*
January 23, 1909.]
Thirdly, it is not only as a doctor that I lay claim to your votes, but as a man who has, and can have no personal axe to grind, and who will in consequence have the best interests of the Colony at heart, adapting professional knowledge to local conditions, and not giving countenance to schemes of theory and experiment unpractical in these days of financial depression.
Lastly, should you do me the honour to elect me to the post which I seek, I will endeavour to devote my energies faithfully to the performance of the duties which the position requires.
I have the honour to be
Your obedient servant,
GERARD H. L. FITZWILLIAMS,
M.D., CH.B., AND F.R.C.8. EDINBURGH,
31. Queen's Road.
Hongkong, 16th January, 1909.
GENTLEMEN-I have the honour to come before you as a candidate for a seat on the Sanitary Board of this Colony and to solicit your kind support.
As a member of the general public and a ratepayer. I am fully aware of the importance to my fellow colonists of whatever nationality and status, of the opportunity afforded to the unofficial members of the Sanitary Board. Questions of Public Health affect us all, and legislation on Public Health matters have often a more far-reaching effect than can be anti- -cipated by those more directly concerned in the framing of our laws. I am now in medical practice in Hongkong and anticipate making this my home for many years to come. therefore personally interested in the prosperity of our Colony. I consider that much can be done by a member of the Sanitary Board by the study of the needs of the Various Sections of Community and by the fullest discussion at Board meetings to help the Government to frame wise measures, which, while they may impose restrictions which must be borne by all in the interests of all, should be reasonable and well considered.
I am
I am in favour of economy with efficiency and am alive to the pressing necessity of such. In the Colony's history in the past, it is well known that large sums of public money have been unnecessarily expended through the hurried acceptance of ideas, which could on more careful consideration have well borne much modification. As a member of the medical profession, I venture to remind you that I shall be able to bring to bear on Public Health questions some critical knowledge of such matters.
Should I receive the honour of election at your hands I should not forget the daty I owe to the electors. I shall have their interests at heart and shall, by ever keeping before me the idea that the prosperity and well being of the Colony, at the present and future is the goal to which we should all work, endeavout always to merit the trust reposed in me. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your most Obedient Servant, R. A. BELILIOS, M.D., F.R.c.8. (ED.) Hongkong, 18th January, 1909. [208
GENTLEMEN :-Having been invited by an influential deputation to offer myself as a candidate, and having
a personal desire to place my services at the disposal of the Colony in any matter conducive to its welfare, I beg to solicit your support at the coming Election.
Although I have only been resident in the Colony for five years, my business in the management of a large quantity of Chinese property has given me a very considerable insight into the working of the Sanitary Regulations of the Colony.
While I shall support the Government in any fresh regulations they may consider necessary to the Sanitation of the Colony I shall always reserve to myself absolute freedom to criticise and, as far as possible, bring before the con- sideration of the Board the wishes of the Electors.
+
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
I have no medical or other special knowledge of Sanitation, and I think you will agree with me that such knowledge is quite unnecessary in the two members to be elected on Wednesday as the medical profession is already fully and most excellently represented on the Board, but I shall hope to approach the consideration of all subjects before the Board with business-like common-sense, with due regard to vested
interests and using every effort to see that the Administration of the Sanitary Regulations be carried out with efficiency and with the least possible inconvenience to the inhabitants of the Colony.
Your Obedient Servant, HORACE PERCY SMITH,
5, Queen's Road Central. Hongkong, 18th January, 1909.
THE DISTRESS IN ITALY.
L
[209
67
Harris, and when this gentleman later on visite. Canton the Viceroy repeated his enquirie verbally. This interest has materialised in the offering of two large sums. The former one of $10,000 was the contribution of the Government of the Liang Kuang provinces; the last is the result of the subscription raised amongst the public. The Chinese press in Canton for some days was busy in publishing the steps taken by the Viceroy for furthering the public subscrip- tion: its success is therefore in great measure due to the initiative and activity of the Viceroy. These considerations do not in the least take away from the generous promptitude with which the gentry and merchants took up the subscription as soon 85 the mat- ter was brought to their attention. All China residents will also be alive to the fact, Our Canton correspondent informed us centlyl that H.E. the Viceroy of Canton was
forced upon them at every moment in these days, that the subscription was raised in the most taking a sympathetic interest in the distressing unfavourable time, close upon China New Year, news from Italy. He had been in consultation when every Chinaman, whatever his wealth and with the leading gentry of Canton on the sub-position, receives numberless calls on his purse ject and had asked, through the Commissioner of which tax it to the uttermost. Customs, for information from the Consul- General for Italy, Com. Volpicelli.
GENEROUS DONATION BY THE VICEROY OF CANTON.
re-
Yesterday morning His Excellency sent an official to the Italian Consulate General with a cheque of ten thousand dollar (Hong kong notes, for the sufferers from the earthquake in southern Italy. Mr. Volpicelli at once wired his thanks and will send a despatch to-day. He will also call on the Viceroy as soon as the period of mourning is over.
The Italian Consul General took the cheque at once to the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, and had the money transferred tele- graphically to the Banca d'Italia at Rome. informing his Government at the same time. The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank very kindly transferred the money without any charges.
This generous gift of the Viceroy is important as a new step in the friendly relations between China and foreign countries. If oer memory does not fail us, this is the first instance of China taking part officially in a work of inter- national assistance in the relief of distress occasioned by 8 great calamity that has taken place at such a distance, and where there are no Chinese emigrants. China sent assistance at the time of the San Francisco earthquake, but in that city there are very many Chinese residents who have friends and relations in China, especially in Southern China. The disaster at Messina and Reggio not only happened at a great distance, but the relations between China and Italy have been hitherto very rare, as Italy has no colonies for the hinese to emigrate to, and she generally buys silk through foreign firms. Until China began to build railways very few Italians came to China, and they are still not very numerous. The gift of the Canton Viceroy must therefore be considered as a purely philanthropic act, and as a further indication that hina intends to enter the comity of nations in the highest meaning of that expression. It has been very gratifying for the Italian Consul General, Mr. Volpicelli, who has spent the greater and the best part of his life in China (he has been a resident for over 27 years) to be the recipient of this first gift inspired by international philanthropy.
•
FURTHER DONATION FROM CANTON.
|
•
Yesterday morning the Italian Consul General received from Mr. Tittoni, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the following telegram:-
"Italian Consulate Hongkong-In the name of the Royal Government I beg you to thank the Viceroy for his donation to the sufferers from the earthquake.
-TITTONI."
generous
The thanks conveyed in this telegram were re-transmitted to the Canton Viceroy yesterday
The Government of Peking, at the solicitation of H.E. Huang Ho, ex-Minister to Rome, has forwarded to Italy a donation of Tls. 50,000.
ALLEGED OPIUM SMUGGLING IN
THE PHILIPPINES.
66
+1
OFFICERS OF THE RUBI ARRESTED.
Alexander Mo^ormick, second engineer of the steamship Rubi was found in possession of 60 ounces of opium when the ship arrived in Manila on the 12th inst. and was arrested by the chief of the secret service department of the bureau of customs. In connection with the arrest of Me ormick, W. G. Lawson, the ship's first officer is said to have placed himself between the officer making the arrest and his fellow officer and thus made it possible for him to attempt to escape. He has been charged with interfering with an officer in the discharge of his duties.
He was also arrested and together with Mo- Cormick was removed to the Meiac police station where they were held under order of the court to appear for arraignment the followingday. Charges were filed against them in the afternoon by the prosecuting attorney and bail of P1,000 for McCormick and P5,000 for Lawson re-
commended.
The defence of the second engineer is stated to be that he found the opium in one of the bunkers while engaged in searching for con- traband. He is said to have been making his way on deck to report the find when he was arrested by the Customs detective officer. The Captain was ashore at the time, and the Chief Officer objected to McCormick being taken off the ship before the Captain returned.
F
On the evening of the 19th instant, the Italian HEAVY SENTENCE ON A CHINAMAN. Consul General received from the Canton Viceroy At Cebu a Chinese who was arrested on No- a further sum of $12,907.90 amount of a public vember 1st last charged with having on board subscription amongst the merchants, and the steamer Kaifong in the port of ebu 70 gentry of Canton. This sum, like the former one, cans of opium in his possession and under his was transmitted yesterday morning telegraphi-control, has just been sentenced to five years' cally to the Banca d'Italia at Rome, through imprisonment to pay a fine of ten thousand the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, free of pesos (P10,000.00,) and in case of insolvency to charges. Acknowledgment and thanks were suffer subsidiary imprisonment at the rate of wired to the Viceroy the same night by the one day for each twelve and one-half pesetas Italian Consul General.
which he fails to pay, such subsidiary imprison ment not to exceed one year, and to pay the costs of the cause.
We are informed tha H. E. Chang, the Viceroy of the neighbouring provinces, has taken & great interest in the relief work for the sufferers by the unparalleled disaster in Southern Italy. He sent at once a tele- gram of sympathy to the Italian Consul General for Southern China, who resides in Hongkong, and made enquiries about the progress of relief work. Shortly afterwards he renewed enquiries through the Commissioner of Customs of Kowl on, Mr.
Rumours have been current in Yokohama for several days, says the Japan Gazette, that the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China at this port has been victimized to the extent of about .200,000 by two Chinese, who on Decem- ber 29th jointly drew this sum from the Bank by means of forged bills.