432
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND.
RIDER-MAINS AND THE WATER | Tote for this pernicious scheme, and the
SUPPLY.
Daily Press, 6th December.) We wrote yesterday of the dangers threat ening Hongkong in connection with the proposed substitution of the rider-wain system for that of water-meters. We pointed out that by the adoption of such a system, so far from there being a saving of the existing water-supply in the Colony, the opportunities afforded for waste of water by the lower class Chinese would actually make greaser demands on our supply. The effect of this will be to make the intermittent system an annual occurrence. For the evils attending this we cannot do better than refer back to report issued more than eight years ago by Mr. OSBERT CHADWICK on the water supply of Victoria. Speaking at the very commencement of his report of “the well known evils of this vicious system of distribution," Mr. CHADWICK later on divides the disadvantages of the system as follows(1) The entrance of foul air, foul' liquids, and possibly disease-germs into the public water-mains. (2) The growth of fun goids and corrosion in the pipes. (3) The un due wear and tear of the distribution system. (4) The difficulty of equitable distribution of water throughout the waterworks area. (5) The waste of water. (6) The failure to provide efficient fire-service. Moreover, Mr. CHADWICK stated, in introducing his remarks on the evils of intermittent supply,
that the radical defect of the system Wis that the water must be stored in or near the dwelling and is, therefore, liable to con- tamination of the most dangerous kind. All these criticisms, of course, hold equally good at the present day. We need only further say that so strongly against the intermittent system was Mr. CHADWICK (the expert, be it remembered, who has just been called in again to report on the condition of Hong- kong) that he could write in 1894: "Indeed, it is worthy of consideration whether, if restriction has to be adopted, the best plan would not be to shut off all house- services, leaving the people to obtain their water from the public taps temporarily erected, if necessary, in the manner adopted in England during frosts."
Chinese members will of course cast their suffrages in favour of their own fosterling, There remain only the other Unofficial Members, an absolute minority, who cannot prevent the passing of a measure though it should threaten the ruin of Hongkong. They can, however, make such a protest that their opposition cannot be disregar-led It they are worthy of the position which they occupy, they will not fail to size the opportunity of showing their merits and stnding up for the welfare of the Colony Moreover, we do not believe that the Official Members, of the Legislative Commeil are in favour of the rider-main system. If so, what are we to make of the support accorded to the water-meter plan, which the Chinese propose now to upset? After all, it must Le remembered that the Legislative, Council has before it the task of helping to govern the Colour as best it can, accord-
1
to its light& not merely to carry measures which have for the time being recommended themselves to the powers that be. A grave responsibility lies upon the Council when this question comes up; and in view of this it will not do for the public to wait upon events. Let them consider that what is before them is the question whether they will watch until the local authorities have condemned them to: an expensive, insanitary, imperfect, and extremely dangerous method of water distribution; or whether they will demand, as they have every right to demand, being the main support of the Colony's revenues, that those who do not know how to use water in a way fair to their fellow-resi lents' shall be prevented from reducing the latter year after year to the extremity of a water-; famine. In conclusion, let us quote the words of our correspondent "AQUARIUS yesterday:The simple and effective way "to guarantee full mains, and the only way, is to prevent Chinese waste. Give them the choice between meter and hydrant, as originally contemplated: in other words treat them exactly as Euro- peans are treated, and the mins will be always full and there will be no short supply for half the year." Otherwise, let us give way now, see the rid- r-main proposal carried, and we shall have a water-famine,
after year.
C
year
CHINA TEAS.
32
¡December 15, 1902.
It is
on the expert trade for 1901, it is stated! that there was a further decrease in the export of black brick tea-which nearly all goes to Russia-of 244,565 piculs, which is half what it was five years ago. addel, in part explanation of this decrease that Siberia was overstocked, and importa- tions are checked until existing stocks are exhausted. Shipments to Russia ria the Sacz Canal were 24.492,015 lbs. in 1901, as compared with 33,408,851 lbs. in 1900. The shipments ria Tientsin and Northern ports, on the contrary, showed a small increase, being 7,517,219 lbs. in 1901 against 6,905,756 lbs, in 1900. But the small gain there shown in no wise balances the great falling off in the shipments to Odessa ria Suez Canal. Mr. PERCY R. WALSHAM, in his report on the trade of Kiukiang for 1901, quotes some comments by an expert on t is new decline in the demand from Russia.. He says:-
There is no doubt that Indian,
•
..
"
and more especially Ceylon, teas are surely ousting China teas from their last stronghold-Russia; and unless there is some abatement in lekin and export duties, which undoubtedly severely handicap China teas, we fear that it is only a question of time before India and Ceylon teas will mono- While, polise the world's markets.” however, it is patent that China will lose the trade, owing to the heavy duties to which her teas are subj. cted, it is not, as REUTER's telegram above quoted indicates, by any means certain that Ceylon and India will long retain the trade they are winning. The Russians have found a region within their own wide bounds where the leaf can be grown, and if it be possible to foster the industry and make it successful, we may be sure no effort will be spared to achieve that result.
Apart from the particular case referred to above, where China is menaced with the loss of her last important customer for tea, it seems a thousand pities that she should have given up the valuable trade with Great Britain without any genuine effort to keep it. Neither repeated written warnings uor the damnatory evidence of the Customs' statistics have availed to induce the Chine-Ò Government to reduce the crushing export- duties, which raise the cost of low grade Such were the arguments advancel, by
teas by as much as 49 per cent., nor have an authority whom we are bound to respect,
the successive losses of markets served to against the intermittent system of water
impress the Chinese producer with the supply. Residents in Hongkong will be
necessity for improving the cultivation and able to substantiate the arguments from
firing of the af. Both the growers and (Daily Press, 8th December.) their personal experience and to add others
the officials have steadily pursued their of lesser weight with referenc: to the great After losing the British market in en- shortsighted policy of killing the goose that personal ine nveniences, which yet cannot sequence of the competition of the Ceylou laid the golden eggs, until now they have entirely be left out of the question. Still and Indian teas, China is now threatened Lut the mournful wreck of what even so as far as can be seen the intermittent with the loss of her next largest and best late as ten years ago was a great and system has, in the popular phrase, come to market. Ir this product. REUTER i forms remunciative trade. The decline in the stay, and the latest development of the us, in a telegram dated the 2nd inst., that export of black tea has been continuous, question is that the Goverment see us owing to the remarkable sucess of ta and in 1901 it reached the lowest point inclined to adopt a plan of auxiliary water growing in the Caucasus, the Russian yet obtained, namely 665,499 piculs, or When it is mentioned that supply which tends to the perpetuation of Ministry of Agriculture has decided to 22,181,833 lbs. such intermittency. The influential Chinese establis. the industry on a soun 1 bisis, and the export of Indian tea to Great Britain appear by some means (which we cannot to thi ed will import exports from China, alone was in the sam year 148,000,000 lbs., explain) to have secured the official India, aud Ceylon. It adds that the prices and from Ceylon 91,000,000 lbs., it will be seen to what a low cbb the China tea trado attention to so great an extent that, unless realized for this season's yield of fourteen
Yet only ten years back, in the most vigorous efforts are made, tos variel fromi 25. 21. to 44. 41. per has fallen. shall have an incubus
you. The Foochow teas have virtually 1891, the export of China tea to Great Britain was 52,500,000 lbs., as compared system which we shall be unable to get lost the Australian and Canadi va markets, rid of. The hopeful print about the situ and although the export to the Continent with 51,000,000 lbs. from Ceylon and tion is that there is still a chance, however
The decline has slightly increased and Russia has con- 99,000,099 lbs. from Lidia. slight, of preventing the consummation of t'nued up to the present a large consumer might surely have been arrested had effec- this scheme which promises to reuder Hong- of Chinese teas, she has been taking more tive measures been adopted in time. Im- kong's water difficulties periaatent. The Idin an ! Ceylon tea each year. The export provements in cultivation and firing of the of te from Ceylon to the Continent (chi-thy leaf and a large reduction in the export question has not, as some peopl: seem to suppose, been decided in Legislative Council. Hu Sa) rust fum 7,265,266 15s. in 1999 to duties would have enabled the China leaf to- How this increase have retained much of is hold on the The rider-main proposal his sill to be 10,023,263 lbs. in 1901. discussed by that body. If the Gove: umcut bas teen gined is shown by the stat sties British markets. It is not everyone who has made up its mind to play up to the and reports of the Clanese Imperial prefers the rough and acrid teas of Assan Chinese, then we must expect a solid official! Maritime Custom:. In the general report, End Ceylon to the delicate teas of China,
on
|
We
water our
¡