Sessional_Paper_1897 — Page 274

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GOVERNMENT GUNPOWDER DEPOT.

69. During the year 1896 there has been stored in the Government Magazine Stone Cutters'

Island :-

-

No. of CasES.

APPROXIMATE WEIGHT.

ibs.

Gunpowder, privately owned,

Do., Government owned,.

Cartridges, privately owned,....

Do., Government owned,

Explosive Compounds, privately owned,.

16,421 26

356,290

2,808

4,701

1,048,274

109

16,602

797

45,214

Do.,

Government owned,

25

1,353

TOTAL,.

22,079

1,470,541

On the 31st December, 1896, there remained as under:-

NO. OF CASES.

APPROXIMATE

'WEIGHT.

ibs.

Gunpowder, privately owned,

Do., Government owned,.

4,133

84,631

Cartridges, privately owned,

1,620

283,500

Do.,

Government owned,.

98

14,657

Explosive Compounds, privately owned,.

95

5,722

Do.,

Government owned,

21

1,226

TOTAL,

5,967

389,786

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS (OPIUM) OFFICE.

70. The Return shows that during the year the amount of Opium reported was as follows:—

Decrease.

1895.

1896.

chests.

chests.

chests.

Imported,

..36,609

34,208

2,401

Exported,

.36,241

33,38512

2,855

but not landed..

Through cargo reported 16,1905

14,8381

1,352

15,642 permits were issued from this office during the year, being a decrease of 1,392 as compared with 1895.

A daily memo. of Exports to Chinese ports was during the year supplied to the Commissioner of Imperial Maritime Customs at Kowloon.

Surprise visits were paid to 97 Godowns during the year.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The Honourable J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Colonial Secretary,

&c.,

fc.,

R. MURRAY RUMSEY, Retd. Comd., R.N., Harbour Master, &c.

&c.