178
SIGNALLING OF VESSELS.
38. Owing to the representation of various Mercantile Firms an addition has been made in the system of signalling vessels arriving at the Port, these are now telegraphed to the Post Office from Gap Rock direct, and from Cape d'Aguilar, by telephone and telegraph through Shaukiwan and the Central Police Station, the information is posted at the Post Office and is forwarded to Kowloon Point where the necessary signals indicating the arriving vessels are made with flags. I am not aware how much benefit accrues to the mercantile community from the establishment of these signals at Kowloon, but, if I may express an opinion, I should say not much, and I think the disestablishment of the Peak Signal Station would be a great loss and inconvenience to the general community, whose interest lies in the Mail steamers only, and who are not concerned with the arrival of any others.
GOVERNMENT GUNPOWDER DEPÔT.
39. During the year 1892, there has been stored in the Government Magazine, Stone Cutters' Island-
No. of Cases, &c.
Approximate Weight.
Ibs.
Gunpowder, privately owned,
Do., Government owned,
8,367
398,879
Cartridges, privately owned,
681
116,233
Do., Government owned,
49
4,215
Explosive Compounds, privately owned,......
181
10,786
Do.,
Government owned,.,
38
2,228
Total,...
9,316
532,341
On the 31st December, 1892, there remained as under:-
No. of Cases, &c.
Approximate Weight.
ibs.
Gunpowder, privately owned,
63
2,248
Do., Government owned,.
-
Cartridges, privately owned,..
187
30,409
Do., Government owned,
176
19,510
Explosive Compounds, privately owned,................
171
11,070
Do.,
Government owned, .
32
2,007
Total,......
629
65,244
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS (OPIUM) OFFICE.
40. The Return shows that during the year the amount of Opium reported as follows:
Imported,.... Exported,
1891.
.58,4193 .57,998
Through cargo reported | 1891,
1892,
1892.
Decrease.
56,864
1,5551 chests.
52,6253 5,3723 .18,256 chests. .21,144
39
-
but not landed,.
Increase,
2,888 chests.
22,763 permits were issued from this Office, being an increase of 577 over 1891.
A daily Memo. of Exports Permits to Chinese Ports was during the year supplied to the Com- missioner of the Imperial Maritime Customs at Kowloon.
Surprise visits were paid to 139 Godowns during the year.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
R. MURRAY RUMSEY, Retd. Comd., R.N.,
Harbour Master, &c.
Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary,
&c.,
$c.
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