May 23, 1903.
sary 01 sanitary grounds to disinfect the whole house, surely || Government · should provide a place to house the inmates and their ef fects, until such time as the plague-infected hense is cleansed, whitewashed an I declared habitable. The Chinese are more afraid of the Sanitary Board than the plague itself, and if no change is mide in the present ersten I am afrail the dumping of dead bodies will continue. I would suggest:
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
SHANGHAI AND THE NAVY LEAGUE.
The British community of Shanghai. the N. C, Daily News says, responded splendidly to the invitation extended to them to form locally a branch of the Navy League, and in the some- what depressing Court-room of the British (1) As soon as a death is reported, a medical Consulates most enthusiastic send-off was given mần be sent to the home to examine the body and certify the cause of death, and not to keep the inmates of several floors in a state of suspense as is done at present The body should be removed to the mortuary for examination only in such cases where the cause of death cannot be ascertained without a post-mortem.
(2) That only the clothing in use on the flat where the death takes place should be disinfected
and that the flat be whitewashed and closed.
(3) That the occupants of the other floors should not be required to leave the house; their flats to be fumigated and whitewashed, but their personal effects to remain untouched.
(4) That the occupants of the closed flat who have nowhere to go to be provided with a suitable place to move |||to for such time as the Board deems necessary
If these suggestions are carried out, I am confident that the dumping of the dead bodies will decrease, for it seems rather unfair that a man should have to suffer the hardships and annoyance above mentioned because he happens to reside in a house in fiat of which a case of plague has occurred Tours, etc.,
ANTI-DUMPING.
BIRTHS AND DEATHS IN THE COLONY.
In his report for the year 1902 the Acting Registrar General says The births registe ed during the year were follows:-
Chinese, Non-Chinese,
F
to the new branch which starts with a member- ship of 120 members obtained in somethiny under an hour. H.B.M.'sActingConsul-General was in the chair and flanking him under the regis of a large-sise Union Jack-the only deco- ration-were Mr. B. P. Wyatt (the delegate of the League), Mr. W. G. Bayne (Chairman of the Municipal Council), Mr. J. O. P. Bland, Mr. R. M. Campbell, Mr. R. W. Little, Mr. A. M. Mar shall, and Mr. Al-x. Wright, members of the Provisional Committee. The Court-room was filled, and the thoroughly representative nature of the audience is shown by the mention among those present of Archdeacon Moule, the Rev. 11. C. Hodges, Capt. Boisragon, Mr. C. J. Dudgeon, Mr. C. S. Addis, the Rev. W. G. Walshe, and Mr. E. 8. Little.
A few brief words of commondation came from Mr. Mansfield, who pointed out that Mr. Wyatt was making his tour of the world in the interests of the League at bis own expense, and who said algo that he had een himself a mem- ber of the League for some time.
2
Mr. Wyatt proved himself an orator of intense earnestness, and a very real eloquence, He established very clearly the value of the League, and dwelt on the fact that it was essentially non-party and non-jingo. Its sole desire was to strengthen the hands of any and every Govern ment in providing money for an efficient navy How necessary that was in a democratically governed country had been proved by the events of 1878 and 1884 when serious crises had found the country in a grave state of unprepared Dess. In glowing words Mr. Wyatt depicted the distress and starvation which must inv.Įve Great Britain and its colonies if the command of the sess were lost but temporarily, and be pointed out that no amount of money could bring a fleet into being at short notice; that in naval warfare, therefore, the verdict must be decided on the strength of the rivals at the commencement of hostilities. The indebtedness of Shanghai to the navy was specially insisted on and a great point was made in stating that valuable information now locked up in the be brought through the League lo render vital knowledge of men residing in the East might
assistance to the Government.
The speech was received with rounds of applause end a general eagerness was shown by those present to set down their names as members, The eloquence of the chief speaker proved infectious and Messrs. R. W. Little and J. O. P. Bland had an audience ready to take up with enthusiasm the points they made in formally proposing the establish
Males Females. Total.
633 333 966 123 111 234
756 441 1,200 This is equal
general birth rate of 3.8 per 1,000 as compared with 3.6 in 1901, 8,3 în 1900, and 34 in 1899. The birth. rate among the non-Chinese community alone was 12.6 per 1000 as compared with 11.9 per 1,000 in 191. The nationalities of the non-Chinese parents were as follows:- British 98. Portuguese 70, Indian 27, German 16, Malay 16, French 3 Japanese 2, and Spanish and Norwegian 1 each. The preponderance of male births over female births is still very marked among the Chinese community, being in the proportion of 190 male birth to every 100 female births. The proportion mong the non-Chinese community was 111 to 100 as com- pared with 107 to 10 in the previous year.
The number of the Chinese births registered does not give an accurate record of the total number of births of Qliness that have occurred in the Colony, for many of the infants that diement of a branch. during the first month or so of life remain uor g stared, although their deaths must be registered to obtain the necessary burial.orders. It has been customary, therefore, to add to the registered births the numbers of infants of oue month old and under that die in the various con- vents, or are found by the police in the streets or in the harbour. The number during 1902 was 239 males and 36 females, making a total of 33 and the addition of these figures to the registered Chinese birth gives a total of 1,569 as compared with 10 during the previous year. The corrected birth rate is, therefore, 6.1 per 1,000, while among the Chinese alone the rate becomes 5.3 per 1007 The total Chinese births as oglculated in the above manner show a pro- portion of only 125 ale births to every 100 female bir: bs, while the dead bodies of infants found in the streets or left at the doors of the convents show 66 miles to every 10) females, the explanation being that the Chinese have very little regard for the value of the lives of female children.
The number of deaths in the British and foreign community was 35 as compared with 419 in 1901. Of these, 20 died from plague. - The number of deat Famong the Chiness was 6.431 as compared with 6,670 in 1901. Of these, 546 died from plague
12.
The Provisional Committee already named was elected a Eubstantive Committes with power to add to their number.
GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP.
Boore in ont:
• players did
First round Besond Third Fourth
543
First round Second round Third round Fourth round.
MISCELLANEOUS.
H.M.88. Glory and Alacrity have been up the Yangisse as far as Kiukiang. The Admiral entertained several residents on the Glory. appointed Mr. Holmce, Chief Engineer The Rangeon Fort Commissioners Bingapore Docks, to be Resident Engineer the Rangoon Port Trust.
Mr. E. A. Morphy, Editor of the Straits Times, was married last week to Miss Annie Ruth Lloyd, the eldest daughter of Mr. J. T. Lloyd, an old, and much respected resident of Singapore.
When lest reported H.M.8. Albion was at Japan, the Moorhen on the West River, and the Phoenic and Thetis were en route to Sandakan and Shanghai respectively. The Waterwitch went out to Mirs Bay on the 19th inst.
The German Governor of Samon has issued Chinese to be landed.. In fature Chinamen proclamation forbidding under a heavy penalty will not be allowed to hold land, and any con- tracts with them will be void.
Before Mr. F. A. Hazeland at the Magistracy yesterday, an enquiry was opened into the cir- cumstances attending the death of the woman who committed suicide recently in a cell at the Central Station. Medical and police evidence was taken, and an adjourment was made until to-morrow morning at ten o'clock.
Damage to the extent of about $200 was done by fire which broke out in Queen's Road West on the 19th, morning, at three o'clock, in the unoccupied first floor of a house situated on the opposite side of the street from the tailor's shop in which a case of arson, having its sequel in the Supreme Court on Monday, occurred some little time ago.
The Japan Mail confidently affirms the belief, as the result of thirty six years' observation, that the treatment of children in Japan is kinder, of children in any other country with which. so far as mere kindness goes, than the treatment
the Editor is acquainted, and further that quarrelling and want of mutual forbearance are remarkably absent from young life in Japan.
The Kobe Chronicle declares that the spread of Christianity in Japan in the sixteenth century was in large part due to the desire of the Japanese for foreign commerce; in the nineteenth century the animating motive was principally a desire for Western knowledge. In both, the economic factor, as in the spread of Christianity in other parts of the world, was an important aid to proselytimation.
The Japan Times (an English paper edited by Japanese) says it is satisfactory to notice the salutary effect which the external dangera threatening China - are producing on the development of ~ nationalistic sentiment** ind patriotism among the Chinese people a development which is one of the most encourag- ing signs in the contemporary history of our unfortunate neighbours. The growth of such nationalistic sentiment is especially remarkable among the Chinese of the younger generation.
The final tie in the Golf Championship competition was played off at Happy Valley on the 15th inst. between Mr. C.E. H. Beavis and Mr. W. W. Clark. It was splendidly contested, Mr Beavis winning at the second Judgment has been given in the Admiralty last hole of the 36 that we e played. Many suit tried before Acting, Chief Justice Bourne spectators, including H.E. the Governor, Sir and Commander. Pratt, R.N. at Tientsin, in Henry Blake, witnessed the game. Captain which the Russian Government, owners of the Nicholson, R.N., acted as umpire. At the end- Bobrik, a steam-cutter. of the first 18 holes Mr. Beavis was orniser Sivootch, claimed two up with 82 against his opponent's Tug and Lighter Co., 84. In the second half of the game he increased - launch frem, in his lead to as many as four up, but Mr. Clark these two playing a very strong game through the green reduced the lead against him to one up at the third last hole. The second last was secured by Mr. Feavis, however, and be thus wan by two up and o one to play. The
hole was halved in five. Below are the detailed scores, the query-marks denoting an estimated
1902.
spect
the dater
will bear their or
to HIRM., om the Taku
tion