thought necessary. The Secretary says: "We anticipate a monthly expenditure of $70,000 for the next five mouths and $10,000 for the last four months, making $250,00) for the year, as only $20,000 were voted for plague expenses. in 1902 the extra expenditure will probably amount tʊ $235,000, and I therefore would suggest asupplementary vote of $250,000." Hon. C. P. CHATE – How much money has already been expended ?
The CHAIRMAN-$64,921 for the months of January, February, and March.
The recommendation was approved.
CORONATION ILLUMINATIONS. The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Connoil to vote a sum of $3,000 to meet estimated cost to be incurred for illuminating certain Public Buildings in con- nection with the forthcoming Coronation celebra- tions in the Colony.
The CHAIRMAN-I think that on the last occasion, in 1897, the expenditure was $2,377 -so the Director of Public Works reports and he suggests that this vote should be for $3,000.
The vote was agreed to. This was all the business.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
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May 5 1904
have Condy's finid put in the water, as it destro the bacilli
The PRESIDENT seconded, and the motion was agreal to,
MASONIC HALL EXTENSION, An application was submitted for permission to erect a water closet and urinal in the extension block, Masonic Hall.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND -
existing condition of affairs in Canton, I understand. is largely attributed to the fact that the inhabitan's there draw their water supply fro⋅ wells, and as regards the water supply of this Colony, it is serious enough, but I do not think it is in such a se ions condition as to } justify such a step. The returns for last month showed that the inhabitants of this City received an average of seren gallons per hoad per day. which, if my memory serves me rightly, is more than
he Kowloon inhabitants receive under the system of full supply; therefore the supply of water to the City is not in such a desperate condition as to justify any measure that would be attended with grave risk; to the inhabitants generally.
Mr. FUNG WA Chun-I think Hongkong is different from Canton, Cauton has no drains whereas we have regular drains. If we should find the water impure we could easily post up a notice in the vicinity of these wells warning people that the water is not pure and only cleaus ng purposes. As to be used for regards the consumption of seven gallons
by the Director per head, as stated
of Public Works, we must not forget that this is the Tomb Festival and that large numbers of Chinese have gone into the country, otherwise more water would have been required. I am strongly in favour of re-opening the walls.
Lieut. Col. HUGHES There is no doubt in A special meeting of the Hongkong Sanitary my mind that there is a great scarcity of water, Board was held on the 25th ult. to consider the and everywhere I go I can see large numbers advisability of declaring Pakhoi to be a plague of Chinese going with buckets to draw supplies infected port. Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal from street tanks. These wells have apparently Civil Medical Officer (President) presided, and been closed since 1895 or 1896, for reasons we there were also present Hon. A. W. Brewin, do not know, but I do not think that should 1 certainly Registrar-General (Vice-President); Hon. W. stop us from re-opening them now. Chatham, Director of Public Works; Dr. F. think some of these wells should be re-opened Wlark, Medical Officer of Health; Mr. F. J. and the water analysed; if found to be impure, Badeley, Acting Captain Saperintendent of the well could be refilled in-not as Mr. Fang Police; and Mr. G. A. Woodcock (Secretary). Wa Chan has recommended. to post up a The PRESIDENT-A telegram has been recei-notice. That would be no good, as the Chiñose ved from the British Consul at Pakhoi as follows:-" Bubonic plague epidemic at Pakhoi and neighbouring district." This was sent down to us yesterday; and I move that the Board recommend the Government to declare Pakhoi a place in which infectious disease is epidemic, so that medical inspection of ships arriving from there may be carried on,
Hon. W. CHATHAM seconded, and the motion was agreed to unanimously.
This 'was all the business.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on the 1st inst, Present:-Dr. J. M. Atkin son, Principal Civil Medical Officer (Pre- sident); Hou. A. W. Brewin, Registrar-General (Vice-President); Hon. W. Chatham, Director of Public Works; Dr. F, W. Clark, Medical Officer of Health; Lient.-Colonel Hughes, RAM.C.; Mr. Edward Osborne; Mr. Fung Wa
and Mr. G. A. Woodcock (Secretary).
Chuo;
THE WATER SUPPLY.
The PRESIDENT-The first business before us, gentlemen, is not on the agenda. It is a commnunication from the Government 'recom- mending that certain wells be re-opened.
The SECRETARY having read the com munication in question, which was one from the Registrar-General,
The PRESIDENT said-Most of the wells that have been closed have been filled in with earth and rubble, so it is not quite so simple a matter as it appears to re-opeu them. I think members will agree, however, that the Board has no objection to the wells being re-opened pro- vided that before the water is used it be analysed. Lient-Col, HUGHES Were these wells filled in because the water was found to be impure?
K
The PRESIDENT—Yes.
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would still use it. Failing that, the Govern- ment might make more adequate preparations for supplying water from the mainland.
Hon. W. CHATHAM --With regard to the matter that Lient. Col. Hughes has just mentioned--I am out of order in speaking again, but perhaps it may be allowed-we are now supplying 365,000 gallons per day from the tanks on the Praya, and in a few days I hope to supply nearly 460,000 gallons per day, so that we are taking steps to increase the
upply from that source.
Dr. CLARK-I am prepared to second the resolution proposed by Lieut.-Col. Hughes, that these wells be re-opened provided that the water be analysed.
It was unanimously agreed to re-open the wells, subject in each case to the approval of the Board, and the water to be analysed at least once a month.
AN OBJECTIONABLE WELL.
The Medical Officer of Health's report relative to the closing of the well at 85, Well ington Street was as follows:-"I examined the surroundings of this well and found it situated in a dark and dirty basement approached by a narrow lane. It is built of loose rubble and. I do not see that anything whatever can be dose to improve the water in it. I recommend that it be filled in at once but in the meantime, a quantity of Condy should be put into the water, which looked very dir y. This will render the water safe for a time withont destroying his value for cooking and washing purposes."
The Principal Civil Medical Officer minuted: "From the report of Medical Officer of Health it is evident that this well should be closed." -
Lieut.-Col. Hugh sminuted :-" Close and fill in at once. There is little use in asking for an Lieut-Col. HUGHES-By the Government expert's opinion unless you abide by his decision. Analyst ?
I do not agree with the Medical Officer o Health that "Condy's fluid will render the water safe."
The PRESIDENT-Yes..
The VICE-PRESIDENT Are you sure that is so I don't think that in this case every well was analysed before it was closed.
Dr. CLARK-These wells were closed in 1895 or 1896, I think, but if each well is taken on its merits and the water examined, we might
opening them in time.
Hon. W. CHATHAM-I think this is a matter involving a very great amount of risk. I think that closing of these wells was not done without very good grounds for it, and it is a risky proveeding to open them again. The
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soon
as
Mr. E. Osborne minuted :--“ Close as the rain comes. Meantime put Condy's fluid into it.”
Mr. Lau Chupak minuted:-"I agree with Mr. Osborne."
Mr. Badeley and the Registrar-General minuted →→→ Close.”
Dr. CLARK-I am prepared, air, to move that the well be closed at once. Of course I knew that "at once
"meant after the meeting of the Board and that is why I thought it better to
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The Sanitary Surveyor reported :-" No reason is given why this water closet and urina) are required. There are already three urinals and one water closet in the Masonic. Hall, and I recommend refusal.”
The Medical Officer of Health minnted:- "Not necessary; there is one already,"
Mr. Osborne:-" Grant subject to their pro- riding a water supply by means of a well and pump."
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The 1 irector of Public Works :-
:-" One water closet does not appear to me a sufficient allow- anco for an institution of this sort.”
Dr. CLARK-I beg to move that permission be granted on the conditions specified in former cases, namely, that they provide their own water supply. If this is done I think there will be no objection to permission being granted.
Mr. OSBORNE -Doos this mean that there will have to be a well and a storage tank?
Dr. CLARK-Yes.
The PRE IDENT seconded the motion, and it was agreed to.
DESTRUCTION OF RATS.
The return of rats for the city of Victoria for the week ended 4th April showed that 1,645 had been destroyel, as compared with 1891, 2,899, and 3,636 respectively in the three prece- ding weeks.
The Medical Officer of Health minnted: --- "Since the cleansing of houses in which plague infected rats are found has been initiated the Chinese have put every possible difficulty in the way of the rat-catchers, and constantly refuse to receive traps, or spring them so that they are useless. I will report further on this matter after the end of this month and in the meantime we are putting poison in the godowns, stores, etc., and in all rubble walls where there are evidences of rats."
The Registrar-General minuted:---" This is what any one would have expected. I asked last meeting for a return showing the numbers of rats destroyed per rat-catcher in order to find out whether the employment of more was justi- fied. Can this r»turn be furnished for the last six months? I should also like to know the average earnings of these rat-catchers
*
In an accompanying report it was stated that some of the rat-catchers in the month of March received as much as $16 after paying for their messing and bait.
The PRESIDENT-The return that the Regis- trar-General asks for has now been prepared and will be furnished as soon as possible.
Mr. OSBORNE-I think, sir, we should not allow this matter to pass without making some effort to restore the number of rats caught to what it was before. It would appear that the Chineso have an objection to their premises being disinfected and put every obstacle in the way of the rat-catchers catching the rats. They fear that if an infected rat is caught, the Sanitary Board will disinfect their premises. It seems to me that we have got to choo20* between two evils; one is the danger of allow- ing plagae to spread by means of rats and the other is the possible danger of not disinfecting the premises. I think there is a far greater danger in allowing the rats to go about the Colony than in stopping the disinfection. I beg to move that disinfection of Chinese premises where rats infected with plague have been found be discontinued at present in order that the rats may be caught in the same numbers as they were before.
Lient.-Col. HUGHES-I am dead against that, sir. I consider that where a plague-infected rat is caught the premises ought to be disinfected.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-I beg to second the resolution proposed by Mr. Osborne. We must deal with circumstances as we find them. It will be impossible for us to prevent the Chinese closing the traps as soon as the rat-catchers or letting the rats ont have gone away if they are caught. We have to choose as Mr. Osborne says, between two courses, änd I think that the one proposed by him will be more beneficial to the community, I recom- mend that this resolution should be carried and