February 9, 1901.J
to report upon their own actions, and in fact call on them
presumably condemn themselves. The PRESIDENT said he had nothing to do with the selection of the site.
Dr. HARTIGAN, continuing, said at all events the site was chosen. He brought up objections to its surroundings, and both the President and the P..M.O. distinctly stated that the objec- tions which he raised at a previous Board meet- ing did not exist. The doctor continued his observations, criticising the different statements made in the raport. He added:-"Finally we are told that the sit is most admirable. Now this opinion the Board did not challenge, con- sidering that the choice made was settled and irrevocable. But the Board, in pursuance of its duty, did ask that certain defects and nui. sancas in the surroundings should be remedied, and are told that water can be run off, that a swamp can be filled in. Really we have soms brains and could have cerebrated that fact for ourselves. Venice was built on a swamp. I do not doubt the D.P.W. could ereot Doges' pa- laces at Kennedytown, but the only improve. ment he actually offers is the removal of rot- ten hides, to be enforced by our own officers. I cannot help thinking that this is a piece of sarcasm-I have noticed it before at these Board
meetings-by that great master of official casuis ty and uncompromising opponent of the Board who has signed that letter.
The PRESIDENT-I am afraid I shall have to call you to order for speaking in this way. You are speaking, I think, of a member of the Board and the Colonial Secretary.
Dr. HARTIGAN said he was speaking of the gentleman who had signed the letter.
The PRESIDENT-Ï do not think you should speak of him in that way.
Dr. HARTIGAN-I will withdraw any part which you consider wrong, but I maintain that the same sort of thing has been inserted in previous letters. If I have said anything which is not in accordance with the etiquette of the Board I withdraw it,
The Hon. F. H. MAYAs far as my mem- ory goes he said the writer of the letter was an opponent of every sanitary reform and a master of casuisty, and I think that is most uncalled for.
Dr. HARTIGAN-I beg to say most em. phatically that I said nothing of the sort. I said opponent of this Board.
The PRESIDENT-And a master of casuisty. Dr. HARTIGAN-Yes.
The PRESIDENT-I think those words should be withdrawn.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
resolution before the Board. He has been meandering about and what he means I don't know, and I am sure nobody else does."
Dr. HARTIGAN said he was sorry if the Board had not read the report which he was taking point to point. In conclusion he said - I have spoken strongly, for I felt deeply that an endeavour has been made to cast, publicly and officially, an unmerited slur on our straight forwardness and veracity. I make no motion, believing it would be useless. The subject then dropped.
THE WATER. SUPPLY.
Replying to a recommendation of the Board, the Colonial Secretary wrote:-
THE LIGHTING, ETC., OF THE NEW WESTERN
MARKET.
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plans was not added as a supplementary market. Then the requirements of the Western District would have been met for a good many years, whereas the present arrangement will leave the situation, so far as stall accommodation is con- corned, in much the same position as it was before, even if not worse.Noto-There is a very large wholesale poultry store in Saiying- poon which requires 1,100 square foot or three shops."
The following minutes were appended :- Mr. McKie: "Mr. Ladds' raport discloses a most unsatisfactory prospect which fortunately it is not too late to take steps to improve.
Dr. Hartigan:-"This requiros most serious "I am directed to inform you that the Prin- consideration. We require very much more not cipal Civil Medical Officer has been instructed less accommodation than at present provided. to furnish the Sanitary Board regularly with a Every member of the Board is agreed as to the copy of the Government Analyst's monthly insufficiency of market accommodation." report on the condition of the water supply of Mr. Osborno:-"Mr. Ladds' roport is a the colony."
revelation, and if the New Western Market is to be saved from becoming a fiasco the whole question will have to be considered de novo. A roport by Mr. Ladds (Colonial Veterinary |
The Hon. F. H. May:- "This report is mis- Surgeon) as to the lighting, etc., of the propos- loading. The site of the new market was chosen ed new Western Market was submitted. Mr. by a committee on which the M. O. H. had a Ladds said that as no plan of the elevation of seat, to say nothing of the D. P. W., Mr. the building was givan with those which he Chater, Mr. Wei Yuk, and Mr. Basil Taylor. received he was unable to offer an opinion on the Let us have the plans explain to us by the lighting of the building. The situation of the D. P. W." proposed new building was a good one, but the The PRESIDENT-I see now it was a mis. area of the plot upon which it was to stand was take referring these plans of the Western far too small. The number of shops and stalls Market to Mr. Ladds; and I should have opposed shown in the plans was 103, as against 160 in the it at the time. The Governor has agreed to let old market. The poultry shops numbered 12, as the Board see the plans of such buildings, and at present, but instead of getting 432 square feet; make suggestions, but I do not think it was oach as they ought to the architect had only over contemplated that the Board should pass allowed 163 square feet. The total stall area these on, not even looked at, to one of their shown on the plans was 7,970 square foot and subordinato officers for report. I presume the of this 6,489 would be required for 15 poultry Board do not expect me to enter into a shops, thus learing 1,490 square feet, which ought controversy with
Mr. Lad ls, who has to be also used to provide room for three failed to understand the design and fallen into more poultry shops, for further expansion of many egregrious mistakes. The plans were trade. The poultry shops would thus absorb prepared by one of my officers who is an the whole of the space in the new building. Associate of the Royal Institute of British and this left 148 other shops and stalls to be Architects and a first-class honour medalist for provided for in the second of the proposed new designing and constructing at Kensington. markets, which he understood was to be erected In consultation with the Medical Officer of upon the site of the prosent Harbour Office. Health, the Celonial Veterinary Surgeon, and The total area of the present Western Market myself he has provided against the mistakes was 28.850 square feet, with a stall area of made in the Central Market designs, and in my about 15,000 square feet, but the avenues or opinion has done his work extremely well. It public thoroughfares wore far 100 narrow is simply absurd that his plans should be submit- and much more space was really required. This ted for the criticism of a veterinary surgeon. I was shown by the new plans-here they had have no wish whatever to reflect on Mr. Ladds' 23.121 square foot total are of both floors and abilities in his own line, and would be vory only 7,970 total stall space. Hence as the area sorry indeed to put my opinion against his on of the plot of ground upon which the present anything connected with th treatment of Harbour Office now stands was 8,200 square animals: but he should not maddle with archi- fast the available stall spice of a second new tecture. If the Board are desirous of having
the table, I shall ask the architect,
Mr. Fisher, to attend here and explain any points wished for.
Dr. HARTIGAN-I will not withdraw "* oppon- ent of this Board," but I will withdraw "master of casuisty" if you think the expression offen sive. I am sorry so much heat has been engen-market built upon it, supposing it to be com.the plans of the Western Market again put on dered.
Dr. Hartigan had not proceeded much further when he was again called to order. He said-The whole correspondence is further proof of the folly of striving against the official phalanx which can never do wrong. You as officials-I draw that line distinctly are all equally masters of evasion and equivocation.
The PRESIDENT-Order, order, order! This is a very wrong way for you to speak, Dr. Hartigan.
Dr. HARTIGAN-Dɔ you object to the word " evasion ?"
The PRESIDENT -It is a very improper word. The Hon. F. H. MAY-I object to the word "equivocation." I am not accustomed to being called a liar, and I ask Dr. Hartigan to come outside and call me one. I consider it nothing less than an insult to charge members with being guilty of equivocation.
Dr. HARTIGAN-I expected the President to call you to order when you asked me to come outside, but as he did not I ask you for him.
The PRESIDENT-I think so. Dr. HARTIGAN (there being no response from Mr. May) - We will pass it over then. They use certain means as officials which they scorn in their unofficial capacity to use.
The PRESIDENT That I absolutely deny. I consider that most insulting too.
!
Dr. HARTIGAN-I am very sorry. The PRESIDENT-Have you any resolution? We have really a great deal of business to go through
The Hon. F. H. May also objected to Dr. Hartigan proceeding, adding: There is no
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Western
posed of two floors and arranged upon a some whatsimilar scale as the proposed first newmarket building, would be about 5.470 square feet. This added to the total stall area given of the first In reference to these plans, Dr. Bell had the now market was 7.970-13.440 square feet, being following two questions down on the paper:- even loss stall area than is contained in the old (1) Were the plans for the now Western Market. If the views of the present Market submitted to the Sanitary Board, and tenants as to the accommodation required have if so, when? (2.) Were any inprovements in not yet boon obtained, he recommended that this the plans suggested by the Bard, and if so, should be done through the Registrar-General, in what direction? In view of the President's not necessarily with the view of embodying all statement, however, he now asked leave to the stall holders' suggestions, but to gather their withdraw them, as they had been put under general views upon the sabject, and to meet them a misapprehension. as far as possible. Should it be the intention of Mr. OSBORNE was of opinion that it would the Goverment to place the proposed new build be a very excellent plan to have the Public ing under the charge of a European, as in the Works officer there to explain the plans. At case of the Central Market, he begged to point out the same time, the Board would be wanting that the badroom accommodation as shown upon in duty if it wore to entirely pass over Mr. the plan-viz., 12 ft. 9 in. by 10 ft.-appeared Ladds criticisms. These criti isms were really to him to be very inadequate, and would he felt dealing with facts, and one of the most impor sure be found very hot and uncomfortable dur-tant of these facts was that tho accommodation ing the summer months. In conclusion Mr. to be provided by the now site was not such Ladus said:
as at present existed in the oll Western Mar-
"From the figures given above it may boket. One of the chief reasons for building gathered that I am strongly of opinion that a new market was to provide more accommo the two proposed new markets which it is dation, and if the colony were to be givon, intended to erect as a substitute for the in place of the existing one, a new and hand- present Western Market will not at all some building, but with less stalls than the meet the requirements of the case, and that presoat market, it would most certainly be they will not, both included, provide as retrograde movement. It woull therefore be much stall and shop accommodation as already advisable, before agreeing that the now build- exists in the old market. It is a very great ing be commenced, to satisfy themselves on pity indeed that a fine two-storeyed building that one point. It had been said that by and was not erected upon the site of the present by they would get the site of the Harbour Western Market, which is admirably situated Office. No definite promises, however, had and adapted to such a purpose, and that the been made to that effect, and considering the proposed new building as shown upon the trouble encountered in getting the market
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