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sto:in-water drains are as foul and in some cases even fouler than the contents of the sewers.
Mr. CHAN A FOOK seconded.
Mr. OSBORNE said that, notwithstanding his inexperience or ignorance of the subject of separate drainage, he must support Dr. Clark's proposal. He thought that if the author of the separate system had seen what it was to lead to, he himself would never have recom- mended it.
Hon. W. CHATHAM said there had been a certain steady decrease in the death-rate which must be ascribed to something. He should imagine that the separate system had had some effect in decreasing the death-rate. He thought it must be admitted that the separte system was a necessity in this Colony and was bound to be of great benefit to the health of the Colony.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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Mr. H. Faunch, manager of the Praya East Hotel, is the latest European vistim to plague. He and Mrs. Willoughby (whose illness from the disease we reported in our issue of yesterday morning) make the two fresh European cases mentioned in the last returns by the Sanitary Department.
All the other European patients continue to make satisfactory progress.
1st June.
Yesterday there were reported 30 fresh cases of plague (27 Chinese, 2 other Asiaties, one European), with 31 deaths (30 Chinese, one European).
Mr. H. Faunch, manager of the Prays East Hotel, who was admitted to hospital on Thurs- day, succumbed to the disease at 5.30 yesterday morning. The deceased was formerly in the British Navy, which he left to take up duties in H.M. Naval Yard. Afterwards he held an Mr. BREWIN did not vote, stating: "I appointment in the Imperial Maritime Customs. know nothing about the matter."
The Praya East Hotel has been closed for a thorough cleansing and fumigation.
This was carried on a vote.
THE HEALTH OF THE COLONY, The mortality statistics submitted to the Board for the week ended 18th May showed 36.8 per 1,000 per annum as against 29.0 for the corresponding week of last year.
LIMËWASHING RETURN.
The limewashing return for May 13th showed that 3,351 houses had been cleansed during the dast fortnight.
THE REMOVAL OF PLAGUE PATIENTS,
On the removal of plague patients from Wanchai, Shaukiwan ahd Quarry Bay, Mr. OSBORNE said he would like to say with regard to the ambulances in which the plague patients were removed, they should be of a better type. It had been brought to his notice that they were extremely uncomfortable, and there was every chance of a patient dying on his way from the house eo the hospital.
Dr. CLARK said that they were building new ambulances, which were a great improvement on the old ones.
That completed the business.
THE PLAGUE.
28th May,
The latest reports to hand regarding the European patients suffering from plague, we are glad to state, go to show that all are progressing favourably, including Mr. Meek, who has taken a turn for the better, his temperature having gone down to 103. Mr. Collins, we learn from one who visited him at his home in Caine Road yesterday, is practi. cally out of danger.
Last week's figures were:-20 cases, 187 deaths. The full figures for the year are:-800 08868 (774 Chinese, 16 other Asiaties, 10 Europeans), 748 deaths (733 Chinese, 11 other Asiatics, 4 Europeans).
30th May: During the 24 hours ending at noon yesterday there were reported 33 fresh cases of plague (32 Chinese, one other Asiatic), and 29 deaths (all Chinese).
It is gratifying to report that so far no fresh European cases have occurred. Those in hospital are all doing wel'.
The latest victims are a Portuguese named C. da Crus, 11, Battery Street, Yaumati, and his little daughter, aged seven years, both of whom died in Kennedy Town Hospital on the 28th inst. They were admitted on the previous day. Another daughter, child of three, was removed to hospital yesterday morning suffering from plague. Da Crus was a foreman in the Sanitary Department, and was stationed at Yaumati, where he was engaged to a certain extent in plague-work.
Later.
Since the above was written, we learn that Mrs. Willoughby, wife of an employee at the Cosmopolitan Docks, has been taken to Kennedy Town suffering from plague. She was admittedl to the Hospital yesterday afternoon.
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Mr. A. Cameron, a Portuguese employee of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, living at 7, Hollywood Road, has also contracted the disease, but in a mild form.
He was admitted to hospital on Thursday, and was yesterday reported to be doing well.
John A. da Cruz, attached to the 22nd Bombay Infantry, and a Portuguese named Francisco Rios, residing at 42, Bridges Street, were taken to Kennedy Town Hospital yesterday morning suffering from plague,
Mr. Hawkes, of the Hongkong Dispensary, who was amongst the first Europeans attacked, has been discharged from hospital, and proceeds to Japan to recruit his health.
It may be noted that in 1894, the year in which 2,679 cases of plague were recorded in Hongkong, the European cases only amounted to eleven, two of the patients succumbing.
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[June 3, 1901. JAPAN'S COLONIAL VENTURE. [FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]
Anping, Formosa, 20th May. THE CHANGE IN FORMORAN TEADE. Japan is learning in Formosa that it is not all fun and profit to run a colony. How well the lesson may have been impressed is probably known only in the imperial councils in Tokyo, which may be regarded also as the sole reposi- tory of plans for the future. The policy of turning to Japanese account all the resources of the island has so subverted träde conditions previously existing that those who flourished under such conditions naturally view the situa tion with some bias. Camphor and opium have been taken in hand on government account, the tea exports are moving toward home channels, there will be little left for the foreigners to do in sugar in a few years, and subsidies to a Japanese steamship line have make rivalry in ocean business impossible. Foreign houses that could maintain branches here in an open field cannot stand competition with a govern- ment, and more than half of them have moved sway. The exedus of Chinese capital has been general, in addition to the emigration of fully 50,000 people whose places have been taken, but not filled, by 20,000 Japanese at an outside estimate, of whom more than half are women. Although never worked as it might be, Formosa under Chinese control was always a profitable possession. There has been no productive development since the Japanese got it, and the annual deficiency has varied from $300,000 to $700,000. No improvement in this respect is in sight.
RELUCTANT CAPITAL.
Considering all that the government would do for its people, there is a noteworthy reluo- tance on the part of Japanese capital to embark in Formosan enterprise. Whether or not faith and investment may come in time, capital seems
NEW DREDGER FOR HONG KONG | content just now to let the government bear
The Admiralty dredger St. Enoch arrived in the harbour at six o'clock on Thursday after. noon from Weihaiwei, in tow of H.M.S. Endymion, and anchored off the Naval Yard extension. The St. Enoch, which is to take up the work interrupted by the capsizing of the ill-starred Canton Piver, has been purchased from the Government by Messrs. Punchard, Lowther & Company, contractors for the extension of H.M. Naval Yard, and was formally hunded over to her new owners on Thursday
afternoon.
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Like the Canton River dredger, the St. Enoch is of Scotch build, having been launched from the yard of Messrs. Simons and Co. at Renfrew, near Glasgow, for the Admiralty, little over six years ago. She was sent to Portsmouth for her trials. which proved in every way satisfactory. From Portsmonth the St. Enoch went to Malta; thence, a little over two years ago, to Weihaiwei, where she has since been dredging. Her purchase by Messrs. Punchard, Lowther & Company having been completed, the vessel left Weihaiwei on the 25th inst. for Hongkong.
Although, taken all over, the St. Enoch is smaller than the Canton River, she posseSSES, in the matter of dredging, a very important superiority over the latter. The Canton River works to a depth of 40 feet, while the St. Enoch dredges to 40 feet light and 47 fest loaded. The arrangement of her buckets is also different from that of the Canton River. The latter vessel's buckets run out forward, but those of the St. Eno h run aft, and work at the rate of sixteen per minute. As each bucket (altogether there are about forty) has a capacity of one ton, dredging is thus carried on at the rate of sixteen tons per minute. The St. Enoch has a total carrying capacity of about 650 tons.
At a banquet to Mr. Doumer given by the \31st May. Société d'Economic Industrielle at Paris During the 24 hours ending at noon yesterday fortnight ago, the president of that body an- there were reported 49 fresh cases of plagne | nounced that it had contributed to the commer- (38 Chinese, 3 other Asistics, and 2 Europeans), cial exploitation of Yunnan. Mr. Doumer amid with 38 deaths (35 Chinese, 3 other Asiatics), applause appealed to the Society for help in The corrected figures for the year are 906 cases|| Frch Indo-Chiness enterprises. It is now (874 Chinass, 20 other Asistios, 12 Europeans), | stated that he will leave Francs for the East on and 846 deaths (827 Chinese, 15 other Asistion, the 19th July. At present he is busy with the 4 Europeans).
organisation of the Yunnan Railway Co.
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all the burdens of development. The railroad which is to bring the two ends of the island within reach of each other by easy travel, instead of by the tedious and precarious means so far employed, is in course of construction with money voted by the Imperial Diet. It will not be built with the sum appropriated, 28,000,000 yen, but it may cost 45,000,000 yen, or approximately £4,500,000. When completed it will make accessible 230 miles of territory most of which is not now to be visited by any expeditious means, and it will afford the largest opportunity for practical tests of the storied fertility of Formosan soil for a great variety
products that can be well marketed.
of
GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGEMENT.
It will be necessary for the government to provide harbours as well as railways, if there is to be any considerable growth of commerce with the outer world. The roadsteads in which
ships must lie that come here for trade are not only always inconvenient to land and often hopelessly out of reach of it in the light-draught boats which alone can go in and are to be trusted only in smooth waters, but they are in
the track of the high winds that sweep this coast almost continually and that shipping men dread least when they have plenty of sea- room. Harbour improvements at Kielung and South will cost as much`se the railroads. Since Tamani in the North and at Takow in the the financial condition of Japan must make an end before many years of the distribution of subsidies and the extension of help to commer- on the Chinese indemnity and other general cial ventures, which have already drawn heavily funds, a bank has been organised to perform offices which it may soon be impolitie for the the Bank of Formoss, and its avowed purpose government to undertake directly. It is called is to exploit Formosa, develop trade and en- courage industry. Formosan” bonds, which cannot be placed elsewhere, get into the bank, to flourish so well with which that kind of security as to forge the inference that the general government is behind it. The bank in its capacity as a private corporation of course, competent to do all sorts of this A sugar-refining company, floated with its has developed, through the mme smoo agency, into an owner of large trset hunds." "It will thus cultivate the
« prepare it for consumers.