26
sites for such burials. During the height
the plague season it may be necessary to have trenches dug, instead of individual graves. This was done at (heungshawan by a contractor.
This recommendation was adopted on the motion of the PRESIDENT, seconded by Mr. LAU CHU PAK.
MORTALITY STATISTICS. The mortality statistics for the week ended 12th December calculated at a death rate per 1000 per annum of the total population was 23.8 as against 24-3 for the corresponding week of last year
RAT RETUen,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
A NEW SOLICITOR.
•
[January 9, 1909,
CORRESPONDENCE.
THE DESTRUCTION OF RATS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " DAILY PRESS."]
5th January, 1909. SIE,-We have heard a great deal lately as to the necessity for destroying rats and mice with a view to decreasing the spread of bubonic plague and other ills, and I presume we are
all agreed as to the wisdom of this step.
The point to which I would desire to direct the attention of your readers however is the manner in which these animals are destroyed.
Before His Honour the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court, on the 6th inst., before the Pollock, K., who was instructed by Mr. C. D. business of the day began, the Hon. Mr. H. E. Wilkinson (of Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist) moved that Mr. Montgomery Reader Harris be approved, admitted, and enrolled to practice as a solicitor and proctor of this honourable Court. Supplementing the information on the file before his Lordship, Mr. Pollock remarked that Mr. Harris came of a good legal stock. His maternal grandfather had been a pro- minent solicitor in London for some years, and filled the important post of President of the Incorporated Law Society in London, and Mr. Harris' father was Mr. Reader Harris, K., a well known figure of the Parlia- mentary bar. Mr. Harris himself had won an honours degree in law at Oxford, and his I appealed to one of the officials, of the es- Honour would see that he came here to join the tablishment and then learned that this was the firm of Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist as manag-customary manner of killing the rats. ....... i ing clerk. The usual papers were on the file Cable news has reached Canton, our corres-of solicitors of the Supreme Court of Judicature showing that he had been admitted to the roll pondent says, that the Wai-wu-pu have in England. negotiated a loan of £2,000,000 with a British Syndicate for the Liang-Hu sections of the Canton-Hankow Railway.
The rat return for the week ended 19th December showed that in the whole Colony 1,258 rats were caught, of which three were found to be infected. In the week ended 26th December of the 1001, rats caught, only one was found to be infected.
'THE CANTON-HANKOW
RAILWAY LOAN.
←
On the 3rd instant His Excellency Chang Chi Tung dispatched a telegram to Viceroy Chang in which he reminded the Viceroy that the Canton-Hankow Railway will be one of the most important railways in China and that the construction of same cannot be delayed any longer. The Liang-Hu sections of the trunk line being much longer than the Kwangtung section, it would cost a larger sum of money to construct than the two other sections. H.E. Chang Chi Tung further states that he had consulted with their Excellencies Chan Kwei Loong and Shum Chun. Ming with regard to obtaining the necessary funds for the construc- tion of the Liang-Hu sections and that both were in favour of a foreign loan.
It was decided to request the Wai-wu-pu to negotiate for the loan with a British firm whose representative had already arrived in Peking, and Ko Ling Wai and Tsang Kwong Yung were delegated to enter into negotiations. As funds are being raised for the speedy construction of the Liang Hu section, the part of the line which is under the control of Viceroy Chang, must not be allowed to be de- layed any longer. Chang Chi Tung added that he understood that the Kwangtung gentry are people who have always been very energetic in subscribing for railway shares a thing that has hitherto never been done by the people in any of the other provinces, but he is not aware of the actual amount subscribed by the Cantonese or whether the amount subscribed is sufficient for the construction of the whole Kwangtung section of the line. If there should be any shortage, it would be necessary that it should be covered in the Liang Hu loan, which would serve to expedite the construction of the Kwangtung section. In conclusion, H.E. hang Chi Tung requests Viceroy Chang to instruct the gentry of Kwangtung to go into the question at once and cable the decision as soon as possible.
4
It is reported that the Kwangtung gentry have reported to the Viceroy that they could get the necessary funds for the construction of the section of the line at his end without the help of a foreign loan.
If that is the case then the Canton-Hankow Railway Company of Kwangtung does not par. ticipate in the loan closed with the British Syndicate by the Wai-wu-pu.
A NEW BARONET.
The senior partner of Messrs E. D. Sassoon and Company, is among the recipients of New Year honours, Mr. Jacob Sassoon having received a baronetoy, and congratulations have been addressed to Sir Jacob from all sources. It is interesting to remember that the new. baronet was thirty years ago the representative in Hongkong of the firm which his father founded, and recently Sir Jacob gave a donation of ten lakhs of rupees for the establishment of the Central Institute of Science in Bombay, with the growth of which city the Sassoon family has long been identified.
and he had much pleasure in admitting Mr. His Lordship said the papers were in order
would do credit to the distinguished stock from Harris. The Court felt quite sure that he which he had come, and to the distinguished firm to which he had been appointed.
HIS EXCELLENCY'S PRIVATE SECRETARY.
While the many friends he has made during his sojourn in Hongkong will rejoice to hear the news of the appointment of Mr. A. J. Brackenbury as Assistant Resident of Nyasaland, they will regret his departure from our island. During his stay in Hongkong Mr. Brackenbury, by his courtesy, has earned the respect of all classes of the community, and this announcement of his impending departure will be read with regret. However, we feel sure the public will cordially join with us in extending to Mr. Brackenbury best wishes for his welfare and Mr. success in his new sphere of labour. Brackenbury leaves the Colony by the P. and 0. s.s. Delhi on the 23rd January.
NEW YEAR MEETING.
a cage containing a rat just captured. I asked After luncheon to-day I met a servant with how it was to be killed, and he informed me that the custom was to put the rat into boiling
water.
Fortunately two of his superiors appeared on at once given that in future all rate and mice. the scene at this moment and instructions were
should be drowned in cold water.
No doubt all householders here are endeavour-
ing to keep down the rate in their houses, but creatures, when captured, are destroyed, and my probably few know how these unfortunate experience of this afternoon appears to justify my bringing the matter before the public.
The usual custom among a certain class of servants is to amuse themselves by taking a kettle of boiling water, slowly pouring this over the wretched little animal while still in the cage, enjoying its agony as it runs from side to side endeavouring to escape the torture inflicted. Another favourite form of killing rats is to soak them in kerosine oil and then set fire to them. I have personally obtained convictions here and elsewhere against servants (not my own, I am glad to say) for killing rats by these methods.
such steps as may be necessary to ensure that
I would now appeal to your readers to take.
any rats or mice caught on their premises be humanely destroyed.-Yours truly,
EDBERT A. HEWETT,
KULANGSU (AMOY) MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.
the Board Room, on the 13th December, 1908, Minutes of a meeting of the Council, held at
Present:-Messrs. W. H. Wallace (Chairman,) W. Wilson, the Health Officer and the Secretary, J. S. Fenwick, Huang Ts'an-chew, S. Okuyama, (Mr. C. Berkeley Mitchell.)
* THE RATEPAYERS' LIST.
of the Hongkong hristian Union, took place A New Year meeting, held under the auspices at the Theatre Royal last night. There was a good attendance. Rev T. W. Pearce presided and there were also present His Lordship the Bishop of Victoria, Revs. . Hi Hickling, J. A. Baker, E. J. Barnett,-Thornhill, A. D. The list of persons qualified to vote at meetings
tewart and F. J. Johnson. exercises the Victoria Quartette rendered "Re-approved, and passed for publication.
After devotional of ratepayers, published annually, was read- member me oh mighty One." Bishop Lander at the outset of his remarks referred to the growing desire for the union of Christendom, and then went on to discourse upon the funda- mental truths of Christianity, taking the ques- tion" What shall I do with Jesus" as his text. The Victoria Quartette sang "Pass me not oh gentle Saviour," and Mr. White presided at the piano and led the praise.
A DISHONEST BOY.
13
DISPUTE WITH A CONTRACTOR.
and Mr. Huang Ts'an-chew, the Chinese member It was decided to request Mr. D. M. Mickle of the Council, to jointly inspect the new Municipal Buildings, and decide what is a just and fair amount the contractor should receive as a final payment on account of his contract.
AN ASSESSMENT DISPUTE.
A letter was read from Mr. Lim Kui Sing. complaining that his property at San-ku-chan has been overassessed. It was resolved that he be informed that he can either refer the case to Rev. G. M. Wales, the gentleman nominated sentative on the Land Commission, or the by the Chinese ratepayers as their repre-
mission as a whole. In the mean time, as his Council will refer the case to the Land Com-
contention cannot be taken as an excuse for not paying his taxes, he is to be requested to for-
TENDERS.
Mr. J. J. Stubbings, of the Electric Works, Magistracy yesterday for stealing twenty cents. Wanchai, prosecuted his
boy
at the It appears that the boy had been engaged on the 1st December and on the 8th gave notice of his intention to leave. Since the 21st various small sums of money amounting in all to about $16 have been missed and suspicion fell on the ward cheque for safe without delay. boy. On the 4th inst., Mr. Stubbings marked some small money which he placed in a drawer in the bedroom. This disappeared and next morning Mrs. Stubbings marked a twenty-cent piece which she placed in her purse and deposited in the drawer. When the boy was in the bed- room she went upstairs and examining her purse found that the money was gone. She detained the boy and sent for her husband who brought the police. Sergt. Pitt searched the boy and found the missing coin, and a search of his boy revealed other stolen coins. Defendant was sentenced by Mr. Wood to three months' hard labour.
opened, and considered. Subject to satisfactory The tenders for 1909 night soil contract age references being given, the tender of Kho Pok Seng for $1,800 was accepted.
THE MIXED COURT----
the Mixed Court was still closed on account The Superintendent of Police reported that of official mourning.
સં
province of Manchuria, mulberry trees are to be In the fertile districts of the Heilungkiang cultivated in future in place of the poppy, with a view to founding a sericultural industry