Пecember 12, 1908.]
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SANITARY BOARD
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on Dec. 8th at the Board Room, Mr. R. O. Hutcheson presided and there were present Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, C.M.G.. Colonel Bedford, Mr. A. Shelton Hooper, Dr. Pearse (Medical Officer of Health), and Mr. A. Gibson (Secretary).
MORTALITY STATISTICS,
The death rate for the whole Colony for the month of October was 29.6. The mortality statistics for the week ending 28th November showed that the death rate was-civil population, 23.7 as compared with 20·5 for the corresponding week of last year-for the whole Colony 216 as compared with 23.5 for the corresponding week of last year.
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Mr. CHATHAM said that at presenont provisi was made for the licensing of premises by the Sanitary Board, and an amendment had been made in these terms. That would not apply
to
a lease issued years ago, -88 the one under consideration probably was. It might be assumed that the same consideration would be extended to the lessee of these premises as obtained at present. The district in which the
offensive trade was to be carriedon was of course the primary consideration.
Mr. HOOPER agreed. Eventually the application was refused.
AMENDED BYE-LAWS,
Correspondence relative to the amendment of the Dairy, Bakehouse and Importation and Inspection of Bye-laws was submitted.
Mr. HOOPER The proposed alterations of the proposed bye-laws had better be referred to the committee which the Board appointed to draw them up.
The REGISTRAR-GENERAL-Hare these bye- laws been referred back to us by the Govern.
The COLONIAL VETERINARY SURGEON re- ported that foot and mouth disease existed as No. 10 shed of the Dairy Farm Co. premiset at Pokfulum. The shed contained 12 cows and two bulls, and of the lot three were infected.ment? He recommended that the shed be declared an infected area.
The shed was declared an infected aroa on the motion of the PRESIDENT, seconded by DR. PEARSE.
The COLONIAL VETERINARY SURGEON, in reply to MR. HOOPER, stated that all the cattle affected at the last outbreak were doing well, There were no deaths.
CEMETERY AT KOWLOON.
A letter from Government relative to the selection of a cemetery site at Kowloon was read as follows:-
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Honkgong, 25th November. Bir,With reference to your letter of the 8th of last February I am directed to inform you that H. E. the Governor has decided to defer the selection of a site for a cemetery at Kowloon, as, owing to the configuration of the country great alterations are certain to occur as the peninsula is developed, and it is almost impossible to select a site until a general plan for laying out this area has been evolved. Moreover at the present time funds are not available to form the cemetery and the roads giving access to it. I am Sir. your obedient servant,
F. H. MAY, Hon Mr. HEWETT miunted-A site should be marked out now. No considerable sum need be spent for some-time to come.
On the motion of the PRESIDENT, seconded by Dr. PEARSE, it was agreed that no further action be taken in the meantime.
KOWLOON RICSHA SHELTER.
Correspondence relative to the ricsha shelter at Kowloon was submitted. At the last meeting Mr. SHELTON HOOPER drew attention to its insanitary condition, and the matter was referred to the Assistant Medical Officer.
tr
Dr. MACFARLANE now reported that he was unable to agree that the shelter was in a filthy condition and categorically replied to the points in the memorandum submitted by Mr. HOOPER. He denied that the "shelter had not been swept for three weeks, as it was swept twice daily, and controverted the statement that the coolies from want of time are unable to go to the Government urinal. Moreover he did not think that the expense of concreting the shed was justified.
Mr. HOOPER minuted-My informant still maintains that up to the time of the last Board meeting the shelter had not been kept regularly clean but there is an improvement since attention was called to it. I inspected the place myself two days ago and found it clean.
OFFENSIVE TRADES.
Hon. Mr. CHATHAM did not think it was necessary to refor the bye-laws back to the com- mittee as the alterations were purely verbal.
The bye-laws were read and the necessary alterations made.
WHERE IS THE SECRETARY ? Mr. HOOPER-I would like to ask where our Secretary is ? Mr. Woodcock has returned to the Colony and we have heard no reason why he has not taken up his duties at this Board. Have you any communication to make to the Board on the subject ?
There was an awkward pause, and no reply being forthcoming.
MR. HOOPER added-Perhaps you would like it to stand over until next meeting? I don't wish to press for an immediate reply. I thought possibly some one else had hoon appointed.
The PRESIDENT Better let it stand over
until next meeting.
CANTON.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
48
"
427
December, 8th.
8.8. FATSHAN AFFAIR. The following is a literal translation of an article which appeared in the 72 Guild Press to-day:
Re: the case in which a certain passenger was kicked to death by a foreigner.
1.
Public anger has been aroused throughout the whole Province of Kwangtung." Yester- day a relation of the deceased named Ho Yu Cham called personally at the Self-Government Association and presented a written statement of complaint which is as follows:---
"
This statement of complaint is presented by Ho Yu Cham concerning the shocking way in which the deceased was kicked to death, The British Consul protected the prisoner and shut out the means of redress for the grievance.
*
Your humble petitioner is a brother of the deceased, Yu Tia, who was wickedly kicked to death by a foreigner on board the steame Fatshan. This complaint has already been laid before your honourable association to obtain redress.
I have heard that the British Consul intentionally shifted the responsibility on to others.. I fear that there will be no redress, and that I will have to swallow the grievance. I believe that I am not influential enough to
in redress for the death of my brother. I her the Association, which is animated by a patriotes
́e spirit and concern for the public good, to have ity on your brethern and take the matter up. I understand that the Association has already consulted with Na Shi, my sister-in- law, and is thoroughly acquainted with the facts of the case. I trust that the Association will do its utmost with the assistance of the patriotic witnesses. Yeong, Fung Tang and Cheong, to stand firm. My sister-in-law and my nephew will
Mr. HOOPER-I think the Board would like all abide by the decision of the Association, to know the reason.
THE PREVAILING EXCITEMENT
AT CANTON.
A BOYCOTT OF THE STEAMER
FATSHAN.
Our Canton correspondent writes:— The principal instigators of the present anti- foreign movement are the members of the Self-Government Association who are actively carrying on a propagrauda to boycott the steamer Fatshan. Many secret meetings have been held by this Association, at which violent speeches were made ceudemning the decision of the Court of Inquiry and holding the firm of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire responsible for the outcome of the incident. The four witnesses who would seem to have committed perjury in the British Consular Court have been presented by the Association with gold and silver medals. This example was followed by the people in Fatshan on the 12th instant, and the photo graphs of the witnesses were also taken.
whatever it may be. I thank you heartily for taking up the matter.
This petition is presented to the honourable members of the Self-Government Association by Ho Yu Cham, brother of Ho Yu Tiu, the deceased.
OFFICIAL CALL.
Com. Z. Volpicelli, Italian Consul-General for Kwantung, Kwangsi and Fokien Provinces, has arrived from Hongkong, and is calling upon the Viceroy to offer condolences upon the death of the Emperor and Empress Dowager and also to offer congratulation upon the accession of the new Emperor.
FIRE.
A fire broke out in the Kwongchow Prefect's Yamen yesterday. It started at 3 p.m. and hundreds of pumps responded to the gong calls. Many civil and military officers turned out and rendered assistance. The fire originated in the Prefect's family quarters and was put out at about 5 p.m. The hose of the water works department did good service. The estimated loss is about $5,000.
A WHOLE VILLAGE DESTROYED BY FIRE.
Sometime ago I reported that a band of robbers, armed with Mauser rifles, made a raid
on
A circular was sent round on the 6th inst., in which it is stated that there were witnesses of the s.s. Fatshan incident proving conclusively that the crime was committed, and the accused a number of family houses and shops in should therefore have been punished. Messrs. Ho-Nam. A few days ago a military officer'in Butterfield and Swire, the circular says, are charge of a guard house reported to the Poon- responsible for the act and the British Consul
Yi Magistrate that he had discovered that cannot shift the responsibility un other several of the robbers who took part in the shoulders. China and England had hitherto recent Ho-Nam armed robbery are people be- been on very good terms, and, whenever an in- longing to the Kong Tan Village near the ternational ques ion occurred, it had been justly American Medical College in Ho-Nam. Upon settled. The Chinese officials were now taking receipt of this information the magistrate went up matters seriously. There were certain laws to the village with the military officer and a governing the matter and justice must be done. dozen soldiers with the intention of capturing An application was received for a licence a All our brothern," adds the circular" have the them, but to his surprise on their arrival at the fat boiling establishment in Mongkok.
right to protect their lives and property and village the villagers offered resistance and Mr. HOOPER remarked that since the last follow modern civilized methods (of retaliation?), fought the soldiers, driving them all out of the meeting of the Board a Bill had been intro. but they should not take any measures of vio-village and seriously wounding several of the duced into the Legislative Council containing a
lence which would not be up-to-date.“ Fearing soldiers.The Magistrate and his men had to section dealing with offences created by offensive that some ignorant people may listen to rumours beat a retreat. The matter was reported to the trade being carried on in premises not specially and resort to violence the Association announces Viceroy who gave orders to the Kwong-Chow licensed by the Government. In view of that that it will hold a meeting at noon on the 14th General on the following day to proceed to the he thought they should find out before they day (7th instant) and they invite all brothern to village with a body of soldiers, to arrest all the sanotioned the use of any premises for offen attend and discuss the case in order to enlighten villagers and burn the whole village. The sive trades, whether or not it was in con-
the public and show outsiders that they also villagers got wind of the Viceroy's adger and travention of the Crown lease. If it were have laws and customs and how this matter most of them deserted the village before the a contravention and the Board granted the should be dealt with. In conclusion the circular General and his men arrived. However, the application it might place itself in a very false
says :******
We must keep close together and act village was entirely burnt down and a few of position.
according to our own laws."
the villagers were arrested.