THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 30TH MARCH, 1878.
111
10. Part of the large decrease in the Imperial share of Revenue arises from the fact that the sums due to all other countries used to be paid to London on their account, but since the entry of this Colony into the Union this practice has been abandoned,* and such sums will be remitted direct.
11. No considerable increase of correspondence was anticipated by this Department as a result of lowering the rates of Postage; on the contrary, it was always maintained that no such increase would take place. These views are now proved correct. The weight of letters forwarded to London by all routes from April 1st to December 31st, as compared with the weight of those forwarded during the same period in 1876, shows an increase of only 3 per cent, which may be purely accidental.
12. The question arose whether Mails forwarded by private vessels come under the operation of the Treaty of Berne, this Office maintaining that they do, which view has been supported by the various Postal administrations. A decision to the contrary would have been much to be regretted.
13. Some years ago the mercantile community expressed a wish to have a supplementary mail closed on board the French as on board the British Packets, but the difficulties of account alluded to above were found to be almost insuperable. These are now removed, and the question has been revived by the French Post Office. There is every reason to hope for its favourable settlement early in this year. A supplementary mail on board the Torres Straits Packets has been successfully established.
14. The transmission of correspondence to the Continent viâ Trieste has been abandoned, no practical advantage arising from it. On the other hand a quicker route viâ Naples for Continental correspondence by French Packet has been introduced. It is suggested that the superscription via Marseilles should now be discontinued, and the words By French Packet used instead, as this will leave the Agent on Board free to select the best route.
15. The increasing acceleration of the outward British Packets, with the retardation of the outward French Packets has been gradually bringing the two arrivals nearer together, until now they nearly or sometimes quite coincide. This is most inconvenient, both to the public and departmentally. Instead of there being one opportunity of the best class for Shanghai and Yokohama every week, the two coincident packets really furnish only fortnightly communication. In the case of Yokohama this is particularly to be regretted, because there are but few private steamers to fall back upon.
16. The usual Tables are appended. It will be remarked that they shew some increase in Money Orders drawn on the United Kingdom, due perhaps to the more favourable rates of exchange which have prevailed.
17. The quickest passages home have been made by the Messageries packets. The Mail once reached London viâ Marseilles in 34 days (Peiho), and twice in 35 days. The shortest passage by P. & O. packet has been 38 days. The Gaelic once, and the Oceanic twice reached San Francisco in 25 days.
18. The quickest passages out have been made by the P. and O. packets, which have delivered the mails seven times within 36 days. The Messageries Packet Ava arrived on May 12th, and the Sindh on September 1st with Mails 37 days from London. The Oceanic on May 18th, and City of Tokio on June 25th were arrivals 28 days out from San Francisco.
19. Tables B. & C. afford the following averages:-
British Packets, Outward, ......40 days. French Packets, Homeward, ....42
Gain or loss as compared
with 1876.
Gain day.
Average voyage allowed.
Average voyage taken.
37 days.
38
27
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};
401
21
40%
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French Packets, Outward,.......411⁄2
British Packets, Homeward,....42}
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12 4 +1
20. The French packet Meikong left here for Europe on May 26th, and was lost near Cape Guardafui with all the Mails except the Registered letters for the Continent, which were under the personal care of the Agent. On December 31st, for the first time for twelve years, the French and English Mails from Europe arrived here together, and, to make matters worse, the English Mail was unsorted. The two Mails were landed, within a few minutes of each other, about half past ten in the morning, and the delivery, including the Brisbane's Australian Mail, which arrived soon afterwards, was completed shortly after two o'clock.
21. An English Mail for Amoy was accidentally sent round by way of Formosa, and was further delayed by very heavy weather. Finally, on September 2nd, by the negligence of three of the junior officers of the Department, of whose conduct exemplary notice was taken, the Douglas was allowed to leave for the Coast without the French Mail. This completes the year's catalogue of mishaps.
* Except in regard to the Mails for London transported through Italy, &c., or by French Packet.
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