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HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
on
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held the 13th inst. in the Board Room. Present:-Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Ofer (President); Hon. Dr. F, W. Clark, Medical Officer of Health; Mr. F J. Badeley, Captain Superintendent of Police, Mr. C. McI. Messer, Acting Registrar-Genaral; Lieut.-Colonel G. A. Hughes, R.A. M.C, and Mr. G. A WJo le sek (Sacretary).
EUROPEAN REFERATION IN KWLOON. The 3SCRETARY lid on the table cartain correspondence (already pa lished in the Daily Press) with reference to a European Reserva- tior in Kowloon.
SWAMP AT KENNEDY TOWN.
A minute prepared by the Medical Officer of Health was submitted relative to the swamp at the south end of Cadogan Street. Kennedy Town. The minute was in the following terms: - "I beg to recommend that the Board should again direct the attention of the Government to the swamps at the south end of Cadogan Street, Kennedy Town, referred to in Sanitary Board letter No. 190 of Dacember 21st, 1900, and C 8.0. letter No. 167 of January 23rd, 1991. "In connection with these papers I called attention on January 25th, 1931, to a flourishing water-cross bed in this locality which was an undoubted source of danger as regards malaria to the Board's office s and servants at the sheep and swine depôts had the slaughter-houses, and which would be an equil source of danger to the inma es of the new Tung Wah Infectious Diseases Hospital.
"I do not know what title the market-gardener has to the land in this locality, but there can b3 no question that it is a most nasuitable one for such a purpose, aud that in the interests of the health of the Board's officers and servants the swamp should be drained without delay and the market-gardener removèl.”
The Medical Officer of Health further minuted that at the reques: of the President he had visited these swamps on the 29th ulf. and obtained a namber of mosquito larræ, must of which were anopheles.
The PRESIDENT mored that the attention of the Government be drawn to this matter, as recommended
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Mr. BADELEY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
RECOVERY OF PENALTIES.
A minute by the Medical Officer of Health was submitted in which it was recommended that Inspector L. E. Brett, who had just returned from leave in England, be deputed by the Board to recover penalties imposed by the Public Health Ordinance, 1901, as required by section 91 thereof.
The PRESIDENT moved that Inspector Brett be appointed, as recommended.
Mr. MESSER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
OBSTRUCTION AT HEUNG LANE.
The following minute by the Medical Offer of Health was submitted:-
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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WATKE ANALYSES.
The report by Mr. F. Browne, Government Analyst, on the analyses of the public water supplies for the month of October showed that analyses had been made of samples from the Tytam. Pokfulam, Kowloon and Cheungsha. wan services and that the results in each case showed the water to be of excellent quality.
THE DEATH-RATE.
The mortality statistics showed the death. rate for the week ended 1st inst, to have been 22.1 per 1,000 of the population per annum as compared with 19.3 in the previous week and 19.5 | in the corresponding week of the previous year.
LIMEWASHING,
The limewashing return for the fortnight ended Sth November showed that 2,572 houses in the Central District and 77 in the Western District had been treated.
DESTRUCTION OF RATS.
The SECRETARY submitted a return which showed that during the werk cuded 3rd Novem- ber 1,735 rats were de-troyed, of which 34 were found to be infected; for the following week the number was 22.328, of which 40 were infected.
This was all the public business.
THE KING'S BIRTHDAY.
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The celebration of the birthday anniversary of His Majesty King Edward VII was fittingly carried out in Hongkong on the 10th inst. public holiday had been proclaimed, and there was a complete cessation of work throughout the Colony. On the previous day, Sunday the 10th -the actual birthday of the King-a Royal salute was
fired from the warships in the Harbour, while there was a liberal display of bunting made by the latter and all other vessels at the anchorage. On Monday, too, many of the merchant ships displayed flags. The main feature of the celebrations, however, was grand review of the Garrison at Happy Valley. In the evening a Ball was given at Govern: ment House. Hongkong was not unrepresented in the list of Birthday honours, for His Honour W Meigh Goodman, the Chief Justice, had conferred upon him the honour of knight-
hood.
PARADE OF THE GARRISON.
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As indicated abore, the principal item in the days' programme was the grand parade, on the Racecourse at Happy Valley, of the troops of the Clarrison and their inspection by H.E. the A. Blake, G.C.M.G. Governor, Sir Henry The parade took place in the afternoon about Shortly after three half-past four o'clock.
troops began to arrive, while o'clock, the large numbers of spectators flocked to the scene, until the Racecourse presented a most animated appearance. The parade was taken part in by the Naval R.igade, Royal Garrison Artillery, Royal Engineers, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Sherwood Foresters, Hongkong and Singapore Battalion R.A., Army Ordnance Corps, Hongkong Voluuteer Corps, 10th Bombay Light Infantry, 33rd Burma Light 14th Bombay Light In- Infantry and
As each of the regiments marched fantry.
to the ground headed by its respective band, the scene presented was one of great interest and picturesqueness. uniforms of the bluejackets, the unrelieved white of the marines, the khaki of the English troops, and the more varied dresses of the Indiaus served to make up a picture to be ad- mired. Preparatory to the inspection, the troops were mastered in column by Major Denny, Chief Saff Officer. Colonel L. F. Brown, R E., Commanding the Troops in China and Hong- kong, was in command, and was accompanied by Colonel R. F. Johnson, C.R.A., C.M.G., and other officers.
ou
The smart
"I have the honour to direct the attention of the Board to Heang Lane with special reference to the obstruction of the entrance to this laus by the verandaps of the Queen's Real houses which are over Crown land. I attach a tracing showing the lane and the hous's abutting thereon and also showing the verandahs. It will be seen that the arrangement of these verandahs is such that the entrance to the lane is practically blocked up. so far as admission of light and air is concerned, and the Board are aware that this lane has a most unenviablo notoriety as regards the almost yearly occur- would rence of cases of plague therein. recommend that the Boird should urge the Government fe put in force the condition contained in the terms of agreement known as the Undertaking with regard to veraudah (or balcony) to be erected on or over Crowning the Royal Standard, was opposite the centre land' and give to the owner of No. 45, Queen's Road three months' notice to amend the western boundary of his verandah by removing such portion of the same as projects beyond the line of the eastern boundary of the lane, projected to the roadway!'
The PRESIDENT moved that the minute of the Medical Officer of Health be forwarded to the Government.
Mr. BADELEY Seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The saluting base, marked by a flagstaff bear-
of the Gland Stand. In the reserved enclos ire there was a large and brilliant company of spectators, among those present being Lady and Miss Blake and Dr. Lello, the Acting Governor of Macao, and staff. It is estimated that there were in all 6,000 or 7,000 spectators on the Race course, while the number of troops on parade is put roughly at 3,500. The massed bands of the different units and the pipers of the H.K.S.B.R.A. and the 33rd Burmas were❘ stationed in the rear of the centre.
(November 17, 1902.
When His Excellency rode on to the field he took up a station at the base and was received with the Royal Salute, the massed bands playing meanwhile a verse of the National Anthem. His Excellency wore the uniform of a Lieuten- ant-General and presented a fine appearance. Accompanied by the Commanding Officer and snite and his aides-de-camps, Captain Arbuthnot and Subadar Jkbal Singh, he made a formal inspection of the troops. This completed, the Governor returned to the base. Major Baker Brown, Commanding the Royal his Engineers detachment, then marched company in front of the saluting base, and His Excellency presented medals to several non- commissioned officers and men for services with the North China Expeditionary Force. In a fow sentonces, the Governor complimented those who had gained the medals and paid a tribute to the Royal Engineers for their general efficiency. The Engineers having retired into the lines, the march-past began to the strains of music from the massed bands. A Life on the Ocean Wave was the tune to which the Naval Contingent marched past, and as each succeeding regiment got upon the move, the bands struck up its particular regimental air. On the whole, the march past was accomplished with great precision and with credit to all concerned, "The marines, as usual, were well to the front in the matter of smartnes, but where all were so good it is almost invidions to make comparisons. On all hands one heard expressions of admira- tion for the magnificence of the spectacle, and indeed it was such as to make Britons thrill with
patriotic pride and such as to live long in the memory of every eye-witness. At the coucln- sion of the march-past, and when the troops had re-formed in column, Colonel Brown called for three cheers for the King. His Excellency gave the time, the cheers were taken up by troops and spectators alike, and a mighty shout went forth which made the hills reverberate. A few bars of the National Anthem from the bards ended the parade, and the troops marched away back to the City.
It should be mentioned that the arrangements were all carried through without a hitch, thanks largely to Major Denny's untiring energy. The policing of the ground was in the hands of the G.M.P., the Chinese Submarine Miners, and a few members of the H K.P. under Inspector W. G. Warnock.
BALL AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. In honour of the King's birthday H.E. the Governor and Lady Blake gave a ball in Govera- ment House at 9.30 p.m. on the .Oth inst. The scene, through the presence of the foreign representatives and the naval and military officials in full dress, in addition to the costumes of the ladies, was one of unusual brilliance, while the weather still being propitious the grounds of (overnment House were beautifully lit up with paper lanterns and illuminated for a portion of the evening with the flashlights of the British warships in the Harbour, the effect was continued until 11 p.m., when a move was of which was striking in the extreme. Dancing made to the supper-room, H.E. the Governor, who was supported by the presence of the Acting Governor of Macao, the consular representatives, the members of the local govern- ment, the leading naval and military officials, etc., made a short speech, in which he referred to his late visit to England and his impres- sions of the Coronation festivities. Dancing was then resumed and was carried on until the guests were compelled by the necessity of catching trams, boats, or chairs to retire homeward.
KNIGHTHOOD FOR THE
CHIEF JUSTICE. General satisfaction was felt when it was announced that the honour of Knighthood had been conferred by the King upon His Honour W. Meigh Goodman, the Chief Justice. His Honour has had a distinguished career, and has during his stay in Hongkong accomplished work of far-reaching importance to the Colony. was educated at Sir W. Meigh Goodman University College, and graduated B.A. (honours) at the University of London in 1867, He was called to the Bar, Middle Temple, in November, 1870, and went the South-Eastern circuit and attended the courts at Westminster
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