June 2, 1900.]
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the communication to the Secretary of State for the Colonies was drawn up accordingly. From the correspondence which we pub- lished yesterday it will be seen that the mili- tary authorities are prepared to withdraw their objections to the road, provided that it follows generally the 150 ft. contour and that it is constructed so as to lend itself to military requirements; and that the Secre- tary of State for the Colonies is prepared to sanction the scheme if these conditions are complied with. The Executive Committee on the 18th inst. decided that they saw no reason why the conditions should not be complied with, and the Chairman accordingly wrote to the Acting Colonial Secretary to this effect and urging that the preparation of plans, etc., should be put in hand at once and the work commenced as soon as pos- sible. Considering the time which has elapsed since the public were asked to con- tribute their money to the scheme, no one will disagree with the Committee when they say that there has already been too much delay. The suggestion, therefore, which they make, that, in the event of the Public Works Department being too short-handed to make an immediate start, the matter should be referred back to them with a view to the employment of a local firm of engineers, will, we hope, receive due consideration. Hong- kong has fortunately been spared the disgrace of seeing the money returned to the subscribers who gave freely to testify their loyalty to the head of the Empire; but the failure to have any thing yet to show for the money is far from creditable. The Committee, however, are not involved in the blame which attaches to the delay in the matter of the road, though in the eyes of an undiscriminating outside public the stigma is likely, we fear, to rest on the whole colony.
are
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. Ordinances. This will add some 15 square pool of fætid air. This but emphasises the miles to the areas already within the Board's absolute need for broad streets and build- sphere of authority, and will, pari passu, ings of reasonable altitude. The obstruction increase Dr. CLAER's arduous duties. A by verandahs, and the constant misuse of less energetic man might reasonably be them and of flying balconies as general discouraged. The city of Victoria extends living rooms, are kindred matters which along the sea-front for a distance of 4 deserve special attention at the hands of miles, and climbs up the hill-sides, to a the Board's Inspectors. This all shows that height of 800 feet above mean high-water the Insanitary Properties Ordinance will mark. The total city area covered with have to be supplemented, ere long, by buildings, is well over a square mile; and, further wholesome, if more drastic, legislation although this actual area grows but slowly, in the same direction. The urgent call for the number of houses within its limits, and p bigger supply of public urinals becomes what perhaps constitutes a far more yearly more apparent. It is far from satis- significant menace to our well-being as a factory to learn that only three such places body--the alarmingly big number of altera-exist throughout the entire city. tions to existing buildings, in the way of means of meteorological statistics culled. additional floors, are going up by leaps and from Dr. DOBERCK's Observatory reports, bounds. It is this dangerous mode of the uncertain nature of our rainfall is at progression, a mode, by the way, that is once seen. During the past twenty years, occidental rather than oriental, that will it has ranged between 45.83 inches in 1895, give the reader pause. A Chinese city with and 120.66 inches in 1888. This irregular the same population as we have, would water supply is not sufficient for the colony's cover much more ground. Ten years ago, every day wants, especially since water-taps four and five storied buildings were un- are now fixed in Chinese tenements. known in the colony, and even places of doubt a great deal of quite unnecessary waste three stories were uncommon. All this is takes place, even in European houses, for now being rapidly changed. The place is the unthinking native is not sufficiently literally adding to its stature daily. A tutored to an unlimited water supply. He cursory glance over the city reveals the fact would value it more, if it cost him greater that property-owners on all sides trouble to get. This is abundantly evident feverishly putting story on story, or if they when we notice a coal-coolie go to a street can afford it, are razing old build-hydrant, and run off several gallons to wash ings and hurriedly running up much his feet. Had he been compelled to carry loftier ones in their stead: they are eager the same amount of water from a distance, to participate in the flowing tide of rents: or to pay some one else to do so for him, his and who can blame them? The busiest feet would, in all likelihood; have gone and wealthiest part of London, the City unwashed; at least, he would have been less proper, is practically given up, during the extravagant. And yet, it is a far more cul- night, to policemen and office caretakers. pable waste to use potable water, as we Not so the business quarters of Victoria. in Hongkong do, for such purposes as Our actual thoroughfares may be empty of flushing sewers and urinals, watering streets, ricksha and chair, and of grunting coolies and for extinguishing fires; because sea- staggering along under burdens; but the water would do quite as well, and cost much buildings, on either hand, are fully as less to obtain and to store. Dr. CLARK, crammed as in the day time. The night accordingly, strongly recommends the stor- here brings no relief to the day. It is to age of salt-water in reservoirs for all this serious subject of surface crowding, ordinary municipal uses. If that were done, this aerial rather than lateral extension, to we should doubtless be able to get a constant which Dr. CLARK so often rightly recurs.
service of soft water for household purposes, means uninteresting informa-Back-to-back houses are now a nightmare even during the driest months of the year. tion. It is in every way worthy of thoughtful of the hideous past. The Insanitary Pro- The number of deaths from malarial diseases perusal by all intelligent adult members of perties Ordinance, of 1899, definitely and in '99 was still high, though less so than in the community. After carefully reading finally swept them away to the limbo of '98. Beri-Beri, in the three last months of through the pages of this document and its ap- hygienic horrors. The same Ordinance also the year, gave cause for grave anxiety, verg- pendices, we marvel at Dr. CLARK's tireless in- deals, less thoroughly than we would wish, ing almost on an epidemic. The account of dustry: and more clearly than ever, we realise with the erection of cubicles and mezzanine a disease supposed to be Beri-Beri, in one of how necessary it is that he should be provided floors; as well as with the relative height, the Foundling Hospitals, is of particular with a properly qualified and capable assis- of buildings on land hereafter acquired from interest, owing to the practical absence of tant. The duties and calls upon the Sani- the Crown to the width of the roadway all those insanitary conditions overcrowd- tary Board, particularly upon its executive which they adjoin: but, as Dr. CLARK ing, lack of light, air and nourishing food- head, the Medical Officer of Health, are pertinently and forcibly remarks, almost all with which we commonly link such an yearly becoming more numerous, more Crown-land comprised within the city- outbreak. It is greatly to be deplored onerous, more exacting and it is a matter bounds, excepting the resumed and levelled that we still suffer from the fact that there of the most imperative importance that these lots to the East of the Tung-wa Hospital, is yet no systematic medical inspection of multifarious duties be efficiently carried on, in Taipingshan, have long ago passed into vessels immediately on arrival in harbour. that these pressing calls be instantly attended the hands of private owners; and we would The colony pays very heavily for this serious to, without the paralysing fear of interrup- further state, not for the short leases of 75 deficiency. Thus, out of 137 reported cases. tion, either through break-down or absence- years now in vogue, but in the very great of small- pox, enteric fever and diphtheria, on-leave. Mr. OSBORNE'S motion on this majority of cases, for terms of 999 years. no fewer than 55 were known to have been score, on Friday last, at the meeting of the Aeration by means of wide passengers is no imported. It will be news to the ordinary Board, was eminently cogent: we hope to where more vitally needful than within the lay reader to learn that scarlet fever does see the Board's wishes assented to by the tropics. In our own instance, this plea is not appear to occur among the Chinese, and Government. At the present moment, the intensified when we reflect that in the sum- that it is comparatively unknown even Sanitary Board has no jurisdiction over the mer season, when ventilation is more essen- among Europeans here. New Territory, although that will come in tial than at any other period, the cooling due fulness of time; its sway is only breezes come from the south-i.e., as regards exercised over the 32 square miles of land Victoria, pass high over our heads, and only Our Macao correspondent, writing under date comprised in Hongkong and the Kowloon drop to the level at which we are in the 29th May, says "The plague here is decreas peninsula up to the bamboo fence that used city, by the time they have crossed the har-ing greatly, I am glad to say, there being now to mark the old frontier line on the main-bour. It is partly for this reason that the only three or four cases daily. We are having
THE HEALTH OF HONGKONG,
(Daily Press, 31st May. The lengthy report of Dr. FRANCIS W. CLARK, Medical Officer of Health, for the year 1889, is a storehouse of accurate, valuable, and by no
land. It is proposed, however, at an early date, to bring all the mainland between the first range of hills and the shore, from Lyeemun Pass on the East, to Laichikok behind Stonecutters' on the West, within the provisions of the local Public Health
peninsula opposite, although often register- ing higher absolute temperatures, is much fresher than Victoria. As old residents well know, the lower portion of the city, on many windless days in the hot season, is nothing more nor less than a huge stagnant
no water here, yet the Government Council have made no special arrangements about the supply as they have done in previous years. The just before dark.-The case of King Lien-shan Don Juan de Austria came in here yesterday. still continues, but nothing is known to the public about what is happening."