458.
Beri-beri. There were more deaths reported from this diserse than in previous years, the numbers being 452|a8|ag|just 277 in 1901 and 361 in 1900.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
and drinking; they seem to care naught for the country or for the welfare of their subjects. When audiences are given tɔ high officials, whether of the capital er of the pro- vinces, the topies of conversation before the Throne are only unimportant, trivial matters. Should any one venture to touch upon such important matters as the government of the provinces, or on itruational relations, the è untenance of the Empr ss Dowager be. comes stern ut once and her words are sharp. The culprit immediately finds himself neglected and he is then granted no audione s. From what the writer of these lines can judge the pressut régime caunot become a guaranteef peace for much longer. The days of dissolution are hasteuing on and China is soon to become like Corea, pay, even worse than Corea if the present régime be allowed to last ny longer. Believe me, the above has been the result of careful observation and deep study [Then follow taules showing the distribution by me, aud these are not the words of a hastily over the different months of the year 1902 of formed opinion, and it behoros foreigners to the infectious disosses notified, and the relative study the question also seriously and not be mortality in the different sen-ous of the non-again caught napping as in 1900."-N-C. Chinese and Chinese populations.]
Daily News.
Denguo-Au ertensive outbreak of this dis ease took place. Some fifty cases occurred in the autumn of the previous year, the disease evidently having been induced from Singa- pore. Every section of the community wor affected, over 400 cases having been admitted to the Government Civil Hospital alous. The earliest casa occurred towards the end of Juna, it was prevalent in July, no s prernleut in August, and commouc de decline in Septem- ber with the onset of the cool weather, and in October it soon died out. Consicer.ble incon- venience was caused commercially, as many firms employing large umbers of men had great difficulty at the height of the epidemic in obtaining workmen. It to be hoped that this disease is not going to become endemais.
GENERAL SANITARY CONDITION. The sanitary condition of the Colony has been improved of late years, more especial y by the provision of open spaces in the rear of buildings, thus doing away with back-to-back houses and introducing more light and ventila- tion to the Chinesswellings. Much, however, remains to be done. Professor Simpson and Mr Osbert Chadwick, C.M.Garrived in the early part of the year. Their reports conclusively show that overcrowding ad many iusauitury dwellings and areas exist. Mr. Chadwick states "I am further of opinion that nothing short of the general resumption of insauit ry tenements, aud their entire re-construction, will bring about any thorough improvement in the sani ary condition of Hongkong The Legislature has introduced and p ssed a new Public Health and Buildings Bill which has consolidated and improved the various existing Public Health and Buildings Ordinances and it is hoped and expected that this Bill wild much to further the better sanitation of this Colony.
FA table of vaccinatious shows that 6,475 were performed during the year, 549 at the Govern ment Civil Hospital, 5,978 at Victoria Gaol, 236 at Be Aico Memorial & Nethersolo Hospitals, and the rest by the Tung Wab.]
THE SITUATION IN PEKING.
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DIGTE
TRANS-SIBERIAN JOTTINGS.
The following interesting extracts, says the N.-C. Daily News, are from a private letter written by a passonger homeward ria Siberia in the train between Manchuria junction and Lake Baikal:-
N. B.-These uotes pretend only to give the experiences of the particular journey by traiu of May 26th from Dalny. Conditions have hitherto changed every few weeks, and will doubtless continue to do so for some time. The first advice we would tender to travellers is therefore to mistrust everything you are told, especially by the various agents. To illustrate this I may mention that the existence of a new service of trains, inaugurated on 17th April, was unknown to various agencies" in Peking and Tientsin on 16th May. The experiences of recent travellers are more useful, but here again the conditions may so change in a couple of mouths, that these also my be very mislead ing. This is what happened when I started. On arrival at Daluy I placed my baggage in the train and got the guard to lock the com- partment. It was a first-class for two. Tickets could not be got until one Lour before the departure of the train, which was timed to start at 11 p.m.
The tickers, first-class to Manchuria juuc. tion, cost Rs. 108 each; second-class tickets cost Rs. 67. One can book no further On arrival at Manchuria one books through to Petersburg first-class, second Rs. 113. It will be seen that the prices on the Chinese Eastern Railway are much higher than on the Russian State ailway,
There WAS no difficulty at Dalay. The language difficulty is all rot." Anyone can learn enough Kassian in ten minutes to carry along with on this journey, The railway officials are obliging, the accommodation excellent. The days are over for taking the equipment of an up-country trip upon this route. The dining car quite good. "It adds possibly to one's comfort to Lave one's own whisky, and a tea-basket kills time as well as anything else, but neither can be called neces- sities now.
[June 29, 1903.~
THE LATE MR. RHODERICK CAMPBELL.
An inquest was held at the General Hospital, Shanghai, ou the 17th inst, before Mr. T. C. E. Douglas, Coroner, on the body of the late Mr. Roderick Campbell, when the following
ovidence was taken :
Neil Macleod-I am a medical practitioner. I identify the body just sien as that of R. M. Campbell. To-day about noon I was summoned on the telephone by one of the sisters to the Hospital. When I arrived I found Mr. Campbell in articulo mortis on an Bm- bulance within the hospital. He died within a minute of my arrival. Death was evidently due to a head i jury, | There was a penetrating ble ding wound on the side of the head above the right ear, and on the opposite side under the sculp Louise handed me a paper which she statel was could be felt what is probably a bullet. Sister found in Mr. Campbell's hand The paper was in Mr. Campbell's handwriting and rns:
LE
him and ask him to go out to my lous. It Get Dr. Macleod if you can at once. Teli
you telephone to my house, No. 293, only say I have met with an accident, but try and get Dr. Macleod to go out first. Don't telephone if you can help it. I don't want the Jews to
burst' on them.-R. M. C."
David Anderson-I am a leading stoker, 2nd class, on H.M.S. Alacrity: I am at present. a patient in this Hospital About twelve o'clock to-day, I was at uding inside the courtyard at the bend of the path, facing the gateway, when I heard the report of a shot and looking out at the gate I saw a little smske anl a gentleman falling. I made a rush towards him and found him bleeding at the head. A note was found just by his hand by the side of noto and pistol are those produced. I picked the revolver, which was on the ground. The
up
the revolver aud hat and laid it under the trees, standing by so that no one could touch it. I summoned the nurs s
Frederick Anderson-I was well acquainted with him in this town. I received a letter with the deceased and had business doilings from him in his handwriting at about 12.5 this the General Hospital. The letter is purely morning. On receipt of that I came at ones to
about his business affairs and gives no adequate reason for what he has done.
A jaror: If the letter des not express Mr. Cmpbil's inteation, why did Mr. "Anderson como here?
The Coroner: Because it contains other mat- ter. It is the way the letter is expressed. It won't help you to any other conclusion than that which I think you cannot help coming to. You have heard all the evidenes which I, as Coroner for this district, propose to call, relative to this matter. I think the matter is as plain as it can be and it is your duty to return a verdict of suicide. I leave it to you to express any opinion 82 o the state of deceased's mind, always having regard to the fact that it is the opinion of most people qualified to know that the not of self- destruction is always the act of an insʊne man. committed suicide while temporarily insane.
The jury roturned a verdict that decease
The following is a translation of a private lotter from a very well-informed Chinese official iu Peking to a friend in Shanghai, dealing with the situation at the capital:- — Matters in Peking at the present moment seem to be even more hopeless than before. Although platitudies concerning reform in the government of the country are freely expressed by Ministers to outsiders, the fact remains that any sort of reform is heartily hated by those at to helm of affairs. According to persons attached to the Imporial Palaces in spite of the fact that the Empress Dowere encourag 8 social intercourse with members of the foreign Legations, the truth of the matter is that she is still filled with hatred against her guests and uses these social amenit es merely to cloak
The Tientsin correspondent of the N.-C. her future designs on them. In outward
Daily News writes: While improvements appearance Her Majesty seems to be exceedingly
are going on in, all the concessions, in none o earnest in her desire to strengthen towards The coupés are spotlessly clean; so is the they so manifest as in the Japanese concession. China the fridship of the foreign re-bedding. Good clean pillows are provided. No They have done and are doing an immensзamount presentatives, and to do so gives banquets and bedding need be brought, except the ordinary of filing, and so making healthy conditions over bestows presents upon thew, but her heart really travelling rug. There is not much room for acres of what were recently standing pools of entertains nothing but the bitterest of rancour hand-baggage. Nothing can go under the seats. stagnant water, some of them eight and ten against all foreigners. It vividly reminds one If I had to define what was "a lot of hand feet deep which filled the air with vile smells of her conduct in the summer of 1900, during the baggage" I should say "anything more than and were a continual menace to health. siege of the Legations, when she, on the one four pieces per mau." But these four might Extensive building operations are also hand, sent gifts of water melons and other fruit all be large kit-bags. A number of small pieces in progress, all of which gives one the to the beleaguered garrison, while on the other, are vry difficult to keep tros of when chang-idea of business prosperity as he passes she poured in other presents in the shape of rifle ing. One is allowed 36lbs. per ticket fare in through this concession. They have a hospital, bullets and cannon-shot. It is to be apprehended the van. A cabiu trunk owned by a couple may and a church of about 20 members organised in that this actual state of things is really unknown therefore weigh 72lls. before it is penalised, the middle of March (15th) by two delegates to the foreign representatives in the Legation. The trains run twice a week from Dalny, sent over by the Missionary Society of one of Now almost every one knows that the masses in Tuesdays and Saturdays at 11 pm. It is the the churches to look up the Japanese Christians these Northern provinces of the Empire are au only way to go home.
in China; and now a young man has been sent uncouth and ignorant lot with whom it is
as Pastor, and also to study the Chinese lang- difficult to reason, hence should the least
uage with reference to doing missionary work thing untoward happen an immediate repetition
among the Cainese as well. Active steps aro of the horrors of 1900 can easily be imagined.
being taken for the erection of a church Their Majesties pass their days enjoying them-
building, and it will be no matter of surprise selves with witnessing theatricals and in eating
if it is ready for use the coming winter.
"
Japanese papers record that Mr. Ludwig Bischof, second son of Captain F. and Mr. Bischof, died at Kobe of consumption on the 14th inst., aged 19. He was a talented musi- cian, and often assisted at concerts in Kobe.