been under Spanish control, except a narrow strip along the coast. When the U.S.S. Baleigh visited this country, some three weeks ago the people were not aware that Manila had fallen; they flew the Philippine flag but did not even know the American colours. The expedition was very successful. In Leyba's report to Aguinaldo he mentions the ce ture of 124 friars and lay brothers, many 8 ish soldiers with their arms and property, and silver and valuables to the amount of $800,000. The dis- trict of Cagayan is now completely under the control of the Insurgents. But while success ful in the North, it has been quite different al most in the vicinity of Aguinaldo's stronghold at Malolos.
opposed to granting the a quarters are very good, and tnnate that they do not agree
his inspector's health and the health that is not sufficient reason for abandoning. them. I hope members of the Board will try and inspect them before we next meet."
The CHAIRMAN said he had inspected, the quarters and he did not think them suitable a married man. They might suit a single man,
MT. OBBORNE-I inspected these qua about three days ago, I find that they of two floors. The bottom floor is in proximity to the fowl pens and the stench them enters through the back window. I do not think the bottom floor is suitable for any white man to live in.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND so capable of commanding to-day as they have been in the past. There are many ambitions men in the Philippine cabinet and congress and considerable pressure has
been brought to bear on the
executive
How will it all end? That is the ever present ques- tion, and the American answer has been
Wait until the Paris conference settles it.” But during the last day or two the other side has slowly but surely been considering the matter from their own platform alone. The Insurgents have thirty-five thousand men armed and ammunitioned to-day. It is claimed they have received four rapid fire or machine guns, in addition to the two Maxims obtained early in September. They are now on the orest of the wave, and to advance or fall lies very much on their own conduct. Up to the present they have done remarkably well and have been controlled with most commendable skill; but will it last and stand the test, this somewhat weedy plot within a garden, this unrecognized baby republic within a republic? Contraband goods are not allowed to land in the Islands; arms en route are confiscated. The power ex- acting these things is at peace for a time with the former rulers, debating on other lost posses Mr. OBBORNE said he spoke with some ex- sions to the disregard of the land in question perience on this matter because he lived on this for the present, while the natives wage war, very site for seven years and could understand carry fire arms everywhere outside of Manila, what the Inspector's trials were. He proposed and assert themselves as bound up in a republic"that in the opinion of the Board the quarters of their own. It is indeed a strange complica-
Just north of Pampanga province the natives have been giving Aguinaldo's soldiers more work than they can attend to. They have never re- cognized the General and still remain loyal to their old masters. When the Spanish fought there these natives fought with them and when defeated they withdrew to the mountains and outlying country. They have refused to pay any taxes or to recognize the Republic in any way. Many Philippines travelling through their distriot have been taken prisoners, and they have driven the people out of the surrounding towns. This week an engagement occurred between these people and the Republic's soldiers in which the latter were considerably worsted. It is re- ported that a large force has been sent out to put down the offenders.
It is safe to say that the Philippine Congress is not missing any opportunity of collecting taxes or overlooking any district. Yet the na- tives do not seem to complain and as far as I have been able to find out the spirit of the country is not languishing in the least; it is increasing if there is any change at all. The interior is gradually being cultivated again and while there is very little money in circulation the taxes come in in the form of rice, sugar, and other products. Yesterday I visited Malolos and it was evident that a big haul had been made somewhere. Perhaps it came from Aparri and Cagayan, but I was unable to find out. At any rate, several bullock carts were engaged in bringing up wicker sacks from the vicinity of the railroad, and each of the sacks contained $1,000.
As time wears on and the decision of the Paris conference is still unknown, all sorts of ramours spring up and many find people who give them credit. The principal topic last night was this. One of these "private telegrams" had been received, sub rosa of course, which stated that the work of the conference was completed. The Cuban and Porto Rico questions were satis factorily settled and Spain was to retain the Philippines and grant many reforms. For her guarantee of good order she would immediately dispatch the Cuban army to reinforce the
tion.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Hongkong Sanitary Board wear held on 20th October. The. President (Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil: Medical Officer) occupied the chair, and there were also present: the Vice-President (Hon. F. H. May, Captain Superintendent of Police), Mr. J. Dyer Ball (Acting Registrar General), Mr. E. Osborne, and Dr. F. Clark (Medical Officer of Health and Acting Secretary).
MORE BYE LAWS.
tion of cattle diseases, markets, and slaughter Proposed additional bye-laws for the regula. houses were remitted to the Colonial Secretary for the opinion of the Attorney-General.
Mr. DYEE BALL said he did not consider the quarters suitable for a European.
The VICE-PRESIDENT said he had been wait ing to hear the opinion of the unofficial member (Mr. Osborne) on these quarters. He had not spoken to him on the subject but he endorsed his verdict. He (the Vice-President) did not consider the quarters suitable for a European. They might do for a coloured man or a Chiness,
provided for the Inspector of markets are un- suitable, in their present condition, for a Euro- pean to live in and nothing can be done to make them fit; the Board therefore recommend that the Inspector be allowed $30 a month in lien of the quarters.
Dr. GLAEK seconded. Carried,
WATCHMEN AT THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES.
Mr. C. Vivian Ladda (Colonia! Veterinary Surgeon) submitted a further report concerning the watchmen at the slaughterhouses, in which he says:-
“The duties of the four men whom I consider can now be dispensed with are as follow:・・ Ons
from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. His instructions are to man is on duty every night at the Cattle Depot see that all goes on well in the depôt, but when it is known that these premises are locked up nightly by the inspector in charge and not opened by him until the next morning there seems to me but little need of a watchman' The papers relating to the petition of the services, especially when the owners of animals foremen scavengers for an increase of pay hav-housed therein are allowed to have one resident ing been re-circulated-in accordance with a caretaker upon the premises should they wish motion passed at the last meeting, Dr. Clark it, but which privilege they do not often avail submitted the following additional parti themselves of culars:-
THE FOREMEN SCAVENGERS, AND THEIR
PAY.
:
"The scale of pay of the foremen of street scavengers was fixed in 1886 at $25 a month, rising in two years to $30 a month, so that it would not be unreasonable to recommend them enhanced cost of living now as compared with 12 years ago. The watchmen at the slaughter houses, if not dispensed with, should also get
present Spanish army here and these latter for some increment to compensate for the greatly | showing their fitness to be slaughtered
were to have their arms and ammunition re- turned, and so on. Strange as it may seem, hundreds of people apparently believed it implicitly. For some reason there was a great amount of cheering about the Escolta, especially in the saloons frequented by Spaniards, and this seemed to give confirmation to the fake telegram.
The Philippinos feel their position most keenly, and the more intelligent members are watching the telegrams, and especially the opinions expressed in the American papers, with the greatest interest. The editor of La Independencia has established an exchange with most of the leading American papers and quotes them freely. Day by day the tone of the articles leans more and more toward absolute independance, while the protectorate of the United States shrinks in importance.
In an interview held yesterday with two officials who stand very close to the President I was given to understand that nothing but in dependence would be acceptable to the people. Their tone, while friendly in all respects, sounds ominous for the future. Their names I have been asked to keep secret, but I expect before long, if the present tendency survives, that the bond of secrecy will be lifted without any ob. jection. This attitude is very contrary to any that Aguinaldo has ever expressed; as a matte of fact he has always studiously avoided such uggestions of feeling. However, as I intimatedr sat week, the "powers that be" are not quite
better pay
The VICE-PRESIDENT proposed that the ap plication be forwarded to the Government for its favourable consideration in view of the in creased cost of living since the salaries were fixed in 1896.
Mr. DYER BALL seconded. Carried.
..
THE EUROPEAN QUARTERS AT THE CENTRAL MARKET.
A. Watson, assistant inspector of markets, drew attention to his application dated 7th Jan., 1898, for rent allowance in lieu of the quarters in the Central Market and stated that even after improvements made by the Public Works Department they were still unsuitable and nuhealthy, adding -—“ During the summer months the heat in the day time has been fearful, and if the windows were opened the stench off the foreshore in front and from the fowls in market at the rear was equally bad. I have been under doctor's treatment most of the time I have occupied those quarters and so has my daughter. She has been so long bad that Dr. Thomson ordered a change to some other place."
A letter from Mr. Ladds supported the application and recommended that an allowance of $30 per month be granted in lieu of quarters.
Hon. R. D. Ormsby minuted—“I am strongly
"The other three men are stationed at the City Slaughterhouse upon continuous duty for eight hours each. Their duties are to see that no cattle or sheep enter the slaughterhouse un- less bearing the official mark (a broad arrow) human food. Now as a system of also marking the beef and mutton before it is allowed to leave the slaughterhouse has lately been introduced, and which system bye-law No. 30 of schedule D of Ordinance 17 of 1887 when passed will pro- test, the European inspector in charge daty it is to mark this meal can very, easi effectually check the number of caros marked against the number of animals which he has passed up that day for slaughter, and thus do away with the necessity of keeping the three watchmen about the place any longer. In the improbable event of the inspector finding that the number of carcases to be marked ceeded the number of animals which had bee passed up for slaughter, he has then reliable check at hand by causing the the animals just slaughtered to be produced the broad arrow mark which should be pointed out.
"When the additional bye-laws to 17 of 1887 recommended by me becomes will then be to the interest of the butober see that their meat gets marked by the in tor before it leaves the slaughter house; wise on reaching the markets it would be by the market inspector
"Considering the responsibility each of the ins otors I think the Bo how very nec
that they sho paid officials and
to which
the
are constant
"It is not neos
for me to enter, into: de
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