Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 137

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The principal changes recommended by Mr. ORMSBY are :—

(a.) That Mr. GIBBS, Assistant Engineer, should take up the general supervision of Mr. MALSCH's sub-department on a salary of $3,000 a year. He will, I understand, continue to perform the duties of Assistant Engineer in conjunction with his new duties. You will recollect that the Retrenchment Committee recom- mended that the office of Superintendent of Crown Lands should be abolished when opportunity occurred; but for the reasons stated by Mr. ORMSBY I consider that a superior officer should continue to supervise that sub-department.

(6.) That the salary of Mr. E. M. HAZELAND, Assistant Engineer, should be raised from $1,440 per annum to $2,328 per annum. In view of Mr. HAZELAND'S service, experience and qualifications, I concur in this recommendation.

(c.) That Mr. GALE, Chief Draughtsman, who is a qualified Engineer, should be transferred to the staff of Assistant Engineers in the Department at his present rate of salary, and that in his place a Chief Draughtsman should be appointed at a salary of $1,200 rising by annual increments of $100 to $1,500 per annum.

(d.) That provision in the Estimates be made for the salary of an addi- tional Assistant Engineer, namely, $2,328 per annum, in con- nection with works in the New Territory.

I do not propose to ask that a candidate be selected for this appointment until the necessity arises.

3. I concur with Mr. ORMSBY's recommendation as regards the promotion of Mr. DRURY to be an Executive Engineer in charge of all the drainage and sewer- age works of the Colony, at his present salary, namely, $3,000 per annum.

4. You will observe from the tabular statement attached to Mr. ORMSBY'S memorandum that including the proposed additional Assistant Engineer the in- crease involved in his recommendations amounts to $2,088.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

The Right Honourable

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor, &c.

Proposed Re-organization of the Public Works Department, consequent on the retirement of Mr. Malsch, Superintendent of Crown Lands, and the proposed merging of the duties of that office in those of one of the Assistant Engineers, and also to provide additional staff in connection with the recent

large extension of the Colony.

I recommend the appointment of Mr. R. F. DRURY, as Executive Engineer in charge of all drainage and sewerage works in the Colony, on the same salary as he draws at present, namely $3,000 per annum, thus giving him an independent charge and relieving Mr. CROOK, Executive Engineer, in charge of waterworks, of duties in connection with drainage, and leaving him free to prepare plans and estimates for certain very important extensions of the waterworks both in Hong- kong and Kowloon. Mr. DRURY has twelve years' service, and his salary was increased in 1898 to $3,000 per annum, or the same salary as that drawn by Mr. CROOK.