May 21, 1898.
precedent attached. He could not remember any similar application or what the Board had done in previous applications. They ought to have a definite policy. They could not pay one man and refuse another.
It was pointed ont, however, that the Board had no option in the matter, being bound to give compensation.
It was decided to forward particulars of the matter to the Government.
THE DRAINAGE OF THE COLONY.—RECOM-
MENDATIONS BY THE ACTING surveyor.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The ACTING SURVEYOR (Mr. R. F. Drury) wrote as follows to the Secretary of the Sanitary
"In conclusion I consider that this important Board on May 14th–“I have the honour to re-
branch of the new sewerage work as the quest that you will lay before the Board the fol- veins to the artery) should be brought to lowing report on The relation of the present
a satisfactory state without further delay, state of house drains to the completed sewerage
and if systematic proceedings are adopted scheme.' I will preface this report by remark-
and enforced I do not see any reason why the ing that the present time, when the plague is in
whole task should not be completed before the the colony (and all hands busy in consequence) next epidemic season comes round. If I should may be considered somewhat inopportune, but
have proposed somewhat drastic measures I can that I hold that the principle of striking at the only plead the urgency of the case, and that root of one of the many evils which is the cause they are the only means to execute the work in of a series of epidemics justifies the representa- the time required. I would make reference to tion and suggestion contained herein being the Government Gazette of September 27th, made now.
From records in this office I find | 1890, in which are contained reports by Messrs. that there remain some 1,500 of the 7,078 Chi-Chadwick, Price, and Cooper, making strong nese houses in the city to be drained in con.
representations on the subject of insanitary nection with the new sewerage system, includ
honse drains:-Mr. Chadwick on page 366, sec. ing all others, about 2,000 houses. On account 17, and on page 980, sec. 58; Mr. Price on page of this the full benefits that should be derived 932, sectious 13, 14. and 15; Mr. Cooper on
House drains." from the new sewerage scheme of the colony page 943 nuder heading (now complete at a cost of over $265,500) are rendered to a great extent ineffective for the following reasons:---
"1. The sewers constructed have been calen- lated to deal with a given flow of sewage, which flowing at the grades laid down will make the sewers self-cleansing. This flow they do not yet receive; consequently in these instances deposits occur which have to be systematically removed by manual labour at a cost to the Government.
"2.-To a great extent the same state of thing s obtains as in 1887, viz., these fonlest of ill con- structed house drains still deliver their sewage in a high state of decomposition into the storm drains (which draius were condemned so far as the conveyance of sewage is concerned in 189 whence emanate noxions smells and greater evils.
"3.-The drains in question in nearly all in. stances are in direct connection with the old drains into which they deliver. At night when the house is closed up and the temperature rises. it draws out the poisonous and germ-bearing air from the main drain: hence disease and epidemic, particularly should this drain be sit- uated in a disease-stricken locality. As a means to a remedy I beg to submit the following scheme, which appears to me to be the most prompt and practical method to reach the end to be attained, viz., the early reconstruction of all insanitary house drains in the colony and con- nection thereof with the new sewerage system.
"(a.) That the Assistaut Sanitary Surveyor be allowed to return in toto to his regular duties, arrangements being made for the discharge of the duties on which he is at present ecgaged by some other capable persou.
(b.) That the inspection for defective drains now discontinued through press of work and partial absence of Assistant Sanitary Surveyor be immediately resumed.
"(c.) That the Board appoint a select commit- tee to sit weekly and consider the reports of the Assistant Surveyor and take the necessary action upon such reports, the Board delegating to it full power under section 4 of 11 of 1895 to enforce all the provisions or bye-laws relat ing to drainage works. Under section 3 of 11. of 1895 such committee may consist of one member of the Board and an officer. I would suggest that Dr. Clark be named in the former capacity and for technical reasons I in the latter.
#
“(d.) That in order to expedite the work of serving notices on owners to re-drain and efféct such other repairs as may be reported necessary Government be asked to sanction the temporary employment by the Board of a clerk at a salary of $50 a mouth for this special duty. "(e.) That the work shall only be executed by contractors who have had the necessary experi- ence and are qualified to do this work (this may be done under section 49 of Ordinance 24 of 1887), a printed list being appended on the
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notice calling on owners to re-drain. At pre- being attached to it. As a matter of fact the sent much time is lost in repeated inspections letter teemed with inaccuracies and false state- of completed drains which have occasionally to ments, and he should like to take that oppor- be relaid three and four times, particularly in tunity to give the true facts of the case, because cases when the work occurs in the villages. | although to the intelligent public such letters On agreement between the Sanitary Surveyor over a nom de plume did not carry much weight, and contractors a schedule of prices will be there were a large number of half-educated arrived at, at which rate they will execute the people who even yet believed that editors of work. This is to ensure against undue advannewspapers verified every statement contained in tage being taken by the few contractors on the such a letter before they inserted it, which he need list over their clients. Any contractor found hardly state was not the case. Editors invari- sub-letting the work will be removed from the ably disavowed responsibility in regard to state. list.
ments contained in their papers. As the Board was doing its best to deal with the epidemic of plague it might be as well to give the true facts of the case. The writer first of all stated that he wrote to him on the 13th inst. at noon. had the letter there, and it was dated the 14th inst.. and it reached him on the 14th inst., somewhere between one and two o'clock. That was mis-statement number one. It made a serious difference because the writer stated there was a lapse of a considerable number of hours, and this correction rednced the number by 24. The name of this gentleman was Mr. George Wil- liams, of 8, McDonald road. He said he wrote him on the 13th and that he got an immediate reply and that when he wrote on the 14th he got an immediate reply. Mr. Williams sug- gested that there were some cases of plague in this particular house, though on a different floor. That was true, and there had been a Ideath from plague next door. Mr. Williams sincerely trust that the Board will see their stated that no sanitary inspector had been near way to giving me a strong haud in this matter." | the place, and suggested that the women suffer- The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEATH minuted | ing from plague were not taken away until 9.30 --The expedition of the re-drainage of the city p.m. on the 15th inst.-that there was a lapse of is undoubtedly most desirable, and I think that 48 hours. He said he wrote him on the 13th the appointment of a select committee would and that the patients were not removed until greatly facilitate the service of the necessary the evening of the 15th. As a matter of fact.
the letter was written to him on the 14th, and legal notices. I am afraid Mr. Bryan canuot be spared from plague duty for a few weeks. the patients were admitted into Tung Wa Hos- pital about 9-330 p.m. the same day. It must be remembered that the patients had to be brought across the water, and though there was a lapse of a few hours those few hours were to his mind unavoidable. With regard to the state. ment that no sanitary inspector had been near On the motion of the CAPTAIN SUPERINT- the place, he received a report from the In- ENDENT OF POLICE, Seconded by the DIRECTOR spector stating that the patients were removed IF PUBLIC WORKS, the suggestion of the
on the 14th and that on the 15th the house was Acting Surveyor with regard to the appoint-disinfected. He simply wished to mention this ment of a select committee was adopted.
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The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE minuted-I am of opinion that this work is too urgent to be delayed. Mr. Bryau should be allowed to return to his duties. We might get au officer of the Royal Engineers to volunteer for this work perhaps,
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to show what utter drivel one saw written over noms de plumes in papers. He hoped the press would take some note of the matter, so as to assure the public that the officers of the Sanit- Board were not neglecting their duties in gross way in which this letter suggested they were. (Hear, hear.)
A TAINTED WELL AT HOK-UN, Mr. Frank Browne, Acting Government Analyst, reported with regard to a sample of water delivered to him for analysis from a wellary situated at Hok-ün "I hereby certify that this water is so tainted with impurities as to be unfit for potable purposes and likely to prove injurious to health."
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, the ACTING-REGISTRAR-GENERAL, and the CAP- TAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE minuted in favour of the closing of the well.
On the motion of the PRESIDENT, seconded by the DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, it was decided that a notice should be issued as to the closing of the well.
THE NIGHT WATCHMAN IN CENTRAL MARKET.
The night watchman at Central Market having resigned, the COLONIAL VETERINARY SURGEON suggested the temporary abolition of the post to see if they could get on as well without a watchman.
Ou the motion of the MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, seconded by the ANG REGISTRAR- GENERAL, the suggestion was adopted.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
The mortality statistics for the week ended April 30th showed the death rate to be 40 per thousand, against 367 for the previous week and 141 for the corresponding week last year. The statistics for the week ended May 7th showed a death rate of 441, against 19-6 for the corresponding week last year,
THE PLAGUE AT HOWLCON, -DR. CLARK AND AN ANONYMOUS LETTER-WRITER.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH said he did not know whether the members of that Board attached much importance to anonymous letters, but there was an anonymous letter in one of the evening papers the previous day which contained such an amount of circum. 'stantial detail as to apparently warrant credence
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the
The proceedings then terminated.
THE PLAGUE,
The number of plague cases reported last week was 179 and the deaths 157.
The daily returns for the present week are as follows:-
May 15
16.
"
17
18
19
Cases. Deaths.
18 19
21 15
17
20
22 16
18 17
THE CAINE ROAD MURDER.
OZORIO AGAIN BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE.
THE EVIDENCE OF MISS PORTARIO,
A PAINFUL SCENE,
At the Magistracy on Saturday afternoon, 14th May, Joan da Matta Ozorio, clerk, was charged on remand that he did on the 9th of May
feloniously and of malice aforethought kill and murder one Francisco Xavier de Jesus." There was a large attendance of the Portagnese residents in court, and the Portuguese Consul- General (Mr. A. G. Romano) occupied a seat on the bench. Mr. Grist (Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist) appeared for defendant. The witnesses who gave evidence were Miss Portario (who was engaged to be married to defendant), deceased's widow, and deceased's sister, all of whom were naturally much affected. When Miss Portario came forward defendant began to weep violently, and when asked to desist