Sessional_Paper_1905 — Page 774

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Assistant Collector of Villages Rates.-This clerk will be given his first incre- ment on the 1st January, 1906, as his initial pay-$240-is too low.

OTHER CHARGES.

Incidental Expenses, Lighting. In the former Estiinates these 2 items were amalgamated in the vote "Incidental Expenses" which was much under-estimated for the last 3 years. The charges for lighting is now shown as a separate item, and an increase of $60 is made in "Incidental Expenses."

B.-Office of Assessor of Rates.

PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS.

Clerk to Assessor placed in Class VI, as he has been reported as a good Inter- preter and Translator, and deserving of an increase of salary.

Interpreter, I. D. 3rd Class.-Vide remarks on Interpretation Sub-Department under Registrar General's Departinent.

POST OFFICE.

A-Hongkong Post Office.

OTHER CHARGES.

Mail Bags & Parcel Post Receptacles.--Until recently bags belonging to other Administrations have been used for forwarding mails in contravention of the rules of the Postal Convention.

B.- Postal Agencies in China..

PERSONAL Emoluments.

Shanghai.

2 Marine Officers.--The original proposal as approved in C. O. Telegram of 20th April, 1905, was to place these two officers in Grade III, giving them $1,080 and $960 per annum respectively. Since then, the 2nd Marine Officer has resign-. ed, and it has been found necessary to allow the 1st Marine Officer to draw the maximum of the scale, and the successor to the 2nd Marine Officer to begin at $1,080 in order to obtain a suitable officer.

3 Shroff's, Grade VI.-Provision is made for an additional Shroff for assisting the Compradore at the Stamp Counter, as owing to the increased sale of stamps, the Compradore has to spend too much of his time at the stamp window.

Canton.

1st Assistant has been placed in Grade VI, his present pay--$360 per annum being inadequate when compared with that of men employed on similar work at the French and Chinese Post Offices.

4 Postmen-Owing to the general rise in wages of men of this class, the wages of the Senior Postman have been increased from $108 to $120 per annum, and of the other 3 postmen from $84 to $96 per annum.

Sampan Man. -The Consul-General has now abandoned his share in the use of the sampan, and the whole wages of the sampan mau-$84 per annum—have consequently to be born by the Agency.

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