452
were
metals on which the cars would run. The Gardens are widely famed for their beauty, and are frequently and justly spoken of as the prettiest for their size of all the fine Botanic Gardens for which our Colonies are famous.
As a botanist I specially deplore and most earnestly protest against the proposal that this catting should pass through and utterly destroy one of the best collections of palms and other trees in the world. More than 100 fine, well grown palms,some of them magnificent specimens, are marked on the plan before you for destruc tion, besides numerous smaller trees and shrubs of great scientific value. Not one of them can be transplanted in consequence of their size and age, and even if their removal possible there would be no space available for their reception. I would ask
you to consider the patient labour and the skill, sup- ported by liberal funds from the Govern- ment during the last 40 years, which have resulted in the accumulation of this splendid collection. There was hardly a tropical botanic garden in the seventies that did not either by direct gift or with the generous assistance of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew send us con- tributions. The difficulty of getting small trees in a living state from distant countries is very great and each tree thus obtained is often established only after several failures. Such a series as
we possess is therefore a lasting monument of past enterprise as well as scientific possession of priceless value of which not only the Colony but the English botanical world may be justly proud.
a
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sauitary Board Wa8 held on May 25 at the Board Room. Mr. R. O. Hutchison presided, and there were present Hon Mr. P.N.H. Jones (acting Vice-President), Colonel Bedford, Hou. Mr. E. A. Hewett, Hon. Mr. A. W. Frewin (Registrar-General), Mr. A. Shelton Hooper. Dr. G. H. L. Fitzwilliams. Mr.Ho Kom Toug, Dr. F. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), Dr. Pearse (Assistant Medical Officer of Health), and Mr. W. Bowen Rowland (Secretary),
BATHING IN A FISH TANK,
The following correspondence in connection with the nuisance at the Western Market was laid on the table.
Mr. SHELTON HOOPER wrote on the 18th iust. Sir. I annex copy of correspondence between the Government and myself relative to a nuisance at the New Western Market, which I will thank you to circulate to members of the Board, The incident referred took place at a time when the market was open to the public, as it is every day after dark. Owing to the prevalence of contagious diseases of the worst sort and skin diseases amongst the lower class Chinese, I consider the use of the fish tanks as baths a source of danger to the public health, an opinion which is shared by the medical men
whom I have consulted on the matter.
Mr. HOOPER's letter to the Colonial Secretary, was dated 8th May, and was in the following terms:-" Sir, Whilst inspecting the Western Market with two other members of the Sanitary Board last evening at seven o'clock to report ou the lighting of the same I observed a Chinaman perfectly nude washing himself over the fish tank. Such a thing is not only disgusting and revolting but I consider it a nger to the public health. I would ask therefore that His Excellency the Governor be informed of it and give such directions as to put a stop to it."
There are I think some very special grounds such as I have detailed above why our small Gardens and this particular part of them should not be thus intruded upon, but so much light is thrown upon the general question of encroach- ment upon open spaces in large towns by the wholesome principles and practice, well establish ed during during the last half century in such cases in England by English public opinion, that I would also invite your attention to the The reply of the Colonial Secretary, dated legislation and to the decisions of the highest 12th May, was as follows:- Sir, With reference courts in London upon the subject and I am
to your letter of the 8th inst., I am directed to convinced that in them will be found opinions state that the incident to which you allude took accentuating the contentions that I am endea-place after dark when all business in the market vouring to express in support of my views. Such an encroachment would I believe be found to be utterly opposed to the spirit and letter of English law as well as to the true spirit of social progress which animates our home parliament in dealing with these and like matters in England.
The principle at least of the Common Acts of 1866 and 1876 will I believe be respected here, by which lands over which there are any public rights are secured from encroachment, and I feel sure that the application of the prin ciple to these Gardens which have been for 40 years dedicated to public use and have been largely used during the whole of that period will be appreciated. To show the great public interest felt and the strong public opinion exis ting on this subject of the prevention of encroachment on open spaces I would refer to the existence and activity of the Commons Preservation Society of London which has for its object the prevention of encroachment upon all lands dedicated to the use of the public. There is also the active and success- ful "Metropolitan Public Gardens Association formed by the Earl of Meath in 1882 for the special object of opening Vetropolitan Gardens and preserving them from encroachment. Similar organizations flourish in most of the larger towns of England as well as in many of the Colonies.
As I have been instructed to submit this minute without delay I am unable to give any detailed reference to the proceedings of these Societies or to the speeches made during the debates in the House of Commons on the Acts referred to, but in them could doubtless be found many cogent arguments in support of conten- tion. These arguments I submit apply with special force to the case of our small, beautiful and scientifically valuable gardens and when the unsightliness and noisiness of this particular
kind of encroachment is considered I am con- fident that the feeling of the community will recoil from this irreparable injury.
3. T. DUNN, Superintendent, Botanical and
Forestry Department.
26th May, 1909
had ceased, and only a few stall holders were left washing up their stalls. Instructions have now been issued to the Inspector in charge in the market at about seven o'clock in the evening to see that there is no repetition of the occur rence, and the Head of the Sanitary Department will post a notice in the market informing all concerned that such a practice is forbidden.
Dr. FITZWILLIAMS minuted-It is satis- factory to receive the assurance that this will not occur again.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT minuted-I fail to see that the fact that the man was washing himself in the fish tank after dark
"affects the ques.
·
tion to any appreciable extent. The objection is to the man using the tank at all as a bath.
**
Mr HOOPER Sir, I thought that this nuisance was of such a nature that the wider the publicity given to it the more chance there is of preventing a recurrence There is no doubt as to the facts, for you, Sir, were with me and witnessed the occurrence. I therefore com- municated to the Government direct, because it seems to me a little doubtful as to who has authority to instruct the Sanitary Department. I don't know whether the Sanitary Board have, though I think we have, but at any rate the Government have the right to instruct them. It was for this reason I communicated direct. The Government seem to have treated the matter rather lightly and are trying to dis- count the incident on account of it having taken place after dark." Certainly it was
dark. after
The market is open to the public after dark, and it for that reason we were there to report on the lighting. Any member of the public might have been present,
making purchases, and as I have said the thing is dis- gusting and revolting, I may take this oppor- tunity of saying that I was informed a week before this incident took place that in this same market a Chinaman was seen deliberately com- mitting a nuisance (which is unprintable). Now if you take two incidents together they will go far to show that there is something lacking in the supervision of the market. The Govern. ment in their reply alluded to the inspector in charge of the market. I was not aware that
was
man or woman,
[May 29, 1909.
there was an inspector in charge of the market, because on September 6th, 1907, the Government informed the Board that, agreeable to the re- commendations of the Commission, the office of inspector of markets had been abolished. Now, I would like to ask you, Sir, who are the officers responsible for the markets? Has the Veterin- ary Surgeon anything to do with the markets? And if not, who has taken his place? More- orer, I would like to know if there is any inspector of markets in charge, what his hours of duty are? Having said that, I should be glad to have an answer to these two questions.
The PRESIDENT -The Colonial Veterinary Surgeon has supervision over the meats sold in the market, while the actual cleanliness of the markets is under the Medicalm Officer of Health. Each market is under the inspector of the district is which it is situated.
Mr. HOOPER-Then I am right in my surmise that the Medical Officer of Health is left in charge?
The PRESIDENT—As regards the cleanliness, yes.
Mr. HOOPER-He will give his orders to the inspector?
The PRESIDENT—Yes.
Mr. HOOPE-Therefore I take it the Medical Officer of Health will see that this order of the Government is carried out.
The PRESIDENT- Yes.
QUESTIONS.
Mr. HOOPER gave notice of his intention to ask the following questions at the next meeting of the Board:
41
Is it a fact that in February and July 1908 Jeye's Fluid, to the extent of 2,500 gallons, was purchased through the Crown Agents at a cost ex-godown, Hongkong, of 3/64d. per gallon?
L
་་
Also whether Jeye's Fluid could not have been purchased locally at 3/- per gallon, and thereby effecting a saving of between £60
and £70."
In what respect, if any, did the Jeye's Fluid indented by the Government here differ from that obtainable locally!
LIMEWASHING.
The limewashing returns for the fortnight ended 4th May showed that in the Eastern district 828 houses had been limewashed, in the Central district 1433, and in the Western district 2502. There had been no prosecutions.
Dr. FITZWILLIAMS minuted-These reports, especially the absence of prosecutions and exemptions, show a sub-department now work- ing without friction.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
The mortality statistics for the month ended 30th April gave a death-rate of 20 per 1,000 of the population of the whole colony per annum, and the death rate for the foreign and British community was 18.2 per 1,000.
SUCCESSFUL WEATHER
FORECASTS.
The Report of the Director of the Observatory laid on the table at yesterday's meeting of the Legislative council, states: The comparison of weather-forecasts issued daily with the weather subsequently experienced, has been conducted on the same system as heretofore (compare Annual Report for 1896 §5). The results are as follows:-Success 59 per cent., partial success 31 per cent., failure 7 per cent., partial failure 9 per cent. Following the method used in Meteorological Offices and taking the sum of total and partial success as a measure of success, and the sum of total and partial failure as a measure of failure, 90 per cent. of the weather- forecasts were successful in 1908. The average results for 1906 and 1907 were as follows:- Success 57 per cent, partial success 33 per cent., failure 1 per cent., partial failure 9 per cent.
The Hongkong police have succeeded in ar- resting a bank clerk named Lim thee Siang, who is wanted in Penang for the larceny of about $70,000 from the Penang branch of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation between September 30th 1901 and April 1909. It is understood the prisoner made fictitious entries in the books and obtained the money. The police are to be congratulated on a smart capture, which was effected by Inspector O'Sullivan.