212
SHIPPING NOTES.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The North German Lloyd has sold its steamers Bayern, Sachsen, and Preussen, which were constructed in 1886, to Italy. The steamers were engaged in the trade to the Far East.
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4
8.S.
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company and the Toyo Kisen Kaisha (San Francisco lines), commencing with the sailing of the Siberia from Hongkong on October 1st, will quote the same rate of passage from Manila to San Francisco, points in the United States and Canada, and also points in Europe, first- class, intermediate and second-class, as are now quoted by these Companies from Hongkong.
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A notification published at Shanghai regard- ing the removal of Aids to Navigation in the old Ship Channel over the Woosung Inner Bar, and alteration in Aids to Navigation in Gough Island (Astræa Channel), states that owing to the rapid shoaling of the Channel leading over the Woosung Inner Bar, all Aids | to Navigation in that Channel will be removed on the 15th of next month, while on or about the above mentioned date a number of im portant changes are to be made in the marking of the Astrea Channel. This practically means that the old Ship (hannel will be closed to navigation from the 15th Sept., and that the Astræs Channel will be alone available for steam navigation from that date.
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Answering a question in the House of Com- mons as to whether in any one single instance the Russian Government had indemnified a British shipowner for the sinking of his vessel by Russian warships during the war in the Far East, Mr. McKinnon Wood said: In the cases of the St. Kilda and Ikhond the Supreme Prize Court at St. Petersburg has decided that the owners of these vessels are entitled to com- pensation. As regards the Ikkona, the Libau Prize Court has assessed the compensation for the destruction of the vessel at, roughly, £62,000, but the Russian Government have intimated that, in view of an appeal which has been lodged in respect of a small portion of the claim, no payment can be made until after the appeal has been heard. The Libau Court will no doubt assess the damages to be paid in the case of the St. Kilda in due course.
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Since the introduction of the import duty in Eastern Siberia, it has frequently happened, Messrs. Kunst and Albers inform us, that masters of vessels bound for Vladivostock and Nikolajefsk do not comply with the Russian Customs regulations and that the shipping documents for cargo to be discharged at Vladi- vostock and Nikolajefsk are not made up in accordance with the regulations-a series of inconveniences equally
awkward for the Custom-house, for the ship's agents and the ship's company. In many instances heavy fines have been the result of these offences. Upon arrival of a steamer the Captain has to present to the Custom-house the ship's docu- ments (ship's register and articles), manifest of all cargo, a complete set of bills of lading, which are to be signed by the captain or the agent at port of shipment, passenger list with number of pieces of luggage, a complete list of stores and provisions. The master has also to sign a so-called Captain's Declaration, and to state in the same amongst other data:-The number of packages to be discharged as per manifest, all goods and-or articles on board not manifested nor stated in the store and provi- sion lists. After this declaration has been signed by the Captain, the vessel will¦ be searched by the Customs' officers and if any goods and-or other articles are found merchantable value having 'a that have been hidden or have not been recorded in the manifest, Captain's declaration or store and provision list, such goods or articles will be treated as contraband. It is a general rule that nothing should be hidden and everything declared. The Bills of Lading must contain:- Marks and numbers the same as shown on the goods. The number of packages, the nature of packing (whether cases, casks, &c., the term "packages" not being admissible), a proper commercial description of the goods (general terms such as “merchandise," "drugs," &c.,
not being admitted). The gross weight. (Note: The total gross weight and the total number of packages of each B. of L. should also be given in letters, not in figures only). The Manifest should give a proper specification of the goods as shown in the bills of lading, and the current numbers of the latter should correspond with the manifest. The manifest is to be signed by the agent at port of loading and a spare copy should be supplied for agent's use. All erasures or alterations in the Bills of lading and-or manifests should be avoided altogether. else same have to be authenticated at the port of Bills of shipment by the Port Authorities: lading made out to "Order" or "Bearer" must be endorsed by the shippers. The importation of the following articles is altogether pro- hibited:--Playing cards [Chinese and Japanese included.} Margarine produce, pork and all preserves, sausages, &c., made of pork. Patent medicine (unless special licence granted].
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The judgment in the Chinkiang collision case has now been rendered by the German Consular Court, Dr. Ney, President, and Messrs. Zickor- mann and Lundt, Assessors. This was a suit brought by Melchers and Company and the Norddeutscher Lloyd against Captain Goertz, owner and master of the s.s. Ascania, which vessel ran down and sank the plaintiff's hulk Bremen in February last. The Court decided in favour of the defendants, and in the written judgment, which is several columus in length, the grounds given are force majeure, there being an undercurrent running at the time of which the defendant could have had no knowledge and carried the Ascania against the Bremen. Although no announcement has been made officially, it is understood, says the Shanghai Mercury, that there is every likelihood of an appeal to Leipsic.
PLAGUE EPIDEMICS IN HONGKONG.
No case of plague having occurred in the Colony during the past ten days clean bills of health are again being issued.
The epidemic this year has been a very mild
one.
The annual Medical Reports laid before the Legislative Council last week give the following information regarding the epidemic of 1908. In the joint report of Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer, and Dr. W. W. Pearse, Acting Medical Officer of Health ap. pears the following
There was a recrudesence of this disease during the year 1908, the total number of cases recorded being 1,073 as compared with 240 in 1907 and 893 in 1906. It has frequently happened that years of mild and severe plague in the Colony have occurred alternately, so that the 1908 epidemic may perhaps be more justly compared with the 1906 than the 1907 out-
break.
I
Although in 1908 an excess of 180 cases over the number of known cases in 1906 were notified, it is quite possible that the 1908 epidemic was in reality not so severe as the 1906 one, as in 1908 it appeared on enquiry that many fewer cases of plague left the Colony.
If this be true it may be explained by the establishment of plague hospitals under Chinese management and by the adoption of less severe measures in disinfection, causing less dis- turbance of family life and business.
The total number of deaths from plague was 986, of which 29 were from the non Chinese population and 957 amongst the Chinese. This gives a case mortality of 919 per cent. for Chinese and 90.6 per cent. for the non-Chinese
cases.
1
The following table shows the uumber of cases and deaths according to nationality
Cases. Deaths.
957 1,041
Chinese British Eurasian.. Indian
Japanese. Malay Portuguese Filipino Jewish Cingalese
A
4
10
231
1,073 986
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[September 4, 1909.
Mr. R. O. Hutchison, writing as Head of the Sanitary Department, says :--
As will be seen from the Medical Officer of Health's Report the outbreak of plague during the year was severe, there being 1,073 cases as compared with 240 in 1907 and 893 in 1906. Further attempts have been made to secure the. co-operation of the Chinese in anti-plague measures.
This has been fairly successful- largely owing to the work of the Public Dis pensaries and Street Committees in explaining to the people the reasons for these measures. The advantage of keeping cats as an anti-plague measure has been impressed on the people, and now practically every house in the Colony pos- The Chinese are also sesses one or more cats. now doing their own rat-catching, the Sanitary Department merely providing materials and collecting the rats. This system was not in working order till September, but since then the number of rats returned has been very satisfac- tory. The recommendations of the Indian Plague Commission are being carefully followed. and several changes have been made in the use of disinfectants, etc. All these changes tend to make disinfection less distasteful to the Chinese.
MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]||
THE NEW GOVERNOR. The successor of Senhor Rocadas will be Senhor Eduardo Marques, who is now Governor of Timor. He is expected here in the course of the next fortnight. Senhor Rocadas will leave for Angola shortly after his successor arrives.
MORE TAXATION.
'I he commission appointed three years ago to take the measurements of the land occupied by each house in the city have presented the first instalment of their report, which suggests that twice the amount of the present revenus ought to be obtained from the taxation of this property. The Fazenda has jumped at the idea and has lost no time in imposing increased taxation, giving the owners a month in which to appeal if they dispute the assessment. The owners know that they stand little chance of success against the
"A petition will be presented prob Fazenda. ably to the new Governor against the new taxation. It is strange that the Government does not clearly see how taxation has throttled business and brought the Colony to its present state of decadence. Most of the gambling monopolies on which the Government has relied in recent years for a large part of its revenue have ceased to possess any value in the eyes of the people, who were formerly eager to lease them. Taxation has driven capital out of the Colony, and there is no hope for a rivival of business here while the Government exacts the present taxation and is ever on the look- out for ways of increasing it.
NO MONEY FOR WAGES.
Of the employees of the Leal Senado only the street coolies have received their wages; the others are still whistling for theirs. When are they all likely to be paid? And, where is the money coming from? zome months ago Ireferred to the necessity for reducing the numbers in the pay of the Leal Senado. It does! not seem that anything material has been done in that direction.
GUNS FOR THE NEW RIVER GUNBOAT.
Telegraphic instructions have been received by the Government from Lisbon to remit £1,900, the cost of the guns that are being sent out for the new river gunboat Macau,
THE HARBOUR WORKS.
I have previously said that I have very little faith in the progress of the undertaking for the improvement of the harbour. A fortnight ago authority was telegraphed from here authorising the purchase of a dredger at Kiaochaou, but nothing has been heard of the matter since. What does it mean? What has become of the 89 contos assigned to defray the cost of dredging operations ?
F
A NEW FORT.
A fort is to be constructed on the hill east of the Taipa fort. The guns from the dismantled Rio Lima will be placed there.