There are, however, grounds for believing that öhildren are more liable to infection than was the case in that year.
Twenty-two persons other than Chinese have contracted the disease during the current year. Their nationalities were as follows:-
6 ...15
1
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Europeans Indians... (including Mrs. Joseph and her family reported in my despatch Nó. 87 of 16th April, 1896).
Y Siamese Amongst the Europeans two Sisters of Charity from the Italian Convent have died, having contracted the disease from a case which occurred in that convent. The third case was
•
5
on
a master mariner named James Ernest Cloud, living at a marine boarding-honge, who, it is believed, contracted the disease board Chinese launch running between Hongkong and Kowloon. He, also, I regret to say, suc- cumbed to the attack. The other cases were those of two children of Warder Gidley of the Victoria Gaol, one of whom died and the other recovered, and of an Austrian in the employ of Messrs. Sander & Co., who is still under treat- ment at the Government Civil Hospital and is progressing favourably towards convalescence. The Siamese died, and of the fifteen Indians six died, four recovered, and five are still under treatment.
18.-Early in March it was deemed advisable, in view of the possibility of the disease assuin- ing an epidemic form, to procure extra medical assistance, and by the courtesy of Admiral Hoffmann, I was fortunate enough to be able to secure the services of Dr. Wilm of the Imperial German Navy, whose eminent attain- ments
8.8 & bacteriologist and intimate acquaintance with this particular disease, which he had previously studied here as well as under Professor Koch in Berlin, render him a most valuable acquisition to the Government medical staff. He arrived here from Japan on the 14th March, since which time he has been actively engaged in treating patients at the Kennedy- town hospital.
19.—With regard to the origin of the plague ́ ́there seems no doubt that it may be classed as a filth disease. It is confined chiefly to the poorer classes of the Chinese, whose dirty and insanitary habits foster its progress. The or- dinary Chinaman of the poorer class in this colony seldom thinks of cleaning his house, and the heaps of dirt and rubbish which the house- cleansing parties remove from one small floor of a house causes the spectator to wonder where the occupant can find room for himself. Many of the houses are, moreover, so situated and constructed as to afford an utterly inadequate supply of light and ventilation and the position is aggravated by the high rents which prevail in this colony and which encourage overcrowd- ing. The housing of the working classes in Hongkong is an important question the con sideration of which should be no longer delayed. I accordingly propose shortly to appoint a Commission to enquire into and report on this
matter.
20-It is also a noteworthy fact that the outbreak of the present year, as in 1894, was preceded by a prolonged scarcity of water. In 1894 the rainfall commenced exceptionally late, and not until the supply of water in the reser- voirs was nearly exhausted, while in 1895 the amount of rain which fell was so abnormally small (45.84 inches instead of the usual 90 inches) that it was necessary, in order to husband the supply until the rains of 1896, to place the colony on a limited supply through- out the dry season of 1895-1896. On the other hand it must not be forgotten that the rainfall of 1894, when it did at last come, was accom- panied by a sudden and very great increase in the number of cases of plague, doubtless because the wet weather drove the Chinese within doors
increased the overcrowding in their houses. The reins this year began early and there is now no scarcity of water in the colony.
21With regard to the financial aspect of the situation I will address a further com- munication to you at a later date. In the mean time I will content myself with remarking that, although the measures which I have described necessarily involve a considerable outlay, all
sible economy is being exercised, bearing in mind the urgent necessity of complete and com- prehensive action in suppressing at all hazards
(2.) The Welsback lantern is less liable
(3.) The Welsback intense light for the purpose in view and is much cheap lamp in the initial cost and
Four of the new posts in San however, carry lanterns of the 8 pattern, involving a monthly cost of 83.60 per lamp, and giving a light candles.
The Committee further recommend Tantern ordinary glass tops of stre placed by opal glass as op this will increase the light by will not be charged for by the Gas
this fell disease, the annual recurrence of which power will only cannot fail to affect prejudicially the prosperity of the burner. of this colony. That those measures are bear--years, after ing good fruit may, I think, be fairly deduced per annum wi from the figures of the return of cases, which the lights will be cannot be considered alarmingly high when it is borne in mind that the disease is raging with great virulence in the city of Canton and on the mainland in the neighbourhood of the colony, and that the population of the colony has not been diminished by any such extensive exodus of the Chinese as took place is 1894.
22-In conclusion, I desire to state that the members of the Sanitary Board and its staff deserve great credit for the efficient manner in which they are supervising and discharging duties of an arduous and disagreeable nature, but extra and anxious work has also fallen on other departments. do not propose on the present occasion to mention the names of individuals deserving of special commendation. I consider that the staff at present employed in plague work aided as it is by departments is sufficient to cope with the existing conditions, but so long as the disease is epidemic in Canton this colony can never be free from grave anxiety. If the plague continues to rage in that city, it may be necessary to endeavour to prohibit Chinese im. migration into this colony from thence, though I doubt whether it will be possible to devise steps for that purpose which will prove really effective. In any case nothing will be left undone which can in any way help to eradicate a disease which has already inflicted great loss and suffering on this colony and which may permanently affect its welfare unless it can be prevented from recurring.—I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
WILLIAM ROBINSON,
Governor. The Right Honourable Mr. Joseph Chamber-
lain, M.P., Her Majesty's Principal Secre tary of State for the Colonies, &c., &c., &c., Downing Street, London.
THE PUBLIC LIGHTING.
of the city of Victoria and British Kowloon Papers on the question of the public lighting
were laid on the table of the Legislative Coun- cil Wednesday. The first paper is a report by a committee, as follows:-
the letter of appointment issued by His Ex- In pursuance of the directions contained in cellency the Governor on the 9th January, 1896, to find out what streets require better lighting and the cost thereof," the undersigned Committee have the honour to submit the following report:-
The Committee held nine meetings, during seven of which they perambulated the city of Victoria and peninsula of Kowloon between the hours of 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
witness, Mr. T. Collins, the Secretary of the At their ninth meeting they examined one Hongkong and China Gas Company. Limited, and they also considered the gas and electric light contracts.
alterations in thedighting of the streets aggre The Committee recommend increases and gating $14,152.90, exclusive of the cost of mooring lights, cutting trees, and removing signboards.
positions of the various additions and alterations In the appendix will be found the nature and suggested.
Additions suggested.
Posts 156 @ $26:40 Brackets 154 @ $18.00 Bridges 4 @ $40.00 -
The Committee would also ing of the cable lamps at Hunghom when it is extended to that remarks would apply to the lamps at V though the date in that case would appear more remote.
The bulk of the new lights sugge city of Victoria would be placed in and blind alleys, many of them which, whether private or public, a police point of view and for the protecti life and property, be lighted without delay
WM. 0. HE HASTINGS,
kas Chairman:
· C. P. CHÂTERİN SU
·Ho Kar 324 To His Excellency Governor Sir W. Robinson,
'K.C.M.G.
of Public Works, who in his reply sayi
The above report was referred to the Director
General speaking, the question of l streets may be divided into two headings,
16
(a) The lighting, of public streeta,
and-lanes, and
(b) The lighting of private streets,
and lanes.
The former can only properly point of view the latter may be consider
'public lighting," though perhape from s
if not the more important.
In urban districts in England, the improve ment, including lighting, of private streets roads is regulated by the section-150, Pablio Health Act 1875, under which section the t authority has power to call upon the owner or owners of the property abutting upon such streets if they are not properly paved, channelled, or satisfaction of the authority necessary works within a specified tim maintenance, and lighting of private street
The question of the efficient construction
lanes is one that I have on previous referred to.
In my opinion the owners of pro ting on private streets and liberally treated in all cases whe pray to the Government, but until suo are prepared to hand lanes that are used as public tho lanes are taken over by the Gove cost of efficiently, lighting, them
cost of lighting abutting thereon, and I wou doubtedly devolve on the
city $42,527, whilst the revenue rate of 13 per cent, levied the preser Karateabl $19,700, lea
Initial cost. ...$4,118.4000
2,772.00 160.00
314 Welsback burners for above @$7.50 2,855.00
Alterations recommended. The existing gas lamps 638 to be re
duced by 5, and the remaining. 633 fitted with Welsback, burners $7.50 ...
*$9,405.40
annum only expenditure
to place the
satisfactory annual cost lights required
It is not the ther
streets an 4,747:50 to the vari
$14,152.90 stree
The Committee recommend the use Welsback burners for the following reasons
(1.) The present cost of upkeep per 11 or 12 candle-power is $2:85 per mensem,
here as that for the Welsback of 25 to 90 candle
posta the 16 18
Generall
considerable
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