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Rh Th. Jackson, W. H. Forbes, H. Hoppius, W. Reiners, J. B. Coughtrie and E. F. Alford) to urge upon the Governor the appointment of a skilled firemaster, the employment of paid firemen, and the desirability of an adequate supply of water. Sir John promised to get a skilled firemaster from England and to. provide, if possible, high level tanks and fire brigade mains.. The question of the water supply was, however, a financial one, and pending the consideration of the two alternative schemes thus put forward, viz. the Taitam reservoir scheme and this new project of tanks for fire brigade mains, the re-organization of the Fire Brigade was suspended, and meanwhile neither of the two water supply projects was carried out. Beyond the purchase of a new fire-bell for the Clock Tower (July 12, 1880), the supply of new uniforms for the brigades in town and villages (July 19, 1880), and the publication, in English and Chinese, of the old Fire Brigade Ordinance (4 of 1868) and a series of regulations issued under that Ordinance (October 5, 1880), the Fire Brigade question was left in statu quo. There were other Departments of the Public Service, between the Heads of which and the Governor there was said to be constant friction, but the disputes did not force themselves upon public attention, though as early as October 7, 1880, one of the resolutions of the public meeting of that date specially desired a Commission from outside the Colony to be appointed, in order to inquire, among other things, 'into the relations between the Governor and his officials.'

The Legislative Council Chamber was the arena of almost perpetual strife. In several cases even the election, by the Governor, of new Members of Council impressed the British community as an intended affront. In October, 1878, when the Surveyor General (J. M. Price) applied for leave of absence, and the Registrar General (C. C. Smith) proceeded (October 17, 1878) to Singapore to take up the appointment of Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements, the foreign community of Hongkong, whilst wondering how Sir John would reply to the damnatory resolutions of the public meeting of 7th October, 1878, were 34