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380
THE SANITARY BOARD AND THE INSANITARY PROPERTIES BILL.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND AFFAIRS IN THE PHIIPPINES.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
RELEASE.
A special meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on Monday at noon for the purpose of dis- SICE SPANISH PRISONERS EXPECT EARLY eussing certain matters in connection with the Insanitary Properties Bill. The President (Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer) occupied the chair, and there were also present the Vice-President (the Hon. F. H. May, Captain Superintendent of Police), the Hon. R. D. Ormsby (Director of Public Works), Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), and Mr. C. W. Duggan (Secretary).
The PRESIDENT said that that meeting had been called to discuss the question as to whether the minimum size of cubicles recommended in the Insanitary Properties Bill should be increas- ed or not. Bub-section h of section 4 of the Bill stated: "No 'cubiole used for sleeping purposes shall have less floor area than 64 square Zest."
Dr. CLARK said he begged to move that the attention of the Government be directed to the fact that in the Board's report of June 9th, 1898, it was recommend that a distance of not less than six feet be permitted between the nearest cubicle and any window the area of which was included in calonlating the required window area. He had been discussing this matter with one or two former members of the Board, and they expressed a strong opinion that it ought to be the width of the cubicle, that was, eight feat. He might also mention that in section 4, sub-section h, they should substitute eight feet by eight for 64 square feet, so as to avoid a double row of cubicles with a narrow passage between.
The VICE-PRESIDENT 82conded.
The Hon. R. D. ORMSBY said he must oppose the proposal, because he really thought that this Bill, which had been before them and be. fore the public for nearly 18 months, had been sufficiently thrashed out, and with the exception of a verbal alteration-eight feet by eight in. stead of 64 square feet-he would advise that no change be made. It seemed to him that to increase the size of cubicles would entail a good deal of hardship upon many people. There must be many cases in which a man and his wife, without family, took a cubicle, and from what they had seen lately they paid quite as rent as they could possibly afford to pay as wages ruled in Honggong, I af to take it impossible for them to get a place eight feet by eight, and insist upon their taking a place 10 or 12 by eight, was, he thought, inflicting a con- siderable hardship upon them, as there was not the slightest doubt landlords would charge rent for a cubicle according to the number of square feet contained in that cubicle. With regard to the other point which the Medical Officer of Health had brought forward, he thought four feet space from a window was enough, and if it was enough they should not insist upon six feet. It was pointed out by persons largely interested in property in Hongkong in discussing this Bill that four feet would be practically lost in the letting value of the room. However, the Bill as it now stood was practically accepted, and he believed there was every reason to expect it would pass in its present form through the Council without opposition. It they introduced a change now adding 50 per cent. to what was considered as lost space in a room an opposition might be raised to the Bill and might prevent its passing. For that reason he was opposed to any change being made in the Bill as it now stood except the merely verbal change of sub- stituting sight by eight for 64 feet.
On the motion being put to the vote it was carried with one (Mr. Ormsby) dissentient.
square
The VICE-PRESIDENT proposed that the op- portunity be taken of pointing out to the Gov ernment that section 9 of Ordinance 15 of 1894, a regarded the cubic space and floor space re-
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THE AUTHORITIES SIT DOWN ON MANILA PAPERS.
Manila 27th October. Up to this week it has been customary foreq lively Manila newspapers to publish, two or three days in advance, full and complete details of all morements planned either by the army or navy. If troops were concentrated at any point or ammunition and supplies stored up in any par- ticular town the local papers were sure to know of it, print-long accounts of the troops, infantry cavalry, or artillery, the number of horses, and the amount and charactor of the baggage, so that by the mere reading of Manila papers the insurgent leaders kept themselves posted on the exact location of every soldier, horse, and, gun in the island.
At last the authorities have put a stop to these extraordinary liberties, by prohibiting the publication of any news showing, directly or indirectly, the arrival, departure, transfer, or any movement of any troops. A delegation of editors called on the chief of staff and learned that they might make use of battles and other completed movements, but all affairs concerning the moving of organizations or supplies must not be mentioned.
The order meets with general approval throughout the army, and the civilian popula tion as well, as everyone realized that the pa. pers were furnishing valuable and convenient information to the enemy.
NO MORE COMMISSIONS.
A change has taken place in the method of negotiating with the Filipinos. Since Alejand- rino's theatrical visit and its stirring results no more insurgeut officers have been permitted to visit Manila. The question of the Spanish prisoners is again boing agitated and this time the representatives of Spain, who are now in Tarlac, seem to be meeting with a little success, as it is currently believed that the sick prison. ers will soon be liberated. The others will re- main
Aguinaldo requested that & commission of prominent officers be allowed to accompany these returning Spaniards to Manila, where another conference could be arranged; but this was refused, and it is very likely that if any conferences are to take place in the future they will be conducted somewhere near the frontier, and be presided over by the nearest General-in. command. It is to be hoped that Manila will see no more bright insurgent uniforms until the war is ended, and that eager crowds of ad- miring natives can watch the arriving trains without any opportunity for celebration.
The Spanish population is becoming enthusi- astio over the prospect of the return of the unfortunate prisoners. As a matter of fact the negotiations concern only such of the prisoners as are sick; but this is believed to include a large number. Many of these have been in the hands of the insurgents twelve and thirteen. moaths, and they are not only men, but women and children.
General Otis has assured the Spaniards through the insurgent officers that the prisoners will be received with every kindness and that no means will be spared to have them returned to their own country as comfortably and quickly as possible.
THE COST OF SALARIES, PEN- SIONS, ETC.
The following statement of Salaries, Pensions, and Exchange Compensation, for the years 1895-
il
November 1899.
THE COLONY'S MILITARY EXPENDITURE.
A stalement of military expenditure and contribution for barrack services and defence works for the years 1889-1898 was laid before the last meeting of the Legislative Council. The contribution for barrack services appears first in 1896 and that for defence works in 1898. The figures are as follows :---
1889 1890.
MILITARY EXPENDITURE. $131,637.80 | 1894
$371,647.51 353.242.05
121,897,971895.
1891.... 1892
*381,316.68
1896:
469,679.52
267,182.43
1897..
416.541.73
297,873.90
1898.
448.605.19
1893
The military contribution was doubled from 1st January, 1890, and the arrears for 1890 were paid in 1891.
CONTRIBUTION FOR BARRACK SERVIÕES,
1896
$40,000.00
1
1897
43,837.14
1898
40,000.00
CONTRIBUTION FOR DEFENCE works.
1898
$14,700.00
THE POST OFFI E REV: NUE
AND LXPENDITURE,
The following statement of revenue and expenditure of the Post Office for the years 1889-1898 has been laid before the Legislative Council:
Year.
Revenue. Expenditure. ..$142,309.11 $163,127.26.
148,454.98 115,398.13
1889,
1890,
1891,
142,770.03 140,165:01
1892,
157,699.03 154,218.30
1893,
167,596.77 153,286.96
1894,
192,172.42 183,352.15
1895,
244,449.71 194,240.27
1896,
245,280.93 188,281,17
1897, 1898,
.
268,616.49 207,080.29 337,179.99 241,561.52
Total.........286 1,749,741,09 -
THE STRANDING OF THE “ SHAN-
F TÙNG”
MARINE COURT OF ENQUIRY.—CÀPTAIN FRAMPTON EXONERATED.
A marine court of enquiry was held at tho Harbour Office on Thursday morning for the purpose of enquiring into the circumstances connected with the stranding of the British steamship Shantung, of which Mr. H. C. D. Frampton was master and commander.
The court was constituted as follows:--Com- mauder R. M. Rumsey, R.N.. Stipendiary Magistrate Staff Commander R. J. Rogers, R.N., of H.M.S. Tamor; Captain J. H. Rin- der, of the Coptic: Captain P. H. Rolge, of the Yuensang; and Captain J. A. Morris, of the Chow Tai,
The letter of Captain Frampton asking for an enquiry was read.
The warrant constituting the Court was read. Captain Frampton. said he was formerly master of the Shantung but was not in command now. He held a master's certificate dated Sist October, 1885, issued at Plymouth. He had been in the Shantung since 1892, and had been Captain the whole of the time with the except tion of six months when he went home. The Shantung was owned by Butterfield and Swire. They sailed from Samarang ou the 5th July on a voyage to Hongkong with a full cargo of sugar. The draught of the ship i 24 feet: 6 complement of crow and the ship was properly found. On the 8th July he made up his mind to const down the Island of Seruis, the weather being fine. He was about 24 miles off the coast then. His object was to find out whether there was a wreck there, as he had reason to
in. aft and 21-6 feet forward." got a full
quired for persons occupying onbioles, provided 1898, has been laid before the Legislative Coun- | suppose there was He therefore gave intruc
for adults only, and made no provision for any cubic or floor space for children.
Dr. CLARK seconded, and the motion Was carried.
This was all the business.
It is understood, says the Straits Times, that Sandakan will be visited by Lord Brassey in
anuary next.
1895. 1896. 1897. 1698. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. 2/14. 2/2. 1/114. 1/107. Salaries (includ-
ing allowances) 794,115.73 746,617.41 767,192.2.719,669.71 Pensions
112,776.9*118,053,71 140,8:4.22 161,210.26 Exchange Com
-119,403,85 -70,300,00 91,518,82 101,844.19 8956,901.55 235,012.02 1,002,535,35 1,0:8.739.16
*pensation
tions to the second officer to get out the chart, and having found from the chart that there was deep water close to the reef and that there was no reason to suppose there was any danger of rocks he made for the coast. He took charge of the deck himself after one o'clock, Serais Island being then abeam south 79 east, and the estimated distance about three-quarters of a mile. On approaching the land he observed an