Sessional_Paper_1887-1888 — Page 296

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In connection with this Gap Rock arrangement, the Governor had hoped to be able to secure another improvement in the lighting of the approaches to Hong- kong by the removal to Waglan Island of the Light-house now at Cape D'Aguilar. But, though his efforts in this direction have so far proved unsuccessful, he does not propose to relinquish them, if such course be approved by the Council.

The erection of a Light-house at Waglan would be far less difficult than at Gap Rock; and it is possible therefore that the Chinese Government might be more easily induced to undertake the work with its own staff, if a sufficient subsidy were promised by this Colony.

But pending any such negotiation, the issue of which would of course be un- certain, the Governor considers that there should be no delay of the work at the Gap Rock, if the arrangement respecting it should meet with the approval of the Council, and receive the sanction of the Secretary of State.

For this reason the proposal recently made (with a view to save time in construction) for placing a flashing Light at Waglan and a fixed Light at the Gap, will require to be abandoned; and it is deemed to be on the whole expedient to revert to the original plan of a flashing Light at the Gap. Placed at the same height there seems to be no doubt that a flashing Light would be much more useful than a fixed Light; and apparently Sir ROBERT HART, whose experience on the subject is entitled to very great weight, is of opinion that the greater height required for the former is a disadvantage which would not be sufficient to out- weigh this superiority.

The two Light-houses, if we should succeed in obtaining both, would thus be more costly than would have been the case if the Governor's proposal to include them in the same arrangement had met with success; but considering that there now annually enter the Port of Victoria vessels with an aggregate measurement of nearly six millions and a half of tons (a tonnage it may be remarked which according to the published returns is larger than that of the Ports of all the British Possessions on the Continent of America and larger also than that of the total of the three leading Colonies of Australia) and considering that the Southern is, if anything, the most important of the two approaches to the Island, be taken as certain that no expense which is at all likely to be incurred can be otherwise than very inconsiderable by comparison with the advantage gained in the saving of time alone, and without reference to the losses of vessels directly attributable to the absence of Lights.

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The cost which would have been saved to the shipping trade, if a Light at the Gap Rock had been provided at the time when the subject was first mooted would now amount to a sum which could probably be only expressed in huudreds of thousands of Pounds; and the Governor trusts therefore he has reason in con- gratulating the Council and the Colony that a want of such very great importance is at length to be supplied.

By Command,

FREDERICK STEWART, Colonial Secretary.

GOVERNMENT House, Hongkong, 27th August, 1888,