to
October 27, 1900
years. Certainly since he had been in the colony it had been very much before the Government. A sub-committee was appointed by His. Excel lency some time ago to consider the question. - It was composed of the Hon. C. P. Chater, the Hon. Wei A Yuk, the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, the Hon. F. H. May, and he thought the M.O.H, He must say that he did not think the Govem. ment could have appointed a more representa, tive committee. Supposing the site had been referred to the Sanitary Board and the Sanitary Board had disagreed with the committee. In that case the Government would have had go to somebody else to decide which was right. The question as to the design for the market was put in his hands. He immediately consulted the Medical Of ficer of Health and the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon. A sketch plan was mado. He met the Medical Officer of Health and the architect, and they went through it with the utmost care. He did not know how the Government could have done better. Still the design had to come before the Public Works Committee of the Legislative Council. In conclusion the President expressed his intention not to vote either for or against the motion.
After a few words of reply from Dr. HARTI- GAN, the motion was put and carried. Dr. Bell was the only member who voted against, whilst the President and Mr. Fung Wa Chuen abstained from voting.
PROPOSED INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL FOR CHINESE.
The following letter from the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon (Mr. C. V. Ladds) was submitted:--
"I have the honour to request that you will bring the following matter before the Sanitary Board at your earliest convenience.
"I have heard that there is some intention of building an infectious diseases hospital for Chinese upon Inland Lot 1082, which is situ ated at Kennedytown, and I beg to point out that this lot is only a stone's throw from the City slaughterhouse..
I believe it is the rule in the United King- dom that no buildings should be erected within a quarter of a mile of any infectious diseases hospital, and if such regulations are deemed necessary there, I presume the same conditions would apply, and perhaps with more reason, in & tropical climate like Hongkong.
*
•
gen.
As a bacteriologist, I therefore deem it my duty to point out to the Board that it is erally understood that all fresh meat is liable to absorb germs freely, especially so when newly slaughtered, and as Inland Lot 1082 is only 65 yards distant from the slaughtering shed itself, it appears to me that the close proximity of such an hospital might prove a source of much danger to the principal meat supply of the colony."
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The following minutes were appended:- Mr. MoKie:The Board do not even know where this hospital is to be situated. It is a pity the Board was not consulted at first."
Dr. Clark: Smallpox is the only infectious disease that is known. to spread through the atmosphere for a distance of 300 to 400 yards, and cases of that disease should most certainly not be treated in any building so close to the slaughterhouse as this will apparently be."
Dr. Bell: I do not think there is anything in this objection. Smallpox has hitherto been treated at Kennedytown Hospital without any objection to the difference in distance in 50 yards or so. I never heard of smallpox being spread by meat, nor any one else."
The Hon. R. D. Ormsby:" Hearsay evi- dence in Hongkong should never be acted on. There is, as far as I know, no intention of building an infectious diseases hospital on Inland Lot 1082."
=
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
| carts, and it appears that at Shanghai, where carts are used, the expenditure on street watering amounts to about $17,000 per annum, oxclusive of what is paid for the water.
"The expenditure in this colony is only $2,400, and the area of the City of Victoria is about three times that of the settlement of Shanghai.
On the other hand the rainfall of Shanghai is rather more than half of the rainfall of this colony, so that they would probably have to water the streets on twice as many days as we do.
"Evon, then the discrepancy is
very large, and we may say that street watering by carts would cost nearly six times as much as street watering by hand buckets.
Street watering by carts could only be ap- plied to Queen's Road, Des Voeux Road, and the cross streets between these, as a heavily- laden water cart on the upper levels would be distinctly dangerous if left in charge of Chinese drivers.
The cost of the carts is about $230 to $250 apiece, and the necessitate pony traction, which costs in Shanghai only 67 cents a day per pony; but I doubt if it could be got in this colony at that rate."
The following minutes were appended
week last year. The rate for the succeeding week was 204, against 20 Lfor the corresponding week last year.
MACAO MORTALITY STATISTICS.
The deaths in Macao during the week ended 7th. October numbered 57 and for the succeeding week 44.
This was all the business.
SUPREME COURT.
October 24th.
· IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE THE HON. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (ACTING PUISNE JUDGE).
LEMM V. CHAN YUK CHUN. architect, sought to recover from Chan Yuk, In this case the plaintiff, Mr. John Lemm, Chun, of 48, Bonham Strand, $875 for profession- al services rendered in preparation of plans and specifications and procuring tenders for the elec- tion of buildings on part of the Praya Reclama- tion belonging to the defendant, or to which the defendant is entitled by a Crown Lønse.
Mr. d'Almada o Castro (Mesars. Wilkinson Mr. McKie:It is absolutely impossible to and Grist) said he appeared for the plaintiff compare the cost of street watering in Shanghai and Mr. Ewens for the defendant. He said this with the old woman bucket system prevail-case had been settled by payment of a smaller ing here, and it is also misleading to make the sum than the amount claimed-$550. Ho comparison, on the statement that the area of therefore, would ask his lordship for leave to the city of Victoria is three times that of the Shanghai settlement. As a matter of fact, the area of roads as properly watered by carts in Shanghai is more than five times that upon which we sprinkle a little water hero."
Mr. Osborne." It is not fair to compare the cost of street watering in Shanghai and Hong- kong unless the amount of water used in each place be stated. In Shanghai I understand the watering is done efficiently. In Hongkong it is little more than a farce."
Dr. Clark: The object of the comparison with Shanghai is to, ascertain what it would cost, to do the street watering thoroughly."
Dr. Hartigan : "I agree. with Mr. McKie re area watered in Shanghai. Why could not the carts be drawn by coolies ?
The upper. roads are hardly ever watered. The dust this has been abominable. The amount spent on watering might certainly be larger."
year
The Hon. R. D. Ormsby:-"No watering should be done here except with sea water or the unfiltered water from streams which have been made available for the purpose on Caine Road-and Bonham Road. I am in favour of spending what money we have on a proper water cart and hand pump for filling them from the sea. The present system should be
abandoned."
After some discussion it was decided, on the motion of the PRESIDENT, Seconded by Dr. BELL, that application be made to the Government to provide four water-carts, the present system of watering with fresh water to be stopped in the meanwhile.
THE ANALYST'S QUARTERLY REPORT. In this report for the quarter ended Septem- ber 30th, Mr. T. J. Wild, Acting Government Analyst said he had examined one sample of brandy, one of gin, one of rum and six whisky, all of which were found to be genuine and two adulterated.
The following minutes were appended:- Mr. McKie: Have the sellers of the two lots of adulterated milk been prosecuted ?"
Dr. Clark:- One was convicted and fined $100, and the other absconded from the colony."
PENANG AND THE PLAGUE.
The following telegram, dated 12th October,
withdraw the case.
His Lordship-Very well. The case was accordingly withdrawn.
THE CRISIS IN CHINA.
LOCAL MOVEMENTS. The U.S. gunboat Don Juan de Austria ar. rived on the 19th inst. from Canton.
H.M.S. Mohawk left on the 19th inst. for Shanghai.
The Austrian transport Elektra, which is engaged by the Russian government, departed on the 19th inst, on its way to Vladivostok:
H. M. S. Astræd arrived on the 21st inst. from
Singapore with the torpedo-boat destroyer Janus. The Astræa is a second-class cruiser of 4,360 tons displacement and 9,112 i.h.p. She was built at Devonport in 1893 at a cost of £244,831. Her armout is 2 in., gun-position, and 2-1 in., deck. She carries two 6 in. Q.F., eight 4,7 in. sight 6 prs., one 3 prs., 4 maxims, and one light. gun, with two torpedo-tubes. Her speed is 19.75 knots, and her complement 312.. Bho is, it may be noted, the smallest ship in the Navy carrying midshipmen, of whom she has eight. The destroyer Janus is of 252 tous displacy- ment and 3,789 i.h.p. She steams 27.8 knots and her armament consists of one 12-pdr. and five 6-pdr. quick-firing guns and she has two
Her crew numbers 50. torpedo tubes. looked as if the Astrea very narrowly escaped running into H.M.S. Argonaut on the 21st inst., as she moved to her position. It is not impro- bable that the Astræn may be dooked here.
It
The British transport Dalhousie left on the 20th for Taku.
The British steamer Sicilian arrived in the
harbour on the 22nd inst., bringing 25 Russian
officers and 2,656 men, and left again on Tues- day for Vladivostok.
The Saint Andrew returned froth Weihaiwei on the 22nd inst.
The British transport Nerbudda arrived on the 25th inst. from Shanhaikwan.
The British transport Nevasa arrived on the bat
25th inst. from Taku and Weihaiwei.
It was pointed ont that the hospital was not has been received from the Colonial Secretary, | rived yesterday" froni Marseilles via Singapore
to be erected on the lot mentioned, but on one a short distance away. The letter was ordered
to lie on the table.
+
Singapore:-
"Two suspected cases of plague both fatal 10th October reported from Ponang 11th Octo- ber. Contacts segregated; every precaution taken; no other cases since."
< THE WATERING OF THE STREETS. The following minute by the Medical Officer of Health relative to street watering was sub- THE FORTNIGHTLY LIME-WASHING RETURN: mitted, it being in reply to the queries by His
The fortnightly, lime-washing return showed Excellency the Governor, What is the cost that since the previous report 270 honses in the of street watering? Could it be done more
Central District had been limewashed. cheaply by water carts ?–
In reply to His Excellency's minutes I hive the honour to state that enquiries have been made as to the cost of street watering by
THE HEALTH OF THE COLONY,
The death-rate for the colony for the week ended 6th October was 25 6, against 21-6 for the previous week and 191 for the corresponding
The French cruiser Chasseloup Laubat ar- and Saigon. She is a second class cruiser of 3,758 tons and 9,000 i.p.p.. built at Cherbourg in 1893. She has deck-armour 3 in. thick, and is armed with six 04-in. Q.F., four 3.9-in., eight 1.8-in., twelve 1.4-in. maxims, and six torpedo-tubes. Her speed in 19.25 knots. AFFAIRS IN THE NEW TERRITORY.
Captain Superintendent F. H. May, C.M.G., returned on the 21st inst. to Hongkong from the New Territory. It appears that the general situation on the British boundary and the remoter parts of the New Territory was then reassuring