CAB11-57-8 — Page 72

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British Chinese

Total

Grand total

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81

WATER POLICE.

CHAPTER VI.

Chief Inspector and Inspectors.

Sergeants and

Police Constables.

Total.

Acting Sergeants.

13

2

11

14

11

59

70

13

70

84

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.

In any case the southern shores of the island from Mount Davis to Shiako Bay,

including Cape D'Aguilar, will be patrolled and watched by the police.

A system of police patrols has already been tried and found to answer well.

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

Superintendent

Assistant Superintendent

Engineer

Assistant engineer

British engine-drivers Assistants

Chinese engine-drivers

Foremen..

Assistant foremen..

British firemen

Chinese

53

Chinese stokers

39

39

watchmen

interpreters

Seamen (floating fire-engine)

Grand total

1

1

1

1

3

12

3

3

4

28

22

60

13

27

99

5183

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

the

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 British 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

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