33. It is true that suggestions by an eminent Engineer in England have added to the cost of the work whilst in progress. Those suggestions, however, were few, as indeed the most eminent professional man could suggest little as to a scheme, whose general propriety and fitness, depended mainly on circumstances not before him. The most costly change was the substitution of cement for ordinary mortar, and if the change was essential, I see no reason why that point should have escaped attention here.
34. Be that as it may, the large sum of $100,000, and possibly much more, being required to finish what you were led to believe would have been completed without such additional expense, it would be useless to discuss at present projects for either a new Court House or a new Civil Hospital. The former Building I hope can easily be made to serve the purposes of the Colony for several years yet, though the same cannot be said of the Civil Hospital.
35. For "Roads, Streets and Bridges," the Sum of $41,000 is put down, including the item of $15,000 to be expended in 1870 on account of the continuation of the Upper Road to the Gap above the Race Course. This item has now appeared for Four consecutive Years on the Estimates as laid before you by the Government, but has hitherto been obliged to give way to some more pressing claim. Now however, as all differences between the Colony and the Military concerning the ground through which part of the Road would pass, are at an end, and as moreover the inconvenience of the City's possessing only one mode of ingress and escape to the Eastward has during the last Twelve Months become more obvious than formerly, I think this useful, and possibly reproductive work, has some chance of being at last commenced.
36. I have, however, no desire to press it specially against your opinion if unfavorable, for if you maintain the Public Credit by ensuring a sufficient Revenue to meet all reasonable duties, I hope you will not suppose the Government has any pet minutable scheme for appropriation of the disposable Revenue. The duty of the Executive, it is true, necessitates the initiation of all Expenditure, but, as you are aware, it is and has been my desire to found such proposals, as far as possible, on some basis which I may have had previous reason to consider in harmony with our common wish and duty.
Government House, Hongkong, 31 October, 1869
I have the honor to transmit herewith for Your Lordship's information:
the Quarterly Returns to the 30th of September shewing
The Changes
in
Appointments.
The Right Honorable,
Earl Granville, K.G.,
Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State,
Page 8
Ni 839
2246. Hong Kong
Mary Lord,
REC
FELLS 1870
Page 8
[8]
:
[8]
33. It is true that suggestions by an eminent Engineer in England have added to the cost of the work whilst in progress. Those suggestions, however, were few, as indeed the most eminent professional man could suggest little as to a scheme, whose general propriety and fitness, depended mainly on circumstances
not before him. The most costly change was the substitution of cement for ordinary mortar, and if the change was essential, I see no reason why that point should have escaped attention here.
34. Be that as it may, the large sum of $100,000, and possibly much more, being required to finish what you were led to believe would have been completed without such additional expense, it would be useless to discuss at present projects for either a new Court House or a new Civil Hospital. The former Building I hope can easily be made to serve the purposes of the Colony for several years yet, though the same cannot be said of the Civil Hospital.
35. For "Roads, Streets and Bridges," the Sum of $41,000 is put down, including the item of $15,000 to be expended in 1870 on account of the continuation of the Upper Road to the Gap above the Race Course. This item has now appeared for Four consecutive Years on the Estimates as laid before you by the Government, but has hitherto been obliged to give way to some more pressing claim. Now however, as all differences between the Colony and the Military concerning the ground through which part of the Road would pass, are at an end, and as moreover the inconvenience of the City's possessing only one mode of igress and escape to the Eastward has during the last Twelve Months become more obvious than formerly, I think this useful, and possibly reproductive work, has some chance of being at last commenced.
36. I have, however, no desire to press it specially against your opinion if unfavorable, for if you maintain the Public Gredit-by-suring a sufficient Revenue to meet all reasonable duties, I hope you will not suppose the Government has any pet minutable scheme for appropriation of the disposable Revenue. The duty of the Excecutive, it is true, necessitates the initiation of all Expendi- ture, but, as you are aware, it is and has been my desire to found such proposals, as far as possible, on some basis which I may have had previous reason to consider in harmony with our common wish and duty.
19681 gorory!!
Ni 839
2246. Hong
Kong816
Mary Lord,
REC
FELLS 1870
Government House, Hongkong, 31 Lembur, 186-9
I have the honor to transmit herewith for Your Lordship's information:
the Quarterly Returns to the 30th of September shewing
Lenclanner het 104 The Changes
closure
The Night Honorable,
Earl Gramille, M. G,
in
Appointments.
Her Majesty's Primcipal Secretary of State,
yo
yo
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.