DIEU
ROIT
THE HONGKONG
Government Gazette.
Published by Authority.
No. 42.
No. 116.
VICTORIA, SATURDAY, 19TH OCTOBER, 1861.
VOL. VII.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The Honorable WILLIAM THOMAS MERCER, Esquire, Colonial Secretary, having obtained Six Months' leave of absence from the Colony, His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint WILLIAM HASTINGS ÅLEXANDER, Esquire, to be Acting Colonial Secretary,-CHARLES MAY, Esquire, Acting Chief Magistrate,--and JULIUS CHARLES POWER, Esquire, Acting Assistant Magistrate of Police, Sheriff and Coroner,--till further orders.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 15th October, 1861.
No. 117.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
The sabjoined Report from the Harbour Master on the working of the Corgo Boat Ordinance, No. 15 of 1860, is published for general information.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 16th October, 1861.
No. 00.
W. H. ALEXANDER, Acting Colonial Secretary.
HARBOUR MASTER'S OFFICE, HONGKONG, 7th October, 1861.
STR,-In compliance with the directions of His Excellency the Governor I have the honor to report as follows on the work- ing of the Cargo Boat Ordinance No. 15 of 1860.
The first week in January of this year when the Ordinance came into force the Proprietors of boats deterred by a Law that would interfere with the system of peculation which had been for so long a time in existence, laid their boats up with the exception of a few in the employ of the Imperial Government, who nominally sold theirs, and with a broad arrow painted on their bows continued working--the Ordnance and other departments were compelled to have recourse to this means of getting boats or the public service would have suffered.
The Owners however discovered that a vigilant watch was kept to see that none plied without a license, and soon came forward after this temporary strike with applications that their boats might be examined, &c., so that by the end of January 263 had been registered;—there are at present 312 licensed cargo boats.
The ingenuity of the Chinese has been severely tuxed in order to devise means for still connuitting the robberies so frequently complained of,----bolk-heads have had pieces cut out of thein and doors made to fit with great niecty,-holes have Lect unde in the bottom boards to allow rice to find its way underneath--with coals they run a suficient quantity of Water in to cover whatever has been secreted. At present 3 of the midship planks are allowed to be loose to enable the boats to be kept clean. At the termination of the existing licenses I purpose having the bottoms fitted as two hatches which can only be lifted when the boat is empty.
Consignees generally send a man connected with their houses in the lared cargo boats; there is every reason to believe that these inen connive at the robberies; same merchants have their own private boats, and 1 am of opinion that this is the best semedy for the evil.
The inspection is carried on very actively; the Masters of the boats never know when they are likely to be visited, and if found guilty of any oflence, the punishment is so prompt and severe, that it is reasonable to presume that robberies are Jess frequent than furnicy; I believe very few escape detection.
The Inspector reports not having of late found boats plying on their own account without a license.
I beg leave to enclose a tabular statement of the convictions that have taken place this year.--I have the honor to be. Sir, your most oboljeno sorvant,
The Honorable W. 7. Mencer, Esquire.
Colonial Secretary,
II. G. THOMSETT,
Harbor Master.
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