210
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held, the Colonial Secretary presiding. The following votes were passed:
items :-
SANITARY DEPARTMENT.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of four thousand four hundred dollars ($4,400) in aid of the vote, Sanitary Department-other charges, for the following Cemetery Incidental Expenses
$1,500 Cemetery Expenses-Disinterment of
Dead Bodies Plagne Corpses-Cost of Burial
Total...
POST OFFICE.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded.
[October 1, 1900,
THE TYPHOON.
(Daily Press, September 24th.)
HUNDR 3D3 OF BODIES RCƆOVERED.
PULPIT REFERENCE.
details of the awful effects of the typhoon. Each succeeding day brings more harrowing The total reported missing rapidly grows into thousands; the bodies recovered number han. dreds, while hundreds more are still adrift in the waters of the colony. For days yet we shall be in the midst of death-death in its most repulsive forms, the gruesome appearance of the bodies and the stench emitted from them conquering the instinctive reverence usually forthcoming and disgusting those whose Even the most light hearted and thoughtless unpleasant duty it is to give them interment. have been shooked by the scenes witnessed during the week.
HIS EXCELLENOT-In my replies to criticisms of hon, members on the supply bill, there was one to which I inadvertently omitted to refer, sod that is the question of the administration of the Observatory. If the unofficial members desire that the scope of the enquiry which I have ordered should be extended so as to include, not merely the question of fact which has been already referred to the Committee. but also the question of the administration of the department generally, I am willing to so extend it. My reason for confining the inquiry to the 900 | question of fact was because it had been 2,000 | suggested that we could have had earlier notice from the Observatory of the typhoon 84,400 of the 18th instant, and it seemed to me that it was both fair to the Director of the Observatory and to the public that that question should be settled without delay. If the scope of the enquiry is extended it will be necessary to strengthen the Committee making it, and it will be some time before they will be in a position to render a full report. I see no
Stories of the terrible struggles that took reason, however, why they should not make s
fateful hours of place during the two preliminary report on the point already referred Tuesday are forthcoming as some unexpected to them, and make a further report on survivor is discovered, while those who have the more general question. I should like escaped are perhaps only now beginning to an expression of opinion from the unofficial realise their losses and to give an account members whether the inquiry should be extend-of missing relatives and friends., Gradually ed in the manner suggested.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one thousand one hundred and seventy dollars ($1,170) in aid of the vote, Post Office, B.-Postal Agencies in China, Tientsin ---other charges, for the following items :-
Fittings
$1,000 50 60
Incidental expenses Rent
Uniforms for Postmen
Total OBSERVATORY.
+
60
$1,170
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one thousand one hundred dollars ($1,100) in aid of the vote, Observatory- other charges, printing and distribution of Meteorological Register.
TYPHOON DAMAGES.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI-In answer to your Excellency, I may say the unofficial members are all agreed that the scope of the inquiry should be extended. I think the general feel- ing is that not only should the facts as to whether notice could have been given sooner
or later, should be ascertained but that an in-
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of twenty thousand dollars
($20,000) in aid of the vote, Public Works quiry should be conducted into the general Extraordinary, Typhoon Damages.
MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of ten thousand dollars in aid of the vote, Miscellaneous Services, for the following items :--
Other Miscellaneous Services, Refunds of Revenue,
Total
$3,000
7,000
$10,000
JUDICIAL AND LEGAL. The Governor recommended the Connoil to vote a sum of two hundred and fifty dollars (8250) in aid of the vote Judicial and Legal Departments, 4.- Supreme Court-other charges, Electric Lighting and Fans.
KOWLOON POST OFFICE.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one hundred and twenty-three dollars and forty-seven oents (8123.47) in aid of the vote, Public Works Extraordinary, Buildings:-Post Office, Kowloon.
TRAVELLING ALLOWANCES.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of forty dollars ($40) in aid of the vota, Miscellaneous Services, Travelling Allowances in the New Territory.
THE SUPPLY BILL
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management of the Observatory and its rela- tions with other stations in Manila and Shang- hai, whether the relations are of such a cordial nature as to enable the Observatory here to receive proper warning of approaching typhoons. So far as I know the opinion of the unofficial members is in favour of the committee being extended.
His EXCELLENCY-We will extend the scope of the inquiry.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-In 1900 there was an inquiry into the Observatory, and that Commission held that there were the most cordial relations between the Observatory and the other stations.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Yes. The same allegation was then advanced.
Hon. Captain B DELEY-I quite remember a more recent inquiry than that,
The COLONIAL TREASURER-Yes, much more recent.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT--The question seems to be whether the Observatory is in need of new instruments, and also whether its communication with other observatories might not be improved. I believe more advantage might be obtained if it were in telegraphic communication with the south of Formosa where there is a well
The Committee considered the Supply Bill equipped observatory. clause by clause.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY asked for authority to recommend to the Council that the Bill might be dealt with in the same manner as a Bill reported on by a committee of the whole Council.
This was agreed to.
On the Council resuming,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to report that at the meeting of the Finance Committee just held the Bill entitled An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding five million two hundred and two thousand оде hundred and thirty-five dollars to the Public Service of the year 1907, was considered clause by clause in the presence of the members of the Standing Committee present to-day and in the opinion of the committee the Bill may be dealt with in the same manner as a Bill reported on by a committee of the whole Council. I beg to move the adoption of the report. Further I wish to report that Finan- cial Minutes Nos. 65 to 72 have been approved, and I move the adoption of that report.
The C LONIAL TREASURER Bconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY— As there has been no material alteration in the Bill by the committee, I propose no member objecting, that the Bill be read a third time.
His EXCELLENCY-Is there no telegraphio communication ?
Hon. Mr. HEWETT—I'm told there could be an improvement.
The death roll is known to amount to thousands, the portentous statistics are being compiled.. but the damage to property seems as yet we.l nigh incalculable.
The sanitary officials and the police are working late placing them in the mortuaries and preparing and early recovering bodies,
them for burial. Coffln-makers are exceptionally busy; but the greatest difficulty is still experienced in getting coolies to undertake the abhorrent work of handling the bodies. Although higher wages have been offered the are assisting to clear the wreckage from the men are not at all responsive. The military
shores, while the naval officials are concerned with removing the floating wreckage which constitutes a danger to navigation. Baoys are also being replaced and in a short time the harbour should be restored to something like its former appearance. Search for the missing is still being prosecuted, notably in the onse of the late Bishop Hoare. Another attempt was made on Saturday to recover the body but the "Stanley" returned late at night without. any trace being found. Launches and juuks on shore are being got off, and the sunken shipping
is
also receiving attention. The German steamer "Johanne," sunk in Yaumati Bay, was pumped out by the "Protector," but she had received damages which necessitated her being taken into dock. There is a great demand for launches and charges have been materially enhanced.
An interesting feature of the typhoon not mentioned is that in several localitis houses were shaken as if by an earthquake, furaitars being overturned and crockery being smashed.
From the Bowrington Caual a boy named Stanfield rescued fourteen or fifteen Chiness on the day of the disaster.
Naturally the event has cost a gloom over the community. Bathing parties have summarily His EXCELLENCY-Hon. members are all brought their outings to a close, spórting in favour of the inquiry being extended?
This was agreed to.
The Supply Bill was then read a third time and became law.
His EXCELLENCY-The adjourned till 2.30 p.m. on October.
Council stands Thursday, 11th
Messrs. E. Meyer & Co., a German firm at Chemulpo, have inaugurated a regular line be- tween Shanghai, Chefoo and Tairen (Dalny), and another line between Shanghai, Chefoo, Chemulpo, Nagasaki, Fusau, Wonsan and Vla divostock. Three German steamers are employ- ed on these lives. One of them entered Tairea on the morning of the 9th and left for Chefoo at 4 p.m. She is the first foreign steamer en tering Tairen since the port was opened to international trade. The two other steamers will call at Tairen fortnightly. At present it is hopeless to expect either cargo or passengers between Tairen and Vladivostock, but as Tairin is a free port the future trade between Tairen and Shanghai is of importance for these German steamera,
fixtures were postponed, as were also several entertainments. The latter will take other shapes soon in the forms of effrorts to raise money for the distressed. The Relief Fund is appealing to the sympathies of the people, and subscriptions are coming in rapidly.
IN THE NEW TERRITORY. Rev. Father Spada, who arrived from the Catholic Mission Station at Yimtinchai Island on Saturday night, was seen by a representative of this piper yesterday, and related the following story
THE POOR FISHER FOLK.
“Yimtinchai," said the Rev. Father, "is a
small island opposite the Saikang Police Station.. On it is a little fishing village com- prising in all some 200 seals. Ou the night before the cataclysm the fishing feet had left for grounds many miles distant from their island home. Before seven o'clock on the morning of the fateful Tuesday, socording to a number of the fishermen, they knew, by the fury of the wind and theever increasing ses, that a typhoon was approaching, and immediately drew in their nets and headed their craft for
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October 1, 1906.07
home. After an exceptionally rough cruise the sighted the island, and were nearing shelter when the storm broke. For a while they were observed by the villagers on shore tossing like oookle shells on the mountainous waves; then the blinding rain shut them out from sight, and they were next seen crashing on to the rocks. Seamen were washed high and dry on the beach, some without hurt, others exhausted and many dead. A story is told of the master of one junk saying to his crew. "We go down with our boat, or we ride her safely through the storm'." They did neither. Shortly afterwards the junk was washed ashore by a powerful breaker, and the men were saved. "The village," said Father Spada, was reduced to ruins; the small chapel was demolished, and the school would have sbared a similar fate were it not for the position of the building among the hills.”
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His Reverence then gave a brief outline of what he had seen on his homeward trip; the many villages destroyed and the ghastly sights | of numbers of bodies floating on the water, naked, disfigured and decomposed. He was told by men who had seen the "Albatross ** founder that that vessel had plenty of searoom, therefore she must have been strained by the powerful seas and sprung a leak. He heard another story of numerous castaways being thrown up on a barren Island by the name of Polapchan. The fishermen at the mission station where he was staying were talking about the numbers strandet at this place. The priest tried to persuade them to send what boats they had to the rescue, but the fishermen declined, stating that if they dropped anchor near the island the numbers there auxious to get away would overpower them and board and swamp their boats.
LOOTERS.
Notwithstanding the sharp lookout kept by the police, looters still continue to be a trouble. About ten of them were dealt with by the magistrates on Saturday, and another batoh will appear in court this morning.
MESSAGE OF SYMPATHY FROM MAURITIUS.
His Excellency the Governor has received the following telegram from the Governor of Mauritius :-
"In the name of my Government and on behalf of the people of Mauritius I beg you to accept expression of sincere sympathy with your Government and the people of Hongkong
in recent disaster-BOYLE."
the
To which His Excellency has sent following reply:
"On behalf of people and Government of this Colony I cordially thank you for sympa- thetic message-NATHAN.”
TO CLEAR THE PRAYA,
Yesterday the sanitary staff were at work all day removing the many heaps of rubbish from qhe water front.
AN UNFOUnded rumour.
It having been reported yesterday (Sunday), evening that the "Stanley" brought in the body of the Bishop (which was found in Chinwan Bay, Lushed to a mast), the Rev. Mr. Stevens made immediate enquiries at the Harbour Office; and regrets to say that the news is unfortunately not substantiated.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL. A service of thanksgiving was conduc'ed at the Roman Catholic Cathedral on Saturday morning by His Lordship Bishop Pozzoni for those who had been saved from the perils of the deep. Later there will be a mass for the repose of the souls of the dead.
(Daily Press, Sept 25th.)
HARBOUR ÖFFICE NOTES.
The fairway is being rapidly cleared of wreckage, but there are several janks which cannot be towed away and which must be blown
up. }
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Hopes are still entertained that the San Cheung may be raised and divers are at present working where she lies.
The "Stanley
has gone to Waglan light- house with relief a day in advance. The explanation is that a Chinaman, dangerously injured, has been picked up there.
In connection with the scheme of relief for former junk and lighter owners it is interesting to note that a new design of lighter is under