Page
December 9, 1907.]
P. W. D. IN 1906.
Following are some extracts and abstracts from the 1906 report of the Director of Public Works Hongkong, just laid before the Legis- lative Council.
“An Ordinance authorizing the issue of Pro- specting Licences, Mining Licences and Min- ing Leases was passed in June and Regulations with reference to the same were published in August. Prospecting Licences were issued to eir C. P. Chater, during the year for various parts of the New Territories and one lining Lease for an area of one square mile at a Cā Shan, on the South shore of Tolo Harbour, was granted to the same gentleman. The lease authorizes the working f deposits of iron ore which were discovered there, in the course of prospecting operations,
1 he right of erecting piers under long leases was granted in three cases in Hongkong, 10 in Kowloon and 1 in the New Territories whilst extensions of three piers formerly sanctioned- two in Hongkong and one in owloon-were also granted. The premia derived from the Above in Hongkong amounted to $29,587.50, in Kowloon to $76,149.50 and in New Territories to $7.50 while the annual rentals were $1,440, $3,630 and $90 respectively. Guide piles were sanctioned for the use of the Star Ferry Co. at the approach to their Kowloon pier at an annual rent of $220, Licences for the following tem- porary piers for various periods were issued -16 in Hongkong, 15 in Kowloon and 34 in the New Territories, the amount of feeg payable for these being $7,123.75, Lionces were also issued for 18 slipways in Hoogkoug, the fees for which amounted to $1,087.50.
Certificates for 210 new buildings were issued, being 76 more than in 1905. Half a dozen collapses, irrespective of typhoon da:uage, were reported.
It was a year of "roads up," owing to laying of rider mains, electric wires, &c.
The old timber pier at Stonecutters Island, formerly used in connection with the Gunpowder Depôt there, was handed over to the Military Authorities and, by arrangement with the Nongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co., the Praya Wall in front of their premises at Kowloon Point was taken over by them.
The water supply was not too plentiful. Universally constant supply was in fores for 44 days; universally intermittent supply for 35 days and partially intermittent supply for 186 days. For a period of about a mouth, commenc ing about the middle of March, water-boats were stationed at a few points in the Central and Western Districts from which a supply of water was distributed free to the public. The total quantity so distributed was 964,999 gallons, the cost amounting to $4,630 or $4.80 per 1,000 gallons. As the ebarge for water supplied by meters from the City Waterworks in only $0.50 per 1,000 gallons, it will be seen that recourse to a supply from water-boats is a very costly expedient,
Some
|
Since the establishment of a Signal Station! on Green Island, the men on duty in connection with it had been housed in a matshed. more permanent accommodation was considered necessary and accordingly a small brick build. ing was erected on a tile adjacent to the agstaff. It contains 3 small rooms, 2 kitchens and a-bathroom. Two kitchens were necessary on account of there being two signalmen, one of whom is a married man, A small building was also provided for the storage of the flags and storm signals and the path leading from the lighthouse to the top of the hill was concreted. The total expenditure on the work, which was completed in December, amounted to $4,584.12.
Messrs. Bruce and Valpy, having completed the survey and setting out of the line [Railway to Canton] left the Colony on the 24th February. As mentioned in last year's report, the work of constructing the section between Tai Po and Lo ku Ferry was undertaken by the Public Works Department on the 9th December, 1905, the intention being that this portion of the railway route should be used as à road until the progress of the remainder of the work required it to be devoted to railway purposes. Work was actively carried on until the 18th May when it was stopped at the request of Mr. G. W. Ever, who had arrived
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
in the Colony on the 24th March to assume charge of the Railway work, and the Public farther to do with constructional operations. At Works Department ceased to have anything the time of suspending work, the following was the position of affairs : —
"1
""
35
EVOLUTION OF HONGKONG.
469
[Written for the Hongkong Daily Press,]
- Meng
(Continued from last week.)
I.
13,650 lineal feet (2.58 miles) of embankment,
Completed to Formation Level. —
900
(0.17 ),
It was under such apparently altruistic con- catting. Partly executed.-
ditions that the war of 1812 was conducted, 3000 lineal feet (0.57 mile) of embankment, and that Great Britain as the result of Ita
400
(0.07 ), cutting.
successful termination threw open the entire total length of about half a mile had been ex-preference to herself, and giving the benent of
In addition to the foregoing, chaunels of a
of the China trade to the world, taking no cavated for the purpose of diverting streams
her new Colony of Hongkong freely and without and obviating the crossing and re-crossing of
any reserve whatever to all comers, of what them by the railway, and sundry minor works nationality or colour whatsover. Free-Trade had been executed,
had come to the birth, and the British Govern- ment of the day had determined that its natal day should be celebrated with becoming honour far the largest share of newly opened trade is That for many years Great Britain did enjoy by
Oriental trade of the continental nations, she not to be denied, nor that by encouraging the gave an enormous extension to her own home trade. Although it was not till 1846 that Sir Robert Peel announced finally his conver- principle, and the war, and subsequent peace sion to free trade, he had long accepted the were made under a cabinet of which Sir Robert Secretary. Peel was chief, and Sir James Graham Home
Radical alterations were made in the arrange which involved very extensive alterations and ments for signalling the approach of vessels, additions to the telegraph and telephone lines in use for this purpose and Waglan Lighthouses and the Pork Signal Formerly, Gap Rock
tation were in communication with the Eastern Extension Telegraph Co.'s office, Office and the which was in turn connected with the Harbour Island igual Station was connected with the Observatory, whilst Green Harbour Office. This arrangement has been office in the New Harbour Office and concentrat altered by establishing a telegraph and telephone ing all lines there, the only line which is now graph Co.'s office being that from the Observa- connected with the Eastern Extension Tele. tory. The reason for retaining it is that weather meteorological stations in Manila, Shanghai reports are received by cable from the various
should be transmitted to the Observatory in and chewhere and it is important that these the most direct manner possible. The following places are now in direct communication with The Harbour Office :-
(i.) Gap Rock lighthouse (ii) Waglan Lighthouse... (iii) Cape Collinson Lighthouse ( (v.) Green Island Lighthouse . (v.) Peak Signal Station... (V.) Observatory (vii.) Naval Yard
(telegraph) ( do do d. da
(
( do (telephone)
Of the above, items .iii.), (vi.) and (vii.) are. which were extended or altered to bring the entirely new lines, the remainder being old lines places mentioned into direct communication with the Harbour Offico. The Signal Station and Gunponder Depôt on Green Island are there. served by branch liues from the Lighthouse lines were constructed placing the Naval Yard In addition to the foregoing, telephone in direct communication Stations at the Peak and at the Cipe D'Aguilar, with the Sigual which by arrangement with the Navai
It was the hope of these early pioneers that removal of disabilities from trade other, seeing the benefits undeniably due to the countries would as cordially join hands with' duties which hampered commerce. the British financial reformers in reducing the.
A tendonoy was indeed noticable in this direction for some advantage to years, but its inspiring motive was to take the fallest of the British concessious, accompanied indeed with hints thrown out of eventually following in the same line: finding as time passed by, and free trade became amongst inferior home politicians fetish to be worshipped, instead of a means to an end, the continental rule became one of increasing exclusion of British made products, while at the same time taking advantage to the gttermost of British free trade.
It would, notwithstanding have been well for acted on with regard to the new colony; they all had these openly announced intentions bean" unfortunately were not. Sir Henry Pottinger, who had proved so able a representative of the British Government as Plenipotentiary for the negotiation of the treaty of Nanking, was appointed first Governor of the new possession,. but proved himself totally unfit for administra- mandarins, who had now, finding they could do tion; y foolish concessions to the Canton:
Authorities, are now manned by expert navale permitted regulations to be made, under his so with impunity returned to their old practises, signalmen.
WEST RIVER PIRATES.
CANTON PROTESTANTS CENSURED,
Owa signature, which practically placed the trade of Hongkong, in the hands of the Canton aliqua as effectually as had been the trade with the old Factories. No independent trade was possible in the Free-Trade Colony, which be ox me a second Lintin, and a refuge for all the offscourings of the China trade. Piracy became rampant in the adjoining seas, secretly favoured la eply to the agitation hy nativos of by the Canton authorities, and neither life nor Kuangtung, against the alleged permission property were safe on shore nor afloat. Bo- granted by the Central Government to British spectable Chinese traders, who had commenced gunboats to patrol the Waiwupu has telegraphed to Viceroy Changtection of the British flag, finding that protection,
West River, the
to settle in the colony under the promised pro.... Jèn-chun of Canton that the Imperial Maritime Customs had arranged that m tual assistance
a delusion and a snare, cleared out, and Hongkong' should be given in searching for pirates on
became a second Alsso's. Nor were the govern ment offio ́als at the period above suspiołom the West River and that this had
any many unsavoury tales of the colonial doings wrongly interpreted into giving prmission to foreigners to patrol that stream. The Waiwapo, few survivors, or are repeated by their immediate of the day still linger in the memories of the therefore, asked Viceroy Chang Jên-chan for creating rumours to incite the passious of sternly to consure th people of Kuangtung the mob and cause trouble. It was farther stated in the dispatch that the practice lately of sending telegrams to Peking to contend with the Central Government on questions of Imperial Policy was unreasonable, a lack of good manners disturb the peace.
and a reckless attempt to
been
We understand that the following torpedoers and destroyers have been commissioned 10 patrol the waterways of the West River to cope with pirates:-Torpedoers Nos 35, 36 and 58; the destroyers r'ame," Janus,” "Hart and "Taku;" the sloops "Clio" and “Cadmna.”
•
successors.
When Sir J. F." Davis, in May 1844, again appeared in his old quarters, but this time as Governor of Hongkong to relieve Sir Henry Pottinger, not a soul was left to present the customary parting address, nor wish him Godspeed.
at this period was decidedly anomalous: besides The position of the governor of Hongkong being Governor of the Colony under Colonial Office, he was superintendant of trade for the satire of China then open under Foreign Office. The instructions of the two not seldom clashed, and in endeavouring fo the best for trade generally the interests of Colony as such not infrequently suffered. At all events between the two, the bright
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.