156
£1,875,720 as against £2,061,234 in 1901 and £1,978,388 in 1900; but it must be remembered that the tael declined more than sixpence in that period, from 3s. 14d. to 23. 74d. The imports from China ports of native goods were £2,398,178 in 1902; they always exceed foreign imports. The bulk of the export trade of Swatow is sugar for the Yangtze and the North, and most of the exports to foreign countries are for the use of Chinese emigrants. Of the total of £1,522,824 at which exports were falued, Hongkong .clained £226,744, the Straits £206,907, and Chinese ports £686,062; there is practically no genuine European trade, except a small traffic in feather, hair, hem, tea, and tobacco. For a succession of years the total imports have been more than double the value of the exports. This is attributed to the remittances of the Swatow emigrants, well known for their successful money-making capabilities, which enable the locality to pay for the foreign goods it buys!
4
E
Two incidents causing some excitement at Swatow occurred during the year, both of which were recordet in details in our
on
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
HONGKONG SANITARY
Dr. Hou.
BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on Thursday afternoon in the Board Room. J. M. Atkinsou, Principal Medical Officer (President) presided, and there were also present Hon. W. Chatham, Director of Public Works (Vice-President); Mr. C. Mcl. Messer. cting Registrar- General; Captain F. W. Lyons, Acting aptain Superintendent of ludice: Colonel W. E. Webb, R.A.M.C, Mr. Fung Wa Chuu, Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Mr. A. Rumjahu, Hon. H. E. Pollock, KC, Mr. E. A. Hewett; Dr. Pearse, Acting Medical Officer of Health; Dr. Barnett, Assistaut Medical Officer of Health; and Mr. G. A. Woodcock (Secretary).
PROVISION OF BACKYARDS.
Father correspondence was laid on the table relative to the provision of backyards for certain houses in Bulkeley Street and Market Street, for which exemption had been sought.
The MO.H. minuted: The scheme for
best
---
cutting away half the kitchens is. I think, the The remaining portion of the kitchens though less than 5 square feet might be accepted sufficient by Building
Authority."
43
the
Mr. A Rumjahu "Grant exemption." On the motion of the PRESIDENT, seconded by Mr. FUNG WA CHUN, the application for
A DRAINAGE QUESTION.
There was laid on the table an application by
Mr. E. M. Hazeland architect, for permission to temporarily construct the draius of two pipes in place of cast-iron pipes.
houses ou Reclamation M.L. 63 with storeware
The Sanitary Surveyor (Mr. J. J. Bryan) minu ed: I presume this can be allowed. It has been in similar cases.'
"1
The D.P.W. minuted :—" A
should be fixed--say six months."
time limit
be granted, subject to the proviso of the The PRESIDENT moved that the application
D rector of Public Works.
Mr. HEWEIT seconded.
The PRESIDENT said he presume that in any similar cases in fature the same course would be followed. The iron pipes had not yet arrived, but they were expected very shortly.
Mr. HEWETT enquired if the present pipes would be renewed as soon as the iron pipes
columns at the time. One was the attempt to levy additional taxes on opium in Kwangtung, in violation of the Additional [xemption was granted. Article of the Chefoo Convention. H.L.M.'s Consul protested, as did the native dealers, and all import of the rug cease for two or three months. Finally two chests of Beugal opium imported by M ssrs. BRADLEY & Co. were seized by two armed runners of the Revenue Bureau, which brought matters to a climax. Our Cousul. General at Canton thereupon protested, and finally the tax was withdrawn. The other incident was the boycott of Messrs. BUTTERFIELD and SWIRE's steamers, account of a dispute between two clerks of the consignees and the shipping firm's native compradore, who caused the arrest of the clerks and was backed up by his firm, which rejected the rice-merchants' petition to obtain the release of the two men. The boycott instituted by the Swatow Guild, from Newchwang to Singapore, was only stopped on condition of the removal of Messrs. BUTTERFIELD and SWIRE's local agent and compradore and the payment of compensation for the arrest of the clerks. The exceptional power of combination among Swatow merchants was well ex- hibited. Apart from these two affairs the year was not eventful. An expected heavy drought did not come, the November harvest being abundaut. Shipping Swatow only slightly increased, while the tonnage under inland navigation rules fell off a little after 1901. An energetic taotai, who interested himself in the improvement of waterways, retired into twenty-seven monthe' mourning i 1992, and there is little hope of anything being do te increase the navigability of the creaky, without which expansion of intan 1 water traffic cannot be expected.
at
Lu
The Straits Times of the 17th inst. says:-- It is with the sincere tregret that the people of the Straits, both here and a home, will hear of the death of Mr. A. W. S. O'Sullivan. the Assistant Colonial Secretary, who expired suddenly at his residence this forenoon. The ciss is all the more deplorable as having occurred practically on the ers of Mr. O'Sullivan's departure to accept the Colo inl Soor. try- ship' of the island of Trinidad, whers. it was expected, his admirable administrative abili'i s would very probably evolve some definits seus. of order out of the chaos which chronically reign there supreme. Mr. O'Sullivan had been identified with the Government of the Straits Settlements for nearly twenty years. He left a widow.
|
arrived
The PRESIDENT replied in the affirmative. The motion was carried.
BASEMENT IN BRIDES STREET.
The Secretary laid on the, table a minute by the M. O. Helative to the Lasement of 68, Bridges Stre t, to the effect that a permit could not be granted to use the room for habitation.
The P.C.M O.: "The place might be used as a store or shop."
The PRE IDENT moved that the applicant be informed that the place could only be used as a stors or shop.
'Mr. FUNG WA CHUN said he had visited the It
place and found it to possess five windows. was well ventilated, and he thought no exception should be taken to the house.
Mr. RUMJAHN spoke to the same effect, and supported Mr. Funz Wa Chun's suggestion.
Dr. PEALSE said that under the bye-laws the Board had no power to grant exemption.
The VICE-PRESIDENT seconded the Presi dent's motion. which was carried by a majority.
PROVISION OF OPEN SPACES.
There was laid on the table an application for exemption from the provision of o, en spaces in respect of 2, 4 and 6. Kennedy Street.
The ssistant M.O.H. (Dr. Barnett) minuted that he thought No. 2 might be exempted sa long as no building was erected between it and Kennedy Road. He did not think an exemptiou ought to be made in the case of Nos. I and U, as they were dark and ill ventilated.
The D.P.W :—" No. 2 appears to be a corner house overlooking the compound of Wanchai School."
The PRESIDENT moved that the Assistant M.O.H.'s recommendation be approved.
Captain LYONS seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
PROVISION OF BACKYARDS.Į
[August 29, 1903. exemption from the provision of a backyard at 13, Star Street.
:
The Assistant M.O.H. was of opinion that exemption might be granted.
The PRESIDENT moved that the exemption be granted for this house, which was also a corner
house.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK seconded, and the motion
was agreed to.
from the provision of a backyard at No. 2, An application was submitted for exemption
Bridges Street.
Inspector A. Carter reported that the owner had opened up an area 3 feet wide in front of the kitchen window.
The M. O. H. minuted that the exemption might now be granted but the ground floor of No. 2 was a basement and may not be used for
human habitation.
Hon Mr. Pollock :-" Grant on understand-
ing which is referred to in Dr. Pearse's
minute."
Mr. E. A. Hewett :-" Agree with Mr. Pollock."
The PRESIDENT moved that the application be granted on the understanding indicated in Mr. Pollock's minute.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK seconded and the motion was agreed to.
WATER SUPPLY AT THE PEAK,
There was laid on the table an application for the erection of four water-closets at the Peak Hotel,
Mr. H&WETT asked where the necessary water- supply was to come from for flushing these water closets--was it to be done by tanks ?
The VICE-PRESIDENT said there should be no difficulty about that-there was always a sufficient supply of water at the Poak.
Mr. HEWETT-I think some of the residents at the Peak will be very glad to know that. (Laughter.)
Hon. Mr. PULLOCK asked if the drain would lead down to the Harbour side or the Pokfulam side?
The VICE-PRES DENT replied that it would connect with an existing drain discharging
into the Harbour.
Mr. HEWETT admitted that these con- veniences were very necessary for a place like the hotel, but suggested that the owper ahould be asked how he was going 10. guarantee a sufficiency of water for their requirements. As far as the public water supply was concerned, he himself after living two summers at the Peak knew the difficulty of getting water and that some of his friends very often found it absolutely impossible.
to
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK proposed that the matter be allowed stand over 80 that the manager of the hotel could be communicated with end asked whether he proposed making any special provision for supplying water to
flush these water-closets.
The PRESIDENT secouded and the motion was agreed to.
LI EWASHING.
The limewashing return showed that during the fortnight ended 18th August 545 houses in the Fasteru and 3,055 in the Western District had been treated. In the Western. fines to the amount of $1,340 were recovered.
BAT RETURN.
Returns were submitted showing that during the fortnight ended 24th August 597 rats were caught of which 16 were infected.
The 'RES DENT said this great dimiffution in the numbers was due to the new system only "just started, and he hoped that in a few weeks they would find the numbers still higher. The high perce tage showed that the supposition that rats were teing introduced into the Colony was corroot,
This was all the public business.
The Singapore bacteriogist has been con- duoting a systematic examination of mosquitoes. He has already examined about 3,000 mosquitoes from different parts of the town and of neigh- bouring islands. Amongst these he only found 4) anopheles. A large number of wells have been closed and pools and m rshy ground filled
in.
As far as the protective measures recom. mended by the Tropic 1 School of Medicine were concerned, the President of the Municipal Commission stated the other day, they must be
There was submitted an application for left to the public.