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THE BYE-LAWS AS TO LAUNDRIES.
Dr. CLARK said there was another question as to bye-laws, The Board would remember that at the previous meeting they made a bye- law allowing two caretakers for each public laundry between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. This was referred to the Attorney-General, who suggested that instead of making a new bye-law and revoking two of the former ones they should revoke the old ones and remake the bye-laws, including that already approved by the Board in them. He proposed that the old bye-laws be repealed.
Dr. Lowson seconded and the motion was carried.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The Vice-President-“We have twice re- fused, and I am as strongly as ever opposed to granting the permission.'
The Medical Officer of Health-"I find that in 1895 the Board granted permission to the French fathers (next door) to erect water closets, and in that case it would perhaps be as well to deal similarly with all large convents, i.e., allow them a limited number of water closets in positions selected by the Board's sur veyor. On the other hand we must consider that the Board's order of January, 1897, has been deliberately ignored-at least if an order for the removal of the existing water closets was actually served. I cannot, however, find any
The new bye-laws were then taken separately office copy of such order, and have only there and adopted.
THE WATER-CLOSET QUESTION,
A letter had been received from Father Torres, of the Spanish Dominican Procuration, asking the Board to reconsider their decision regarding the removal of the water closets on the premises of the mission. The writer added:-
The Procuration occupies for the purposes of its affairs in Hongkong the house No. 24, Caine Road, and has been in the occupation of this house for over 30 years. It is not merely the residence of the Procurator and of his companion but is also a hospice for the reception of Spanish and Portuguese missionaries pas- sing through between the different missions in Manila, Timor, Macao, China, Formoss, and Tonquin, and also as a sanitarium or hospital for sick fathers from the different countries and provinces, and there are at the present moment 34 fathers residing on the premises. Ever since its erection the house has been pro- vided with water closets, and this with the full knowledge and sanction of the Government officers responsible, before the formation of the Sanitary Board, for the construction of build- ings and the health of the colony, and there have not been during all that long period any com. plaints as to any nuisance resulting from the existence of these water closets, or any unhealthi- ness in the premises. In fact the house has been, because of the construction of these olosets and the free use of water for the removal of all night-soil, a very healthy residence.
"I would respectfully point out that permis. sion has been granted by the Board for the erection of water closets in the following build- ings-The buildings occupied by the Italian fathers, Messrs. Melchers & Co.'s offices on the Praya, Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's offices, the French Convent at Wanchai, No. 64 and 65, Queen's Road Central, the Sailors' Home at Praya West, the Missions Etrangères in Caine Road, and at the residence of the Hon. E. R. Belilios in Caine Road. The latter are our immediate neighbours, and I know of no reason why any distinction should be made.
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We are ready to make any alterations or improvements the Board may think necessary or useful, and I herewith submit for their approval a plan in duplicate showing the pro- posed re-drainage and renewal of water closets. It is proposed to place all the closets outside the main building, so that there is no con. nection with any of the bed-rooms as at present. The water closets intended to substitute the existing ones are of the pedestal type with three gallon syphon waste water preventing cisterns, connected with a 4 gallon water tank placed on the roof, which can either be supplied with water from the Government service or pumped from the existing well on the premises, which will ensure a complete and efficient flushing.
"It is the declared policy of the Government. as I understand it, to ultimately substitate water carriage for the bucket system all over the colony as soon as it can be efficiently carried out. There is but one opinion as to the immense advantage of water carriage, and I most respect- fully submit that where that system is in use and working well, as in our house, we should be allowed to renew the water closets/"
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The following minutes were apponded :- Mr. E. Osborne-“I am in favour of grant- ing permission subject to constraction being approved by the Board's Surveyors.”
The Acting Director of Public Works ---"I am in favour of allowing the water-closets provided they are of proper construction, etc., and the drains are in order."
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fore the attached copies of letters refusing per mission to erect new water closets."
The Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer "I agree with the Médical Officer of Health and the Acting Director of Public Works."
The VICE-PRESIDENT-Can you tell us whe ther these premises are situated in Caine Road
or not.
Dr. CLARK-Yes.
The VICE-PRESIDENT—And the drain ra ns through a large part of the Chinese town?
Dr. CLARK-Yes.
The VICE PRESIDENT-Aud I suppose the remark you made the other day as to the effect of these water closets discharging into the same sewer as a large number of Chinese houses applies here ?
Dr. CLARK—Yes.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-And the result would be a danger to the occupants of these Chinese houses?
Dr. CLARK-Yes; that is so.
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[August 27, 1898.
Mr. BBEWIN proposed that exemption be granted.
No one seconded, and the application was re- fused on the motion of the VICE-PRESIDENT seconded by Dr CLARK.
THE PRAYA RECLAMATION AND THE DUST
BOAT STATIONS.
The Acting Director of Public Works wrote to the Acting Colonial Secretary on August 16th as follows:-*
ES
Sir, I have the honour to inform you that it is desirable to introduce a clause into the contract for the scavenging of the city for the removal of all accumulations on the bed of the harbour along the Praya wall within a distance stations and for the same distance ontwards of 50 yards on either side of the dust-boat
from the wall.
H
One of the chief objects of the Praya Reclamation Scheme, as stated in the preamble to the Ordinance, is to provide a deep water frontage, and having obtained this every possible effort should be made to preserve it. Already where the
conservancy boats have been stationed in front of the Reclam- ation there are distinct signs of accumulation, much of which from its nature is due to the presence of the boats. Whether due to wilful- ness or carelessness on the part of those en- gaged in connection with the delivery and re-
moval of the rubbish on board the boats I am
unable to say, but I anticipate that the in- troduction of such a clause as I have suggested would lead to an abatement of this most serious nuisance.
14
The scavenging contract is entered into by the Sanitary Board, and I would submit that the matter be referred to it, with a view to the Mr. CHATHAM--The premises are not far embodiment of such a clause in future cou- from Kingclere on the same level.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-The more excretal matter you put into the drain pipes the more risk you run. You must remember that you are not dealing with people who are careful about their appliances, but with people who are more or less unsophisticated as to what to do with them.
Mr. BREWIN-Why should we grant per- mission to an hotel and refuse an application like this. Is there any difference in the inhabitants ?
The VICE-PRESIDENT said the het.! situated near the sea front and the surroundings were differeut. Then there were a large num- ber of people in the hotel and they were con- stantly changing, and it was difficult for the bucket system to be carried out satisfactorily' in an hotel.
Mr. BREWIN-Can you tell me how many people are in this building?
Dr. CLARK-The resident population is, I think, about 200 at the outside.
Mr. CHATHAM moved that the application be granted.
Mr. OSBORNE said he was opposed to the general introduction of water-closets, because of Chinese houses, but he thought it was desirable they should be allowed under certain circum- stances. Each application should be con- sidered on its merits. He had pleasure in seconding the motion.
The motion was carried,
Dr. CLARK said he had another application of a similar character from the Italian convent. He did not know whether they would take it then. These premises happened to be by far the larger. This had not been circulated.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-I think we had bet- ter have it circulated.
This was agreed to.
APPLICATIONS FOR EXEMPTION FROM CONCRETING.
Two applications for exemption from con- creting the ground surfaces of certain premises had been received one being from the London Mission in respect of premises Nos. 33, 35, and 37, Wanchai Road, and the other in respect of premises Nos. 29 and 31, Wanchai Road.
Mr. BREWIN did not see why a church and school should have an impervious flooring. It was not like a place in constant occupation. He did not see why there should be a difference made between a school and an office.
Dr. CLABK thought it was far more neces- sary to concrete the ground surface of a school or church than to concrete the ground surface of an office, which was only used perhaps by two or three people.
tracts
+
The following minutes were appended : Mr. E. Osborne-"I think the proposed clause very desirable."
The Medical Officer of Health—"Reply that the Board will take the matter into their con- sideration when framing the conditions of the next scavenging contract."
does the present contract expire?"
The Acting Registrar General-" When
The Medical Officer of Health-"The pre- cent contract expires on December 31st, of this
Tao Board decided to postpone the considera- tion of the matter until the time for the letting of the scavenging contract.
THE BUBONIO ILAGUE AT AMOY.
Correspondence concerning the prevalence of bubonic plague at Amoy was laid on the table. A return showed that from July 13th to August 1st (inclusive) there were 500 deaths from bubonic plague at Amoy and 506 from other causes.
On August 16 Mr. C. T. Gardner, H.B.M. Consul at Amoy, wrote to the Colonial Secret- ary stating that the plague at Amoy showed signs of ceasing to be epidemic in its character. He also enclosed a letter from the Amoy Cham. ber of Commerce, certificate of the Medical Officer attached to the Consulate, and the views of the various Consuls on the subject. The U.S. Consul had written to him that from infor- mation he had received from his Medical Officer, from American missionaries, and from other sources he was unable to declare the port clean, but he agreed in considering that the plague showed signs of ceasing to be epidemic.
The letter from the Amoy Chamber of Com- merce drew attention to the great loss caused to merchants by reason of the port Being declared infected with plague. The Chamber was un- aware as to the sources from which the Consul derived his information as to the sanitary con- dition of the port, but according to the intelli- gent notices of the mercantile class the port was as free from plague as it ever was and gen- erally speaking remarkably healthy. In view of this the Chamber was of opinion that the time had arrived when clean bills of health.
should be procurable.
In his letter circulating the letter from the Chamber of Commerce amongst the Consuls for their opinions, Mr. Gardner mentioned that the Commissioner of Cus- toms states that he is in possession of accurate information to the effect that though - the epidemic was subsiding there were still from nine to ten cases a day, and that the Chinese.