January 14, 1905.]
rooking-horse. With a writer at each end, it,
The keeps up a continual rocking motion. reformer is so proud of the result of his petition that he cannot bear to have the thing sneered at, so in order to disarm the critics, he sits on one end of his hobby horse, to stop its prancings.
Your comments on the course of the projected western hill tramway are, tir, I am sure, penned from a desire that the natural beauties of the Public Gardens should not be impaired From an aesthetic point of view, I am afraid the Gardens will suffer to some extent, but I see no reason why any of the pines should be sacrificed. They can all be moved, and it ought to be possible for the work to be so managed as to leave no permanent scar or disfigur-ment. This is the business of the Director of Public Works and the head of Gardens departments. Probably the latter is wholly indifferent to the matter. The man who could deliberately deface the natural beauties of the island, created by the industry and foresight of his predecessor, could doubtless with equanimity see the Botanic Gardens turned into building lots, except per- haps for the consideration that it would be attended with the loss of his occupation, since the deforesting operations must necessarily and with the ruin of the automatically cease plantations.
But, I forgot, there would still be the primeval How he woods in Little Hongkong Valley. would revel in putting the axe to the roots of these venerable and beautiful trees! What a quantity of good firewood they would furnish! What a clearance would be effected; it might even, in the next century perhaps, be possible to lay out the ground in suburban lots, when the whole of the northern face of the island had been covered with houses. In any case there would be the wood, and having created a desert
Has it not been i it would be feasible to plant it. laid down beyond hope of contradiction that, in order to plant, it is necessary to fell?
Following upon the rumour that the Douglas Steamship Company is contemplating the acquisition of a steamer of larger dimensions than their present ships come the news that the Hailoong has been sold. Evidently there is "in the wind," and shareholders are Bomething becoming curious to know exactly what it is, Though the Company since it has had to fight against the competition of the subsidised Japa- nese boats has not paid handsome dividends, the general managers and the consulting com- mittee may be trusted to bear that fact in mind, and their course of action, whatever it may be, is likely to be governed by no other considera- ation than that of improving the fortunes of the Company.
BANYAN.
HONGKONG SANITARY
BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held in the Board Room on the 10th instant. Dr. J. M. Atkinson presided, and there were also present the Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin, Col. W. E. Webb, R.A.M.C., Mr. Fung Wahun, Mr. E. A. Hewett, Mr. A. Rumjahn, Dr. F. Clark, Dr. H. Macfarlane, Dr. B. T. Barnett and Mr. T. A. Hanmer (Secretary).
The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT, the Legislature could have intended to ensot such an incongruous provision. It seemed only reasonable to suppose that the Legislature intended to lay down in the proviso the general principle that houses falling under the proviso should be allowed to be re-erected to a height | not exceeding twice the width of the street. It was suggested by the Board that it might be expedient that the provisions of any amending Ordinance to be passed to remedy the above should be made retrospective so as to date from the coming into force of Ordinance 1 of 1903.
The reply was thus :-
Colonial Secretary's Office,
23rd December, 1904. SIR, With reference to your letter No. 375 of the 7th ultimo, I am directed to inform you that the interpretation placed by Government on the proviso to sub section 3 of section 188 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903 is as follows:-
1. A house fronting such a street as described may in any case be re-erected to a height equal to one and a half times the width of the street;
2. Should the existing house exceed in height one and a half times the width of the street bat not exceed in height double the width of the street it may be re-erected to the same height as at present;
3. Should the existing house exceed in height double the width of the street, it may be re-erect. ed only to a height equal to double the width of. the street.
(Sd) F. H. MAY (Colonial Secretary).
PROPOSED CEMETERIES FOR KOWLOON, Dr. F. Clark in a nuinute wrote-In view of the growing pressure on the available space in the Protestant Cemetery at the. Happy Valley, I have the honour to recommend. for the consideration of the Board, that a site should a Pro'estant be reserved and lid out as Cemetery at Kowloon.
The Hon. Mr. Brewin minated--I under- stand the Roman Catholics wish to apply for a Cemetery as well. A site which can be divided among all religions should be selected.
Mr. H E. Pollock minated-What site is suggested?
Mr. E. A. Hewett minated-Agree. A most suitable site came to my notice. Foothills a cemetery to be should be set aside for divided, as the Happy Valley is, between all denominations requiring regular burial ground The PRESIDENT-I move that a Sub-Com- mittee be appointed to select a suitable site.
This was agreed to, the following being the Sub-Committee-Dr. J. M. Atkinson (the President), the Hon. Mr. P. N. H. Jones (the Vice-President), and Mr. A. Rumjahn.
CLEANSING THE COLONY,
OPEN SPACE.
25
Mr. E. M. Hazeland applied that the Board allow the lane at the rear of Nos. 77 and 79, Temple Street, Yaumati, to count towards the open area as required by section 180 of the Also that exemption from the Ordinance. provision of a scavenging lane be granted, as on open lane of twelve feet in width had been provided, half by the owner of the property mentioned and half by the owners of houses
The application was granted. fronting Station Street South.
A BUILDING MISTAKE.
Mr. E. M. Hazeland also applied that the Board allow that portion of the lane which his client had provided at the rear of Nos. 7 and 8, A Chung's Lane, as a scavenging lane, to count towards open space as required by section 180. The houses had recently been rebuilt and not set out according to the plan and the area completed, and by a mistake the building was of the open space at the rear was thus reduced, roofed over area of the buildings. They were making the area less than one-third of the two-storey buildings, well ventilated and lighted and No. 8 was a corner house.
Dr. F. Clark minuted-I have inspected these houses and am prepared to recommend that they be accepted on the condition that the scavenging land be given up to Government after it has been opened into Ng Kwai Fong to enable the scavenging coolies to have access to
it.
F
The Hon. P. N. H. Jones minuted – Approve M.O.H.'s recommendation.
Mr. E. A. Hewett minuted-I think the this how are we to know that "mistakes" may Board should have further details. If we pass not be made on purpose so as to evade the terms of the Act? Is there not any responsible person whose duty it is to see buildings are constructed according to the approved plan? If so, how is it the houses were completed before the mistake was discovered?
+
measure
The PRESIDENT reid out the Hon. Mr. P. N. H. Jones's reply, the latter being absent-No. There is no such person. It would be absurd to expect the officers Building Authorities to of the up and practically act as overseers during construction for the architects (who know their from deposited for deviations
When liabilities plans) in addition to their proper work of inspection for bad work and materials. the occupation certificate of a building is asked for then the Building Authority has the work actually carried out and measured and compared any deviations discovered are either pat right or with the plans, with the result as in this case that exemption is asked for from the proper anthority
Dr. B. T:Barnett made this report -The followin this case the Sanitary Board. The sng- ing isa return of the general cleansing carried out gestion here made by the M.O.H. would be a Mr. E. A. HEWETT-When was the mistake in Victoria, Kowloon, Kowloon City and Shauki gain for the Government and should be followed.
discovered P wan ander the supervision of the Board's officers during the fortnight euding December 10th, 1904 :-Houses, 2,953; floors, 7,259; empty floors, 202 (cleaned by the Board's coolies); cartloads of rubbish removed by the Board's coolies, 188.
"A VERY REASONABLE REQUEST." Messrs. Palmer and Turner, architects and surveyors, applied (under section 180a) for a modification of the requirements of the Ordinance regarding the provisiou of open space in the rear of Chinese houses in First Street, standing on the rear part of Inland Lot 677, which are At the back of these about to be rebuilt. houses at present there is an open lane ten feet wide Under section 180 a scavenging lane 'I hey asked that the six feet wide is required. difference between the required width, six feet, and the acinal witdth ten feet (uiz, two feet for each corner), may be calculate as part of the open space required, although such open space will not be enclosed within the yard recommend walls but remain as part of the ten foot lane.
Dr. F. Clark minuted-I
"AN INCONG LUOUS PROVISION." In November last the Board drew the atten- tion of Government to the language of the proviso to Sub-section 3 of Section 188 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903. as in the opinion of the Board it must have been the intention of the Government to permit houses coming within that proviso to be re-erected to a height not exceeding twice the width of the street. The proviso was worded -if a house of a height of forty-one feet originally were fronting on a twenty-foot
The Hon. Mr. Brewin minuted-The yard street it could only be re-erected to a height of one and a half times the width of the street, i.e.walls will be removed or replaced by railings? to a height of thirty feet, whereas if such house had originally been of a height of 39 feet 6 inches it could have been re-erected under the terms of the proviso to a height of 39 feet 9 inches, and it seemed difficult to suppose that
that this be sanctioned on condition that the gates are removed from both ends of the lane and that no further obstructions whatever be erected in or over the lane.
Mr. A. Rumjahn minuted—A very reasonable request.
On the motion of the PRESIDENT the applica- tion was granted on the condition that the yard walls be only eight feet high.
The PRESIDENT-When the building was complete.
Mr. E. A. HEWETT-It seems to me that mistakes. this is encouraging intentional I think the architect should suffer the applica- tion should be refused. Though I have a very high opinion of most Hongkong land owners I think a few of them are capable of taking advantage of us in this way.
The PRESIDENT—If that (refuse) were done the Government would lose. We would not get the scavenging lane,
Mr. E. A. HEWETT- -It is only by an acri-
is only dent the Government is going to gain like this? I think a severe penalty should be inflicted- even make them rebuild the house if necessary.
Dr. F.-CLARK-It is a matter of 90 or 100.
to
the Government without getting anything for it. square feet of lane they are going to give up Mr. E. A. HEWETT-A good penalty? The PRESIDENT -Yes,
Mr. E. A. HEWETT--That is good; I believe in cases of this sort in having the "pound of flesh."
The application was granted.
THE PROVISIONS RE WINDOW OPENING.
Messrs. Leigh and Orange asked (under clause 4 of section 175 of Public Health and Buildings Ordinance No. 1 of 1903) for exemption from provisions in respect of a window (ground floor) opening out into the rear of No. 99, Des Voeux Road Central, and No. 47, Connaught Road Central. These two houses