January 22, 1896.]
a slip of paper, because it has always been an impossibility for me to remember names for any length of time. May I also ask you, in conclusion, though it is not germane to the subject of the toast, to permit me to thank his Excellency for his kind words just now respecting my recovery. Ladies and gentlemen," Prosperity to the Po Leung Kuk Society." (Applause.)
The toast was responded to by Mr. Leung Pai Chi, who said—your Excellency, Mr. Francis, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Po Leung Kuk I thank you very much for the kind manner in which you have just received the toast. The Society is pleased that its work is progressing and they will try to do their best to continue that work, and they hope it will be supported by every person in Hongkong, regard- less of nationality. (Applause).
The proceedings then terminated.
FORMOSA.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT WITH THE JAPANESE ARMY.]
TAIPEнFU, 11th January. The last reports are that everything has quieted down as far as warlike opposition to the Japanese is concerned, although the reports from some of the distant posts have not been received yet.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
1.ONGKONG SANITARY BOARD,
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on the 16th January at the offices. Hon F. A. Cooper (Director of Public Works) presided, and there were also present-Hon. Commander W. C. H. Hastings (Acting Captain Superintendent of Police), Dr. Atkinson (Acting Colonial Surgeon), Dr. F. A. Clarke (Medical Officer of Health), Mr. N. J. Ede, and Mr. H. McCallum Secretary).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
NOTICES OF ACTION BY THE BOARD.
The following letter was read from the Colonial Secretary-9th January, 1896. Sir, With reference to the resolution passed by the Sanitary Board on the 3rd inst. on the subject of awnings and sunshades, I am directed by the Governor to suggest that in matters affecting private property it would be advisable in future to give due notice of the action which the Board intends to take and to explain the object of such intended action to the persons concerned. In the case of Chinese the Board might use- fully communicate its intentions through the usual medium, viz., the Registrar-General."
The following minutes were attached. The President-I don't see how such a curse can Nuisances require alaite met forthwith Notice of special action should be sent to the Registrar-General.
Mr. Ede-This only applies to awnings and san- shades and fair notice and explanation should be given. I do not agree that all resolutions of the Board e sent to the Registrar General. It is only making unnecessary work.
All North Formosa is under military rule at present, the streets are filled with sentries, Chi-be practicably carried out, nese are not allowed to walk about unless having a pass, and foreigners who are out after night. fall have to run the gauntlet of challenging guards while in the street. Reinforcements are expected in a day or so and the North will be subject to spring housekeeping in a way which will surprise those rebels who consider it good enough to be a smiling peaceful inhabitantment of nuisces on private property? If a rea- during the day and a howling, murdeing rebel at night.
JAMES W. DAVIDSON.
SUPREME COURT.
18th January.
CRIMINAL SESSIONS.
BEFORE HON. W. M. GOODMAN (ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE.)
FORGERY.
The Health Office: -Does this apply to the abate- sonable notice is always given, and the Rard's in- structions explained, both to Chinese and others. I suggest that the resolution of the Board passed on the 3d inst. on the subject of awnings and funshades be communicated through the usual nedjumi viz, the Registrarfieneral, and that the Secretary receive instructions to transmit all resolutions of the Board relating to Sanitary matters affecting the polony, to the Registrar-General for his information.
The President said he proposed to acknow ledge the receipt of the letter and inform the Colonial Secretary that in the opinion of the Board it appeared desirable to send notice to the Registrar-General when special action was taken affecting the Chinese, but not when action was taken specially affecting the sanitation of the colony.
TAINTED WELL WATER
Choi Cheung pleaded not guilty to a charge of forging a request for payment of $34 and en- deavouring to be caused to be paid to a Chinese
Mr. W. E. Crow, Government Analyst, boy the money under a forged letter.
Hon. H. E. Pollock (Acting Attorney-Gen-reported that six samples of well water which eral) prosecuted on behalf of the Grown, being he had analysed were so tainted with inpurities as to be unfit for potable purposes and likely to instructed by Mr. A. B. Johnson (Crown
prove injurious to health. Solicitor).
The following jury tried the case--- Messrs. C. M. Firth, J. Lamke, H. Crombie. SR. Ismail, W. A. Duff, J. Baptista, Chau Yun.
The prisoner was found guilty, and throe previous convictions were recorded against him. He was sent to gaol for two years with hard
labour.
CASE WITHDRAWN.
The Acting Attorney-General said he did not intend to proceed with the case against Kwok I Kau, the coxswain on a steam launch which ran down a sampan in the harbour on the 2nd inst., causing the death of one man.
The prisoner, who had been committed on a charge of manslaughter, was therefore dis charged.
NOT GUILTY,
Wong Sing was charged with attempting to bribe a Chinese police sergeant with 65 cents. The jury, who were the same as in the forgery ose, irst returned a verdict of not guilty by a majority of four to three, but his Lordship coal not take this verdict, and the jury then returned a verdict of not guilty by a majority of five to two. The prisoner was thereupon discharged.
This concluded the business of the Sessions!
From the Peking and Tientsin Times we learn that a rumour has been current in native circles at Tientsin that H. E. Li Hung-chang is shortly to be re-instated in his former offices there.
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The wolls in question were ordered to be closed.
THE OBSTRUCTION OF NARROW
NES.
Messrs Leigh and Orange wrote asking if the Board would sanction the erection of new cook-houses at the back of houses on the east of Tung Man Lane, provided such cook-houses extended for only half the width of each house. The minutes recommended the refusal of the application, the Health Officer remarking that it was of vital importance that narrow lanes at the backs of houses should be kept open and unobstructed.
It was resolved not to accede to the application.
MR. CROW'S WORK FOR THE BOARD.
A long letter was read from Mr. W. E. Crow, Government Analyst, having reference to the work done by him for the Sanitary Board since the 18th April last. The duties entrusted to him included special plague services, the en- forcement of the Ordinance concerning the occupation of basements, the removal of ob- structions in alleys, streets, &c., and the removal of cocklofts and cubicles in domestic buildings. Mr. Crow gave many details of his work for the Sanitary Board, and in conclusion said he would be glad at any time to place at the dis- posal of the Board bis views on any of the sub- jects on which he had been engaged during the past seven months.
The following minutes were attached. Mr. Ede-Mr. Crow has evidently done some very valuable work.
71
The Colonial Surgeon-I certainly think Mr. Crow should receive some extra remuneration for the arduous and valuable work carried out by him during the most trying months of the year.
The Acting Captain Superintendent of Police-I agree with Mr. Ede.
The ACTING CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE moved-"That the Board desires to record its appreciation of the very valuable services zealously rendered by Mr. Crow."
Mr. EDE, in seconding said he heard that the Government had recognised in a substantial manner Mr. Crow's excellent services. Mr. Crow had fully earned such recognition.
The resolution was carried.
THE LIMEWASHING OF HOUSES. The Health Officer wrote as follows to the
of
Secretary—“ 6th January, 1896. Sir, I have the honour to recommend, for the consideration of the Board, the desirability of adopting a by- law which shall compel the cleansing and lime- washing of all tenement houses at least twice a year. Power is given to the Board to make such a
by-law under Ordinance 24 1887 section 13 sub-section 4. and I would suggest some such wording as the following: -Any house or part of a house, unless specially exempted by the Board, which is occupied by members of more than one family. shall be cleansed and limewashed throughout by the owner, to the satisfaction of the Banitary Board, not less than twice in every year, namely, during the months of February or March and of September or October respectively
The following minutes were appended- The Acting Colonial Surgeon-I recommend the adoption of the by-law suggested by the M.O.H.
The Acting Superintendent of Police-I agree with the Acting Colonial Surgeon.
The President-Add "and notice of such intended cleaning and lime-washing shall be sent to the Secre tary of the Sanitary Board three days before the work is commenced.'
The Secretary-I think the sub-section should be dealt with as a whole, viz., (1) cleansing premises, (2) lime whiting premises, and (3) the proper sani- tary maintenance of premises in the colony. About half a dozen by-laws would, I think, cover the whole.
In the course of a short discussion Mr. EDE said a lot of nonsense had been talked about class legislation. He believed in class legislation and thought it was beneficial to the people generally.
It was resolved to pass a by-law in the terms of the one drafted by the Health Officer with the addition suggested by the President.
IMPORTED MEAT.
Hu Yan, lessee of No. 23 beef stall, Centrál Market, asked that a permit might be granted fo him for importing from Canton and Whampoa beef for sale in the colony, as such beef is of superior quality in Canton and Whampoa.
The following minutes were appended- The Secretary-I am of opinion that this request should not be granted. However, if there are people in the colony who are willing to buy meat imported from these places and they are fully aware that what I pre- they are buying is such imported dead meat, sume their wishes must be met.
The President-I don't think this should be mals being slaughtered outside the colony and the granted. It would probably lead to neglected ani- ment imported as Whampoa beef.
All the other members recommended refusal, and it was resolved to inform the applicant accordingly.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
For the week ended 4th January the death rate was 19.9 per 1,000 per annum, as compared with 18.5 for the corresponding week of last year.
ADJOURNMENT,
The Board adjourned until Thursday week,
We (Japan Gazette) understand that two adventurous Americans who recently arrived in Yokohama, Dr. W. H. Furness and Dr. H. M. Hiller, who hail from Philadelphia and are now staying at the Grand Hotel, have purchased from Captain Snow the schooner Retriever, and are now fitting her out with the view of embark. ing on an expedition to Borneo. Their inten tion, we believe, is to land on the western coast of the island, to travel up one of the rivers as far as possible into the interior, and thence to make their way as best they can to the eastern side of the island, where the Retriever will be awaiting their arrival.