form leads to very erroneous comments and conclusions; I need not however remind you that it is your privilege, I might almost say your duty, to obtain the fullest explanation on every matter connected with the disposal of the Public funds.
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