476
guarantors of the neutrality of the Canal. The point would not arise in time of pear, but in event of war between leading Powers difficulties would practically be bound to crop up, in anticipation of which it is alost certain that some definition has been insert- ed in the HAY-PAUNCEFOTE treaty of the nature of the United States' guarantee of the neutrality of the Canal. It is to be gathered that the action or rather language of the extremists is the Senate is not very
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[December 16, 1901.
We At
1899:---" It is is clear that the water-suppl:| Weihaiwei, the Morning Post's correspond- geserally is inadequate for the needs of the ent claims, in spite of this contempt, is population." The Director of Publie likely to play a prominent part in Chinese Works, moreover, goes on to point out that history during the next ten years. we have had an exceptionally low series of should be glad to think that this is so. rainfalls for four years, so that, even if our the present moment it is as difficult to see supply were just adequate with a normal what are the intentions of the British rafufall, it would be a poor consolation to us Government toward Weihaiwei as when we now or at any period within the past four first took over the place from its Japanese years. The second minute to which Mr. occupants. Changes in its administration CHATHAM appended his initials stated very there certainly bave been, but very little is seriously regarded in America, and such lucidly the reasons why the establishment to be gathered from these. Having origin- anticipation, it may be hopel, will be of an intermittent supply has neted so un-ally handicapped most unnecessarily the new possession by a very one-sided under- well founded. A great blow would be fairly to some residents, who equally con- struck at international harmony and pro- tribute to the taxes of the Colony with their standing with Germany, the home authori- gress if certain hot-beaded senators were to more favoured neighbours. The sufferers ties obstinately refuse to give any indication So carry their colleagues with them and were will appreciate the explanation. It is truc of what they intend doing with it now. to wreck the new treaty, approved alike by that the number of complaints about the far it appears to serve chiefly as a home for Congress and by presidential rommendation, supply have diminished, as Mr. CHATHAM grievances and a striking contrast to its near neighbour Kiaochau, or Tsintau. Yet and acceptable to Great Britain, the country | claims, but next to the United States most concerneil | grievances still exist, and that the en- a great number of unprejudiced observers in the Canal scheme. The rest of Europe deavours to ensure a supply to all houses have all along upheld the natural advant- has shown no disposition to protest against have not met with complete success, as ages of Weihaiwei, whe cas in the case of Finally Mr.the German port the chief admiration is the suggested arrangement, but a demand indeed he is ready to admit. by the United States that, their soldiers CHATHAM deprecates charges of indifference expressed for the way in which obstacles his inability are being overcome and a fine colony being should garrison the route, implying
or discourtesy owing to plete control in time of war, might, not to reply to complainants. In view of evolved in a none too favourable situation. unreasonably, rouse more than one Contin- this, we think it would be satisfactory if, in ental nation. The news that the Senate as his capacity of Director of Public Works, a body has imitated the wise attitude of the he could inform the public as to the actual lower house will be universally welcomed. progress of work on the reservoirs which are to increase the Colony's water-supply in the future. It would enable victims of the caprices of the intermittent supply system to bear their troubles better if they had some assurance of remedial measures being well in hand,
THE WATER SUPPLY.
a com-
we can assure him tha
KIAOCHAU AND WEIHAIWEL
Mr. WHIGHAM'S
report
}
THE SERUM TREATMENT OF
PLAGUE.
(Daily Press, 12th December.)
The Bombay Corporation has just been (Daily Press, 7th December.)
considering a report by Dr. CHOKSY on the The correspondence laid on the table at the
serum treatment of bubonic plague, which last meeting of the Legislative Council with
is far more favourable to this method of · regard to the water-supply of Hongkong
combating the disease than are the reports calls attention once more to a subject which
of other recent observers. Dr. CHOKзy has is (unfortunately) of perennial interest to
had experience of five plagne epidemics and residents here; or rather it helps to keep (Daily Press, 9th December.)
has been studying the last Indian outbreak fixed the attention drawn to the subject by Mr. H. J. WHIGHAM, whose work as cur- the recent cutting off of the supply and the respondent for the Morning Post is well at the Arthur Road Hospital, Bombay. complaints provoked thereby. It will have known, has written in very eulogistic terms His opinions therefore are entitled to care- ful attention, even though they may be been seen that the Registrar-General, the of the German colony at Kinochan, or Hon. A. W. BREWIN, as early as the 19th Tsintau. We have already noted the rapid contested by the opponents of serum treat- ment. We are told by Indian authorities ult. took the step of writing to H.E. the progress made there, judging from the state- Governor, and that his letter therefore pre-ments of German officials and British (self-constituted as such, it may be added) that plague in Hongkong is as nothing com- ceded that addressed to us by Mr. C. S. | observers alike. SHARP, though not those of some of our goes perhaps further in its expectations of pared with what it is in India. Nevertheless. in view of the terrible mortality-rate among anonymous correspondents. The grievances the future of the port. He claims that it
the sufferers and the comparatively large of the many sufferers have been fairly well is a moral certainty that Tsintan will, to a ventilated and have not been denied. The large extent, absorb the export and import number of European victims, it is certain case for the Director of Public Works and trade of Shantung, both capturing the old that we cannot afford to neglect any remedies which India finds of service; for, with all Water Authority is given in the two minutes trade and creating by the railway new by Mr. CHATHAM made public on Thursday. centres of activity. The railway will also deference to the great Dependency, we must The burden of these is that the evils com- tap the coal-mines near Weibsien, which hold Hongkong to be as integral a part of plained of must be endured. The unequal are said to be of considerable value, even if the British Empire and its public health as distribution of water during periods of in- the coal is not, according to the u-ual important as India's. We are aware that it was possible during the past epidemic for termittent supply is admitted. That the formula, " equal to the best Cardiff.' top floors should suffer by the water being Finally, he says, it must be remembered those who wishel to be inoculated against drawn off by the people on the lower floors that Tsingtau as a deep-water harbour will plague. But would it not also be possible, in the same houses, and the upper levels by be a useful commercial base and distributing in the unfortunate event of another epi- the same action on the part of those living | centre for all -Gernian trade in the northdemic, to treat the sufferers as many of the on the lowers levels, it is well nigh impos- of China, Manchuria, and Corea. That Indian patients have been treated, with apparent success ? The Bombay mortality In Tsintan can ever rival Shanghai or even sible to prevent," says Mr. CHATHAM.
is declared to have diminished after seruin his second minute he suggests that the Dalny (since Dalny is at the end of au landlords of tenement-houses should insist infinitely greater railway system). Mr. treatment. Into the technical and medical upon the ground-floor teuants contenting WHIGHAM does not maintain, but he holds side of the question we shall not venture to themselves with a reasonable allowance of that the German possession is yet destined enter, but in view of the constant attempts water, so as to allow the upper-floor tenants to extract what commercial profit there is being made in other parts of the world to improve the treatment it seems not too a chance of obtaining some. This proposal out of the province of Shantung; and, con- would not be easy to put into effect, to say sidering the thrifty nature of the people much to expect that Hongkong, a notable victim of the scourge, should help in the the most for it, and it only applies to tene- and the mineral prospects of the country, ment houses. Mr. BREWIN'S suggestion that profit is not unlikely to be consider investigation. for more street hydrauts did not meetable. The capital speut on Tsintan can with M. CHATHAM's approval, as leading to never be exactly repaid in hard cash; greater consumption and waste of water and primarily Tsintau is a naval base, and the probably a more frequent or longer applica- money, or a large part of it, had to be tion of the intermittent system; neverthe- spent regardless of direct commercial con- less, Mr. CHATHAM yielded in one particu-siderations. Having said so much, it was larly bad case.
not to be expected that Mr. WHIGHAM could refrain from comparing the treatment of "the neglected spot on the Weihaiwei, Shantung coast which British officials, civil and military, dismiss at both present with something like contempt."
In his first minute Mr. CHATHAM says that, given the rainfall, our waterworks are about adequate for the wants of the City. This hardly agrees with what the Medical Officer of Health said in his report for
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The sale of the Yahloong Cotton-spinning con- cern took place on the 4th inst. at 6, Foochow Road, Shanghai. The bidding started with one lakh taels, the second was 110,00) tals, third 120,000 taals, fourth 150, (0 taels, fifth 200,000 tools, sixth 250,000 taols, seventh 300,000 taels, After a short lall, eighth 3:0,000 taels, ninth 350,000 taels, closely followed by 360,000 _taels. the eleventh bid was 375,000 taels, followed by the twelfth and last bid of 330,000 taels, at which figure it was knocked down to Mr. J. R. Twentyman.
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