March 12, 1904.]
Dr. Pearse minuted that whatever purpose a well was originally intended to serve, it might in time of drought be used for obtaining drinking water from, and he therefore recom. mended as a precantion that the well be sunk in the middle of the vacant piece of ground to the east of the steps leading to the theatre door instead of at the side close to the adjoining building; the well should be cement rendered to within 3 or 4 feet from the bottom the brickwork carried up to form a 1 to 2 feet parapet, and the surface round the well canalled and cemented.
Mr. Hewett minuted that he did not think the Binking of wells should be encouraged; the water was sure to be used for drinking
purposes.
On the motion of the VICE-PRESIDENT, seconded by Mr. LAU CHU PAK, the application was granted subject to the conditions mentioned by the M.O.H.
PAVING OF LAUNDRIES,
Dr. Barnett, in reference to a report sent in said he wished to know what material the Board approved under No. 2 of the bye-laws governing laundries. Did they approve of Canton tiles Tiles had been accepted in the past, but were not impervions. At least 50 per cent, of the license I premises were paved with Canton tiles.
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The Director of Public Works miuutel : A layer of cement rendering three-quarters of an inch thick or the paving bricks or glazed tiles made by the Green Island Cement Co. would be preferable to Canton tiles."
Mr. E. A. Hewett: The use of Canton tiles for flooring should be gradually done away with."
The PRESIDENT moved the approval of the D.P.W.'s minute, the same to be app'icablo to new premises.
Mr. FUNG WA CHUN seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
WATER ANALYSIS,
The report of Mr. A. C. Franklin, Acting Government Analyst, for the mouth of February showed that the water was of excellent quality.
RATS,
It was reported that during the fortnight ended 7th inst. 700 rats were killed; of these 18 were infected with plague.
This was all the important business.
BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY,
CENTENARY MEETING..
Last Monday evening the centenary meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held in the City Hall, There was
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good attendance. IIE. F. 1. May C.M.G., presided, aul among others present were Mr. R. A. B. Ponsonby, Privato Secretary to His Excellency; Right Rev, Bishop J. C. Hoare, Rev. F. J. Johnson, Rer. J. H. France, Rev. F. Icely, Rev. T. W. Pearce, Rev. T. Wright, Rer. W. J. Southam, Rev. E. W. Hipwell, Rer. F. Blanchett, Rev. C. H. Hickling, Rev. W. Bridie, Rer. R. F. Gotts- chalk, Rev. R. Wells, and Professor Sharp. His Excellency in his presidential address referred to the good work done by the Society and reminded the audience that there was a deficit of something like a quarter of a million pounds to be met. Its work, he said, was to put the Bible into the hands of as many of the inhabitants of the world as possible and to let it speak for itself; surely no man could object to that? Rev. T. W. Pearce afterwards deliver ed an address reviewing the bistory of the Bible Society and pointing out its needs and aims.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
NOTES FROM THE BOTANIC GARDENS.
The last few days of damp, mild weather have pul new life into vegetation, and leaves and flowers have appears as if by magic. The tiuts of the young leaves of many of the trees and shrub are as variable and as highly coloured as the autumn lints of the trees in the old country. Many a time have we mistaken the young leaves of a Ternotremia for the brightly coloured flowers of Rhododendron indicum, for it is only by getting to close quarters that the difference can be seen. This is only one example; anyone who takes an interest in wandering over the hills of the island and the Now Territory will be able to supply many others.
Rhododendron Farrar, which delights in growing in such exposed positions as Victoria Peak and Mt. Parker, is now in flower. The colour of the Rowers is pale purple, and, on account of this, the plants can be easily detected at this time of the year.
Rhododendron indicum will be in flower a little later, although a few cultivated specimens are' already to be seau,
A very pretty, but a very common, shrub may also be found in flower on the hillsides. This is Raphiolepis indica, a shrub with ivory- white flowers borne in small panicles at the ends of the branches. There are several specimens now at their best in various parts of the gardens. We heard it called locally from its resemblance, somewhat,
"Indian may
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to the commu 'n hawthorn.
HONGKONG POLICE REPORT.
The report of Capt. F. W. Lyous, Acting Captain Superintendent of Police, for the year 1903 is published in the Gazette. We make the following extracts :—
The total of all cases reported was 11,25!, as against 10,421 in 19 2, being au increase of 830, 7.96 per cent. In the division of these cases into serious and minor offences, there appears an increase, as compared with 1902, of 8 3 cases, or 21.58 per cent, in the former, aud a decrease of 33 cases, or 51 per cent. in the latter. The increase was chiefly in respect of larceny. Larcenies by servants were numerous. |In some of the more serious cases the police were successful in tracing the thieves and recovering most of the properly stolon. The valus of the property reported stolen during property recover d by the police and restored to the year was $228,061.37, and the value of the
owners was $6,941.16. In some of the more serious cases the police were successful in
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tracing the thieves and recovering, most of the property stolen; it would greatly assist the police in such cases if it were customary for photographs and their names, parents' names, persous when engaging servants to obtain their and addresses iu Chinese characters-60 gam six hundred and twenty-three search warrants bling warrants were executed.—One thousand
and excise officers of the Opium Farmer. for prepared opium were executed by the police
611 cases opium was found, and 706 persons were arrested.
In
203
for asleep on duty, as against 111; 18 for disorderly conduct, as against 35; and 334 for absence from station, duty and parades, against 372 in 1902. The conduct of the contingent may be considered fair, as 116 mea hai no reports against them, 59 men had only 1 each, and many of the offences were trivial,
Rewards,-One inspector was awarded a good conduct medal for good work done during the epidemic of plague. Oue inspector, two Indian sergeants, two Chinese sergeants, and one Chinese constable were granted good conduct medals for long and faithful service, and two Chinese constables for good work done in the Now Territory. One Chinese sergeant and two constables were granted rewards for energy and zeal in making arrests of robbers and thieves, and oue Chinese constable for prompt action in the arson case of No. 205 Queen's | Road Central.
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Conduct.-The number of reports against Europeans was 107, as against. 87 in 1902; of these, 25 were for drunkenness, as against 23 in the previous year; 5 for asleep on duty as against 2; 7 for disorderly conduct and fighting; and I for sitting down on duty, as against 3 and 2 respectively; and 14 for neglect of duty as against + last year. The conduct of the con- tingent was on the whole good, only 4 men had more than 3 reports against them, and 72 men had none. There were 463 reports against men of the Indian contingent, as compared with 354 for last year. For drunkenness there were 12, against 24 in 1902; 21 for disorderly conduct, against 22; 48 for neglect of duty, against 33; 79 for absence from duty, against 44; 105 for gossiping and idling on duty, against 72; and In delivering judgment in this case, quash-92 for asleep on duty, against 23 in the previous ing the conviction of the lower court, as already reported in these columus, the Chief Justice remarked that it was clear that Mr. A F. G. Tilleke intended to return the jewelry, while as for the Burmese clerk, Mong On, there was no evidence against him of criminal intention.
He remarked that the love of the Bible was one of the best guarantees for the solidarity of the Empire, and was thankful to God that the history of the Bible Society was contemporan- eous with the history of our colonial expansion. Bishop Hoare also addressed the meeting.
year. The conduct of the contingent was satisfactory, as a large number of the reports were for trivial offences, and 188 man had no reports against them. The Chinese con- tingent is responsible for 835 reports, against 960 in 1902 (which included Water police). There were no reports for drunkenness; 113
THE NEW TERRITORY,
Mr. E. R. Hallifax, Acting Deputy Superia- teulent, reported that during the year there were 14 Europeaus, 96 Indians, and 43 Chinese with 10 boatmen stationed in the New Territory on land, up to September: after September the number of Indians was reduced to 8, while another crew of five botmon was added. The increase in the gang robberies from 11 in 1902 to 18 in 1903 was not due to general relapse, but was the work especially of two particular gangs most of the members of both have been arrested and convicted. The last two mouths of the year showed an immediate improvement in consequence.
EDUCATION.
C
Mr. A. W. Grant, assistant-in-charge of the Police School, reported that, during the year, the school was open ou 98 days, with a total attendance of 4,236, giving a daily average attendance of 43.2. As in former years, two examinations for European police coustables were held. At one 10 men preser ted them. selves and 8 passed, and at the other 7 men presented themselves and 4 passed. The total number of meu on the Roll during 190 was 377, made up as follows: European Police Constables, 26; Indian Police Constables, 150; Gaol Staff, 61; Chinese Police Constables, 137; Garden Boys, 3..
THE OPENING OF KONGMOON.
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
Kongmoon, 7th March. At 10 o'clock this morning the Acting Com. missioner of Customs personally hoisted the Chinese ensign on the Customs flagstaff, a guard of honour from the revenue, steamer Fei-hoo presenting arms; the red ensign and the Chinese dragon flag flattered from two houseboats, the temporary head-quarters of H.B.M. Consul and the Commissioner of Cas- toms respectively, while three guns boomed forth from the revenue steamer. The ceremony over, the genial Commissioner of Customs invited all the foreigners present to his houseboat, where a bumper was drunk to the health of the new treaty port.
Thus was the Port of Kongmoon formally opened to trade.
H.M.S. Moorhen and the French gunboat Argus are in port.
The weather is cold and duall with every pro- spect of heavy rain.
CANTON.
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 7th March. OPENING OF KONGMOÙN,
In accordance with the terms of the “Mackay" treaty, the port of Kongmoon is to-day formally opened. Mr. Fox, Acting Consul at Wuchow, proceeded there yesterday on H.M.S. Moorhen, while Mr. Maze (late Deputy Commissioner of Customs at Canton) has been in the port for some days making arrangements for the open- ing of Customs work. He will remain as Acting Commissioner.
The opening of Kingmoon will give a stimulus to the West River and Delta trade, which has indeed of late been promising to increase rapidly. The Steamboat Company has
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