May 12, 1900:
It may be objected that the houses referred to in the recent advertisement of the Sanitary Board in the local Press are not affected by cases of plague as yet, but evidener is lacking to show that they do not contain plague bacilli which are liable to be stirred up and become at
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
SUPREME COURT
8th May.
REDUCTION OF CABLE RATES.
831
Read letter from San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, dated 29th March, stating that since writing on the 28th December last, a reply had been received from the Western Union Tele- graph Company, together with corrospondenos documents were enclosed, and from which the San Francisco Chamber concluded there were good prospects of an early reduction in rates.
once active should limewashing be indulged | BevORR HIS HONOUR SIR John CabrinG- from their London branch, copies of which
in without previous disinfection; indeed a refer- ence to Dr. Atkinson's report on the prevalence of plague during the years 1897-1898 is interest- ing in this particular. He says "the recrudes. cence of the disease in houses previously infected shows how tenaciously the bacillus clings to dwellings." Notwithstanding a new system of disinfection having been adopted this is still the case in a less degree.)
I wouid point out further that one of the most recently and most efficiently limewashed districts of the city is now the seat of the majority of plague, cases, thus proving the inefficiency-to say nothing of the mis- chief-of limewashing unaccompanied and not preceded by disinfection. Morover I have been called to houses to see cases of plague which have occurred during the process of lime washing, there being no oases of plague in the same house previously. Coincidenee might be pleaded against my argument, but in view of the above considerations I venture to think that such is not the case,
Disinfection, especially if done thoroughly, is expensive, but so is the plague, and it is becom. ing more expensive every year to the colony. The question arises, therefore, as to who is to bear the expense.
There cannot be much hesita. tion in answering that question. The Govern ment and the Government alone should provide for a matter so vitally affecting the welfare of the colony.
Another point which should be made mention of is the fact that in India quioklime is used, in Hongkong slaked lime, the latter is as in- effective as the former is effective.
In conclusion let me call the attention of the Board to the excellent example set by the Naval Yard Authorities when renovating Fletcher Street last year. Before ever a hand was put to the limewash brush the hydrants were made use of and the buildings were cleansed with a weak solution of carbolic acid, which if it did not thoroughly disinfect at any rate got rid of the dust in the buildings. Is there any reason why sea water should not be used in the same way by the Sanitary Board if the expense of thorough disinfection is objected to by the Covernment?
I trust that the Board will treat my remarks in the spirit in which they are made. I do but call attention to these matters in the interests of the public. No one is more aware than I am of the excellent work done as regards plague by the Sanitary Board. I earnestly hope, there- fore, that that good work may not be even par. tially marred by the enforcement of an in- adequate-nay a mischievours-bye-law-I have the honour to remain, your obedient
servant,
G. M. HARSION. G. A. Woodcock, Esq., Acting Secretary Sani-
tary Roard:
On the motion of Mr. McKIE, seconded by Mr. OSBORNE, the consideration of the letter was adjourned until the next meeting of the Board.
Lieut. Col. RYAN announced his intention of proposing that the matter should b● con- sidered by the Board in committee.
This was all the business.
A Soochow despatch reports that H.E. La Ch'uan-lin, Governor of Kiangsu, who has been travelling overland since the 24th ultimo review. ing the territorial troops (in the province, was expected to reach Soochow on the 3rd inst. Yuang-ting, Provincial Treasurer, has been Acting Governor of the province during the five months the former official was acting as Viceroy of the Liangkiang.
A Wachang despatch states that Viceroy Chang Chih-tung held a grand review of the troops under him on the 26th ultimo outside the city, there being no less than 86 battalions of all arms, numbering 18,000 rank and file present. The men were all organised, drilled, and armed after the German model, and made a very favourable appearance. The review lasted from dawn to dusk, and ended with a grand sham fight.-N.-C. Daily News.
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TON (CHIEF JUStice) and His HONOUR T. SERCOMBE SMITH (AOTING PUIENS JUDGM).
CHAN KIT SAN AND ANOTHER, APPELLANTS
V. HO FUNG HANG, RESPONDENT. Mr. H. E. Pollock (instructed by Mr. Bowley) appeared for the respondent and Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C. (instracted by Mr. C. Ewens), for the appellants. This was a notice of motion to set aside an order giving leave to appeal to the Privy Council.
The Chief Justice-Mr. Francis, I am afraid there is nobody to instruct you.
Mr. Francis-No; Mr. Ewens is absent and Mr. Brayne is very ill. But before Mr. Ewens went away I was regularly instructed.
The Chief Justice—I am sorry to hear Mr. Brayne is ill.
Mr. Pollock said that on the 30th April he moved the court in the terms of the notice of motion which had been filed in court asking that the order which was made ex-parte on the 26th March, 1900, granting leave to the defen- dant to appeal toer Majesty in Council from the decision of that honourable court given ou the 14th Maroh be set aside on the grounds that (1) The decision appealed from was neither a anal judgment, decree or sentence, nor a rule or order having the effect of a final or definite sentence (as required by the instructions go verning appeals to the Privy Council) and (2) that there is no satisfactory evidence before the Court that such decision was given or pro- nounced for or in respect of a sum or matter at issue abore the amount value of £500 sterling or that such Decree involves directly or in- directly the title to property or so some Civil right exceeding the value of £500. After he had argued the matter before their lordships, they gave him leave to serve the other side with a notice of motion in the terms which he had just read. His learned friend Mr. Fran- cis appeared on the other side.
Judgment was reserved
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
At the Monthly Meeting of the General Committee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, haid at noon on Monday, the 7th May, there were present: Hon. R. M. Gray (Chairman). Messrs. H. M. Bevis, A Haupt, A. M. Marshall, R. L. Richardson, C. S. Sharp, N. A. Siebs, Hon. Herbert Smith, and R. C. Wilcox (Secretary).
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the last Monthly Meeting (held 18th April) were read and confirmed.
ELECTION OF COMMITTERS.
On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Bevis, the following members were elected as the Corresponding Committee :-The Chair- man, Vice-Chairman, Hon. H. Smith, and Mr. A. M. Marshall.
The Chairman then proposed, and the Hon. H. Smith seconded, that the Arbitration Com- mittee should be composed of the following: Messrs. H. M. Bevis, A. Haupt, R. L. Richard- son, C. S. Sharp, and N. A. Siebs.
Carried unanimously.
THE CHAMBER'S REPRESENTATIVE IN THE
LEGISLATIVE' COUNCIL.
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The Secretary said the correspondence simply referred to the proposal made by the Telegraph Companies to the British Government for reduction in the tariff under certain conditions, "the terms of which had already been laid before the Chamber.
POSTAL COMPLAINT FROM MANILA. - The Secretary reported that, on the 21st April, a letter had been addressed to the Acting Postmaster General setting out the complaint made by the Manila Chamber of the late receipt of European mails forwarded through Hong- kong, and that a reply had been received stating that instructions had been issued that would-
prevent a recurrence of the same cause of com. plaint. A copy of the Postmaster's letter had been despatched to the Manila Chamber with a
statement of what had been done.
PIRACIES ON THE WEST RIVER.
On this question, the Secretary reported that on the 26th April, a further letter had been addressed to the Government stating, in reference to the route to be partrolled from Samshui to the sea, that the consensus of opinion among those engaged in the navigation of the West River was that the route should be that now generally in use, viz., Wangmoon, Sailam, and Junction Channels and the West River between Kongmoon and Samshui.
Read reply received on the 4th inst., an- novnoing that the Naval Authorities, in deference to this opinion, had given directions for the patrol of the route mentioned by the - Chamber.
AMOY AND THE FORMOSA TEA TRADE. A letter having been received from the Amoy Chamber of Commerce, enclosing copy of a further despatch addressed by that body to the British Minister at Tokyo, protesting against the imposition of a discriminating duty on teas shipped from Formosa to the United States or Europe via Chinese ports or Hongkong, and requesting the co-operation of this Chamber.
A further letter in support of the Amoy Chamber's representations was, on the 28th April, despatched to Sir Ernest Satow by this Chamber, expressing the opinion that the levy of this discriminating duty was an infringe- ment of the terms of the Treaty of 1894, and hoping that His Excellency would succeed in obtaining its removal.
A copy of the above letter was also forwarded for the information of H. E. the officer adminis-
tering the Government of Hongsong.
A reply had since been despatched to the Amoy Chamber enclosing copy of the despatch addressed to the British minister at Tokyo.
This concluded the business.
The following are the letters referred to un- der the two latter headings:
PIRACIES ON THE WEST RIVER. Hongkong General Chamber of Commeros.
Hongkong 26th April.
Sir,
Adverting to my letter of the 20th inst. with reference to Admiral Seymour's suggestion that one route only should be used by mer- chant steamers from Samshui tô the sea, and in as the mont desirable, I am now in a position to give which he indicates the Broadway the result of the reference to those principally.
All the masters of steamers engaged in the navigation of the river are unanimons in re- commending that, instead of the "Broadway,” the following route, which is more generally in use, should be patrolled by the war vessels, vix., Wangmoon, Sailam, and Junction Channels and the West River between Kongmoon and I have the honour to be, Sămshui.
Sir,
Read letter from the Acting Colonial Secre- tarý, dated 4th May, in reply to the Chamber's letter of 30th April announcing the nomination of Mr. Herbert Smith at a special general meet- ing of the members, stating that His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government had in consequence been pleased to appoint Mr. Smith to be member of the Legislative Connoil
Acting Colonial Secretary, ada vice Mr. T. H. Whitehead on leave of absence, To Hen. F. H. May, C.M.G., subject to confirmation by Her Majesty.
Your most obedient servant,
W. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary.
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