488
and I think if we postpone the moving of the report until the next meeting or until to-day week it would be more advisable.
This suggestion was adopted:
RESIGNATION OF MR. MCCALLUM,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Police Office, 3rd June, 1898: "Sir, I beg to report for the information of the Board that the work of supervising the special cleansing and removal of obstructions to light and ventilation in Nos, 5 and 6 health districts under section 25 of the bye-laws made under section 13 of Ordinance 15 of 1894, for which I was appointed by H. E. the Acting Governor on the recommendation of the Board, and which I took up on the 12th of April, has been com- pleted as far as the cleansing of houses and the removal of such illegal structures as have been reported to me by the house to house visitation I found both dis- parties are concerned. tricts in a very creditable state as regards oleauliness. After cleansing such houses as were found to require it I devoted my atten- tion to the removal of illegal structures reported to me by the house to house visitation p rties from my notes showing the houses in which illegal structures have been removed. I fear that in a number of houses not visited by me in the two districts there exist illegal cooklofts, etc. I would therefore suggest that a house to bouse visitation he made by P. C. McVicar, who has been working under me, with a view to discovery of any remaining illegal structures. The inspectors of nuisances in the districts can then take steps to have them removed-I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, F. H. May."
The PRESIDENT said-Before proceeding further I have to announce to the Board that Mr. McCallum returned to the colony on the 12th inst., I regret to say so ill that he had to be transferred to the Civil Hospital. He has since sent in his resignation, as he feels that his health will not admit of his returning to duty. Mr. McCallum first came to the colony in 1879 as apothcary and analyst to the Govern- ment Civil Hospital. In 1883 he was transferred to the Sanitary Board as Sanitary Inspector and Secretary with a seat on the Board. In 1887 he had a severe attack of remittant fever -80 severe that his life was almost despaired of. On his return he was appointed Sanitary Sup-in the districts. I encloso copies of extracts erintendent and Secretary to the then newly. constituted Board, but without a seat on the Board, which appointment he has held to the present time. Those who knew him in his palmy days can best testify to his untiring energy in furthering the interests of sanitation in this colony, but none can fail to appreciate the excellent work he has done, and I am sure you will all join with me in regretting the unfortunate circumstance that has necessitated his retiring from his post. I am sure you will agree with me in moving. "That this Board desires to place on record its appreciation of the services rendered by Mr. McCallum as Secretary of the Board since its formation, a period of over fifteen years, and to express its regret at the unfortunate circumstances that have necessitated his retiring from the post." (Hear. hear.)
The VICE-PRESIDENT-I feel both pleasure and regret in seconding the resolution. Regret that we should lose the services of so effici ent a secretary, and pleasure in endorsing the remarks which the President has made concerning Mr. McCallum. There are some who hold that the British empire has been raised to the proud position which it at present holds by the strong arm of the soldiers and sailors, and there are those-and I believe a good many in this colony-who hold Great Brit- ain owes her proud position to the energy and enterprise of her merchants. Without wishing to depreciate from the services of our soldiers, sailors, and merchants, it seems to me easier to conquer with the sword when you are endowed with the courage and daring which are the birth-right of every Englishman; it seems somewhat easier to be industrious and enterprising when the direct result of that industry and enterprise is the lining of your own pockets with silver and gold. I say some of these things seem easier than to labour.on as does the civil servant on comparatively small pay, with comparatively little prospect of pro- motion or honour and glory, and looking for. ward to little else than the pension which a thrifty Government defers to such an age that few aver live to enjoy it. If any section of the British nation can claim any special share in the work of rearing our empire up to the. stupendous position which it now holds it is the civil servants of the empire, who may more justly than any other section claim a spec- ial share in such work. And referring to civil servants I mean not the few brilliant and favoured ones-the Governors, Governors-Gen- eral, and Viceroys of the empire-but the rank and file of the civil service, whose industry, whose experience, and whose tact and discretion in many cases enable their more gifted and more brilliant colleagues to carry out large ad- ministrative successes which without the aid of their experienecd and hard-working subordin ates they would not be able to do. "I think in Mr. McCallum we had a very typical specimen of the rank and file of the civil service. It is men like him who have made the British civil service what it is. I believe it is the finest civil service in the world, and I believe that but for our civil service England would not occupy the position she occupies to-day. Mr. McCallum will derive satisfaction from the resolution which has just been proposed, but I feel sure he will leave these shores with a far higher reward-the highest reward which can be given, and that is the consciousness of duty nobly done. (Hear, hear.)
The resolution was passed unanimously. REPORT ON SPECIAL CLEANSING WORK. The VICE-PRESIDENT reported as follows ~-
|
The following minutes were appended:
The ACTING REGISTRAR-GENERAL-Has the C.S.P. any record as to the number of cocklofts which were illegal and the number of these which were obstructing light and ventilation. I understand that as soon as the districts are
declared free from plague the latter may be at once re-erected and the Board has no power to remove them until the districts become again
infected.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-With very few ex- They ceptions the cocklofts were illegal. all obstructed light and ventilation. They cannot be re-erected in the vast majority of cases without infringing the law.
A discussion ensued.
The ACTING REGISTRAR-GENERAL-Does
this mean that there ought to be permission given for the erection of cocklofts ?
The VICE-PRESIDENT -No, but these perrte put them up again as soon as you pull them down.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH- There were 15 prosecutions this morning in cases where people bad re-erected them after they had been pulled down.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-IL is a question of going round.
The
ACTING REGISTRAR-GENERAL-I understand there is no law on the matter.
The MEICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH—Á good many were pulled down because they were dirty apart from anything else.
The report was laid on the table,
INSANITARY BUILDINGS AT TAIKOKTSUI,
The PRESIDENT said that this matter had been practically dealt with.
The ACTING REGISTRAR-GENERAL-Are we closing these places?
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-They are unoccupied. They have been practically rendered uninhabitable by the Government raising the road four feet.
The ACTING REGISTRAR-GENERAL-So if anyone goes in them they would be prosecuted,
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-They would probably be turned out any way.
The matter then dropped.
THE PLAGUE IN BOMBAY, A return from Bombay showed that from April 26th to May 18th, 1898, 847 plague cases were reported and 581 deaths. The figures showed the disease to be diminishing.
THE PLAGUE AT MACAO.
The mortality statistics for Macao for the week ended May 29th showed that there were 59 deaths from plague and for the week ended June 5th 27 deaths.
The PRESIDENT minuted-As the disease is evidently decreasing rapidly I am of opinion that the Board should soon move the Govern- ment to rescind the declaration that the port is infected. Before doing this we had better avait this week's return.
HONGKONG MORTALITY STATISTICS,
The Hongkong mortality statistics for the week ended June 4th showed the death rate per
[June 18, 1898.
thousand per annum of the population to be 19.5, against 226 for the previous week and 24.9 for the corresponding week last year. The returns. for the weeks ended June 11th showed the death rate to be 39-2 against 18-3 for the correspond- ing week last year.
is
The proceedings then terminated.
THE PLAGUE.
The weekly abstract for the last three months as follows:- WEEK ENDED.
CASES. DEATHS.
March, 12th
16
12
19th
31
28
11
26th
47
40
21
April 2nd
45
40
9th
106
87
33
16th
97
92
23rd
127
109
"
30th
'119
114
May
7th
164
133
14th
179
157
21
21st
112
107
28th
63
61
1+
June
4th
68
63
11th
22
20
+
The daily returns for the past week are as follow
June 12th
13th
** 14th
**
15th
(4
16th
Cases Deaths.
2
2
4
THE PARSEE ADDRESS TO HER
MAJESTY."
Mr. H. N. Mody, President of the Parsee Community, has sent us copies of the following correspondence received from His Excellency Sir William Robinson, for publication -
SIR WILLIAM ROBINSON TO LIEUT.-COL.
BIR A. BIGGE.
Windham Club, St. James's Square, S.W.
6th May, 1898. Sir, I have the honour to forward to you in municated to me by the Right Honourable Sir accordance with Her Majesty's instructions com. Fleetwood Edward a beautiful silver casket and Prayer which the loyal Parsee Community of Hongkong have had specially prepared for the Queen's gracious acceptance in connection with Her Majesty's Jubilee,
As lately Governor of Hongkong I have had great pleasure in taking charge of these pre- sents, and I can assure you for Her Majesty's information that the Parsee Community of that Colony is notorious for its loyalty and devotion to Her Most Gracious Majesty.-I am sir, yours. faithfully,
WILLIAM ROBINSON.
Lieut.-Col. Sir A. Bigge.
LIEUT.-COL. SIR ARTHUR BIGGE TO
SIR WILLIAM ROBINSON.
Windsor Castle, May 5th, 1899. Dear Sir, I have received and laid before the Queen a ilver Casket containing a prayer presented to Her Majesty through you by the Parsee Community of Hongkong on the occasion of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubiles.
The Queen desires me to ask you to be good enough to convey the expression of her thanks
to all those who were associated in this tribute of loyalty and affection.-Yours very truly.
ARTHUR BIGGE Sir William Robinson, G.C.M.G.
THE COLONY'S CONSUMPTION OF MEAT.
Mr. C. Vivian Ladds, the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, in his annual report says:-
In order to show the large increase in the number of animals slaughtered each year since I took over the charge of these places in 1887į I insert a list giving the total number for the past 10 years. The decrease in the number of swine killed during the year 1894 I attribute to the plague epidemic of that year, and it will be seen that its effects may also be traced into the two following years. From the number of swine slaughtered during the past year it may be inferred that the native population has con- siderably increased of late.