J.
260
we are entitled to look for a continuance of the good fortune which has attended our Allies' efforts to chastise the Bully of the Far East. The issue could not be in surer hands.
HONGKONG JOTTINGS:
(17th April)
It is proverbial that The Weather" is a more frequent topic of remark in general con- versation than anything else under the suu There is usually nothing very informing in such remarks, but it is worthy of record that there is a consensus of opinion among the "old hands" that there never has been such weather in this part of the world as we have had this season. We have had abundance of rain when experience has taught us to expect but little, and we have had more fog than anybody can remember. On the mainland in the neighbour hood of the Colony, the crops, cereals as well as fruit, are very backward, and we have little to
be thankful for save perhaps that we could still up to the end of last week at least, work without feeling uncomfortably warm in tweed suits.
When the Botanical and Afforestation Department some months ago commenced the sacrilegious work of denuding the slopes of the island, a feeling of intense indignation was aroused, particularly in the breasts of the older residents. That indignation was mirrored in the leader columns of the Daily Press; the Government was interrogated on the subject at one of the meetings of the Legislative Council, and an official answer was given as unconvincing as it was unsatisfactory. H.E. the Governor appears to have been among the number not convinced, as many will doubtless have noticed by the report of the Superintend- ent of the Botanical and Afforestation Depart- ment. For the benefit of those who have over- looked the paragraph I reproduce it: -
The question of what is the best rotation for Pinus massoniana in Hongkong is, however, still open to doubt; experts differ on the point and
H.E. the Governor has decided that no
mote
|
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Government departments, which will observe next Saturday, as well as Friday and Monday, as a public holiday. In commercial houses Good Friday will probably be the busiest day of If any clergyman has not prepared his Good Friday sermon, I offer this as a theme.
the week.
:
The appearance of the Russian Fleet in the China Sea at a time when peace overtures were being talked about must have created a com- motion in shipping circles the world over. It would be interesting to know the number of ships which have called at Hongkong during the past thres months on their way north, ladon wih coal. Some have even come in this week from the south. the coal may be for Russian account, and that may account for them coming safely to port It is strange that we have had no reports yet of ships seized by the Russians in the China Sea, but perhaps we have something to learn in this connection. It is an anxious time for shipping, and the Dogger Bank incid- ent has made shipowners and traders generally feel a great deal more anxious than they would if this incident had not occurred to destroy confidence in the officers.
Another new departure has been made in the electric tram fares, the old system of five cent fir: . class rides having been returned to. There are three fire cent sections to each ten cent section. Passengers, apparently, did not see the force of ten cents for short distances. Many Europeans patronised ricshas though they preferred the electric cars. Others: travelled third class in the closed-in pattern cars.
BANYAN.
HONGKONG SANITARY
BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was bold in the Board Room on the 18th April. Hon. Dr. F. Clark (President) presided, and there were also present Hon. Mr. W. Chatham (Vice President), Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin, Mr. A.
felling shall take place until the results of thRamjalin, Dr. Pearse, and Mr. W. Bowen year's operations have been calculated and the whole question put before an independent authority.
That is very satisfactory: the pity is that so large an area should have been cleared for the purposes of the experiment.
The military authorities are providing them. selves with an aerial railway, for the purpose of carrying stores from the sea front to the maga- zines in the neighbourhood of Bowen Road. This will make the third or fourth railway of the kind on the island. That of Messrs. Butter- field and Swire at Quarry Bay which takes the European staff of the refinery to their summer quarters on Mount Parker is the longest, the new Military railway will rank next, and then comes the one belonging to the priests at Pokfulam, which I believe has been or is about to be duplicated in that part of the island.
I noticed in one of the papers this week the hope expressed that some Norwegian seamen who had been sentenced by the Marine Magis trate to terms of imprisonment for desertion would not on the expiration of the sentence become a charge on the community. Perhaps it is not generally known that before the Magistrate can try men from a foreign ship he has to receive a request to do so from the men's Consul, and at the same time a guarantee that the men shall not become a charge on the com. munity. The men in question were put on ships in the harbour as their sentences expired.
A rumour is current that when a highly placed official in the Public Works Department ventured over to Kowloon one day last week he was surrounded by a menacing crowd of irate residents who demanded to know there and then
when the roads of Kowloon were to be put in decent order. On receipt of satisfactory assur anoes the official was allowed to return unhurt to his office.
It unfortunately happens that the English Mail departs right in the midst of the Easter holidays. This does not much concern the
Rowlands, (Secretary).
MOTION RE OPIUM DIVANS. The PRESIDENT, pursuant to notice, moved That the following addition be made to No. 1 of the Bye-laws governing Opium Divans contained in Schedals "B" of Ordinance No. 1 of 1903:-
"Provided that, in the case of any existing licensed opium smoking divan on an upper storey, it shall be sufficient for the floor surface thereof to be paved with non-absorbent cement- tiles or with encaustic or other approved tiles, such tiles to be laid evenly and bedded and jointed in cement, or for the floor to be con- structed of smooth and well-jointed hardwood, to the satisfaction of the Board."
Mr. RUMJAHN seconded. Carried. ANTHRAX AT KENNEDY TOWN CATTLE DEPÔT. The Colonial Veterinary Surgeon reported a case of anthrax at Kennedy Town Cattle Depôt ou the night of the 6th instant. He said-The animal came into the depot on the afternoon of the 6th along with eight others from Canton, and was found dead in the stall when the premises were opened next morning. The in-contact cattle bave been put under observation, and the shed in which the bullock was found is being washed and disinfected.
Mr. Rumjahn minuted-I don't see why this should be dealt with confidentially. It is not in accordance with precedents. It is rather strange that not until deaths occur cases are reported.
The President minuted-I-have no objection to taking this paper publicly. The animal was only in the depot a few hours.
The report was laid on the table.
DRAINAGE CONTRACTORS.
Applications from Messrs. Yam Chun, and Kin Tuck requesting that their names be placed on the list of authorised drainage contractors were granted.
OTHER APPLICATIONS.
Applications for modifications and exemption from the requirements of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, and re the sale of food were dealt with.
[April 22; 1905,
CLASSIFICATION OF BODIES SENT TO PUBLIC MORTUARY 1904.
The President reported :-Out of 707 bodies dumped in the City of Victoria during 1904 no less than 426 were infants under one year of age, and a further 169 were between the ages of one and ten years. This makes a total of 569,
or
more than 8 per cent of the whole number dumped. In addition to the above 707 were six bodies where ages are not recorded.
The Board will learn from the table that bodies are not thrown into the street because the persons have died of plague, for only twelve per cent. of the total bodies found in the street have died of this disease. The fear of disin fection is not therefore the principal determin- ing cause.
Is it not more probable that the desire to avoid burial expenses may be at the root of the matter? No doubt many of the coolie class are here without relations, or persons interested in their obsequies, and when such a person dies the lodging house-keeper or other householder disposes of the body in the cheapest manner possible, namely, by depositing it in the street.
Mr. Rumjahn minuted-I don't think the cost of burial has had anything to do with dumping. Before plague measures were intro- duced dumping had never been heard of.
Mr. Pollook minuted--Very interesting. This affords a striking instance of how danger- ous it is to theorise on insufficient data.
Mr. Lau Chu Pak minuted-As far as I know, the dumping of dead bodies is mainly due to the fear of the stringent measures adopted in former years. That fear has not yet been dispelled. The poor Chinese can always obtain coffins gratis from the Tung Wa Hospital to bury their dead, or can send their sick before they die to that instita- tion. It is therefore apparent that it is not done with the intention to avoid burial ex- penses, I hope, however, that the receiving houses or branch hospitals just started by the Chinese community will help to mitigate, if not entirely stop, this evil practice.
Hon. Mr. Brewin, after going iuto data, minuted-I don't see why the so-called 'stringent measures should have increased the number of bodies found in the Harbour so greatly, as these regulations are not applied to the population afloat, and it is to be presumed that most of these bodies found in the Harbour belong to the bost population. I believe that economic reasons constitute a important factor.
The following are the figures showing per- centage of non-plague cases to the total number of bodies examined at the Mortuaries in 19:4 - Mortuary No. examined Non-plague Percentage
Victoria
1551
1239
556
79.9 82.5 Non-plague Percentage
764
666
87.2
407
357
87.7
Kowloon 674
No. found Mortuary
in Street Victoria Kowloon
FOOD EXAMINATIONS.
The following is the return of samples examined under The Sale of Food and Drugs Ordinance, 1896," for the quarter ended 31st March, 1905 :-
No.
Description No. samples No.genuine, adulterated Brandy
Milk
Whisky
1 25 2
1
0
20
2
There were two prosecutions for the selling of adulterated milk in the first quarter of the year. One sample of milk was obtained from the dairy. at Nos. 20 and 22 Cochrane Street. The magistrate convicted and imposed a fine of $10. Another sample was obtained from a dairy at No. 4. Tung Lo Wan. The magistrate dis- missed the case.
The report was laid on the table.
MORTALITY STATISTICS,
The mortality statistics for the week ended 25th March, deathrate per thousand per annum, -- showed the following figures:-British and foreign community, 19-9; previous week, 34.9 corresponding week last year, 257. Chinese community, 152; previous week, 152; corres- ponding week last
14.4
year, LIMEWASHING RETURI.
During the fortnight ended the 11th April 4,260 houses were limewashed in the eastern district, and 8,534 in the central district.