170
Mr. LADDS-I do not think it is necessary to slaughter all of them.
The PRESIDENT-Your letter says "I teke this opportunity of recording as my opinion that the only present effectual method of dealing with an outbreak of rinderpest in a shed of dairy cattle in the colony is the immediate slaughter ́and burial of every animal in that shed." "Also, "No half measures should be entertained."
Mr. LADDS-I said that before, but you would not take my advice then.
The PRESIDENT-Because I had not then had the opportunity of reading the act in force At home. I have had an opportunity of reading
the Cattle Diseases Act since then.
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE
→What shed were the cattle in ?
Mr. LADDS-They came out of three different sheds, I think.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The PRESIDENT-Havo due precautions been taken in regard to burial?
We
Mr. LADDS-Yes, the carcases were buried six feet deep and quicklime was put on them.
The PRESIDENT-On the farm itself P Mr. LADDS-Yes, there is no danger. do not know that there are any germs.
The PRESIDENT-I found some in 1896. Mr. LADDS-Dr. Koch did not find any. The PRESIDENT-Never mind, I did. (Laugh. ter.) The bacillus is almost exactly the same as plague bacillus, Dr. Wilm and myself found a bacillus in the spleen and the mesenteric glands, and the only differenc is that the rinderpest bacillus was much larger; it stained at either pole in the same manner as Kitaratos' post bacillus. You will find this mentioned in Dr. Wilm's report on the epidemic in 1896.
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE-If that is so it would appear desirable to bury -How many have died ?
Mr. LADDS-I am not sure, but I think twelve died and three were slaughtered,
The PRESIDENT—It would be better for you to report to the Board exactly what has occurred. The CAPTAIN SUperintendent OF POLICE -How many cattle were in each shed?
Mr. EDE-Twelve died and three were slaughtered. There remain six sound ones of European breed and sixteen natives thirty- seven in all.
{
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE They were the whole of the occupants of the three sheds ?
Mr. LADDS-I am not sure of the number. The PRESIDENT-We should know.
Mr. LADDS-I think there were four or five in one shed, six or seven in other, and eighteen in another. I am not quite sure.
The PRESIDENT-They all have practically the same food P
Mr. LADDS-Yes.
The PRESIDENT-Do you think the disease might be spread by the food?
Mr. LADD8-1 think it must have come in the straw.
The PRESIDENT-Then the straw must be infected.
as
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE
these animals in a better way.
The PRESIDENT That is why I asked the question. Last year they were dumped into the
sea.
The MEDICAL Officer of HeaLTH-And Some of them came up again.
The PRESIDENT-I am in favour of burning
the carcases.
Mr. EDE-It did not succeed last year. The PRESIDENT -In India carcases of horses are freguently burned, and I do not see why it is impossible here.
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE -The Indian Police are accustomed to burn their own dead, and they would burn the cows for us,
The PRESIDENT-I do not think
you would
require to have a furnace. You want wood and kerosine.
Mr. EDE-When the last attempt was made the carcases were only half burnt.
The SECRETARY.-They tried to bury the animals, but they could not dig deep enough. Then they tried to burn the carcases, which were lying there three days before they were taken out to sea.
The PRESIDENT-If it could be done as an experiment it would be a good thing,
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE -If you can burn a human carcase you can burn a cow's if the fire is big enough.
The PRESIDENT It is possible that this out break is the result of the 1896 disease. The germs may be still in the soil.
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE
Mr. LADDS-They have ceased to use straw now. The PRESIDENT-I am afraid Mr. Ladds is too sanguine in regard to the serum treatment,
is only within the last twelve months that Professor Koch attempted at great expense to find a remedy for for rinderpest in South Africa, and his experi--I was not here in 1896, but I am told that ments, proved as I understand, quite useless. The question is whether the whole of the cattle at Sassoon's Villa be slaughtered or not, I move that they all be slaughtered.
Mr. EDE-I am not in favour of that. I think if any more cattle get sick we should slaughter them, and if the disease spreads we might take that proposal into consideration, At present three cattle have been slaughtered and the rest have showu no signs of the disease. Under those circumstances I think the matter should stand as it is.
The PRESIDENT-Does anybody second my motion?
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE -It seems to me that Sassoon's Villa is a place that could be isolated and nothing will be re- moved therefrom. Having done that, I think we might let things rest where they are without slaughtering any more cattle. Even if the rinderpest does spread within those confines I do not see what harm it will do; but if the orders of the Board are carried out I do not see why the disease should spread.
The PRESIDENT-Of course if no one seconds my motion it falls to the ground. The place now being declared an infected area there is no absolute necessity for any more slaughter- ing of the cattle to take place.
Mr. EDE The previous resolution stands good. I was trying to save the sixteen native cattle. Unless there is a motion to the effect that the previous resolution is cancelled it will have to stand, of course.
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE Yes, it does stand.
After some further conversation it was agreed to recommend the Dairy Farm Company to destroy the straw, and the President said that the Government would have to compensate the owners the full market value of the straw, or any other article destroyed during the cleansing and disinfection.
some yachts were nearly wrecked through run- ning on cows' horns. (Laughter.) I move that an attempt be made to burn the carcases.
The PRESIDENT-I second that. The resolution was carried unanimously. The PRESIDENT-I would add that it be done under the supervision of the Colonial Veterin- ary Surgeon.
Mr. LADDS-I do not think it is possible to burn the carcases. If you will show me how to do it I will be very pleased to do it, but I do not think it is possible.
The PRESIDENT-1think the Indian Police, who born their dead, might be able to assist you. The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE -I will give you all the assistance I can, Mr. Ladds. I have an idea that we can do it.
Mr. LADDS-I think the President's sug- gestion that they be buried at sea is the best, if they are buried carefully.
The PRESIDENT-I am afraid the resolution is carried now, That is all the business.
THE RUMOURED SEIZURE OF
KWONG CHAU BAY BY ·
THE FRENCH.
For some days past a rumour has been cur- rent in the colony that the French had suddenly seized Kwongchau Bay and that French war- ships were in possession of the place. There was certainly some ground for the rumour, but it turns out that the French have not as yet made any seizure. A few days ago the French fleet appeared in Kwongchau Bay and no doubt the Chinese imagined that the visitors had come to remain. We learn, however, from a most reliable source that the French fleet with- drew from the place on the 23rd inst., so it is probable they were only making one of their mysterious visits to various parts of the China
coast.
[March 5, 1898.
(CONTRIBUTED),
It has lately been reported that French war- ships have entered Kwongchau Wan and landed troops there. The report is somewhat probably being that premature, the truth French war-vessels have visited the place and are surveying it with a view to making it one of their bases of operations in their coming campaign in South China.
The above fact being taken for granted a few particulars about Kwongchau Wan will doubt- public. Kwongchan Wan lies in lat. 21 deg. less be of interest to the newspaper reading 15 min. N and long. 110 deg. 30 min. E; it is, approximately, about 200 miles W.S.W. from Hongkong. The bay is an excellent one, both for the purpose of a naval harbour and a com- mercial port, and the French-have in selecting this point as a base for their operations exhibited great grasp of what they want and how to similar to Hongkong, being superior to it take it. The harbour is in some respects
in some points, but lacking many of the advantages of the British port, still it will be a prize well worth seizing. There are two narrow entrances to the harbour, which is twenty miles long and completely land-locked and has a depth of from 3 to 10 fathoms with good holding ground. The eastern entrance; which is about 1 miles wide, has several sand banks outside of it which prevent a direct approach from seaward, but it can easily be approached by a good channel running up along the shore from the south with an average depth of seven fathoms, but at one point the channel is only five and a half fathoms deep. In the entrance itself there is twelve fathoms of water, and on entering the harbour, which is five to six miles across at this point, there is an average depth of - nine fathoms. The wide portion of the harbour is about ten miles long, from east to west, and about six or seven miles wide, from north to south, thus affording a safe anchorage for an immense fleet of ships of the heaviest draft. In addition to the wider portion of the harbour there is a narrower arm, averaging from 1 to 2 miles in width, and about fifteen miles long, leading from the main harbour to the eastern exit or entrance. The depth of water in this narrow arm of the harbour averages from 3 to 4 fathoms. The tide runs very strong in the en- trances of the harbour and through the narrower arm, as might be expected considering the immense basin which has to be filled and emptied with each rise and fall, and the nar- row space through which the water has to flow.
A river of some size discharges into Kwong- chau Bay and on this river is situated the town' of Cheikhome, a trading centre of considerable importance, carrying on a large trade with Macao and Kongmoon, on the West River. The imports into Cheikhome are principally. cotton yarn, piece goods, and opium, but all the other staple articles of trade in China go there. in considerable quantities. The principal ex- ports are groundnut oil and matting. The matting is that used so largely in South China for matting packages and for making mat bags and mat sails.
Apart from its commercial value the posses- sion of Kwongchan Bay will carry with it the control of Luichow, Lienchow, and Kochow Prefectures, which, with the island of Hainan (or Kiungchow Prefecture), will now undoubtedly be incorporated with the French possessions in Tonkin.
A comparatively low range of hills, some distance inland, is all that will separate the French possessions from the valley of the West River during the greater part of its course..
The trade of this part will probably quadruple. itself within five years after the French occupa-- for the burden of those special tariffs will be as tion, notwithstanding their differential tariffs, nothing compared to the burden placed on trade by piracy and Chinese officialdom at the present
time.
Hongkong will not fail to profit by these, changes and might well congratulate itself upon the additition to the trade of the port (for the trade will be with Hongkong direct), were it not for the restlessness and territorial: insatiablity of our French neighbours, as they will only be content with that extension for a few years at most and then be wanting to absorb the West River valley, a step which
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