648340-1893-Report-Signalling-Commission — Page 1

1120

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 4TH NOVEMBER, 1893.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-- No. 397.

Notice is hereby given that Messrs. W. D. & H. O. WILLS, LIMITED, of London, have complied with the requirements of Ordinances 16 of 1873, and 8 of 1886, for the registration in this Colony of their Marks as applied to manufactured tobacco; and that the same have been duly registered.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 30th October, 1893.

G. T. M. O'BRIEN, Colonial Secretary.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. -No. 398.

The following is published.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 30th October, 1893.

G. T. M. O'BRIEN,

Colonial Secretary.

REPORT.

We, the undersigned Committee, appointed by His Excellency the Governor to investigate and report on the working of the Gap Rock Telegraph and the methods of signalling and reporting the arrival of vessels in the waters of the Colony have to report as follows:-

*

Eleven meetings have been held and the following witnesses examined:----

Commander W. C. H. HASTINGS,......... Assistant Harbour Master.

Mr. G. STAFFORD NORTHCOTE,.

Mr. F. GARCIA, Inspector CORCORAN,

Inspector GAULD, Mr. F. A. COLEMAN, Mr. J. MITCHELL, Mr. E. S. WHEALLER,

Mr. J. H. LEWIS,

Mr. F. W. HALL,

Mr. F. C. COLLAÇO,

Mr. F. DE CRUZ,

Mr. B. B. BOTELHO,.

Mr. W. S. HARRISON,

Mr. F. VON DER PFORDTEN,..

.Acting Postmaster General.

Telephone Clerk, Central Police Station. ..Water Police.

Shaukiwan Police.

Light Keepers, Gap Rock.

Dodwell, Carlill & Co. Douglas Lapraik & Co. Douglas Lapraik & Co. .Peak Signalman.

Harbour Office Clerk.

Telegraph Clerk, Gap Rock. .Telephone Exchange.

Eastern Extension Telegraph Co.

The Honourable the Harbour Master (R. MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.)

1. It is shewn from correspondence that the idea of establishing telegraphic communication between Gap Rock and Hongkong originated with the Chamber of Commerce in October 1890, when the Committee of that body wrote as follows to the Acting Colonial Secretary :—

It appears to this Committee highly desirable that the Gap Rock should be connected with Hong- kong not only for the purpose of keeping up communication between the Authorities and their Employés at the Lighthouse at such times as the state of the weather renders ordinary inter- course dangerous or impossible, but also as a means of affording early information of the approach of vessels.

2. From this it is apparent that the object in view was a two fold one viz.:-

(a) Communication with the Lighthouse Keepers in connection with their duties as such,

and

(b) Early information of the approach of vessels.

3. The result of this and of further communications was that the Cable was laid in 1891 at a cost of $87,000.