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I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that I should have boen guilty of the moet wanton rashnsus had I ventured the lives of the Police, before I did, on the night in question.
Aa to any ideas of risk to my own life I will content myself with saying that in a previous typhoon, when fire in the City was reported, I went myself, but would not allow the men to go.
I have the honor, &c.,
(Signed)
W. M. DEANE, Captain Superintendent
The Honorable J. G. AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary, &c., &c., de.
HON. B. ROWETT TO HON. J. G. AUSTIN.
Hongkong, 25th September, 1874. SI-I beg to return herewith the Report from Capt. Superintendent Deane, which you have sent to me for perusal.
In reference thereto, I regret to say that the reasons given for the inaction of the police, at a moment, when they were much needed to render assistance to ship- wrecked men, appear to me to be ontirely unsatisfactory; and that Mr. Deane should quote the exaggerated language of a newspaper report to describle the condition of the atmosphere at the time in question, only proves that he could not have taken proper means to discover the true state of things.
This is clear from the fact that Mr. MoEwen went from the Prays to the Police Station to make his report, and suffered no injury by the way. He came back to the Praya and immediately returned to the Police Station, accompanied by Lieutenant Prior, Mr. Baird, and thirty-six of the mon saved from the Albay. These thirty-nine persons walking together met with no accident. It is therefore perfectly reuson- able to conclude that as many policemen would have been equally free from accident, and I must record my sonviction that, if the police had rendered the aid which they were in duty bound to give, they might very probably have saved many of the unfortunate people who have lost their lives in the steamer Leonor.
I also believe that but for the apathy and neglect of the police, much robbery from the shops facing the bar- bour might have been prevented.
In expressing these opinions I believe I am stating the views of a large number of residents in the Colony, whose confidence has been shaken in the manngament of the Police.
I should also like to inquire why the Fire Bell was not rang on the night of the 22nd instant, when a fire was reported at the Police Station.
At that fire Volunteers were in attendance, from the house of Messrs. Gibb, Livingston & Co., while the police were kept in their Barracks.
It is a well-known fact that many European residents were about the streets during the typhoon, and I have nut yot heard of any one having met with injury from falling bricks or tilos.
I make no question whatever of the personal bravery of the Superintendent of Police, but in common with many of my fellow citizens, I bave serious misgivings se to the manner in which the police force was managed during the late disastrous typhoon.
In conclusion, I beg most respectfully to enquire if the perusal of the report I now comment upon is the only reply I am to expect to my letter to you, dated the 23rd instant. It will be exceedingly interesting to the public as to myself to know whether the conduct of the police on the occasion referred to, has been approved of by the Government.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
(Signed) R. ROWETT,
Colonial Secretary, &c., &c., **
The Hon. J. G. AUSTIN,
HON. J. G. AUSTIN TO HON. R. ROWETT. COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, Hongkong, 28th September, 1874. Bis--I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th inst., commenting on a cow- munication addressed to this Department by the Captain Superintendent of Police, in justification of the course adopted by him on the 22nd inst.
In reply. I desired by His Excellency the Go- vernor to inform you, that after careful consideration of the whole cutse, His Excellency has failed to discover any sufficient ground for instituting a formal enquiry into the manner in which the Captain Superintendent of Polico exercised the discretion vested in him.
1 am also desire to observe that without such enquiry it would be manifestly unjust to join in the censure cast upon that officer, especially as it is within the knowledge of His Exellenvy, that the Captain Superin- tendent and the force under his command have been exerting themselves in a praiseworthy manner to mití- gate the effects of the calamity which has befallen the Colony. A serious responsibility rested upon the off. cer in command of the Police, who were liable to be enfled out at any moment to repress even more formida- ble evils then the loss of life by shipwreck.
As regards the gallantry displayed by Mesars, Taufer, McEwen, Baird, Lembke, and Lieut. Prior in their praiseworthy and successful efforts in saving human life, I am desired to take this opportunity of expressing to you His Excellency's admiration of their conduct.
I have the Honur to bo, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
The Honorable R. RowerT,
Ac.. kc., &e.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary.
HON. R. ROWETT TO HON, J. G. AUSTIN. Hongkong, 29th September, 1874.
S13, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, in which you inform me that His Excellency the Governor has "failed to dis- cover muy suficient ground for instituting a formal inquiry into the manner in
the which
Captain Superintendent of Police exercised the discretion vestad in him," when he refused to allow his mon to leave the Central Police Station during the late typhoon, and you add that the Police were "liable to be called out at any moment to repress even more formidable evils than the loss of life by shipwreck."
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It is difficult to conceive any more formidable evil, than the loss of life by shipwreck, unless perhaps it be loss of life by fire; but that can hardly be the emergency to which you refer, as I am given to under- stand that when a fire was reported to the Captain Superintendent he refused to allow the Fire Bail to be rung, or to send men to help to extinguish it.
In my letter of 25th inst., I respectfully called your attention to this fact, hat yeur communication under reply contains no aliusion to the matter, as though it were of no consequenre.
It will give me sincere pleasure to communicate the kind expression of His Excelleury's praise of the conduct of Messrs. Taufer, McEwen, Baird, Lembke, and Lieutenant Prior, to those gentlemen, and in order that the public may be fully aware of the circumstances of the whole case in a matter which so seriously affects the public safety, I beg to inform you that I shall forward copies of the whole of this correspondence to the local newspapers for publication.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
The Hon. J. G. AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary, &c., &c., &c.
R. ROWETT.
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336
0174-H & S 5012)
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