May 20, 1897.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
blocks. The whole has been executed depart mentally..
progress occurred; and further for the last three years owing to the period it takes to level and weight the foundations, the apparatus Murray Road Pier-The upper surface of and plant obtained for this purpose, on the the rubble stone foundations (4,083 superficial assumption that when once commenced the feet) has been levelled formed and covered with work would be continuous to completion, have cement concrete 4 feet thick (3,28 superficial proved insufficient to meet the demands made feet) forming a bed for the first course of concrete upon them; hence it is that the rapid coimple blocks: The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th courses of tion of the reclamation from Ice House Street boncrete blocks containing 18,938 cubic feet to Pottinger Street has been rendered im- have been set, the joints and joggles run in practicable, and letters have been received from cement, the bearting containing 330 cubic the very person who signed the petition in 1893 yards of rubble stone hand packed and 1.37 cubic complaining of what they so strongly urged,yards of sand filling to interstices has been viz., the suspension of the work.
brought up level with the upper side of the third course of concrete block; and the whole weighted and consolidated ready for the com- pletion of the superstructure as soon as the tides serve.
new
*
For weighting and consolidating the founda- tions of this pier 431 eight foot blocks con. taining 41,406 cubic feet and weighing about 2.484 tons were used for that purpose. The whole has been executed departmentally.
THE REGISTRAħ-GENERAL'S REPORT FOR 1896.
REVENUE.
Reconstruction of Government, Piers.Nam Pack Hong Pier, opposite the lower end of Wing Lok Street. The progress of the work on this pier as well as the work on Section No. 3 was considerably delayed by the sub- sidence of the rubble stone foundations of the landing pier, landing steps and a portion of the sea wall, on a length of 113 feet. These foundations were brought up to the required height, trimmed and levelled, and upon which 844 eight foot weighting blocks containing 82,000 anbic feet and weighing about 5,000 tons were placed to compress and consolidate them. before setting the concrete blocks and erecting
We make the following extracts from the the ashlar masonry of sea wall, landing steps &c., when on the evening of the 3rd July, sud-report of the Registrar-General laid before the denly and without warning, the whole subsided Legislative Council on the 17th May from 10 to 16 feet, the upper courses of weighting blocks sliding off the pile into deep water. The solid ground of the sea bottom at this spot is about 82 feet below the coping of the sea wall; there being at low water spring tides about 40 feet of water and 30 feet of mud, consequently the taking up of the weighting blocks was a long and difficult work This work was done departmentally, the whole of the divers, plant, pontoon crane, &c., were employed in raising the blocks and stacking them on the foundations of sea wall, Section No 4, for weighting purposes. In repairing and making good the defective founda- tions 3,581 cubic yards of rubble stone were used, the upper surface and slopes were relevelled and trimmed by the divers and the whole re-weighted. Six hundred and eight (608) eight foot blocks containing 58,368 cubic feet and weighing about 3,502 tons were used for that purpose, the whole being placed in position on the 21st November. The divers, coolies, plant, pontoon crane, &c., were em- ployed 63 working days and 128 hours overtime in raising the weighting blocks, re-levelling and trimming the foundations and in replacing the weighting blocks in position on the new foundations where they will have to remain for five or six weeks before they can be removed to allow of the concrete blocks being permanently
laid.
Pottinger Street Pier.-The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th courses of concrete blocks containing 13,122 cubic feet of cement concrete and granite ashlar facing have been set, the joints and joggles run in cement, the hearting con- taining 332 cubic yards of rubble stone hand packed and 287 cubic yards of sand filling to interstices has been brought up level with the upper surface of the fourth course of concrete blocks and the whole weighted and consolidated ready (as soon as the tides serve) to receive the ashlar masonry, &c., for the completion of the upper portions of the pier above the concrete
blocks.
For weighting and consolidating the founda- tions of this pier 392 eight foot blocks con- taining 37,632 cubic feet and weighing about 2,258 tons were used. The whole has been executed departmentally.
Pedders Street, Western Pier and Return Wall. The upper surface of the rubble stone foundations (4,265 superficial feet) has been levelled and formed, and a layer of cement concrete (2,576 superficial) 4 feet thick laid. forming a bed for the first course of concrete blocks. Portions of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd courses of concrete blocks containing 13,311 cubic feet have been set and the joints and joggles run in cement. A portion of the hearting containing 271 cubic yards of rubble stone band packed and 242 cubic yards of sand filling to interstices has been brought up level with the upper surface of the third course of concrete blooks ready to receive the weighting
|
395
Emigration of Chinese to the United States has been facilitated by the recognition by the Government of that country in the case of residents in Hongkong of certificates of identity- signed by the Registrar-General as primă facie evidence of the right of the holders under the Laws and Treaties in force to enter the country. A fee of three dollars is charged for each certificate.
POPULATION.
The following is the estimate of the number of the population of the Colony for the 30th June:-British and Foreign community, 12,709; Chinese, 226,710; total 239,419. It is based on the preliminary returns of a census which was taken on the night of the 20th January, 1897. An estimate based on the increase of the population since the year 1857 is evidently not to be depended upon. One based on the number of animals slaughtered for food during the year, due regard being paid to the price, might lead to a closer approximation to the truth. According to this method the population at the end of last year was estimated at 236,000.
MARRIAGES.
The number of marriages solemnized during the year was 71 as compared with 90 in 1895.° Of these one was celebrated twice, so the actual number of marriages was 70. The number of marriages between Chinese in Victoria on the occasion of which permits to fire crackers were issued was 207 as against 194 in 1895. BIRTHS AND DEATHS (ORDInance no. 15 OF 1896.)
·
This Ordinance came into force on the 16th November, 1896. It is a great improvement on the original Ordinance No. 7 of 1872. In addition to the notification of deaths being rendered compulsory, the most important regulation is the prohibition of the removal, without a permit, of the dead bodies, if the cause of death has not been registered.
The revenue collected during the year amounted to $97.620.61 or $4,699.61 more than that for the preceding year, notwithstand-
three items, ing that
viz :--the rent the the cattle-shed,
rent of five of houses in New Street, and the rent for the wooden huts on the Praya Reclamation at West Point, which brought in a revenue of $2,889.00 in the year 1895, no longer appear. The chief increase, $5,884.16, ocours under the head of Markets and of this $5,277.69 are derived from the Central Market. The rent received from this building for the year was The births among the British and Foreign $36,838.20. The revenue from boat licences community were 255 compared with 232 in also shows an increase of $1,094.20. A small 1895, and the number of births registered as income is derived from fees for the issue to having occurred among the Chinese Chinese of certificates of identity for the pur-munity was 978 as compared with 1.195. There
were probably at least 587 unregistered births, pose of entering the United States.
There were four prosecutions for neglect to report births within the specified time.
EXPENDITURE,
The actual expenditure in 1896 under per- sonal emoluments, including exchange com- pensation and other charges, was $15,263.14 as compared with $18,585.13 in 1895, and $22,489.84 in 1894.
PO LEUNG KUK INCORPORATION ORDIN- ANCE WOMEN AND GIRLS' PROTECTION ORDINANCE.
the year by the Po Leung Kuk Society are con- Particulars regarding the work done during tained in the Society's Annual Report, which is published separately. The Committee acts in complete harmony with this office and its ser- vices towards the good work of rescuing women and restoring them to their homes remain in- dispensable.
oom.
The number of deaths in the British and Foreign community was 253 as compared with 191 in 1895; among the Chinese 5,607 as com- pared with 5,209 in 1895. Of these 1,078 died from the plague.
217 of the deaths among the British and Foreign community and 3,681 among the Chi- nese were certified to by a registered medical practitioner or were the subject of a Coroner's inquest.
The following table shows the number of deaths and the death rate per 1,000 during the past six years:—
Estimated Population.
1891 1892 1893
10,590 10,686 .214,320 221,072 228,038 224,814 231,662 238,724 1894 1895 1896
British and Foreign, 10,782 10,828 12,709 235,224 237,670 226,710 Chinese,
246,006 248,498 239,419 Deaths.
Total,
The number ofwomen and girls detained dur- | British and Foreign, 10,494 ing the year under Part II. of Ordinance 11 of Chinese, 1890 was 241. This is a large increase on the Total, number detained in the previous year. The num- ber of girls under the protection of the office un- der section 19 of the Ordinance is 57. 67 women and girls were reported to, the Po Leung Kuk as having disappeared in Hongkong. Of these only 11 were recovered. A number of the women no doubt absconded, Lai among the 67 were 25 girls who disappeared and not having been found again were in all probability kidnapped. In my report for last year referred to the large increase of "sly" brothels in the town and to the views held by the The number has still Chinese on the subject. further increased, much to the disgust of re- spectable Chinese, but no private individual will take the necessary steps to suppress the evil, by appearing as a prosecutor in Court, though any action taken by the Government would be welcomed.
1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 5,374 4,906 5,422 7,407 5,400 5,860 Death-rate per 1,000.
EMIGRATION.
Only 8,686 female passengers were examined at the Emigration Office and permitted to proceed on their voyage, as compared with 11,008 in the previous year. The decrease is caused by quarantine regulations imposed during the plague.
British and Foreign, 18.20 Chinese,........... Total,..
1891 1892
1893-
17.37.
17.97
24.18
21.30
22.83
23.90
21.18
22.71
1894
1895
1886
17.64
18.91
$0.42
21.92 24.75
30.11
22.73 24.48
BURIALS.
British and Foreign, 23.28 Chinese,.
Total,
Of the 5,607 Chinese who died during the year 4,428 were buried in the colony, the bodies of 149 were sent out of the colony, and 57 coffius were reported as being in the Tung Wa Hos pital Mortuary awaiting interment or removal. 794 interments were made in the village ceme- teries. The bodies of the remaining 179 were presumably removed from the colony. Under the new Births and Deaths -Registration