Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 280

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HONGKONG.

No 42.

SIR,

DOWNING STREET,

1st February, 1901.

With reference to your despatch No. 390 of the 25th August last, relating to the proposed improvement in lighting the approaches to the harbour of Hongkong, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of correspondence on the subject, as noted in the margin.

2. Messrs. CHANCE BROTHERS anticipate no difficulty in converting the Cape D'Aguilar and Green Island Lights from fixed to occulting lights. They have pointed out that the apparatus which they supplied for Green Island in 1874 was supplied with a set of condensing prisms, which they presume will not be used when it is transferred to Cape Collinson.

3. Messrs. CHANCE BROTHERS have in preparation a drawing, which will be transmitted direct to you by the Crown Agents for the Colonies when it is re-. ceived, with the purpose of ensuring that the dimensions are furnished correctly.

4. The firin are unable to make any offer for the gun-metal portion of the Cape Collinson light, except at scrap price; and they presume as good a price could be obtained in Hongkong as in England. The apparatus has been in use for 25 years, and the optical portion is therefore probably slightly discoloured, and for this reason unsaleable.

3. It does not appear that any vote for the construction of a new tower on Green Island has been placed on the 1901 Estimates; and it will, therefore, be necessary to take a vote in Council, if it is decided to accept Messrs. CHANCE BROTHERS' offer and proceed with the transfer and conversion of the lights.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

Governor

Copy.

SIR H. A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

THORNEHILL, KIDBROOKE GROVE,

BLACKHEATH, October 12th, 1900.

SIR,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter with enclosures dated 9th instant on the subject of the Hongkong Lights, desiring my views upon a suggestion by the Acting Harbour Master thereon.

I am of opinion that if the Lights in question can be fitted with a flashing or occulting arrangement at no very great cost it would be an advantage and I con- sider that the intervals proposed by Mr TAYLOR are suitable.

I would like to suggest that an opinion be obtained from Trinity House as to any practical disadvantage which might result from placing the Lights in question at a somewhat higher or lower elevation than they were designed for.

Green Island Light is now 95 feet above high water, it will hardly be practic- able to keep it at that beight when it is moved to Collinson where the point on which the buildings stand is higher than 100 feet.

Again D'Aguilar Light though designed for 200 feet might perhaps be for all practical purposes as efficient if placed on Green Island at a lesser height and thereby a saving of expense in the construction of the tower. In neither case is it necessary that after the change these Lights should show to their designed limit of 23 and 14 miles respectively.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

R. MURRAY RUMSEY,

Harbour Master, &c., Hongkong.

P.S.-The enclosures to your letter under reply are returned herewith as

directed.

The Under Secretary of State for the Colonies.

R. M. R.