May 14, 1898.J
A large number of new houses were being built and old houses were being pulled down and there was no reason why the employés at the Cosmopolitan Dock should not occupy these new houses. To some extent it was a question of public health. Why should they as a Board when private individuals were building new houses in a village which was rapidly becoming important go and license a mat-shed for the housing of a large number of employés such as those at the dock. He proposed that the appli cation be refused.
The ACTING REGISTRAR-GENERAL seconded and the motion was carried.
Teni.
DEFECTIVE DRAINAGE.
C
The Surveyor has reported on the defective drainage at Beryl," Garden Road, Tsui-Sha- He pointed out what required to be done, and suggested that one month should be allowed for the completion of the work from date of service of notice.
On the motion of the PRESIDENT, seconded by the MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, it was decided to serve the notice mentioned.
REPORT OF THE SURVEYOR.
In this report for the quarter ended March 31st the Surveyor says:-
1-Plans have been deposited for the re- drainage of 146 houses, plans for 509 houses were carried forward from 1897, making a total of 736 in hand during the quarter.
2.The re-drainage of 130 houses has been completed and the plans for eight houses can- celled, leaving 598 to carry forward,
3.-Repairs to drainage arrangements have been carried out in 41 instances, and 68 houses are carried forward, This makes a total of 109 houses in hand for repairs during the quarter.
4.-Thirty certificates have been granted under section 74 of Ordinance 24 of 1887 to 109 new buildings and three additions that they have been built in accordance with the provisions of that Ordinance.
AN INFECTED AREA TO BE DECLARED FREE.
The COLONIAL VETERINARY SURGEON, in a communication dated March 31st, recommended for the consideration of the Sanitary Board that the premises used as cattle sheds at Sassoon's Villa, Pokfulam, which were declared an in- fected area by the Board on March 3rd be now disinfected and declared free from disease on Monday, April 4th, if the disinfection could be finished by that date.
On April 4th the C.V.S. further reported that the disinfection of the premises had been completed to bis satisfaction.
The ACTING REGISTRAR-GENERAL minuted on April 21st-Why was the consideration of the C.V.S.'s report postponed so long; the re- port is dated March 31st?
On the motion of the MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH seconded by the CAPTAIN SUPERIN- TENDENT OF POLICE, the recommendation of the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon that Sassoon's Villa be declared free from infection of rin- derpest was adopted.
THE MACAO MORTALITY RETURNS.
The mortality returns for Macao for weeks ended the 17th and 24th April had been circu- lated. They showed 80 deaths from plague in the two weeks.
The PRESIDENT minuted-I am of opinion that all immigration of Chinese should be stopped from Macao, more especially as on the 18th of May there is to be held the 4th centenary of the discovery by Vasco de Gama of the sea route to India. On this occasion there is sure to be a
CHINA ÖVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
After their ex-
The PRESIDENT-Well, a fortnight; and I might include Canton,
Macao would be sufficient.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH thought perience of the Races, and expecially when they Baw there had been 50 deaths it would be very dangerous to allow free im from plague in one week in Macao, he thought migration from Macao during the period in question. He seconded the President's proposition.
This was carried.
The Board then went into committee to con- sider the report of the Insanitary Properties Commission.
THE PLAGUE
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grieve that she is gone, no more to glad this world of ours by her pure, unselfish, life and love. How greatly we hoped, and prayed, that she might be spared to us. Like the disciples at Emmaus, we desired her to abide with us. But, like them, we were thinking only of the bolily presence. Sho had become dear to us, and we thought we could not part with her when she "made as though she would have gone further," and we con- strained her, saying, "Abide with us." brethren, does she not abide? Christlike, her spirit cries, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." There is a great principle of unity running through life not only through the natural, but through the spiritual also-it is the principle of the Resurrection. She "being dead yet speaketh." Nothing can undo the good she did, or take away the
And
The number of plague cases reported last memory of her that remains. "A good life
week was 164 and the deaths 133.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
We are indebted to the Hon. R. D. Ormsby, Director of Public Works, for the following report on the water supply:
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hath but a few days; but a good name endureth for ever. Her influence, her work, her life remain, because they were like the influence and the work and the life of Christ. They abide as an example for us to follow, as a help in a dark world"until the daybreak and the and comfort in tribulation, as a light shining shadows flee away." O that we may know and understand this power of the Resurrection. On 1st May, 1898, the water in Tytam Re-To-day our Lord Jesus Christ draws near to us servoir was 35 feet 10 inches below the overflow, and says, What manner of communications representing a storage of 166,275,000 gallons, while the water in Pokfulum Reservoir was 14 fect 6 inches below the overflow, representing a storage of 34,693,000 gallons. The total storage was thus 200,968,000 gallons.
The following are the figures on the corres ponding dates last year.
Tytam Pokfulum
Level. 28 feet 4 inches 22 feet 2 inches
Storage. 229,200,000 20,079,000
Total 249,279,000
The total consumption for all purposes during April was 93,280,000 gallons with an estimated population of 177,450, au average daily con- sumption of 17.1 gallons per head.
For the corresponding period last year the total consumption was 90,810,000 gallons or an average daily consumption of 18 gallons per head for the population of 169,000.
The Government Analyst reports the water of excellent quality.
THE DEATH OF SISTER GERTRUDE.
PULPIT REFERENCE AT THE CATHEDRAL,
on
In his sermon at St. John's Cathedral Sunday morning, 8th May, the Rer. R. F. Cobbold, preaching from the text "And they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us,' -St. Luke, xxiv., 29-made tou-
us
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ching allusion to the death of Sister Ger- trude (Miss Ireland.) Human sorrow, he said, is a great revealer. It reveals to our real selves and shows us our great- est needs. It reveals to us our true friends, and draws them nearer to us.
It reveals to TIS the sympathising presence
of the Divine Comforter and makes ns constrain Him to "abide with us." In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart Thy comforts have refreshed my soul." The events of the past week have strongly emphasised what was said here last Sunday evening about singleness of heart, about the readiness to be offered, about the danger we are in, about the necessity of the sacrifice of life, and God's acceptance of it. We thought, it may be, that the sacrifice of one good life was enough; but our Heavenly Father has asked for a further sacrifice; and The following discussion ensued the sub- many hearts are sad to-day that they have lost mitting of the above by the Acting Secretary :- a true friend who patiently did the Saviour's The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE work, a greatly gifted minister of love and -I think it is rather late in the day to inter-gentleness. "God'sitype of a perfect woman dict immigration.
great influx of Chinese into Macao from the outlying districts, many of which are infected with plague. To my knowledge four extra large Chinese theatres have been erected there to accommodate the crowd that is expected.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-I agree with the President.
The PRESIDENT-I move that the attention of the Government be drawn to the fact, and that the Board recommends that during the week in which the 18th of May occurs all immigration of Chinese from Macao be stopped. The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-Or a fortaight?
those are the words of a grateful patient whom Sister Geriude nursed—a faithful soul, “ready to depart and to be with Christ," and yet, like St. Paul, wishing to abide in the flesh because it was "more needful" for us. Goodness always attracts love, and long will the hearts of those who loved ber-loved her for her sterl- ing worth, loved her for her kindly work
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are these that ye have one to another as ye walk and are sad ?" And as we constrain him to abide with us, and bravely say
I fear no foe with thee at baud to bless, Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness, Where is death's sting? Where grave thy victory? I triumph still if thou abide with me. He shows us that He is alive for evermore, and gives us power, like him, to suffer and be strong. Therefore, brethren," as St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, "stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught. Our lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God even our Father, which hath loved us and given us everltasting consolation... comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work,"
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LAUNCH OF A SIAMESE CRUISER AT KOWLOON,
A steel gun-boat built to the order of the Siamese Government by the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, Limited, was suc- cessfully launched at Kowloon од 10th May. The vessel, which is intended to be fitted with a four-inch Armstrong gun and four small quick-firers, is 148 feet in length, beam 23 feet, depth ìl ft. 3 in. The engines are triple expansion, direct acting, surface condens- inches; length of stroke 24 inches. There are ing. Cylinders 13 inches, 21 inches, and 35
two boilers of mild steel of the multitubular
cylindrical type, nine feet in length and eight feet three in diameter, the working pressure being 170 lbs.
All the steamers in the dock were decked with bunting in honour of the occasion and there was a large attendance of spectators, among those present being Mr. G. B. Dodwell (chairman of the Company) and Mrs. Dodwell, Captain Goddard, Mr. Macdonald, who has been watching the building of the vessel on behalf of the Siamese Government; the Hon. C. P. Chater, Siamese consul; Mr. D. Gillies, chief manager; Mr. R. Cooke, assistant manager, and Mrs. Cooke; Mr Mumford, Lloyds Surveyor, and Mrs. Mumford; Mr. Stan- bury, Assistant General Surveyor for Lloyds; Mrs. C. Ford; Mr. Ramsey, Superintendent for Messrs. Butterfield and Swire; and others.
Mr. Gillies banded a mallet to Mrs. Dodwell, who cut the ropes, she at the same time breaking a bottle of champagne on the forepart of the vessel, which gracefully glided into her future element accompanied by the cheers of the spectators.
An adjournment was then made to the office of the assistant manager, and here Mr. Gillies, in felicitous terms, proposed the health of Mrs. Dodwell and Success to the cruiser," Mr. Dodwell responding.
Mr. Stanbury, in proposing the health of Mr. Gillies and " Success to the Dock Company," complimented the Dock Company on the work. they were able to turn out, expressing the