霍
424
SANITARY BOARD..
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
mediately; that was to say, no one could be be granted a grave space for the burial of a. A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held person who was living to day. If that were on Tuesday at the Board Room. Mr. E. D. C. illegal surely it would be illegal to allow people to reserve two spaces simply for the purpose of Wolfe presided, and there were present: Hon. erecting a monument over one grave. Were Mr. P. N. H. Jones (Vice-President) Hon, that application granted, the applicants would Mr. E.. Hewett, Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin be in possession of two unoccupied grave (Registrar-General), Colonel Bedford, R.A.M.C., spaces, and there being no sanitary, Mr. Shelton Hooper, Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Dr. F. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), objection any of their relatives would be entitled to be buried there, At the time Dr. Pearse (A.M.O.H.) and Mr. W.
the speaker pointed out that when a person Bowen Rowlands (Secretary).
was buried in a certain area there might be applications made later by relatives for burials to be made side by side if there was grave space, and he suggested that that might be allowed. But to erect monuments which would interfere with the intervening spaces. was illegal, and he could not see, unless the Board wished to stultify itself, how they could grant the present. application. He would ask the Board to serious ly consider whether, having only six or seven hundred spaces in that cemetery, they should deprive themselves of grave spaces.
THE COLONIAL CEMETERY.
A temporary map of the Colonial Cemetery was forwarded to the Board with the explana- tion that it was not advisable to prepare a new map until the Board had indicated the various
sections for old residents, etc.
Mr. SHELTON HOOPER minuted-I think the
Government should be asked to send the Board the plan of the Cemetery showing the area it is proposed to dedicate, for any observations the Board may wish to make.
Hon, Mr. HEWETT-I altogether object to the division made between residents. seven years' residents, and twenty years' residents. We are all equal when in the cemetery.
The PRESIDENT said he made a misstate- ment when he said there was no map of the Colonial Cemetery. When he looked up the papers he found a map which was serving the purpose of a map of the Colonial Cemetery un- til such time as the new Ordinance was passed. In reply to Mr. Hooper's remarks, he wished to point out that he had been given to under- stand the
of the whole
demetery, clusive of the Japanese portion, was to be dedicated. The Bill was already in the committee stage before the Legis- lative Council, but if there WAS any serious point to which the Board wished to draw attention they could apply to have the matter stopped in order that members could discuss it.
ex-
Mr. HOOPER said he had no wish whatever to stop the legislation, but a fortnight ago he asked for the information and the meeting of the Council would be held to-morrow. The President had just informed members that the whole cemetery, with the exception of the Japanese portion, was dedicated, but the speaker did not know what that ineant. Where the Japanese were buried inter- spaces were occupied by Europeans. He had no wish to delay the legislation because he thought it was really necessary that it should go through, as it had been hanging on- for a long time. But as the Government had not consulted the Boart in the matter, and as the President had got the assurance from the Government that only the Japanese portion was to be excluded, he would like to call the attention
of the Government to the remarks he had just made and ask them what they proposed to do where Japanese were intermingled with Europeans.
The PRESIDENT said the map took in, as far as he had seen, the whole of the hillside where the Japanese were buried. He was not aware that Europeans and Japanese were buried together. Mr. HOOPER asked if members could see the map.
When the map was produced Mr. HOOPE said it was impossible to follow it. as it was useless for the purpose for which it was wanted.
The discussion then ended.
MONUMENTS IN THE CEMETERY.
An application was submitted for two grave spaces in the old residents' section of the Colonial Cemetery for the purpose of erecting a monument thereon.
Mr. LAU CHU PAK minuted-I don't see any reason why this should not be granted.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT seconded the proposal on the ground principally that spaces in the Col onial Cemetery were very limited, and he did this particular family should be allowed three not think any necessity had been shown why grave spaces for only one body
The REGISTRA-GENERAL-I don't think we have power to grant this request.
..
The PRESIDENT-I am afraid not, after having refused in the recent case of a captain to grant spaces to be allotted to those who are living at present;
COLONEL BEDFORD-Is there no means of getting this rule rescinded? It is beyond our powers, I presume.
The PRESIDENT It is beyond our power to grant grave spaces to living persons.
COLONEL BEDFORD-It seems a very excep- tional and harsh measure, I know of no other place where such a rule exists.
The PRESIDENT-It exists here on account
of the limited available space, and each terrace
costs an enormous amount.
COLONEL BEDFORD-As a matter of course the time will come when the cemetery will have to be enlarged.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-It cannot be enlarged. COLONEL BEDFORD-Then another cemetery must be provided. As long as there is life and death we must make provision for people who die.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-Therefore we ought not to be too generous with our spaces.
COLONEL BEDFORD-I don't agree, but it would be absurd of me to move an amendment, because I believe it is ultra vires for us to give permission.
The PRESIDENT--Yes.
power? Not us. It is the Legislative Council. COLONEL BEDFORD Then who makes the
The PRESIDENT--Yes.
COLONEL BEDFORD Therefore it was hard
all, was it? ly necessary to have brought the matter up at
Mr. HOOPER-The application was made to the Board, therefore it must come before us.
COLONEL BEDFORD - It is a question of law, not permission.
that the Board inform the applicant they have The PRESIDENT-Yes, and it is proposed
no power to grant it. Are you prepared to
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-No, I will put it the other way: refuse the application.
Mr. HOOPER said if the application was for permission to encroach on either side of the existing grave space, which was, say, 12 feet. and the encroachment 24 feet, the Board would have power to deal with it. But he thought it as well to stick to the original
resolution.
The application was refused.
:
[November 13, 1909;
SIR FRANCIS MAY, K.C.M.A.
COLONIAL SECRETARY HONOURED.
congratulating the Hon. Mr. F. H. May, The whole community will join us in Colonial Secretary, on the honour which has just been conferred upon him by His Majesty King Edward. It is the only honour which has come to Hongkong in connection with the present Royal birthday, but no one will deny that it has been well bestowed, as the new knight's twenty-eight years' record in the Colony is one of useful and meritorious service. Sir Francis Henry May, K.C.M.G.-to give him his new title-is fourth son of the late Hon. G. A. C. May, Lord as most people know, a son of Ireland, being the
Chief Justice of Ireland. Educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Dublin, he took his B.A. degree in 1881, and was appointed a Hongkong
cadet the same year,
Acting Registrar General, and in 1887 he was Five years later saw him
Acting Assistant Colonial Secretary. In 1891 he obtained the appointment of Assistant Colonial Secretary, during which time he was also engaged as private secretary to H.E. as Colonial Treasurer he was appointed Captain the Governor, Sir W. Des Voeux. After acting
Superintendent of Police in 1893, and in 1900 he became Acting Colonial Secretary, receiving the substantive appointment in 1902. Since that time he has acted on several occasions as Officer Administering the Government.
This reference would be incomplete were con- gratulations not also extended to Lady May, who has proved herself not only a worthy helpmate, but one who is beloved by all who have come under the influence of her genial presence.
THE LATE MR. CALTHROP.
Prior to the commencement of business at the Supreme Court on Thursday reference was made to the death of Mr. H. G. Calthrop. The Chief Justice (the Hon: W. Rees Davies, K.C., and the Paisne Judge (His
1onour Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz) were seated on the bench, and there was a full attendance of members of the bar, including the Acting Attorney- General (Mr. F A. Hazeland), Sir Henry Berkeley, K C., Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Mr. M. W. Slade, Mr. Eldon Potter, Mr. C, G. Alabaster, and Mr. J. W. Orr. There were also many members of the junior bar present.
The Chief Justice said-Mr. Attorney-Gener-- al, before proceeding to the business of the Court I feel assured it be consonant with the feelings of the legal profession as a whole that I should state how sincere is our grief at the sad and practised at this Bar for some five years, and he untimely death of Mr. Calthrop. He had
combined the qualities of a sound lawyer with those of น conscientious and fearless. advocate. In private life Mr. Calthrop made many
friends He was 2 most. genial companion. Of an unassuming disposi tion, he was possessed of a most kindly heart. His death is keenly felt by the profession, and I am assured our regret is shared by the community as a whole.
The Acting Attorney-General-Wy lords, ou behalf of the Bar,. I beg to endorse the sen- timents which have just fallen from your Lord- ship's lips. When the sad news with respect to the tragic death of Mr. Calthrop was received on Saturday morning the announcement came as a terrible shock not only to the members of the profession but also to the community at large. I am sure I am expressing the feelings of every member of the Bar here present when I state that by his untimely death the Bar has lost a bright ornament, and we individually have lost a kind and genial friend. \
77
The PRESIDENT said the application was made by the relatives of the late Mr. Choa Leep Chee for two grave spaces-one on either side of The marriage of Mr. H. B. Graybill. M.A, the grave-on which to erect a monument. of the Christian College, Canton, to Miss Susan The matter was already adjourned from the last T. Griggs, took place a week ago at Shanghai.
The Tatsu-maru affair has not been forgotten meeting. Mr. Choa Leep Chee was not buried Both the contracting parties are American, in the old residents' section. but in the ordinary Miss Griggs having just arrived from the by the Chinese in Australia. When the Chinese section where burials took place at present. States. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Consul-General in Sydney embarked on board Mr. HOOPER moved that the application be Dr. Stuart in presence of a few friends, and the Kumang-maru on his return home a few not granted. He did so because the question of before Mr. J. I. Viney, representing the weeks ago, it is reported that not a single one reserving spaces in the Colonial Cemetery American Consulate General. The bride was of his countrymen went to the wharf to bid had been fully thrashed out within the last given away by Mr. R. W. Stafford, with whom him farewell, although the Consul General was four or five months, when the Board came to the and Mr. Stafford she travelled to Shanghai.very popular among them. This was done as a conclusion that they had no power to sell grave They came down from Shanghai by the Tenyo protest against the Consul-General travelling spaces unless they were to be occupied im-, Marit, which arrived at Hongkong yesterday by a Japanese steamer,