126
the 9th instant, when four Russian war-ships were injured, but the Japanese war-ships received no injury.
"An hour's engagement between a Japanese escorting squadron and the Russian war-ships Varyag (1st-class cruiser), and Koreetz (gun. boat) took place off Chemulpo. The gun-boat Koreetz was sunk, and the cruiser Varyag took refuge at Chemulpo.”
The local manager of the Yokohama Specie Bank kindly informed us on Wednesday evening that he had received the following telegrain from the head office at Yokohama :----
"On the 8th inst. the Imperial Navy sunk one Russian cruiser and one gun-boat at Chemulpo; and on the same day sunk two battleships and beached one cruiser at outer port of Port Arthur. On the 9th naval fighting being continued."
Mr. Masaichi Noma, Consul for Japan, wrote to us on the morning of the 11th inst. to the following effect
"I beg to inform you that this morning I have received the telegram from our Govern. ment to the effect that war has been formally declared against Russia by His Imperial Japanese Majesty on the 10th February, 1904.” [In view of the statements made recently about the impossibility of having a state of war with- out a formal declaration having been made, it is interesting to refer to Marten's Law of Nations on this point. At p. 279 this authorit says:-
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
"The universal law of nations acknowledges no general obligation of making a declaration of war to the enemy, previous to a commencement of hostilities. Many of the ancient nations looked on such a declaration as essential, and it was practised in Europe till the seventeenth century; but nowadays nations content them selves with publishing a declaration of war through their own dominions, and explaining their motives to other Powers in writing Publishing of war in this manner is looked upon as so essential that nations have often demanded a restitution of everything taken from them by the enemy before such declaration, Sometimes, however, nations get rid of such demands by insisting that the war has been tacitly declared."]
By kind permission of the Naval Author. ities we were enabled to publish the following telegraphio news on the 11th inst.:--
"In the action ontside Chemulpo the Japanese ships engaged were the Asama, Chiyoda, Noniwa and Niitaka. Both the Russian ships were badly damaged and were set on fire and blown up by their crews, who took refuge on board the French cruiser Pascal. The Japanese ships sustained no damage. The Russian steamer Bungari was burned in Chemulpo Harbour by the Russians."
Captain R. H. Keller, D.S.O., Lieutenant M. B. Webb, and 71 rank and file of the Sherwood Foresters, left Hongkong for Tientsin by the P. & O. 8.8. Borneo on the 8th. Captain Keller vacates the position of adjutant of the battalion after acting as such for four years, H. M. ships Centurion, Vengeance, and Ålbion have left ostensibly for Mirs Bay; they will no doubt proceed norih. It is also rumoured that a call may be made at Amoy." The Cressy, Ocean, Fearless, and Thetis are
still in port.
The Douglas 8.8. Haimun has been taken up by the Associated Press agency, and is bound the for Shanghai; she left Hongkong on 10th. We understand that her charterers intend hr to ruo despatches, etc. The Haimun is a steel screw steamer of 1,311 tons register. She was built in 1896 by Messrs W. Hamilton & Co., Glasgow, by order of the Douglas Steam-Ship Company, Ld., of Hongkong. Since her first arrival here she has been on the Foochow-Hongkong ran, viâ the intermediate ports.
The officers and crew on board the Corean warship Yobu are not being paid any salary. The merchants have refused to supply provisions and coal, and the men are almost starving. The Corean Government asked the Daiichi Ginko to supply the ship with provisions, and fiv bags of rice were sent to the ship by the bank,
HONGKONG SANITARY
BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on the 11th insf. in the Board Room. Hon. Dr. J. M. Atkinson presided, and there were also pres at Hon. W. Chatham, Director of Public Works; Hon. A. W. Brevin, Re gistrar General; Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Mr. Fung Wa Chun; Colonel W. E. Webb, .A.M.C.; Mr. E. A. Hewett, Mr. A. Rumjahn; Dr. W. W. Pearse, Acting Medical Officer of Health; Dr. B. Barnett, Assistant Medical Officer of Health; Mr. G. A. Woodcock (Secretary) and Mr. J. H. Kemp (Assistant Secretary).
REPORT OF SANITARY SURVEYOR,
warded his annual report for the year 1903, as Mr. J. J. Bryan, Sanitary Surveyor, for-
follows:-
New house-drains.—Plans have been deposited and passed by him during the year for the drainage of 963 houses, The plans of 713 houses were carried forward from 1902, making
a total of 976 in hand during the year. The drainage of 415 houses has been completed and the plans for 350 have been cancelled, leaving 211 to carry forward to 1904.
Re-drainage and additions. In addition to the above, plans for re-dreinage of, or additions to, the drainage of 94 houses were carried for ward from 1902, and new plans have been received for 260 houses, making a total of 354 for the year. Of these, 245 houses have been completed and 51 cancelled, leaving 58 to be carried forward to 1904.
Inspection of private house-drains.-The drains of 106 honses have been tested and renorted on, in consequence of co.plaints having been received regarding them. Of this number, 56 required reconstructing, 28 amend- ing and the remainder were found to be in order. Notices were served on the owners of the above 84 houses calling upon them to execute the necessary work. Of these 80 have been complied with and the remaining 4 are in hand. 31.790 houses bag been visited by the Drainage Inspector, with the result that 1,878 drainage nuisances have been discovered. Notices have been served in each case on the owner or occupier, calling upon them to abata All of these have been complied the nuisance. with. 268 nuisances have been referred to the Medical Officer of Health and 343 to the Hon. them. 1705 choked drain traps on private Director of Public Works to be dealt with by
property have been cleansed by the drainage
foremen.
Water-closets and urinals. During the past year, water-closets and urinals have been erected in the following buildings, by permission of the Board, and with the exception of those at the docks, have been connected with the public sowers: Stag Hotel, 150 Queen's Road Central, 6 water-closets, 6 urinals; "Club Germanis." Kennedy Road, 6 do., 6 do.; Hong- kong and Whampoa Dock, Hunghom, 15 water- closets; I. L 1623, Magazine Gap Road, 3 water-closets; 15, Connaught Road Central, 2 water-closets, 2 urinals; 12. Des Voeux Road Central, 1 water-closet. Total, 39 water-closets, 15 urinals.
New Buildings. -Certificates have been granted during the year under sections 84 of Ordinance 13 of 1901, for 4 17 houses, certifying that they have been built in accordance with the entire provision of that Ordinance. This is 491 less than were certified in 1902.
Cemeteries.-The whole of the bodies dead of plague during the year have been buried in Cheung Sha Wan Cenetery. There is room for about 40 bodies in the Kennedy Town Cemetery, but it is advisable to reserve that space for any emergency that may arise. Twenty-five terraces have been formed in Mount Davis Cemetery viz. 12 in Section A, 6 in B and 7 in C.
Prosecutions. The following is a return of the prosections instituted during the year—
Offences.
(February 13, 1904,
Summonses.
Convictions.
Penalties.
Remarks.
Drainage nuisances on
private premises...154 143 $1,062 μwithdrawn Failure to comply with
order of magistrates 27 27 Contravention of Sec. 84
of Ord 13 of 1901... 5 Contravention of Seo. 191
of Ord. 1 of 1903..... 4 Contravention of the
Drainage Bye Laws 5
858
5
140
4
100
5
45
195 184 $2'005 11
The PRESIDENT said that with reference to this report he had received from Mr. Rumjahn a letter enclosing a minute relating to the drainaga of two blocks of houses, one in Caine Road and the other in Les Voeux Road, aud also giving notice of certain questions. He would suggest that this minute be circulated and the questions could be answered at next me-ting
This was agreed to.
On the motion of the PRESIDENT, seconded by the VICE-PRESIDENT (Hon. W. Chatham), the report was adopted.
BYE-LAW.
On the motion of the PRESIDENT, `seconded
by the VICE-PRESIDENT, the draft of new Bye-laws proposed to be made under Section 16 of the Public Health and Building Ordinance, 1903, was approved, and it was agreed to re- commend their approval by the Government.
BRIDGE AND STAIRCASE OVER MASON LANE. An application was made for permission to erect a bridge and staircase over Mason Lane,
The PRESIDENT stated that it was necessary for this permission to be given by the Governor in Council.
The VICE-PRESIDENT moved that the Board recommend this application to the Governor in Council for approval,
The PRESIDENT seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
A BEACONSFIELD ARCADE OBSTRUCTION. There was laid on the table an application for exemption from removing an iron roof in the backyard of 14, Beaconsfield Arcade.
The PRESIDENT stated that the tenant of
No. 14 had received notice from the P.W.D. to remove an obstruction from the backyard-that was the open space just outside the Board's office. The Board
had power now under
Section 155, but it did not seem advis- able that it should be allowed to remain
the M.O.H. reported that the because obstruction blocked out the light from the
and kitchen utensils. houses, and the yard was filled with atoves There was also & chimney which was a great nuisance not only to the residents in the Arcade but to people passing up Battery Path, He moved that the exemption be not granted.
The motion was agreed to.
tr EXTERNAL AIR,”
to the question of" external air" in respect of There was submitted an application relative
Nos. 2 to 68, Bridges Street.
Mr. Lau Chu Pak minuted :-" None of the
yards in the existing Chinese tenement h uses is 13 feet wide. I think the Board should recommend Government to exempt every house with a yard not under 8 feet wide and allow two cubicles to be erected on the upper floors of such a house as originally suggested by the sub- committee. If as minuted by the Assistant M.O.H., an 8 feet yard should not be reckoned 88 external air, the amendment Ordinance will practically inflict the same hardship as the original Ordinance."
The minute of the Assistant M.O.H. (Dr. Barnett) referred to above was as follows:-"I do not think a yard of 8 feet ought to be counted as external air. If the rear wall of the open space could be removed (why it was ever built I can't understand) the window in rear would open into external air."
B
Mr. A. Rumjahn minuted:
:-"I know these houses very well. Besides the yard there is a backyard in the rear. When the plan of these houses was passed about two years ago backyard was not then required. If the Board would not recommend this applio:tion, practically almost all houses built prior to the passing of Ordinance 1 of 1903 could not succeed in