of Mr. Rice, the office of Assistant Superintendent was abolished and replaced (1873) by the post of Chief Inspector (G. Horspool) who acted under the orders of the Deputy Superintendent (C. V. Creagh) and Captain Superintendent (W. M. Deane), whilst the Chinese portion of the Force was placed (January 14, 1873) under a special Superintendent (H. E. Wodehouse). The action taken by Captain Deane during the height of the typhoon of 1874, in keeping those of the men, who were to go on duty next morning, indoors during the night, and in not repeating the alarm of fire which had been raised, aroused a strong feeling among a section of the community. A petition for an inquiry was addressed to the Governor, and when he refused the request, the three unofficial Members of Council (Ph. Ryrie, R. Rowett, and J. Whittall) went so far as to protest at the next Estimates Meeting (November 13, 1874) against any provision being made in the Estimates for the salary of the Captain Superintendent. Referring to these proceedings. Lord Carnarvon stated in a dispatch (published in July, 1875) that the action of the Superintendent constituted a case which only local experience could decide, and that the Superintendent had evidently adopted, from the best motives, that course which to him seemed most expedient.
The most flourishing corporation in Hongkong, the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, acted like a thermometer indicating the periodic condition of the commercial atmosphere of Hongkong throughout Sir Arthur's administration. In February, 1872, the Bank declared a dividend equal to 12 per cent. for the year upon the paid up capital, and so also, with a little hesitation, in February, 1873, but in August, 1874, the Directors declared themselves unable to pay any dividend at all, and complained of heavy losses and failures all round, and in March, 1875, the Bank, though carefully managed in the face of adverse surroundings, was still in the same position, so much so that a Commission of Inquiry was suggested. But in September, 1876, the Bank had fully recovered lost ground, changed its Manager, rid itself of encumbered estates, and paid £1 dividend per share,
