684757-1880-Publishes-certain-documents-which-were-laid-before-the-Legislative-Council- — Page 6

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH SEPTEMBER, 1880.

FIRE TANKS AND THE WATER SUPPLY OF THE COLONY.

No. 430.

COLONIAL SECRETARY TO ACTING SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE BRIGADE.

713

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 15th April, 1879.

SIR-His Excellency the Governor is under the impression that, on the occasion of the fire on Christmas night, you expressed an opinion that at previous fires the Fire Brigade had a much larger supply of water placed at its disposal.

His Excellency will be glad if you will make him a special report on this matter of the relative apply of water on that occasion as compared with other fires, as it is a point of considerable importance.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) W. H. MARSH,

C. V. CREAGH, Esquire,

Acting Superintendent of Fire Brigade,

$e.,

dc..

&c.

Colonial Secretary,

No. 9.

ACTING SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE BRIGADE TO COLONIAL SECRETARY.

MAGISTRACY, HONGKONG. 23rd April, 1879.

SIR,-In reply to your letter No. 430, of 15th April, 1879, calling for a report as to the present water supply compared with that of former years, I have the honour to state for His Excellency the Governor's information, that soon after the Fire Brigade was first established in 1868, forty subsidiary tire posts were selected at different points throughout the lower levels of the town; the highest heing, I think, in Bridgés Street. At each of these posts a quantity of hose was kept, together with the necessary appliances for connecting it with the nearest hydrant, and turning on the water in case I of fire. These articles were kept in the nearest shop, and one of the shopmen periodically instructed in their use. On the Queen's Road and other streets near the sea level, the hydraulic pressure from the street plugs being sufficient to throw water over the highest houses, these stations were of great value; and fires were, ou several occasions, extinguished by a jet from the hydrant, before the arrival of the engines. As far as I remember, things were much in this state when I went on furlough in 1871. But on returning from leave, I found that, during my absence of eighteen months, the pressure on the mains had decreased to such an extent that it was no longer of much use for the purposes of 'fire extinction; and, besides this, the water was now so seldom turned on in the mains that the street plugs could not even be relied on for the small supply of fresh water necessary for the boilers of the steam engines.

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I was informed by the then Acting Surveyor General that this change was caused by the large number of new pipes connected with the mains for the supply of Chinese houses in different parts of the town. The dearth of water increased, and towards the end of 1873, by order of the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, the subsidiary posts were abandoned as useless, and the hoses returned to store.

For the last two or three years the hydrant supply has been so precarious, that even for supplying the boilers they are seldom resorted to until every other source has failed. By giving previous notice to the turncock, a good supply may be obtained from the street plugs in certain parts of the town, but in this case the delay is so great and the result so uncertain, that its utility is greatly curtailed fr the purposes of this Department.

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I have, &c.,

(Signed)

C. V. CREAGH, Acting Superintendent of Fire Brigade.

MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

Refer this to the Surveyor General, and ask him what steps he can take to restore the water Supply to the state it was in a few years ago, as described by the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade.

(Signed)

J. POPE HENNESSY. 26th April, 1879.