October 5, 1907.]
year,
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
WB8
200
ant public works are demanded and still works tea or fifteen years old are in the estimates. I am very glad to hear that Your Excellency has at last solved the question of communication satisfactory means of communication it seems to with Gap Rock and though a cable is not a very be the only one possible under the circum- speedily be restored. The new system of storm st# 2008. We trust that the communication will signals has proved Your Excellency has made no reference to entirely satisfactory. the Post Office at Tientsin which, it appeare from the Press, was to be closed. It would be interesting to have an official statement is the on the matter. In the present estimates there agency. Speaking for the Chamber of Com- aum of $5,190 for the Tientsin
merce we recognise that it is not reason- expenditure for such a service. It is part of a able to ask ratepayers to incur any excessive system of postal agencies which the British of China and it has been repeatedly set forth Government have maintained in different parts that it is a most important office to maintain not only on account of imperial policy but also for very practical reasons that merchants wish to have their own flag through which they can some reliable post office under send their correspondence. With regard to consider that it is necessary to have a committee the Observatory unofficial members do not appointed provided you are satisfied that the equipment is all that it should be. Wears prepared to leave the matter in the hands of Your Excel- lency, I can only state that we much apreciate the steps you have already taken to improve may be worth your while to consider whether communication with Indo-China. I think it
communication cannot be improved between Manila and Hongkong. The number of tele- Government are prepared to give a small sum. grams is limited bat it could be increased if the
In any case friendly relations will continue with those we feel satisfied that entirely
Jesuit fathers at Sioawei and Manila to whom we owe such a debt of gratitude. At the last budget I spoke on the question of salaries and I am glad to find that since then the Secretary of State has agreed to the principle that for Service should not be paid less than ten dollars the present the members of the Civil to the £. Coming to the form in which the estimates are presented, there has been as Your Excellency is aware a very great improvement during the last two years. There are one or two tion. In the first place there is the question of small poins to which I would like to call atten- indexing. I am afraid that the indexing of Government documents is very defective. To a man who wishes to consult estimates in a hurry it is annoying to have an experience such as I in connection with cemeteries. I expected to had the other day. I was looking up the index
find the item I was searching for under the heading of “ C " but after some trouble I found it under "p." index drawn up on these lines. Another point I cannot possibly sonceive an in the estimates is under the heading of publio tioned. Evidence given before the late Com- works, under which three overseers were men-
works appear in the estimates and then with succession of dry seasons and if we are to drawn, nothing done, or very little done have another dry spell it does not follow and the estimate carried
on till next that we shall not have another severe water year-and so it goes on I think myself | famine. and after all due deliberation, that a great scheme should be completed as quickly as It seems most desirable that the part of this delay might easily be avoided. possible The same applies to the reclamation There is unquestionably delay in the construo of insanitary areas, which is stopped for want of tion of Government works, notably the Law funds for another year. Another small but Courts and the Post Office. They are very most important point is in connection with the prominent works at the present moment. Apart training of nallahs, for which there is an from the necessity of preparing plans, sending allowance of $2000. I trust that everything them home for approval and receiving them again, possible will be done to proceed with this work there has been unnecessary d lay. "I find that as soon as possible. With regard to the typhoon the estimates for the Law Courts appeared in shelter, it is most disappointing that "Your 1900 and we were told by your Excellency that Excellency in the first place informed us that two years longer would be required to complete the present estimate for the work is nearly the Law Courts. At the present time, suppos- double what we were led to believe it would be. ing the estimate is not exceeded, the Law Courta It was also disappointing to be told that during cost seven lakhs. Including 8 00,000 put down the next eighteen months it was not expected to for next year, the sum of $550,00 will have been spend more than the small sum of 825,000 when spent. There still remains $200,00ʊ to com- the typhoon shelter is urgently required. plete the building. I think it is quite reason- trust that the work will be proceeded with as We able to suppose that the Law Courts will take promptly and rapidly as possible. The egisla at least another two or three years before they tive Council is entirely in the dark as to how are completed. And the same with the Post the sum of $1,400,000 has been arrived at, Office. It first appears in the estimates in 1903. when a previous estimat of $800,000 Here again we have $500,000 included in the put before 118. We do not estimate for next
want any- that is to say that in 1908 thing elaborate. We want an effoient break hardly more than half the appropriation for the water sufficiently high to give protection Post Office shall have been expended, We are to all the boats in asked to believe that it will be completed in two to look ahead for the next 5 years. In the the harbour and years but it is more likely to be three or four meantime, whether the scheme is completed years before it is inhabited. I submit that it is or not, it is still desirable that a small break- an absolutely unneccessary waste of public funds, water on this side of the harbour should be that such large sums have been put into public maintained, and that being so Causeway Bay buildings from which we get no return. We should be dredged. At the present moment it understand that these sums have to be spent and is so shallow that about one-third is lost and a these buildings should be occupied as quickly large number of boats are compelled to lie as possible. Thus the Law Courts will have outside. On nine out of ten occasions the 1aken nine or ten years to. complete and the protection afforded is sufficient but leaving out Post Office seven or eight perhaps more, and of the question the disastrous typhoon of last in the teantime the Government are paying year I remember a number of typhoons which rent for the large building where part of the have blown heavily from the west and boats which Government offices are located. A large profit took refuge outside would have been inevitably has been lost to the Government during all wrecked by such storms. We consider the these years through delay of the sale or dredging of Causeway Bay is rental of the land at present occupied by the of urgency.
$4 malter Law Court and Post Office. This is very bad of streets, I spoke
With regard to the condition financing. There is another point that adds
on that subject last year and i am glad to find that certain sugges. very much to the delay, the fact that the works tions which I made have been acted upon. are each in the hands of one contractor, and Thess however are only details, the question of that contractor is allowed practically unlim- the general condition of the streets remains the ited time in which to Carry out the the same. I maintain we should no longer have work. In addition to the time spent macadamised roads in this colony. It cannet in laying the foundations and preparing be contended that the question of wood paving the plans, etc.-presumably the foundations are laid after the plans have been completed-there fact that different sections have been laid is still in the experimental stage in view of the is a good deal of delay in the preparation of the down in Hongkong for a considerable time. building material. The delay which is caused In other cities where similar climatic conditions by bringing rough stone from the quarry prevail wood paving has proved absolutely and patting it in the narrow open spaces satisfactory. in front of the buildings to be dressed cularly useful on many roads in Hongkong and Wood paving would be parti- before being placed in position is incred- it might be laid along the tramway track. ible. My office is near the Post Office and At present the condition of this I can see that the work does not progress is most unsatisfactory and will
track as it should, while the cutting of the stone is a
remain so under existing conditions. As a case in point serious nuisance to anybody living in the neigh-I might refer to the section in Icehouse bourhood and affects a large section of the Lane from Queen's Road to Des Voeux business community at the present time. I have Road which is subject always marvelled ever since I came to Hongkong traffic and is constantly undergoing repair. It to very heavy ——many years ago—why Government buildings would be interesting to know what cost has been should be erected on this happy go luoky incurred in repairing that
mission showed that the whole time of an principle. One would have thought that they during the past twelve month. I think it to work for the Building Authority while such section Executive Engineer was taken up in attending would have drawm upon the wisdom of the would probably have gone a long way towards little time as was left over was devoted to the ancients and would have learned possibly to wood paving. The initial expense of wood paving question of a garbage destructor or to the prepare building material in advance so as to is heavy but once laid it would last for years. resumption of insanitary properties. All aties get on rapidly with the work as did the anci nt Respecting the Land Office at Taipo, 1 trust carried out under the Building Ordinance. There builders of whom we read "The stone was made that it will not be long before permanent are no doubt others equally engaged. If the 3 ready before it was brought so that there was buildings are erected there. Presumably Taipo overseers are placed under a special heading why neither hammer nor aze nor any tool of iron will remain the headquarters of the Govern heard in the houss while it was in building." ment in the New Territory and if that be going special Sanitary work. Of course the re-
not all. They are all P.W.D. officials who are do- * That seems to be the practial way to deal permanent buildings should be erected. At the commendation of the Commission was that they with the situation. It is incredible that after present time some of the staff are living in ban- should be transferred to the Sanitary department two_to_three/thousand years our Public galows which is not a proper form of dwelling I would like to point out to your Excellency it Works Department should not have learned the for Government officials who have to work hard would be a vary great convenience if it could be lesson. I can only say that no business firm during the day. Besides it is most wasteful, as arranged that when presenting estimates before would undertake to build a new office for itself they are often destroyed by typhoons, to say and wait sight or ten years for the completion nothing of occasional fires such as were ex-
the Council a statement should be given showing where estimates of works are likely to be of the building. It would be most unbusiness perienced a few weeks ago. On the subject of exceeded. We find here for instance “Law like. They could not afford to build on these lake Pier shelter I trust it is introduced in Courts $768,000" but nothing to show whether lines. It is with very great regret that I learn the estimates for the last time. It is a small this sum is likely to be exceeded. In one case that the second section of the Tytam scheme affair and there is no reason why it should not Tytam Tuk first scheme exceeded the estimated has been delayed. It is quite true we have to be carried through as speedily as possible, cost by $150,000. That is a very large excess. out our cost according to our cloth. It is true Before I leave the question of public works I that at the moment we have plenty of water.
The original estimates may also be exceeded in can only repeat that I consider the works are connection with the Law Cous ts and Post Ofllos. The last two seasons we have had late rains unduly prolonged and dragged over an undue which have filled the reservoirs at the begining | period of years. It is a wastaless and thriftless tion with public works, in order that the finance Another suggestion I wish to make in connee- dry season. In the past we have had a " sort of policy to follow, Every year importe ' of the Colony, be best administered, is that the
{
small
|
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.