THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH SEPTEMBER, 1880. 721
5. Mr. CORCORAN's letter of the 24th of July complains of his quarters and says the confinement is not suitable to his health. Unfortunately on making enquiry on the 28th of July, I found that, up to that date, the dry earth system had not been introduced.
6. I have asked for some explanation of what seems to have been an unnecessary delay in carry- ing out an urgent and not very difficult reform; but I apprehend it will not be necessary to take any further notice of it, as I now learn that in two or three days after muy enquiry of the 28th of July the practical result was actually accomplished, by the commencement of the dry earth system; and it is at this moment in operation in the "Gaol.
The Right Honourable the Earl of CARNARVON,
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
J. POPE HENNESSY.
&c.,
&c.,
&c.
L
COLONIAL SURGEON TO ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
"
GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL,
HONGKONG, August 2nd, 1877.
SIR-In replying to the Minute of His Excellency the Governor in regard to the date when the dry earth system was introduced into the Victoria Gaol, I would refer you to my letter of the 11th June, a copy of which I enclose.
In that letter I explained that in respect to the Gaol my functions were not executive, and being purely consultative, I limited myself to arranging with the Honourable Surveyor General for the carrying out of His Excellency's wishes.
Mr. PRICE now informs ine twenty dry earth closets have been working in the Gaol since the date of His Excellency's first Minute, that ninety-one are on the verge of completion, and that the remainder will be finished during the month.
A better quality of earth than that heretofore used is to be brought from Kowloon, and observa- tions will be made of its efficacy after a sufficient trial.
I may add that the new buckets are being prepared as I have recommended, so as to insure a more perfect deodorization.
Honourable C. C. SMITH,
I
[No. 3.]
Acting Colonial Secretary.
I have, &c..
PH. B. C. AYRES, Colonial Surgeon.
VICTORIA GAOL,
7th January, 1878.
SIR,--With reference to the "dry earth system" in Victoria Gaol, which up to the present time has worked satisfactorily, the earth having been supplied by the Surveyor General's Department, I have the honour to state that the last supply is exhausted and that more is urgently required.
In answer to my requisition to the Surveyor General's Department on the 1st January, I was informed by Mr. BOWDLER that "from the first of the current year dry carth would be provided by the Gaol Department," and as there are no records in the Gaol office to show that any arrangement and been made on the subject, I have the honour to request that I may be informed how the earth will be provided.
The Honourable J. GARDINER Austin,
I have, &c..
T. C. DEMPSTER, Capt.. Acting Superintendent.
(
Colonial Secretary,
MINUTE BY THE SURVEYOR GENERAL.
I
regret this unfortunate delay should have occurred through my absence from the office last . The earth is now being sent to the Gaol. I had arranged with Captain DeCAT to supply the th-while he was to pay for it out of the Gaol grant voted expressly for the purpose. arth service will now coutiune uninterruptedly through the year.
The dry
J. M. PRICE.
Sth January, 1878, -