Page
October 31, 1899.)
hours, though we had a pretty heavy sea all the same.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
(f.) No portion of the structure of any cubicle except the necessary corner posts shall be nearer "When in the Gulf of Tonkin the sea became than two inches to the floor of such cubicle, and very rough, and the vessel began to pitch no structure shall be erected, or if already ex- frightfully, the propeller frequently coming isting shall be allowed to remain, within any right out of the water, and it was in conse-cubicle, which is of a greater height than the quence of the great strain upon it that one of maximum height allowed by this section for any the shaft bearings broke,
portion of the structure of such cubicle or which provides a cover or roof to the cubicle.
(g.) No partition shall be erected, or if al-
"This was about three o'clock on Saturday morning when we were between the Paracels and Hainan, and about 300 miles from Hong-ready existing shall be allowed to remain, nearer kong.
"The danger was that we might be blown on to the Paracels, so Captain Aubert set sail so that we drifted astern, and we got into Hoihow safely. Here we found about half-a-dozen steamers which had taken refuge on account of the rough weather.
"The damage was temporarily repaired, and we left Haihow at about three o'clock on Wed. nesday afternoon. We subsequently anchored in the Hainan Straits, the weather being much too rough for us to proceed, there being a strong wind and a blinding rain.
44
By eight o'clock on Thursday morning the wind had gone down somewhat and we resumed our voyage. We came along very slowly, how ever, making only 60 revolutions a minute instead of 120.”
THE INSANITARY PROPERTIES
BILL.
The long expected Insanitary Properties Bill was read a first time at the last meeting of the Legislative Council and is published in the Gazette. We give below a synopsis of the mea- sure, the more important sections being given in full:-
Section 1 provides for the short title and that the Ordinance shall apply to the whole colony except the Hill District and the New Terri tories.
2.-Interpretation.
than four feet to any window the area of which is included in calculating the window area specified in sub-section (e.).
(h) No cubicle used for sleeping purposes shall have a less floor area than sixty-four square feet.
For the purposes of this section every sub- division of a domestic building, unless such sub- division has a window or windows opening directly into the external air and having a total area clear of the window frames equal to one- tenth of the floor area of such sub-division shall be deemed to be a cubicle.
5.-(a.) It shall not be lawful to erect, or if already existing to allow to remain, in any room of any domestic building, any mezzanine floor or cockloft whatsoever, except under such regu- lations as may be made by the Sanitary Board with the consent of the Governor-in-Council and published in the Government Gasette, and the Sanitary Board with the consent of the Governor-in Council shall have full power to vary, alter and repeal any such regulations, and | to substitute new regulations therefor.
(b.) Every intermediate floor, platform, or landing of a greater length than six feet and of a greater breadth than two feet, which has not a clear space of at least nine feet, measured vertically, both above and below it, and which windows opening directly into the external air is not separately provided with a window or and having a total area clear of the window frames of at least one-tenth of the floor area, shall be deemed to be a mezzanine floor or cockloft.
3.-No room fittted with banks or beds shall from the Crown after the passing of this Or 6. No building erected on land acquired be so fitted as thereby to provide sleeping ao-dinance shall exceed in height one and a half commodation for a greater number of persons times the width of the street upon which such than are by law permitted to occupy the room. building fronts.
4.-The following requirements shall be ob- served with regard to cubicles and partitions:- (a.) In domestic buildings fronting streets of a width of less than 15 feet, no cubicles or par- titions shall be erected, or if already existing shall be allowed to remain, except on the top floor.
(b.) In domestic buildings fronting streets of a width of 15 feet or over no cubicles or parti- tions other than "ping fang" (i ■ shop divi- sions) shall be erected or if already existing shall be allowed to remain, on the ground floor, and in the case of every such "ping fang" there must be a space between the top thereof and the ceiling or under side of the joists of the room of not less than four feet which may be closed in only by wire netting, lattice work or carved woodwork, arranged in such a way as to leave at least two-thirds open and as far as practicable evenly distributed.
(6.) No cubicles or partitions shall be erected or if already existing shall be allowed to re- main, in any kitchen,
(d.) Where one onbicle only is hereafter erect- ed or already exists in any room of a domestic building, no portion of the structure of such cubicle shall exceed eight feet in height; where two cubicles only are so erected or exist, no portion of the structure of either of such oubi- cles shall exceed seven feet in height; where more than two cubicles are so erected or exist, no portion of the structure of any such onbicles shall exceed six feet in height. In all cases, how ever, there must be a space between the top of every portion of the structure of such cubicles and the ceiling or under side of the joists of the i room of not less than four feet, which may be closed only by wire netting, lattice work or car- ved woodwork, arranged in such a way as to leave at least two-thirds open, and as far as prac- ticable evenly distributed.
|
The width of any street shall be measured from the building lines as defined by the Direo- tor of Public Works, on either side of the street and at right angles to such line or lines.
No building shall exceed seventy-six feet in height without the permission of the Sanitary Board: Provided that in any special oase in which in the opinion of such Board, a departure from this rule will not be detrimental to the public health, the Board may in writing Autharize such departure.
The height of any building shall be de- termined by measuring on the line of the main walls (both back and front) from the level of the street on which the prin- cipal front of such building abuts the full vertical height allowed by the preceeding rules and by drawing from the points thus ascertained lines at an angle of thirty degrees with the any chimney or party-wall) falling outside anch horizontal, and any part of the building (except lines shall be deemed illegal.
In the event of the street on which the prin- eipal front of a building abuts not being level throughout the extent of such building, or in the event of a building having two or more principal fronts respectively abutting on streets which are dissimilar in width or level, the Sani- tary Board shall determine from what points or the full vertical height, as specified in the fore going clause, shall be measured.
be provided with an open space in the rear, by 7-(a.) Every existing domestic building must opening out on each foor one-half of the entire space intervening between the principal room or rooms and the main wall at the back of such building as well as the corresponding portion of roof, unless such building is already provided with an open and unobstructed backyard of at least fifty square feet in area.
(b.) For the purposes of this section any do- mestic buildings having two main frontages in different streets (other than corner houses) shall be regarded as two domestic buildings.
(e.) No onbioles whatever shall be erected in any room of a domestic building, or if al- ready existing shall be allowed to remain, unless such room is provided with a window or windows opening directly into the external in the special cases, to modify the foregoing re- (c.) The Governor-in-Council shall have power, air and having a total area olear of the window | quirements where such modification may appear frames of at least one-tenth of floor area,
necessary.
341
(b.) In no case may any obstructions what-
with the exception of a bridge or covered way ever be placed or erected in these open spaces,
inches in width when such bridges are necessary on each storey not exceeding three feet six
building. as a means of access to any part of the domestic
8. (a.) Every domestic building hereafter erected in this Colony, (except in cases pro- vided for by section 66 of the Public Health Ordinance, 1897, or coming within the terms of Articles of Agreement under the Praya Re clamation Ordinance, 1899) shall, be provided with an open space in the rear in accordance with the following scale :-
An open space not less than
Houses not exceeding 40 feet in
Houses exceeding 40 feet but not
depth, for each foot of width 8 square feet.
oxceeding 50 feet in depth, for each foot of width
10 square feet.
.12 square fent.
Houses exceeding 50 feet but not exceeding 60 feet in depth, for. each foot of width Houses exceeding 60 feet in
depth, for each foot of width. 14 square feet. In no case may any obstructions whatever be placed or erected in these open spaces, with the exception of a bridge or covered way on each storey not exceeding three feet six inches in width when such bridges are necessary as a means of access to any part of the domestic building :
Provided always that when the owners of a lane opening at either end upon a public street, block of buildings agree to make and do make a and free from obstruction throughout both ver- tically, the foregoing requirements shall be modified as follows:-
Houses not exceeding 40 feet in
House exceeding 40 feet but not
depth: a lane not less than...........
exceeding 50 feet in depth: a lane not less than
Houses exceeding 50 feet but not exceeding 60 feet in depth: a lane not less than
6 feet wide.
8 feet wide.
11 feet wide.
Houses exceeding 60 feet in depth:
a lane not less than....
13 feet wide.
building for the purposes of this section the (b.) In computing the depth of a domestic depth of the kitchen shall be included in the computation of such depth in every case except when such kitchen is separated from the prin- cipal room or rooms of such building by an tending the entire width of the back of such open backyard of at least six feet in depth ex- building and unobstructed except by a bridge on each floor not more than three feet six inches wide.
of domestic buildings, shall be and shall be kept 9.-Every street on private land, in the rear concreted, channelled, drained, and provided with lighting apparatus by the Government, at the expense of the owners of the land abutting on snch street and the several owners of
such land shall bear the cost of such concreting, channeling, draining and providing of such respective land at the place where it abuts on apparatus in proportion to the width of their
such street, and the Government may recover such proportionate cost, together with interest thereon at the rate of eight per cent. per annum from the date of demand for payment of such proportionate cost made by the Director of Public Works from any such owner, by a suit in the name of the Director of Public Works Court. The cost of the illumination of such in the Summary Jurisdiction of the Supreme
street shall, however, be borne by the Govern- ment.
All household refuse shall be regularly removed by the Government from every such street.
10.-Every street on private land, upon which domestic buildings front shall, if it does not fall within the provisions of the immediately preced- ing section of this Ordinance, be and be kept surfaced, channelled, drained, etc., as in section 9.
11.-Allows six months for alterations under section 7 and imposes a fine of $10 for each day's delay over that term. For alterations to or removal of cubicles or partitions required by the Ordinance a period of three months is day's delay. If alterations or removals are not allowed, with a fine of $5 for each additional effected in the specified times the premises may be closed.