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No. 8.
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH SEPTEMBER, 1869.
407
VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 4th September, 1869. SIR, I have the honor to present to you for laying before His Excellency The GOVERNOR, the usual Monthly Report of the Government Fire Brigade, which on this occasion is interesting from the arrival (per ship "Neville"), safe landing, and trials, of two Steam Fire Engines manufactured by Messrs. MERRYWEATHER & SONS for the service of this Colony..
On the 20th August an Inspection of the Government Fire Brigade took place which was attended by the Chinese Volun- teers and three Chinese owned Engines. The Engines, Hose, and Implements, also the personal equipment of the Firemen were found clean and in order. Each Engine was worked from the "main."
On the 19th of August, the two Steam Fire Engines were landed thro' the cordial assistance of Commodore OLIVER JONES, entirely by the powerful and effective means and appliances of H. M.'s Naval Yard, and farther Mr. BARBER and the Engineers of that Establishment superintended the unpacking, cleaning, and fitting of the Engines, also carried out a private trial of them, on the 24th August, at which His Excellency The GOVERNOR was present. The power and capability of both Engines were clearly exhibited, but necessarily somewhat impaired by some amount of rusting during the voyage.
The larger Engine which is calculated to throw one thousand gallons a minute was worked with four branches of small sized hose and one large branch equal to the four.
The smaller Engine calculated to throw five hundred gallons per minute had four branches of small sized hose, and the height to which the streams were propelled was equal to any demand in this Colony.
On the 31st August a second Inspection was held,-assembling at the "Cross Roads" and thence proceeding to the "Praya" near the Canton Steamer Wharf.
The three Chinese owned Engines were on duty at the Chinese Festival Building.
The two Government Brigade Steam Engines, and two hand Engines were present, also the Steam Engine of the Hongkong Insurance Company." The latter got up steam in about fifteen minutes, and its exhibition of power surpassed any previous occasion of its being brought into use.
The Government large sized Steam Engine was not got into play until after a lapse of forty-five minutes, clearly showing that something required amendment.
The Government smaller sized Steam Engine threw its first stream in twenty-five minutes, and worked with ease and effect.
Two Government hand Engines were worked from the "main" and were in order.
On the 2nd September I directed a farther trial of the Government large sized Steam Engine. On this occasion eighty pounds of Steam was obtained in twenty minutes after lighting fires.
The Engine however was not got into play for ten minutes afterwards, evidently owing to the internal parts of the Machinery working harshly from corrosion. This will necessitate taking to pieces, repacking and refitting of the whole Engine, and I have applied to Commodore JONES to permit this to be done at the Royal Naval Yard under the supervision of the Engineers of that Department.
The small Steam Engine is ready for use whenever occasion requires.
The Honorable J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
C. MAY, Superintendent Fire Brigade.
Postscript.-I take the opportunity to add to the foregoing Report that, by permission of Commodore JONES, the large Steam Engine was taken to pieces and refitted under the direction of Mr. BARBER of H.M.'s Naval Yard, and upon being tried on the evening of the 8th instant, was found in good working order-40lbs. was indicated by the Steam guage in 22 minutes from the time of lighting the fire, and the Engine worked satisfactorily a few minutes afterwards. This trial showed some trifling points to be corrected, connected with repacking and cleanliness, which is now being carried out.
C. M.
11th September, 1869.
No. 108.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Account, duly certified, of the Average Amount of BANK NOTES in Circulation in Hongkong, during the Month ending 31st August, 1869, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 11th September, 1869.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.
BANKS.
AVERAGE AMOUNT.
SPECIE IN RESERVE.
$
S
Oriental Bank Corporation,....
786,097
262,033
Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London and China,..
581,584
250,000
Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China,.
341,400
115,000
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation,..
1,165,900
800,000
TOTAL..........
2,874,981
1,427,033
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