MILITARY SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
7th June, 1876.
Colonial Secretary.
To the Honourable J. GARDINER AUSTIN, C.M.G.,
It is requested that an Officer representing the Colonial Government may be instructed to place himself in communication with the Commanding Royal Engineer, for the purpose referred to, of devising a plan to remedy the obstruction of the Nullah complained of.
(Signed,) M. A. BASSANO, Colonel, Assistant Military Secretary.
Please return this Memo. when the Naval Department will be requested to appoint a representative for the same purpose.
(Signed,) M. A. Bassano,
Page 354
ROYAL ENGINEER OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 5th June, 1876.
Memorandum for His Excellency the Major-General Commanding Troops in China and Straits Settlements.
1. The condition of the Nullah between the North Barracks and the Naval Yard has, of late, become a matter for serious consideration in a sanitary point of view.
2. Its bed has become filled up at the lower or seaward end of the stream by débris from the higher portion of the course of the stream, assisted by accumulations from the action of the tides in the harbour; the course of the stream is consequently obstructed, and the water is ponded up and becomes stagnant and offensive, especially during the dry season. The western side of the Nullah is War Department property, the eastern is Naval property, and the Bridge over the Nullah at Queen's Road is Colonial Government property.
3. This obstruction is not caused by the action or default of the War Department or its Officers, neither does it arise from natural causes, under their control or in progress on the War Department lands.
4. The débris from above is chiefly supplied from rubbish, &c., tipped at the Roman Catholic ruined Chapel of St. JOSEPH's, and also from the action of floods in the higher portion of the stream, which carry débris, silt, &c., from the hill sides to the mouth of the Nullah at the North Barracks.
5. These hill sides are Colonial Government lands.
6. The débris at the Roman Catholic Chapel appears to have been deposited there by the public at large.
The accumulations from below are, I consider, in a great measure due to the operations of the Naval Authorities who have been gradually extending their frontage to seaward by deposits of rubbish at the Naval Yard, and thus formed a sort of promontory, groyne, or salient of some 108 feet in length, in extension of the right bank of the Nullah, whilst no corresponding advance has been made on the left or War Department bank; a dead angle has resulted into which the tides carry and deposit sand and gravel, instead of, as would otherwise be the case, scouring the mouth of the Nullah, and removing loose matter, sand and grit by their action up and down the Harbour at their rise and fall each day.
7. I consider, therefore, that the débris forming the obstruction is clearly derived from the lands or actions of the Colonial Government, the public, and the Naval Authorities, and is not traceable to the War Department, who, however, are the chief sufferers (at the North Barracks) from the insanitary state of affairs so induced.
8. I have under consideration a project for the abatement of the nuisance, but since, as above explained, this nuisance results from the actions of other parties than the War Department; and as to carry this project into execution would involve certain dealings with structures and lands not belonging to the War Department, but to the Naval Authorities and Colonial Government respectively, I would beg that I may be placed in communication with the representatives of the above two Departments with a view to the joint elaboration of a scheme for dealing with the matter, now brought before you, in a final and satisfactory manner.
(Signed,) JOHN Y. MOGGRIDGE, Colonel,
Commanding Royal Engineer,
Page 355
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MILITARY SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
7th June, 1876.
Colonial Secretary.
To the Honourable J. GARDINER AUSTIN, C.M.G.,
354
It is requested that an Officer representing the Colonial Government may be instructed to place himself in communication with the Commanding Royal Engineer, for the purpose referred to, of devising a plan to remedy the obstruction of the Nullah complained of.
(Signed,) M. A. BASSANO, Colonel, Assistant Military Secretary.
Please return this Memo. when the Naval Departinent will be requested to appoint a representative for the same purpose.
(Signed,) M. A. Bassano,
ROYAL ENGINEER OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 5th June, 1876.
Memorandum for His Excellency the Major-General Commanding Troops
in China and Straits Settlements.
1. The condition of the Nullah between the North Barracks and the Naval Yard has, of late, become a matter for serious consideration in a sanitary point of view.
2. Its bed has become filled up at the lower or seaward end of the stream by débris from the higher portion of the course of the stream, assisted by accumulations from the action of the tides in the harbour; the course of the stream is consequently obstructed, and the water is pondded up and becomes stagnant and offensive, espe- cially during the dry season." The western side of the Nullah is War Department property, the eastern is Naval property, and the Bridge over the Nullah at Queen's Road is Colonial Government property.
3. This obstruction is not caused by the action or default of the War Depart- ment or its Officers, neither does it arise from natural causes, under their control or in progress on the War Department lands.
4. The débris from above is chiefly supplied from rubbish, &c., tipped at the Roman Catholic ruined Chapel of St. JOSEPH's, and also from the action of floods
in the higher portion of the stream, which carry débris, silt, &c., from the hill sides
to the mouth of the Nullah at the North Barracks.
5. These hill sides are Colonial Government lands.
6. The débris at the Roman Catholic Chapel appears to have been deposited there by the public at large.
The accumulations from below are, I consider, in a great measure due to the operations of the Naval Authorities who have been gradually extending their frontage to seaward by deposits of rubbish at the Naval Yard, and thus formed a sort of promontory, groyne, or salient of some 108 feet in length, in extension of the right bank of the Nullah, whilst no corresponding advance has been made on the left or War Department bank; a dead angle has resulted into which the tides carry and deposit sand and gravel, instead of, as would otherwise be the case, scouring the mouth of the Nullah, and removing loose matter, sand and grit by their action up and down the Harbour at their rise and fall each day.
7. I consider, therefore, that the débris forming the obstruction is clearly derived from the lands or actions of the Colonial Government, the public, and the Naval Authorities, and is not traceable to the War Department, who, however, are the chief sufferers (at the North Barracks) from the insanitary state of affairs so induced.
8. I have under consideration a project for the abatement of the nuisance, but since, as above explained, this nuisance results from the actions of other parties than the War Department; and as to carry this project into execution would involve certain dealings with structures and lands not belonging to the War Department, but to the Naval Authorities and Colonial Government respectively, I would beg that I may be placed in communication with the representatives of the above two Departments with a view to the joint elaboration of a scheme for dealing with the matter, now brought before you, in a final and satisfactory manner.
(Signed,) JouN Y. MOGGRIDGɛ, Colonel,
Commanding Royal Engineer,
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