21th March, 'TORE are some interesting points in recent Hongkong papers to which we have so far only been able to refer very briefly, but which are worthy of more detailed comment. One of them is the discussion in the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council as to the duties of the Assistant Harbour Master. The Chairman opened it by stating that the vote for consideration was an addition to the salary of the Assistant Harbour Master of $720, the sum of $19,000 (which is surely a mistake) being provided for his pay in the estimates. Mr. MacEwen asked what are the duties of the Assistant Harbour Master, and the reply was, to assist the Harbour Master. It was farther explained that there had always been an Assistant since 1867, except (and this is rather an important exception) during the last eighteen months, when the work had been done by the Harbour Master and his clerk. When the Harbour Master was away, Captain Cairns was appointed Acting Harbour Master and drew the pay, while the present Colonial Treasurer was appointed and drew the pay of Assistant arbour Master, and did the Harbour Master's work, in addition to his own proper work, and to the work of his two other positions as sheriff and coroner. To this Mr. Ryrie remarked, "If you had four offices, of course you must have been hard worked," the Colonial "Treasurer giving the mysterious answer, "The duties of the two latter offices were performed as outside work." Subsequently, when Mr. Ryrie suggested that Captain Cairns was drawing his pryunder false pretences, the Colonial ''reassurer explained that Captain Cairns did admi-ister the office while he, the speaker, was absent for eight or ten months, but when he came back, he found not a single stroke of the pen had been done towards the registration of shipping. Ultimately Mr. MacEwen elicited that the Assistant Harbour Master did have something to do, besides waiting for the Harbour Master to fall sick; he had to ook after junks. To which Mr. Ryri "I think nothing stronger could be advanced against the appointment than what has been said by the Colonial "Treasurer. He says he did the duties for four years, and officiated in three other capacities. I think nothing stronger could be brought forward."
The Conosian Treasuxen—But the hon. gentleman should be reasonable. I said I was Sheriff. The duties of that office vccupied about two hours a mouth.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.