August 10, 1903.]
were to be disconnected from the public mains and the supply of water for these houses was to be drawn from public fountains to be erected. As is well-known, a Chinese potition, largely and influentially signed, but get up in what it is hardly possible not to regard as a hole-and-corner way, went home, and apparently so weighed with the Secretary of State for the Colonies that he would not allow the ordinance to pass. The Bill which was read for the first time on Friday is an attempt to meet the objections brought against the 1902 ordinance. The method adopted is the introduction of " rider-mains for prac tically the whole of the Chinese portion of the Colony-which means, we presume, Victoria below the limit of the so-called European reservation area, though the Governor in Council has power to define any area within which the rider-main system may be introduced. Outside such areas all water-services will be provided with meters. The cost of constructing the rider-mains and making the necessary alterations is to be charged against the owners of the various tenements-leading, we fear, to a reim- bursement of themselves by the owners out of the pockets of the tenants. When these rider-mains have been introduced, it is hoped that in periods of scarcity the intermit tent supply system need only be put in force in the rider-main districts, the metered houses having a constant supply and the principal mains being plentifully charged with water in event of outbreaks of fire.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
believe this. If the authorities are very prompt in applying the intermittent system to the rider-mains when water ceases to be superabundant, no doubt a great saving will be effected. But there is the waste ali the rest of the year to contend with, and it is not possible to disregard this. When once the rains have ended and the reservoirs have no means of again reaching their maximum, all waste is reprehensible. Certainly it should not be punished only in the case of the metered housebolder and pardoued in the case of the prodigal native. Yet we do not see any proposal to punish the latter except by putting him, with his whole block, on the intermittent system when a water famine arises.
A SANITARY EXPERIMENT.
(Daily Press. 4th August.)
RESERVATION AND HEALTH.
99
(Daily Press, 5th Angust.) One of the enclosures among the “
papers relating to the investigation of malaria," etc., which we noticed recently in this columu, is a summary of the researches of Drs. STEPHENS and CHRISTOPHERS into native malaria and malarial prophylaxis. We quoted the other day what these experts said about the presence of malaria in native children. We wish here to draw
attention to a paragraph in the summary following on that about native children. The two doctors state thit the condition of extreme unhealthiness (for Europeins) found, par excellence, in West Africa is not determined by climate. The reason is largely to be found in the conditions under which Europeans at present live in Africa, Even on general grounds it would be "well to avoid native huts and hovels.
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When, however, we realise that "these huts are veritable hotbeds of malaria, it is evident that the very first sanitary law for Europeans in Africa is to avoid "their neighbourhood. It is, however, a striking, but most deplorable, feature “that in Africa hardly ever do we find au European bungalow or dwelling-place built "with this end in view." A little later Drs. STEPHENS and CHRISTOPHERS Say: As a preliminary step to all other prophylatic measures, and as one likely more than any other to minimise Europe in malaria, we therefore advocate 'Segregation from "the Native.'
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It was a very interesting ceremony on Monday afternoon when H E. the Governor formally handed back to the care of the Sanitary Board the block of tenement houses which some three months ago were given over to him in order that he might make the experiment whether he could get the Chinese to help themselves and assist in sanitary measures. It was evident from the words uttered on Monday that no little measure of success was attained, and, that the effect produced on the 7,700 tenement dwellers in Second and Third Streets was one which cannot fail to be beneficial, provided that it become duly published abroad. Sir HENRY BLAKE spoke of the experiment as showing that the Chinese people are not apathetic and that they are Our object in quoting the above was not ready to help when it is explained to them compare the malaria of Hongkong that their help is necessary in carrying out
with that of the West coast of Africa, but the ordinary work of sanitation for the to show what are admitted to be some grave people. It must of course he remembered dangers arising from the tnd close proximity that in the present experiment the Chinese of Europeans and natives. It is not only were doubtless spurred on by the idea that malaria which can be conveyed from native they were working in co-operation with His dwellings to European houses; it is not Excellency and that the glamour of the only mosquitoes which convey horrible Sanitary Board is not likely to be so great. diseases, but fleas, bugs, etc., as well. Are Still we do not in any way wish to depre- we then, as the Colony continues to expand, ciate Chinese public spirit in Hongkong, to see the future Europea residents forced for it has proved itself time after time. We to live with the native at their door, ready shall look forward to a continuance of the to infect them and their wives and children effort made this year, in the hope that with deadly diseases to which they need scarcely less enthusiasm will be shown by never have been exposed but for the criminal the Chinese who worked so well in the past apathy of past Governments? plague season. On the part of the Sanitary words, is Hongkong, and more particularly that part of it which is on the mainland, to be converted into a pestilential collection of blocks and hove's, where the European has no choice but to drag on his existence amid the squalors of au intimate native en- vironment? We venture to prophesy that the whole question of Kowloon's future will depend o the provision or not of an adequate European quarter where those coming out from home will be able to live in health and peace.
The prevention of waste is stated to be the chief object aimed at by the present Bill, as it was in that of 1902; and this point the Colonial Secretary particularly dwelt on in his speech on Friday. The Hon. F. H. MAY described the rider-main system as a system of huge meters for each block of buildings. We must confess that we do not quite see the justice of the comparison, for this reason. Rider-mains, as defined in the new Bill, are "subsidiary mains to which all services to the houses near which they are laid will be connected, and, as they can be shut off by means of valves from the principal mains, the supply of water to the houses can be restricted to any extent considered necessary without shutting off the water from the City generally, as has to be done at present.' Now in times of plenty or of even moderately abundant supply of water, we
Board what is demanded is as much as take it, the service to the rider-mains will possible of that sympathy which was shown be perfectly uncontrolled (this seems plain to the inhabitants of Second and Third from what we have quoted), 8) that there Streets in the recent experiment. Not all will be no restriction at all on waste in the favouring circumstances can be present such periods. The mitered houses, how- another time, but there is no reason why the ver, will be punished for such waste, if it most essential should not. The encour ige- should occur, in tines either of abundance ment and facilities for keeping clean the or of scarcity. Of course, when a water-bed-boards and other furniture and the famine threatens, the supply to the rider- provisions of a certain number of baths mains can be restricted to any extent, as are not beyond the power of the Sanitary the Bill's **
objects and reasons claim. Board. The organisation of a street But this is by no means the same as kaifong, or committee, seems to have been metering, for it does not punish, as metering does, continual careless waste during times of abundant or comparatively full supply; and it must be remebered that it is not only waste at periods of famine which has to be fought against.
It seems that we must resign ourselves to the adoption of rider-mains, the Secretary of State for the Colonies having practically vetoed the Bill of last year, which struck us in common, we believe, with the mass of European residents ns & measure very adequately meeting the case. We are assured by the Government, or rather by the bulk of the Government, that the present measure is every whit as useful in achieving the great object the prevention of waste of water. We fear that we cannot quite
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the happiest feature of the late experiment: Whether this system could be extendel with advantage, we do not know. It is one which peculiarly suits the Chines, and it enables the authorities to use the more enlight ned men to instruct the more ignorant. Iguerance on the side of the natives and too little sympathy on that of the authorities are the chief obstacles in the way of successful co-operation with a view to fighting plague. The authorities have lately made great efforts to mitigate the hardships involved by their crusades against disease and dirt. There are hopes that the densest clouds of ignorance around the poor uatives may gradually be dissipated by seeking the aid of their better-instructed countrymen.
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In other
Nippon Yusen Kaisha, announces that tele- Mr. T. 8. Takayanagi, acting manager of the
graphic information has been received that the Company's 8.8. Kawachi Maru, which left Hongkong on the 27th Juue last for London and ports, had en ontbreak of fire occurring at saa in No. 4 hold, and she put in at Messina, from which port she was to have sailed on the lat inst.
a despate dated Simla, July 23, says: - The plague is now almost entirely confined to the Bombay I'residency and Mysore, which had, respectively. 1,817 and 270 deaths out of a total of 2,284 recorded in all India last week. Assam
is now completely clear. the Panjab returns only 55 deaths, Bengal 29 the United Pro- vinces one, Central Iudia 21, Hyderabad twelve, and Coorg five." Another message of the same date says:-"The numbers under famine relief in the Central Provinces have fallen to 22,414.