March 20, 1909.1
torpedo boats and other small craft will parti- cipate in the manoeuvres, and should the booming of heavy guns be heard one of these nights we may lie back and comfortably reflect that our gallant defenders are doing their duty and that all is well with us.
A remarkable reason was adduced by a jaryman as an excuse for seeking relief from attendance at a London Court one day last month. He applied to be released from further attendance on the ground that he had a sick hen at home which laid eggs for the family, and he wished to go and nurse her. The Times soberly reports that Mr. Justice Darling refused the application. From what I remember of this facetious judge I feel sure he would not have refused it "soberly." He would have made some such remark as {1
eggzactly," and would probably have inquired if the hen laid golden
eggs.
*
We occasionally see some funny misprint for which the Chinese "comp." is responsible, but I could not help smiling the other morning when I read of the Chinese being described as burning sundust" instead of "sawdust." Sun- dust hasn't materialised yet.
**
Our old friend Shakespeare has put it ou record that the man with no music in his soul is fit for treasons, stratagems, and sundry other things which I cannot recall at the moment, but I am inclined to think he was rather hard on a number of well-meaning though perhaps unfortunate people who have little music in their souls because their ear was to blame. We have all heard, at least most of us have, of the man who could only recognise one tune and that was the National Anthem, because the people stood up to it. I was reminded of this the other night at the concert in the City Hall when one young man made himself conspicuous by stand- ing during the singing of a certain selection. I could not satisfy myself whether he stood up as a mark of homage to a great artiste or whe- ther he was under the belief that our National Anthem was about to be rendered.
*
There cannot be much satisfaction in goin' around and lickin' the editor" when the latter
not only makes copy out of the encounter but pictures himself as the hero as well. The fol- lowing vivid pen-picture is taken from the
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to re-appoint Mr. Lau Chu-pak to be a member of the Sanitary Board for a period of three years from the 6th March, 1909. There is still another vacancy to be filled.
The Police have begun a crusade against the night hawks who infest the highways at night Wednesday two European women who were interfering with passers-by were charged before Mr. J. R. Wood with behaving in a disorderly manner. They were each fined $20, the alterna- tive being seven days' imprisonment.
A native went alongside a cargo boat in the goods. While there a second cargo boat master harbour on Tuesday to the delivery of some
ordered him to shove off. Because be refused the master of the latter boat struck him with a J. H. Kemp found a charge of assault proved, boathook. At the Magistracy yesterday Mr. and imposed a fine of $10.
with
Mr. Lau Chu Pak has consented to remain on The Chinese are apparently satisfied that the Sanitary Board. At the meeting of the Chinese Sub-Commitee in connection the University, speeches were made congratula- ting Mr. Lan and expressing the hope that the other Chinese member to be appointed to the Sanitary Board would be as energetic and as fair-minded.
in the productions of the Kowloon Dock Mrs. Baxter, who took such a prominent part Amateur Dramatic Club, leaves for home this morning by the Tamba Maru. Prior to her de- parture she received from the members of the Dock Dramatic Club a handsome silver salver and crumb brush and tray in recognition of services freely given and highly appreciated.
Mr. Heilam, a Custom House officer from Woochow, reported to the police on Tuesday that Hongkong Hotel to proceed to Wanchai. On on Monday at midnight he took a ricsha at the the journey he went to sleep, and was awakened by falling out of the ricsha. He then discovered that he had lost or been relieved of a black leather pocket book containing $235, and a blank cheque on the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank.
A native who was arrested for stealing clothes from a house at Hunghom was charged before Mr. J. R. Wood at the Magistracy on Tuesday with larceny, and with returning from banish. ment. The defendant was banished from
SANITARY BOARD.
233
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on Mar. 16th at the Board Room. Mr. R. O. Hutcheson presided, and there were present Hon. Mr. W. Chatham C.M.G., (Vice President) Colonel Bedford, Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett, Hon. Mr. Irving, Mr. A. Shelton Hooper, Dr. G. H. L. Fitzwilliams, Mr. Lau Cha Pak, Dr. F. Clark (Medical Officer of Health) and Mr. A. Gibson (Secretary),
THE SCAVENGING CONTRACTOR. The ASSISTANT MEDICAL OFFICER of HEALTH reported that he had made an inspec- tion of the boats used by the scavenging con- tractor for Tsim Tsa Tsui. He recommended that four of the boats be not accepted and that boats should be decked. If the boat had no boats up to the standard size be required. All
deck it was piled up with rubbish which in all
ginning of quite a long contract he considered probability was thrown into the harbour at the earliest opportunity. As it was only the be-
it would be reasonable to ask that the boats be brought nearer to contract requirements as they accidents, etc. were sure to get less as time went on through
Mr. HOOPER minated- quite agree with the Assistant Medical Officer of Health.
Dr. FITZWILLIAMS minuted--I think the conditions of the contract should be insisted supplied does not give the necessary piculage upon and that if the total number of boats
of boats, it being rather an advantage to this must be made up by an increased number increase the number than the size of the boats owing to the depth of water at low tide.
The PRESIDENT proposed that the contractor be told that he has got to provide boats up to the full piculage, and to have those boats decked as Health. recommended by the Assistant Medical Officer of
Mr. HOOPER seconded, and the contractor was called before the Board and informed accordingly.
EXHUMATION OF BODIES.
A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary in reply to a communication from the Board in which he wrote that he was directed to state that there was no provision in the Ordinances of the Colony authorising tho exhumation of a body but the coroner had the right of ordering an exhumation for the purpose of an inquest. The
editorial columns of an Iowa journal :-"There Singapore last year, and on arrival in this question of conferring powers to grant permits
was a blow. Somebody fell. We got up. Turning upon our antagonist, we succeeded in winding his arms around our waist, and by a quick manoeuvre threw him
on top of us, bringing our back, at the same time, in contact with the solid bed of the printing-press. Then inserting our nose between his teeth and cleverly entangling his hands in our hair, we had him!"
RODERICK RANDOM.
HONGKONG.
A lukong was removed from the Central Police Station on Tuesday suffering from smallpox.
Mr. J. H. Scott, senior partner of the firm of Mesrs. Butterfield and Swire, has returned to Hongkong after a tour in North China.
A Chinese bankrupt at the Supreme Court on Mar. 17th described himself as a dealer in "marine delicacies." The delicacies he subse- quently explained were sharks' fins.
The two Indian soldiers accused of stabbing a compatriot at the Rajput Barracks, Kowloon, on Sunday, were charged before Mr. J. H. Kemp at the Magistracy on Tuesday with cutting and wounding. The hearing of the adjourned.
case was
Another case of plague in Kowloon City was notified on Mar. 16. It is distinctly satisfactory to observe that not a single case of plague has occurred so far this year in the City of Victoria. The fourteen cases reported since January 1st have all occurred at Kowloon.
Before Commander Basil R. H. Taylor, R.N., at the Marine Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, four fishermen were fined $10 apiece for using their boats other than for the purpose of fishing. They were fined a further $5 each for allowing rubbish to be thrown into the harbour from their vessels.
Colony was exiled to China. His Worship sentenced him to one month's imprisonment on the first count, and to three months' jail and four hours' stocks on the second count.
A few days ago a Chinese was arrested while attempting to steal some money from a box on a tramcar. The police preferred the charge of being a rogue and vagabond against him, and his case came on for hearing before Mr. J. R. Wood at the Magistracy. After the evidence had been heard he was granted a remand to call a witness. On his way back to Shaukiwan, how- ever, he eluded the lukong in charge of him and made good his escape.
A Chinese thief was caught red-handed on the 17th in Queen's Road Central by Detective- Sergeant Terrett. While standing near the New Traveller's Hotel this officer was attracted by an exclamation, and turned in time to see a coolie snatching an ear pick from a woman's hair. When he laid hands on the thief he attempted to throw the stolen article away un- observed, but was unsuccessful. Twelve months' three hours' stocks, was the sentence imposed by hard labour, fourteen strokes of the birch and Mr. J. H. Kemp.
The Y.M.C.A. Parliamentary Debating So- ciety with representatives from the Union night on the motion Church Literary Club had a debate on Tuesday "That the action of the self-governing colonies in excluding Asiatics does not meet with our approval." Joughin, F. Browne, Aucott, and Wells sup- Messrs. ported the motion, and Capt. Brown, Messrs. advocates of the motion argued that the exclus- Cubey, Nairn, and Lowry spoke against it. The ion retarded the development of countries where there were large tracts of unoccupied land, and those who took the opposite view contended that the admission of Asiatics would reduce the standard of living. Mr. Burnett presided. The motion was lost.
for exhumation was now engaging the attention
of the Government.
Mr. HOOPER minuted The Government should be advised to confer the power of granting permits for exhumation to the Sanitary Board, who have the control of the cemeteries.
Mr. LAU CHU PAK-What is wrong with the usual procedure? The Registrar-General authority as at present. as the registrar of deaths should be given
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-I think it would be more convenient to vest Superintendent of Police or the Registrar of this authority in an individual, either. the
Deaths.
any further
Mr. HOOPER-Have you information from the Government?
The PRESIDENT-I have no further informa- tion than is given in this letter. I understand they are taking steps.
4
Mr. HOOPER-I think the Governmen should be asked to submit for our consideration any amendment of the law before it is introduced. We might be able to make suggestions.
Chinese
Mr. LAU CHU PAK-In the meantime the are suffering great inconvenience. They are constantly sending up for permits for exhumation which nobody can grant.
Mr. HOOPER-That is the unfortumate state of the law.
anybody can give permits.
Dr. CLARK-If nobody can give permita
Mr. HOOPER-No. I am advised that to remove a body without a permit is a misdemeanour.
Mr. LAU CHU PAK--Pending the decision of
sub-committee to issue permits. the Government I move the appointment of a
Mr. HOOPER You can't.
+
power to issue permits.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-Nobody in the colony has
The REGISTRAR-GENERAL—We may point out to the Government that this is causing inconvenience to the Chinese.