CAB11-57-6 — Page 58

Page 58

Europeans Chinese

w

Total

Grand total

Page 58

61

WATER POLICE.

2

11

14

11

59

70

1

13

70

84

13

38

529

580

The Europeans and Indians are armed with Martini-Henry carbines and sword bayonets; the Chinese with swords only.

In case of war with any Power other than China, it is anticipated that 50 European and 100 Indian police, all trained to the use of arms, and the majority marksmen, can be spared to give assistance in the military defence, besides 100 Chinese who would be useful only for patrolling, and obtaining information, but invaluable for the latter purpose.

With China as a hostile Power, the Chinese could not be counted on, and the European and Indian police could not be spared for military work.

Fire Brigade.-A fire brigade already exists, composed as follows:-

Superintendent

Assistant Superintendent

Engineer

Assistant engineer..

European engine-drivers

Assistant

Chinese engine-drivers

Foremen

Assistant foremen

European firemen

Chinese

Chinese stokers

::

1

1

1

1

I

12

8

4

28

22

60

8

13

4

2

27

99

23

""

watchmen..

interpreters

Seamen (floating fire-engine)

Grand total

::::

:

There are also attached to the brigade an Inspector and Assistant Inspector, for the purpose of attending to the storage of dangerous goods, but they do not do any other brigade work.

The brigade is manned by members of the police force, who receive extra remune- ration, and are available for attending fires when off duty only. Six of the firemen are European soldiers of the garrison, lent for the purpose in peace-time, but whose places, as well as those of most of the policemen, would have to be filled in war-time by civilian volunteers, who would, it is assumed, come forward in large numbers to supplement the brigade, which forms an efficient nucleus.

For the purpose of fire prevention and control. the city of Victoria is divided into three districts, Western, Central, and Eastern, the limits of which are fixed at the Harbour Office and Murray Barracks. On the occasion of a fire the locality is notified by three tolls of the bell for the Western, two for the Central, and one for the Eastern district.

The head-quarters of the brigade are at No. 5 station in Queen's Road, Central, and in it are kept all the stores and the engines that are not located elsewhere. A certain number of European and Chinese firemen also sleep here, and the Assistant Engineer, who is responsible for the upkeep of the engines and appliances, is permanently located at this station.

The other and subsidiary stations are at the police stations at West Point, Wanchai, Yaumati, Sai-ki-Wan, and Aberdeen.

There are also numerous places in different parts of the town where fire-dispatch boxes are kept. These are barrows supplied with 300 feet of hose, and all necessary appliances for at once making use of street hydrants. They were specially designed for dealing with fires on the high levels.

[644]

Page 58

R

40

Page 58

Page 58