June 26, 1895.)
parties and to assist the inspectors in the work of their districts.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE PLAGUE.
Sanitary Board,
24th June 1895. The following are the statistics of cases of
from June 14th to noon this day
13 11
25
4
27
deaths
9.-The Board having approved of a reduction from the 1st instant of the number of police and military engaged on special sanitary service, nine men of the Rifle Brigade and nine Euro-plague pean and Asiatic police were withdrawn from No. of cases reported that date. The addition of chlorinated line to the night-suil in public latrines has been dis. continued, but as it was considered desirable to maintain for the present the use of this dis- infectant on a modified scale, a number of earth- enware pote containing small quanties of the powder moistened with water have been dis. tributed in all the latrines open to the public in accordance with the recommendations of the Board.
10.-The following are the details of the new scheme for house-to-house visitation by a party consisting of 3 European polics constables, 12 Chinese police constables, 5 non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Engineers and 7 non-commissioned officers and men of the Rifle Brigade. The detachment now works in 3 sections instead of 5 as formerly, each section being in charge of a European police constable. The extent and nature of the duties of these sections are set forth in the attached copies of the instructions handed over to the three con- stables, detailed to take charge, on the night of
the 1st inst.
11-Only five cases of plague are known to have occurred since the day on which the first case was reported, viz, the 29th of April. Not a single case has beeu reported since the 10th of May. Particulars of these five cases will be found in schedule B.
...
treatment*
PRESENTATION TO INSPECTOR MANN.
483
constitutes the most important item of addition- al expenditure as compared with the previous year, and this was brought about chiefly, as you are all fully aware, by the greatly enhanced cost of this article. We have been able to renew our present coal contracts on more favourable terms, and we trust that in spite of the large consump tion nece sary to meet the increased demand for incandescent lighting, our next twelve months' coal bill will be smaller in proportion to our re- * Admitted during the past 24 hours.
venue from arc aud incandescent lighting. As Of these two new cases, one is a former inmate I have already stated, the earnings from installa- of No. 10, Heung Lane who has been in segregation and other work are 86, 00 more than dur- tion on a marriage boat since the 16th inst. The ing the previous year, but the profit derived from second case is from No 235, Queen's Road West, these sources is about the same. As mentioned The total number of deaths from plague since by me this time last year, in order to meet our the 29th of April, the day on which the first customers' wishes to the fullest extent and to case was reported, is sixteen.
hasten if possible the extension of electric light- W. EDWARD CROW, ing, the Company is following the policy of making | Assistant Sanitary Superintendent. little or no profit on the work of installation, the
charges for work done and material supplied be ing cut down as nearly as possible to cost price. Several of our contracts entered into in 1893 have resulted in a small loss owing to exchange, which I regret to say materially increases the cost of many of our supplies. In spite of this, however, we have been able to still further reduce the price of incandescent lamps. The result of the year's working shows that the number of incandescent lamps has been increased from 1,400 to 2,400, and the revenue derived from the sale of the current for the last month is nearly double that for the corresponding month of last year, whilst the running ex- penses aro very little higher. To obtain these results I am of opinion that your Directors were fully justified in making some saeri- fice. In the item for repairs you will notice an increase of some $400 over the 1894 ac- counts, which is mainly due to damage caused by the typhoons last-September and October. I think that, all things considered, the Company got very well out of their troubles on those oc casions, and I may be allowed to say here that the working staff all round displayed great energy and promptness in executing the necessary re- pairs. The balance overdrawn at the Company's bankers has been further reduced, and I hope that in our future accounts the item will dis- appear. Profit and loss account shows a balance at credit of $16,406.82. You are aware that so far nothing has been written off the cost of plant, and your Directors have deemed it prudent to write $10,000 off plant account and carry forward the balance to a new account. This course, we feel sure, will be considered a Inspector Mann returned thanks for the hand-wise one by shareholders generally. Our pro some presents and for the kind wishes that had been expressed towards him.
On Wednesday Inspector Manu was presented with a handsome gold watch by the officersand men of the Hongkong Police Force. Inspector Mann has been in the force sixteen years, and on Thurs day went home on leave, and will not return, Mr. Duggan, the paymaster, made the presenta tion, and said that the Captain Superintendent had intended to make the presentation, but his duties prevented him from being present; and, unfortunately, Chief Inspector Corcoran was too ill to attend. Mr. Duggan said he was perhaps the oldest member of the force, and could bear testimony to the good fellowship 12.-Fourteen prsons from infected premises and good feeling that bad existed between were provided with accommodation in the Inspector Mann aud the other members of "marriage" boats or native marine hotels hired the force. Inspector Mann had done his duty for this service and anchored at the back of well; he had also participated in the force's Stonecutters island. Ao sickness developed triumphs; he had been captain of the shoot- among those segregated. On the 8th of May ing team on several occasions, and the force the last batch was released.
was sorry to lose him, Everyone trusted that he would enjoy good health in his own country, and the same good wishes were expressed towards Mrs. Mann and the family. Mr. Duggan banded the watch to Mr. Mann, and read the following inscription upon it" Presented to Inspector A. Mann by the officers and men of the Hong- kong Police Force as a token of their esteem and respect on his departure for home on leave. with the intention of retiring from the Police Force after sixteen years' service, 20th Jane, 1895." Mr. Duggan also handed a box of table rings for Mrs. Mann
Mezzanine Floors and Cubicles. 13.—In schedule C will be found a statemert of the progress that has been made in the eight Health Districts of the City of Victoria in en- forcing compliance with the provisions of section 7 of Ordinancs 15 of 1894. In all 1,705 notices to remove either the cubicles or cocklofts have been served. A very large number of petitions for permission to allow cubicles and cocklofts to co-exist, which the Board has power to give, have been received. A considerable time must necessarily elapse before the law on this subject has been fully enforced throughout the city. In many instances where compliance with the law will involve considerable structural altera- tions the parties concerned have placed the mat- ter in the hands of their architects.
Basements.
14-Notices in writing of intention to take legal proceedings after a stated time have been served on the actual tenants, householders and owners or 95 basement rooms in illegal occupa- tion as dwellings. The exact situation of each basement is set forth in schedule D. This return does not include a large number of basements which when first inspected were found to be inhabited and were subsequently vacated after the law had been explained to the occupants and a verbal warning conveyed. A complete des- criptive return of all basements in the city and the uses to which they are applied is in prepara- tion.We have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servants,
WM. C. H. HASTINGS.
Acting Capt. Supt. of Police, W. EDWARD CROW,
Assistant Sanitary Superdt The Secretary, Sanitary Board.
Inspector A. Mann, who, as already mentioned, was the recipient of several. testimonials on his retirement from the Police Force of the colony, left by the mail steamer on Thursday. His com rades thought it a fit occasion to
Up and gie him a blaw, a blaw,
So they marched him doon to the Praya wa' Wi a hundred pipers an' a' an' a' Well, not exactly the historical hundred, but they had six with drum-accompaniment,
HONGKONG ELECTRIC CO., ĻIMITED.
The annual general meeting of the sliare. holders of the Hongkong Electric Company, Limited, was held at noon on Saturday at the office of Messrs Gibb, Livingston and Co. There were present Mr. H. L. Dalrymple (Chair- Hon. J. J. Bell Irving (Directors), W. H. man), Hon. C. P. Chater, Mr. J. Kramer, Wickham (Manager), C. F. Harton (Secretary). G. H. Potts, J. S. Perry, C. S. Sharp, R. H. R, Burder, W. Howell, E. Terry, W. S. Bailey, and W. Jackson.
On the 11th inst. Dr. A. de Flesch, Acting The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, the report Consul for Austro-Hungary at Yokohama, while and accounts have been in your hands for the driving along the Bluff road met with a serious ac- past two weeks, and with your permission I pro. oident, through his dog-cart's axle cap striking pose that they be taken as read.
The gross against an electric-light pole. The shock of the earnings show an increase of $23,000 on last impact caused the shafts of the vehicle to snap year's statement, but this includes an amount of off short, and Dr. de Flesch leaped to the ground 35,000 brought forward from 1834 on account of still holding the reins. The frightened horse installations in hand and uncompleted, thus mak- broke into a gallop and before his driver could ing the net increase on the year's working release his hold of the reins he was dragged $13,000. Of this latter sum, $7,000 is accounted down and along the road. Dr. de Flesch's for by the increased supply of currents for in- wounds are confined to the left cheek, which is candescent lights; and the balance, $6,000 for in- badly out and braised. The injured man was stallations and other works executed. Against conveyed to the General Hospital as quickly as the increased amount received for incandescent possible, where his wounds were speedily at lighting we have to place an increase in the Lagided to, tum eld?
item for fuel, amounting to some $3,700. Coal
perty and plant have been maintained in thorough order, and your Directors have much pleasure in testifying to the zeal and excel- lent work of your Manager and of his staff generally during the past twelve months. Be fore moving the adoption of the report and accounts I shall be pleased to afford any further information in regard to the affairs of the Com- pany so far as is in my power, consistent with the welfare of the business,
Mr. BAILEY-Do the Directors receive any remuneration ?
The CHAIRMAN-We have had none for the last five years.
Mr. BAILEY-I hope the Company will soon be in a position to afford it.
The CHAIRMAN-We shall be very happy to find ourselves justified in taking it.
Mr. BAILEY-The accounts show $2,000 for office expenses; does that include the General Managers P
The CHAIRMAN—Yes.
Mr. BAILEY-There was an increase in the
price of coal during the war between China and Japan; what proportion does that show to the
total ?
The CHAIRMAN-Practically the increase amounted to a dollar a ton, average,
Mr. BAILEY-This $952 for repairs, is that ordinary or extraordinary expenditure ?
The CHAIRMAN-A portion of it is extraordin- ary-about $400 for damage done by typhoons, but naturally, with a plant of $170,000© or $180,000 value, there must be some current re- pairs required, and I think $500 or $600 is not much.
There being no other questions the CHAIRMAN proposed that the report and accounts as pre- sented be adopted and passed.
Mr. BURDER seconded. Carried.
The CHAIRMAN proposed that the appoint-