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August 3, 1908.)
THE HARBOUR OF REFUGE SCHEME.
DISCUSSIONS IN COMMITTEE.
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We have received from the Colonial Seore. 'tary's Office copies of the reports of proceedings of the Public Works Committee at meetings held on the 19th December 1907 and th January, 1908, which were referred to in the discussion which took place at the Legislative Council on Thursday.
At the meeting held on the 19th December, 1907, there were present The Honourable the Director of Public Works (Mr. W. Chatham, C.M.G.), Chairman, Hon. Colonial Treasurer, (Mr. A. M. Thomson), Hon. Mr. Edbert Ansgar Hewett, Hon. Mr. Edward Osborne, and the Hon. Mr. Henry Keswick.
The Chairman read a report by Mr. Boulton, dated 28th September, 1907, on the proposed Harbour of Refuge at Mongkoktsui and laid the plans and diagrams accompanying that report before the Committee. He also read the minutes bearing on the report and a minute by the Harbour Master, dated 15th November, 1907, recommending that a harbour of refuge should be constructed at West Point instead of at Mongkokteni.
The Mongkokisni and the Harbour Master's West Point Schemes were shown on a chart which was laid before the Committee.
Mr. Boulton's report on the Mongkokteui Scheme stated that :-
(a.) The constraction of the breakwater, 4,000 feet long, could not be carried cut piecemeal so as to afford a sheltered area of m derate extent in the first instance which could afterwards be extended by adding to the breakwater, because the enclosed area would remain dangerously exposed from certain quarters until the whole soheme was completed.
(b.) The only way of curtailing the expendi ture, consistent with the provision of a harbour which would be safe under all conditions, was to modify the scheme entirely, making it of a much less extensive nature than had hither been proposed and an alternative scheme was shown having a breakwater 1,940 feet long.
(c.) The cost of the scheme hitherto proposed, affording a sheltered area of 166 acres, was estimated at 81,540,000.
(d.) The cost of the modified scheme, affording a sheltered area of only 6 acres, was estimated at $888,800.
(e.) The carrying out of the modified scheme would probably involve serious questions with Marine Lot-owners in the vicinity.
The Chairman pointed out, owing to the limited area of shelter afforded by the modified scheme, boats would be likely to make for it whenever storm warnings were hoisted whereas the original scheme would afford such ample space that boat-owners could safely reckon on finding room available for their craft however late they might delay seeking shelter.
The Harbour Master's proposal was to con- struct two breakwaters off Kennedy Town, having a combined length of 4,250 feet and erclosing an area of about 82 acres,
The Chairman stated that the scheme would
afford about 75 acres of sheltered water and would cost about $1,913,000.
Mr. Keswick enquired what was the estimated oost of dredging out Causeway Bay.
The Chairman read the replies which were given to questions of a similar nature asked by the Honourable Mr. H. E. Pollock at a meeting of the Legislative Council on the 1st November, 1900, in which it was stated that the area of Causeway Bay was 57 acres and the estimated cost of dredging it to a depth of 9 feet at low water was about $900,000. Members expressed the opinion that 9 feet was an excessive depth and that it could safely be reduced to 6 feet, which would bring the estimate down to about $600,000.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
After further discussion of the proposals submitted, it was agreed, on the suggestion of Mr. Hewett, to circulate Mr. Boulton's report and other documents to Members in order to give them an opportunity of studying the matter more fully and to hold another meeting after
this had been done.
The Honourable the Harbour Master (Mr. B. E. H. Taylor) was present throughout the meet- ing and took part in the discussion
The Committee then adjourned
;
At the meeting held on January 4th 1908 there were present the Honourable the Director of Public Works (Mr. William Chatham, C.M.G.), Chairman. Ron. Mr. Elward Osborne, Hon. Mr. Henry Keswick.
The Chairman read the report of the last meeting (beld on the 19th December, 1307) and a minute by His Excellency the Governor, dated the 20th November, 1907, with reference to the question of dredging or partly dredging accordance with the decision come to at the last and partly reclaiming Causeway Bay In
meeting, the following papers had been circu- lated to Members:-
(1) Mr. Boulton's report of 28th September, 1907. on the Mongkoktani Soheme
(ii) Comparative Statement of Areas, Cost, &c.. of Mongkoktani and Kennedy Town Schemes.
(iii.) Estimated cost of Dredging Causeway Bay.
(ir.) Plan accompanying Mr. Boulton's report. (v.) Chart No. 3280 with Mongkoktani and Kennedy Town Schemes shown on it.
The minutes by Members on the general question of improving the existing Harbour of Refuge and providing a new one were then read. The following is a brief abstract cf
them :-
Mr. Keswick :-
Er sting Harbour. Causeway Bay should be immediately deepened. A depth of 9 fet all over, as proposed in the Public Works Depart ment estimate, would be superfluous and it would suffice if the entire area were divided into three equal parts having depths of 9, 6 and 3 feet respectively.
New Harbour. A harbour at Cheung Sha Wan would be preferable to one opposite Mongkokisui on the grounds of economy The Kennedy Town proposal would be a luxury and the minor Mougkoktsui Scheme an absolute waste of money.
Mr. Osborne.
Existing Ilarbour. Causeway Bay should be deepened so as to afford 10 feet depth along the North side, diminishing it to 2 feet along the South side, but, as the area of the bay is in-nffi- cient, additional accommodation must be pro- vided.
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New Harbour. The cost of a break. water at Cheung Sha Wan, enclosing an area of 166 acres was estimated roughly at $1,420,000 and, if the shallow areas opposite the end of the breakwater had not been reclaimed by the time it was carried out, tem- porary groins would be required to restrict the width of the entrances The scheme was as shown on a tracing dated 25,7.04 in 0.8.0. 9647:1903. A modified scheme to enclose an carried out at a cost estimated approximately at area of 100 acres at Cheung Sha Wan could be
$1,200,000. The objection to both these pro- sals was that they would prevent the carrying out of an extensive reclamation scheme for which the bay was well adapted.
The proposed breakwater at Mongkoktsui was strengthened by the introduction of concrete blocks to a small extent, bat otherwise it was of such a type as would be required at Cheung Sha Wan or elsewhere. Mongkoktani was nearer the centre of the harbour than Cheung Sha Wan,-a very important consider- ation in the case of a sudden storm.
The Chairman read the report of a Public Works Committee meeting held on the 25th October, 1906, at which the various possible sites for a harbour of refuge were considered, the result being that the Mongkoktsui site was unanimously recommended to Government.
After full discussion, the Members present agreed to the following recommendations :-
(a.) In view of the proposed reclamation scheme at Cheung Sha Wan, the Mongkoktani scheme should be adopted and a condition should be made that the existing trading anchorage off Yaumati is not to be interfered with after the completion of the scheme.
(b.) In view of the great expense involved in carrying out any extensive scheme of dredging at Causeway Bay, which is really unnecessary for the requirements of the craft seeking refuge there, steps should be taken to provide a shallow depth of water over the area which at present dries at Low Water. This work should be regarded as an urgent one.
The Committee understand that the work recommended in (b.) on bɔ done by hand at a moderate cost.
New Harbour. A sheltered area of 100 acres is required. The Kennedy Town Scheme would | SHANGHAI be too costly and too small, and, in a strong North-East wind, boats would be driven past it or wrecked on the breakwater. A briskwater at Cheung Sha Wan would be more sheltered than one at Mongkoktsui and would therefore be less costly and for that and other minor reasons it was to be preferred.
Mr. Hewett.
Existing Harbour. Canseway Bay should b dredged as proposed by Mr. Keswick.
New Harbour, 1 his should be either at Mongkoktsni or Cheung Sha Wan,-preferably the latter.
Mr. Thomson:-
Existing Harbour. The dredging of Cause- way Bay should, carried out, be an additional work.
New Harbour. Kennedy Town Scheme is out of the question. No estimate has been given of the Cheung Sha Wan Scheme.
A rep rt by Mr. Boulton, dated 3rd January, 1908, reviewing the points raised in the forego. ing minutes was then read. It contained the following statoments :-
Causeway Ba1. A comparison of old and new charts showed that no appreciable advance
of the foreshore had occurred since the esta- blishment of the Colony. Of the 3 nullahs discharging into the bay, only one drains bare bills which are likely to yield detritus and so produce silting; but this is counteracted by frequent dredging. The large dredgers in the Colony which might possibly be hired were unsuitable for the work suggested as it would be necessary, in order to provide flotation for them, to dredge to a depth far in excess of that specified. Special plant would have to be purchased to carry out the deepening suggested and, assuming that it were disposed of on com- pletion of the work, the cost would probably amount to about $50 1000. The removal of all material above the level of low water of Ordinary Spring Tides could be done by man- nal labour and was estimated to cost about $70,000.
GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
The following Minutes of Committee Meeting held on July 16. are published.
Present:- Messrs. W. D. Little (Chairman) J. N. Jamieson. F. Anderson, H. R. Kinnear, D. Laudale, L. Rastoal, J. Stern, O. Stuckmeyer, A. Wright, and the Acting Secretary.
BANK NOTE CASE.
In view of the fact that the information
received from the Taotai through the Senior Consul is incomplete, it is decided to address the Diplomatic Body at Peking with a view to obtaining from the Chinese Government the
names of the Banks authorised to issue Bank Notes, and inquiring what reserve in coin is held against the issues and also requesting that the unguaranteed issues may be prohibited.
PAYMENT OF BILLS PURCHASED. Letter from Messrs. Sulzer Rudolph & Co., and sixteen other Silk Export Firms is discussed. The letter draws the Chamber's attention to the fact that the Banks will only pay for bills purchased under contracts on the business day previons to Siberian mail day and that this alteration is detrimental to the interests of Silk for Export Firms, who have to ship and pay their silk sometimes several days before being credited with the amounts of their bills. This
letter had been submitted to the chairman of the Associated Exchange Banks who pointed out that the Banks had been forced to accept the measure in order to protect themselves against the practice of delivering bills several days befor mail day.
CHINESE TELIGRAPHS,
Letters from the Imperial Chinese Telegraph Administration in reply to the Chambers' letter
of June 23 are read to the effect that a reduction in the rates of domestic telegrams and the elimination of the charge for several additional words on registered telegraphic addresses are contemplated.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.