684757-1880-Publishes-certain-documents-which-were-laid-before-the-Legislative-Council- — Page 8

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH SEPTEMBER, 1880.

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2. In addition to the correspondence and reports on the subject that had, from time to time, engaged the attention of my predecessors, I received valuable information from Mr. RYRIE and from Mr. CREAGH, the latter being the Acting Superintendent of the Fire Brigade Department; and within the last few days I have had an opportunity, owing to the courtesy of Mr. LITTLE. the Chairman of the Municipal Council of Shanghai, of meeting the Fire Brigade of that important town, and consulting the leading members, and the engineers in charge of the engines.

3. The general conclusions at which I have arrived, are as follows :-

(a.) That the supply of water for extinguishing fires in Hongkong is not sufficient.

(b.) That the Fire Brigade should be placed under the control of a skilled officer.

(c.) That a competent engineer should be obtained who would devote his whole time to

keeping the engines and other apparatus in proper order.

(d.) That a larger number of permanently paid firemen should be employed.

(e.) That the system of using hydrants seems to be well suited for the greater part of the

town of Victoria.

4. As regards increasing the amount of water available for extinguishing fires, various sug- gestions have been made, such as having special reservoirs on the slopes above the town of Victoria, in which the surface water would be stored,--forming tanks into which the sea water might be pumped, enlarging the Pokfoolum reservoirs,-and' constructing a reservoir at Tai Tam. I am hot, however, in a position to express an opinion at present on any of these plans.

5. But I entertain no doubt as to the desirability of placing a thoroughly competent and well- paid officer at the head of the Fire Brigade Department, and the employment of a skilled engineer who would give his whole time to the work. I therefore venture to ask you to sanction the requisite additions to the Establishment Charges, to the extent of about one thousand a year. There is no one in Hongkong that I could ask you to appoint to either of those offices, but I presume Captain SHAW, of the London Fire Brigade, if you thought proper to have him consulted on the subject, would be able to recommend two well-trained and capable officers.

6. I refrain from entering into further details until I know your decision on the question of these new appointments,--as the suggestions of the skilled officers that you might send out to the Colony would doubtless guide me very much in completing the final scheme to be submitted for your consideration.

7. I enclose for your information copies of some correspondence and reports as to the water supply for extinguishing fires, and some minutes of mine on the subject.

I have, &c.,

J. POPE HENNESSY.

No. 93.

GOVERNOR J. POPE HENNESSY, C.M.G., TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR MICHAEL

The Daily Press " of 14 September, 1879.

HICKS-BEACH, BT., M.P.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 22nd October, 1879.

SIR,With reference to my despatch No. 82 of the 10th of September, 1879, I have the honour to lay before you an extract from The Daily Press, reporting what passed when a deputation of the directors of two Fire Insurance Companies waited on me, on the 21st of September, to make certain suggestions respecting the reorganization of the Fire Brigade, and the supply of water for extinguishing fires.

2. I had previously had more than one conference on those two questions with the leading Chinese householders and owners of property in Hongkong; and I had had the advantage of consulting the grutlemen who manage the Fire Brigade at Shanghai on some details of the system in force there.

3. On the whole. I am happy to find that there is a pretty general agreement in the conclusions I had arrived at and communicated to you on the 10th of September last."

4. In addition to the Minutes and Report I had then the honour of submitting to you, 1 now close a Report signed by Mr. PRICE, the Surveyor General, Mr. RYRE, the senior un-official mem- er of Council, and Mr. CREAGH, the Acting Head of the Fire Brigade, proposing a plan of intercon- eeted tanks, to be placed on the upper levels of the town of Victoria, and a system of hydrants, by which fire engines would be no longer needed. This, in fact, is in accordance with a suggestion I threw out for the consideration of these gentlemen on the 1st of May, 1879.