February 20, 1895.1
said he wanted the money as he was going home. Witness last saw the deceased at 6 o'clock on the 14th iust.
At this point ir. Wodehouse adjourned the inquiry.
During the morning the prisoner. Nawab Shah, was taken before Commander W. C. 11, Hastings, and formal ovi lence of the arrest having been given by Inspector Corcoran, he was remanded.
AFFRAY BETWEEN THE MILITARY AND POLICE.
A COWARDLY ATTACK.
At 10.30 on Thu-sday night au Indian police man was in Quéou's Road Central, when he was called by a coolie to a half intoxicated marine, who had refused to pay hire for a ricksha, The constable was about to take the marine into custody when he was struck a violent blow by the inan.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
BONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meating of the Sanitary Board was held at the offices on Thursday afternoon, Mr. F. H. May, Cap'ain Saperintendent of Police, presiding. There were also present Ion F. A Cooper, Director of Public Works, Hon. Ho Kai, Mr. J. J. Francis. Q.O., Dr. W. Hartigan Mr. R. K. Leigh, and Mr. II. McCallum (Secretary).
POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT MEETING.
The report of the Senior Inspector on the condition of the dwellings on Inland Lot 1,018 was brought up.
The CHAIRMAN said that the report was in the members' hands only two days ago, and therefore there had not been sufficient time to consider it. He suggested that the report be discussed at the next meeting.
The suggestion was agreed to.
"The following wore the minutes attached
135
The following minutes were also appended: Mr. J. J. Francis-The Sanitary Board has not the me nor the means to undertake this work A Com. mittee has alre idy report d and the Board has accepted that report. Why is the question re-opened ?
Mr. R K. Leigh-I do not consider the Board ought to undertake any private work, as it is likely to place them in a very false position.
It was decided that the Board could not take up the matter.
MORTALITY STATISTICS The SECRETARY reported that the death rate per thousand per annum for the work ended 2nd
corresponding week of last year. February was 20.6 as compared with 16.3 in the The death rate for the week ended 9th February was 18,5 as compared with 19.2 at the corresponding timə last year.
APPLICATION FOR LEAVE.
An application was made by Inspector Germain for leave of absence, as he was in ill-health.
Dr. ARTIGAN said that this was an awkward time for the inspector to go away, as there were so many new Inspectors. Inspector Germain was a very good man, and it would be a mistake to make a change just now. Of course if he was really in ill-health no objection would be raised.
and leave the matter in the hands of the Vice- It was agreed to ask for a medical certificate
President.
SMALLPOX.
The SECRETARY reported a case of smallpox which had occurred in the married quarters of the MeGregor Barracks.
i
· A CASE FOR INVESTIGATIONĄ. A complaint was made by Colonel Jorrard. The policeman blew his whistle and D.A.A.G., against the watchman of the Kowloon a sergeant, also nu Indian, went to his assistanc», | slangliter-hanse, the allegation being that on Just then, however, about twenty privates of the the 14th January he refused to allow a butcher Rifle Brigade came up and by means of a dis-supplying meat to the Hongkong Regiment to graceful attack on the constable, managed to slaughter four shoop until he had been promised effect the rescue of the marine. The soldiers three catties of meat free of payment. The displayed their patriotison and maintained their charge was investigated by Mr. C. V. Ladds, reputation as brave defenders of the peace:
Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, who recommended by making an ugly rush at the two constables, that the services of the watchman-an Indian- whom then knocked abant in a cowardly manner. be dispensed with. Missiles were also thrown from the barracks, and at length the constables, who had lost their pri- soner, had to beat artrest. A telephone message for assistance was sent to the Central Polica Station, and several constables at one tarned out. but by the time they arrived on the sea, the soldiers bad docuped. In the scrimmage the Indian constable lost his carbine and fighis, which were, however, fonnd in the road son- time afterwards, and also sustained cut on his lips, while the sergeant had his eye disc lonred. Fortunately one of the attacking party has been identified. and a summons, returnable for to-day at the Police Court, has been issued against him. Formerly a civil conviction against a soldier reckoned as a court-martial, but we are informed that now a civil conviction is simply recorded as a company entry” and that it is owing to the alteration of the re- gulations that the soldiers let themselves run loose occasionally, and so give considerabl... trouble to the police authorities. Whether that |tion bo, addros ed to the military authorities generally overlopked can scarcely be said to be
"
Dr. Harligan. The charge is a serious one, and must be promptly dealt with. It would be well to circulate the two letters referred to by M. Fraudis.
Mr. J. J. Francis.Where is Colonel Jérrard's lot- tor of complaint? Why is it not with the papers and the letter from the Hongkong Regiment?" How comes it that Mr. Ladds investigates this complaint without authority from the Board I think the Board would certainly live renounened the ipilitary! au- and the watchman's letter of explanation seem to me thorities to prosecute. The statement of Mr. Ladds rather to fivone the watchman's statement than the Chinamen's.
Mr. Leigh. I do not consider that this Board 'can, with the evidence before them, decide.
Better pro-
suente.
The Colonial Surgeon.-I think with Mr. Francis that this is a case for proscention and inquiry betoro a Magistrate.
The Captain Superintoulent of Police-Seeing that the watchman is a servant of the Board I think. manding to prosecute if he emsiders there is a case. the matter might be referre i to the Officer. Com-
Mr. FRANCIS-I snigest that a communica
be so or not, the case certainly dem vids a stating that the Board is quite prepared to take thorough investigation, and we have no doubt a a formal investigation of the charge if the that the military officials deeply regret the out-statements of the Chinese complainants aro break of violene by a section of the Rifle reduced t: writing. Brigade, which is looked upon as our crack in- fantry regiment.
EXEMPLAR PUNISHMENT.
H
Dr. HARTIGAN-I think it will be well to giva the Vice-President authority to proceed on the receipt of the statements,||
THE LE-OCCUPATION OF BASEMENT FLOORS.
Three applications were made for permission to re-occupy basement floors closed by the Perman ut Committee during the plague, It was decided to inform the applicants that their enses would stand over pending the passing of the by-laws e-lating to the question.
AFTER THE WAR,
[CONTRIBUTAD
Now that the time seems to be drawing near when the conflict which is being carried on between China and Japan mast enter upon a new phase, it will not be out of place to call attention to certain points of profound significance which aro apt to be overlooked. That they should be
surprising. Since for our lawmakers training in law and study of the effects which laws pro- duce is not considered a pre-requisite, so neither for those whose duty it is to decide questions between societies is training in Sociology looked upon as needful. Nevertheless, by the help of this science the way to a solution of many dif com.cult questions concerning China and her people is made plain. Here we propose to indicate, as briefly as possible, the lise of action to which Sociology points as the only really permanent and satisfactory solution of of the most diffi cult problems of all history.
Mr. FRANCIS-On the repipt of any com- The conflict between a section of the Rifl Brigade and two Indian policemen had its sequel munication from the military authorities the in the Police Court on Saturday, when Com-
Vice-President may, at his discretion, take pro- mander W. C. H. Hastings had before bimceedings or let the inatter stand over. Harry Holmes, private No. 106 in the Rigs The suggestion, was agreed to. Brigade, Victoria Barracks, who was charged. with assaulting P. Singh whilst in the execution of his duty. Prisoner was further charred with assisting a prisoner to escape from custody.
IMPERMEABLE FLOORS.
Messrs. Palmer ani Turder wrote as fol- lows:-
Hugh McCallum, Esq,
Hongkong, Feb. 4.
PALMER AND TURNER.
Appended was the following minute by the Secretary-
Secy, Sanitary Board. P.C. Singh said that at 10.30 on the night of Dear Sir, -In reply to your letter of this dite re the just; he was on duty in Queen's Road, impermeable floors to basement or ground floor, we East, when no desed a whistle blown. He ran would beg to amend the thickness of concrete pro
posod in our letter of the 17th ni.. making the total up, and saw I.C. 638 with a recapted soldier in thickness & inches instead of 9 niches, vies, 4 inches his custody. Witness took bold of the sudder, lime concrete aut 2 inches lime and coment concret and proceeded to take him to the Police Station.hashed with a smooth surface. This we think will When outside the Soldiers' and Sailors' Institute, bo amplo for the purpose required. Yours faithfully, about 25 members of the Rifle Brigade chine out of the Institute. Defendant was amongst them, and he struck witness over the head with a stick, and discoloured his left eye. The whole of the Rifles then set about hin and succeeded in res quing the prisoner. Witness then wat back to the station, and on returning with other con- stables. mat the defendant in Queen's Road, Central, and at once recognised him. taken to the station, and a summons was ordered to be taken out against him.
He was
P. S. Godson said the last witness illcntified the defendant without any hesitation.
For the defence a Rifle Brigade private named Jacob Vertigan was called, who said that he and the defendant were in the Instituto at the time of the ass ult They word drinking together.
The defendant also denied being at the row, and said it was as he was returning from the Institute that he was arrested.
The Magistrate sent the prisoner to gaol for 42 days with hard labour.
I think Messrs Palmer ani Turner should be in formed that their first proposal was acceded to and they must now wait for the passing of the by-laws dealing with this matter.
A similar application was also received from Messrs. Liustoast and Davis.
The Board solved to allow the applications to stand over 10 give time for the consideration of the by-laws. It was proposed to reduce the thickness of impermeable floors from 9 inches to 6 inches.
RE-DRAINING PRIVATE PREMISES. A letter was submitted from Mr. Pestonjes Edulje, 60, Hollywood Road asking the Board to nädertake to reconstruction of defective drains at 88, Station Street, Yaumati, and offer- ing to pay all the expenses incurred.
In a minute attached Mr. Crook, Sanitary Surveyor, said he was unable to undertake pri vate work,
|
t.
It is now becoming more generally recognised that China is an "aggregate of the first order in what is known as the Oriental Stage," that is to say, during the course of her development the nation has been acted upon by so few exter- nal forces that internal activity was not main- tained, and the society, following the example of ancient Pern, Mexico, Assyria, and Egypt, gradually sank into a state of rigidity, the nation --its structures and component units--being. frozen into one large homogeneous mass, the re- sult of parting with its life heat, instead of, by sustained activity, preserving the same to itself for use in the hour of need. In consequence of this we find that many millions of men have, in many thousands of years, accomplished next to nothing in the way of civilization.
It would occupy too much space to pass in review all the various facts and inferences which go to show what a low stage China has succeeded in reaching during the many centuries of her existence as a society. These facts and some of
the inferences have been collected elsewhere, and many of them are familiar to the student of Sociology. But there has recently come from quite an unexpected quarter du instance which is of great value as indicating the same truth from a new standpoint, We hro accustomed to look upon the Chinese as our inferiors intel- lectually and morally, but hitherto no instance has been adduced showing conclusively that they are also our inferiors from the point of view of physical civilization. In a recent discussion, however, in a home periodical on the inheritance