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knew the reason why this concrete order was issued. He proposed that the Board approach the Government, firstly with a view to the amendment of Section III., and secondly that they should be prepared to accept four inches of cement concrete in favour of the present requirement of six inches of lime concrete.
Hon. Mr. BREWIN—I should like some information as to how the plague inspectors
examined concrete.
Dr. PEARSE said it was impossible to say from the surface whether concrete was good or bad, so a piece had to be cut out. After the plague epidemic was over, he selected certain districts where the plague was worst, and told the inspectors to open up the floors of houses in those districts. These floors were afterwards repaired.
Mr. LAU CHU PAK-I should like to know how often this is done? After two or three years more the people will be called upon to re-concrete.
The PRESIDENT That depends on the cases of plague. If concrete is found unsatisfactory, an owner is asked to do something whether he did it three or fifteen years ago.
Mr. LAU CHU PAK-And this work is done under the supervision of the Board's officers.
Dr. PEARSE-I don't know whether Mr. Lan Chu Pak quite followed the matter. I think be will find that most of the houses opened by plague inspectors are not houses which were previously opened. Those which the inspectors are now opening might be possibly condemned three years hence if the concrete perishes; but if they are done well this will not be required. Mr. Lau also spoke about people being kept out of houses.
This occurred on Station Street sometime ago, because the owners were putting down concrete on the ground surfaces. We can hardly blame ourselves for causing people to turn out, although I think a certain amount of delay is to be expected. We have issued such a very large number of concrete notices that it becomes impossible to inspect them with the same expediency as the nuisance notices.
Mr. FUNG WA CHUN-I think the Board ought at least to inform these people that after concrete has been laid there will be no require ment for inspection if our officers are so very busy and cannot attend to the work.
W9
The PRESIDENT-The Board's officers are qualified as far as I know.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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18.7 as against 14.9 for the corresponding period of last year. This rate was exclusive of the Army and Navy.
LIMEWASHING.
For the fortaight ending 21st inst. 2,058 houses were linewashed in the Central, and 317 in the Western di-triot.
RAT RETURN,
For the week ending 25th instant 617 rats were caught, of which 22 were infected, while twelve were discovered to be infected out of 599 caught during the previous week.
ST. ANDREW'S BALL.
Scots abroad, in some respects more patriotic than those at home, invariably celebrate St. Andrew's Day in a manner befitting the memory and diguity of their patron saint, and this fact is all the more noteworthy when one remembers that in Scotia itself there is little done to indicate the special interest that that day
born north should possess for all
of the Tweed. In Hongkong the large body of
Scotsmen are not behind their exiled com- patriots in other parts of the world in their celebration of the anniversary of St. Andrew, and the form which it takes, a ball, enables them to have the gentler sex share in the rejoicing of the evening aud at the same time to extend their hospitality to friends whose birth places are not to be found in Scotland.
An event of some years' standing. the St. Andrew's Ball promoted by the Hongkong St. Andrew's Society bas come to be regarded as the largest in the East, and certainly last night's event showed no diminution in popularity or a falling off in the enjoyment which it affords to so many.
rooms
crosses
were
As usual the decorations of the City Hall were on a most elaborate scale. Entering the hall one found one's self ascending a stairway which lost its customary bars and stony aspect under a wealth of plants. At the lauding one's atteution was arrested by the brilliance and variety of the embellishment that had been From a mass of green ry on carried out here, the floor, there peeped two cinnons, above which a large mirror reflected the flashing of the lights aud curried one's eyes to the really handsome Dr. PEARSE-They do attend to the work. vari-coloured thistle that sparkled at the top. Mr. BREWIN-I agree with Mr. Fung Wa It dominated the whole stairway, and with the Chun. If we are going to turn people electric lights gleaming from amidst the out we must make the time as short as pos- plants heightened the effect of the other sible, and if
are unable to
which consisted of draperies cover the decorations
Andrew's must reduce the amount of bearing alternately St. inspections we work; I don't think there can be two opinions and thistles. Arrived at the reception room, about that; neither do I think it fair to owners the magnificent arum lily lights appealed to that a plagte inspector should require this work- one's sense of beauty, and passing into the ball to be done. We should have a qualified man to
scenes of striking brillianca inspect concrete, an opinion which we can all presented. In the St. Andrew's Hall four back up.
rayons of Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and John Knox, with a St. Andrew's cross in the centre, and draped with various flags, occupied the place of honour opposite the principal entrance, while facing these were the coat of arms of the Hongkong St. Andrews' Society. St. George's Hall had the life-sized portrait of Queen Victoria, flanked with bunting in a prominent position with the arms of the United Kingdom on the opposite wall. In both halls, as also in the retiring and reception rooms, shields, with banuerettes behind, were hung on the walls. These bore the arms and er sts of the clans and notable families of Scotland, while below these were the names of towns in Scotland. Many of them were rather obscure and would doubt less lead to much questioning and perhaps to a fear that the Scots present did not know their native land as well as they ought. The spelling in some instances was rather weird, but what does John Chinaman knew of the geography of the northern half of Britain? These pace names, which included several counties, had more than a historical or reminiscent interest. They were really trysting places, so that when a gentleman had persuaded a lady "to do him the honour," he could arrange to meet her, say, at Banff or Edinburgh. Both halls wore hung with festoons of white frosted lamps, the centres being occupied with bunches of wytelites, a new combination. The orchestra was artistically treated with plants and greenery, while spears and lina s added to the picturesqueness of the surroundings. The verand h was protected with bunting and decorated with shields
Hon. Mr. BREWIN-The plague inspectors? The PRESIDENT It is a question who is qualified, but I shonid think as the plague inspectors have been from ten to fifteen years doing this work, they would be as well qualified When an architect writes as, anyone else. in and protests against their notices, it is only natural that we should go to a higher authority as we would appeal to a higher court in a legal case. If that is not satisfactory we go to a still higher authority. I quite agree with you that we must not ask for more con- orete work to be done than can be done.
How, Mr. CHATHAM-I am quite of the opinion that cement is preferable to lime concrete if mixed is reasonable proportions.
Mr. FUNG WA CHUN-Do I understand from you, Mr. President. that once the place is inspected it is passed.
The PRESIDENT-Yes. factory.
If it is found satis-
Mr. FONG WA CHUN-Well, the Board must not then turn round and say that new concrete is required.
Mr. LAU CHU PAK-The Board should grant certificates.
The PRESIDENT-Certificates granted.
Bre
being
Hon. Mr. CHATHAM seconded the motion, which was carried.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
The percentage of deaths, at a rate of 1,000 per annum, for the week ended 11th instant was
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[December 2, 1905,
| bearing crests and coats of arms. The retir. ing room had the arms of Scotland in a conspic- uous place.
Descending to the theatre, there was the same artistic effect in the adornment of the interior. The tables were beautifully laid out, while round the front of the gallery were shields alternately bearing the Lion Rampant and the Scottish Thistle, Behind these were battle axes and spears. Higher up on the auditorium there was a similar scheme of decoration, with the addition of the motto "
a man's a man for a that." The stage looked a picture. There was a horse shoe table, artistically set out. Surrounding it were plants of various descriptions, while at the rear was a-life sized painting of St. Andrew, the work of Mr. Duncan of the Kowloon Dook Co.. as were also the crayons in St. Andrew's Hall. The electric lights, which were arranged by Mr, William Barker, of Messrs. E.C. Wilks and Co., showed the decorations to perfection.
The retiring rooms, card rooms, etc., were arranged as before, and everything was done to secure the comfort of the guests. In charge of the arrangements were the following gentlemen.
Invitation Committee-Capt. W. Arbuthnot Leslie, A.D.C., Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, Mr. T. P. Cochrane, Mr. W. A. Cruickshank, Hon. Mr. C. W. Dickson, Mr. J. C. Peter, Dr. A. Ronnie, Mr. H. W Robertson, Hon. Mr. R. Shewan, Mr. J. R. M. Smith, Hon. Mr. Ger- shom Stewart, Hon. Mr. A. M. Thomson, Messrs. W. Wilson and D. Wood. Supper and Wines Committee-Messrs. D. Auld, J. W. C. Bonar, A. Boyd, W. D. Braidwood, D. E. Brown, H. F. Campbell (Convenor), H. F. Carmichael, Duncan Clark, P. Dow, G. I. Duncan. Andrew Forbes, Donald Forbes, A. D. Galloway, J. D. Logan, D. MacDonald (B, and S.) R. M tohell, W. Parlane, W. Ramsay, J. Rankin, A. Rodger, J. Walker, Decora tion Committee-Messrs. W. L. Carter G. Dickie, G. Duncan, F. Graham, T. ( Gray, R. Henderson, W. C. Jack (Convenor). Lieut. G. B. MacDonald, R.A., Messrs. J. McCubbin, A. Ritchie, J. Rodger, J. Gray Sooott, T. Skinner, G. Smith, D. Templeton, H. S. Wynne, Dancing and Music, Committee -Messrs. H. G. C. Bailey, W. A. Cruickshank' H. W. Fraser, R. Macpherson, J. Paterson, N. H. Rutherford, Colin C. Scott, Murray Stewart (Convenor), O. D.Thomson, and Hon. Secretary. Card Room Committee-Messrs. W. H. Donald, A. G. Gordon, T. F. Hough (Convenor), P. S. Jameson, '. Gordon, Mackie, Ladies' Room, Dr. C. Forsytb. The completeness of the arrangements redounded to the credit of the secretary, Mr. W. Armstrong.
The guests began to arrive before 9 o'olock, at which hour dancing commenced to the strains of the music supplied by the band of the Royal West Kent Regiment. They continued to arrive for some time and, though the accommodation was taxed to its limit, everybody seemed to be in the happiest mood. The official set of lancers was composed of H.E. the Governor and Mrs. Gershom Stewart; Hou. Mr. Gershom Stewart and Mrs. Villiers Hatton; Colonel C. H. Darling and Lady Piggott Commodore H. P. Williams and Lady Berkeley; Hon. Mr. R. Shewan and Mrs. H. P. Williams; Sir Fr nois Piggott and Mrs. W. A Cruickshank; Sir Henry Berkeley and Mrs. David Wood; Dr. A. Rennis and Mrs. W. Chatham. Mr. Alex. Robertson was the bagpiper, and at supper, which was served in two sittings, played the Governor to his seat and also introduced the haggis in the time- honoured fashion.!
The President, the Hon. Gershom Stewart presided at supper, the party sitting at the platform table being Mrs. W. Ramsay and Mr. W. Wilson; Mrs. F. E. Kent and Mr. W. A. Cruickshank, Mrs. David Wood and Hon. Mr. T. Sercomb. Smith; Lady Berkeley and Com- modore H. P. Williams; Mrs. W. A. Cruicks hauk and Sir Francis Piggott; Mrs. Gershom Stewart and H. E, the Governor; Hon. Mr. Gershom Stewart and Mrs. Villiers Hatton. fr. A Rennie and Lady Piggott; Hon Mr. R. Shewan and Mrs. H. P. Williams; Sir Henry Berkeley and Mrs. W. Chatbai; Col. F. E. Kent and Mrs. J. C. Peter; Mr. David Wood and Mrs. W. Wilson,
Several gentlemen appeared in the "garb of old Gaul," many ladies wore tartan ribbons or ashes, and nearly everybody had a sprig of heather as a buttonhole.