Page
SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board! was held yesterday, Mr. D. W. Trat man, President, presiding There were also present:-The Hon. Mr. W. Chat- ham Vice-President), Dr. Fitzwilliams, the Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett, the Hon. Mr. E. R. Hallifax, Col. Irwin, Mr. E. B. L. Bowley, Mr. Ng Hon Tax, Mr. Chan Kai Ming, Dr. F. Clark (Medical Officer), Dr. Pearse (Assistant Medical Officer) and Mr. E. Bullock (Secretary).
AN INSPECTOR'S DEATH. The first item on the agenda was a minute by the President in regard to granting vacation leave to Inspector
Brown.
The President said that the moving of this proposition was unfortunulely now uneccessary. He would like to take that opportunity of expressing his regret and that of the Board and the public at the
loss of a valuable servant in Mr. Brown.
'THE CREATING OF DEAD BODIES.
Correspondence was submitted relative to the cremating of dead bodies.
The MEDICAL OFFICER of Health wrote pointing out that a body had been cremated
the Japanese
in
crema-
SHIPPING NOTES.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2918, 1018.
The steamor Peter Morch recently racked at Nekoi Island near Singapore had tes on board insured in London for] £22,600.
The dredger Canton River, which has been purchased by the Sydney Harbour Board, is expected to leave Hongkong for the South this week.
The new steamer Ango-maru, built at the Miteu Bishi Yard in Nagasaki, to the order of the Toyo Kisen Kaisho, was to be launched on the morning of the 28th The now steamer is of 2,400 tons, inst. and her estimated speed is 15 knots. She will accommodate 30 first-class, 50 second- class and 610 steerage passengers. will be placed on the South American service in June next.
tons.
Ske
A.
THE RICSHA COOLIE IN SHANGHAI
INTERESTING STATISTICE.
To discuss the case of the ricsha coolie, a meeting was heid in Shanghai last week at the residence of Dr, J. “M, W. Farn- hem Amongst those present were Dr. P. Wilder (presiding), Dra. O von Behab, J. B. Fearn, H. G. Patrick, and G. J. Davenport, the Revs. Timothy Richard, G. E. Darwent, E. Box and J. M. W. Farnham, Messrs. G. Matheson, W. W. Lockwood, C. M. Bain, G. McIntosh, Donovan, Mr. Ma Soo (repre senting. Dr. Sun Yat-sen) and other Chinese gentlemen. Dr. Fearn acted as Secretary to the meeting..
Having referred to the distress amongst local richa and wheelbarrow coolies, the Chairman called upon Mr. Matheson to address the meeting.
THE SILVER MARKET IN THE PAST YEAR,
INDIAN PURCHASES AND HIGH PRICES.
Reviewing the principal features of the Silver Market during the past year, Mesera, Mccatta and Goldsmid in her annual circular state that the market was full of interest, and unusually active, the range of prices being, wider than it was during the two preceding years, and the level distinctly higher.
The year opened with a fairly active fuarket, both India and Chius buying and even before the end of January the deal of the Indian buying at this time road advanced to 20-13-16d. A good Indian Government being shortly in the was speculative in anticipation of the market, the currenty returns from Cal catta showing a sudden decrease of crores in the stock of rupees during une week, and this being followed by further diminutions, the total reserve (apart from the gold standard reserve) was only 19- crores at the end of January as against 2 crores on the same date in 1911.
varied between 251d. and 29-11-16d., as The quotations for spot silver have against 23-11/16, and 2010. in 1911 touched during the carly months, thus In each year the lowest quotation was indicating the rising tendency, and this has been particularly evident during tho Mr. Matheson mentioned that there are having been again quoted since January past 12 months, the lowest price 251d. not 30,000 riesha coolies in Shanghai,
The 1st rieshas are owned by men who hire them out to the coolics for so much per day and what is made over the amount of the hire A Nagasaki dispatch says the Nippon paid to the owner belongs to the coolie. Yusen Kaisha has placed an order with Repairs to the ricsbas are paid by the owners, but fines for touting and ob- the Mitsu Bishi Shipbuilding Yard for struction have to be paid by the coolies, the construction of a steamer of 10,400 who, when the risha is confiscated for a The fine An order for a similar steamer period, have to bear the loss. has been placed with the Kawasaki Ship-ney is usually borrowed at twenty per
cent. interest. There are over 4,000 rub building Yard in Kobe. The message
ber-tyred richas with an average of two adds that the Mitsu Rishi Shipbuilding coolies for each, and about 6,000 old Yard is already engaged in building a
rieahas with an average of three coolies steamer of 10,400 tons to the order of the at from seventy-ave to eighty cents, per each. The rubber-tyred rieskas are birca Nippon Yusen Kaisha:
day and the average daily takings of the two coolies are $1.20. Old rieshas are the daily takings of the three coolies hired at twenty to thirty cents a day, and average lifty cents. The coolies live from hand to mouth, eating when they can, starving when from sickness, confiscation of ricaba or other causes, they have none. When they can pay for a racal at a conges hours on the floor, ut failing the cash the coolie, with bis riesha, keeps vine Matheson, at the brevity of the lives of all night. One need not wonder, said Mr.
ant
INDIAN, AND CHINESE INFLUENCES,
ago, and therefore much further advance seams hardly likely. The large holdings by bulls, about which so much was heard last year, are still a menace to the mar-
INTIMATIONS
ket, for although at times these holdings OVERWORK,
have been reduced, the rise in price this year has given speculators fresh heart, and their holdings are again considerable. the other hand, in spite of the Indian during the year, their stock of silver Government having bought £8,000,000 in the Currency Department, including that already shipped from London, is con- siderably less than at this time last year. It will thus be seen that should the with- drawals of rupees during the next five the stock of silver in the Currency. Do months be on the same scale as in 1912, partment would be reduced to a point purchases by the Government. which would necessitate further large
The total imports of silver show an in- crease of over two million sterling, as is almost entirely due to the rise in price. compared with last year, but this increase The actual amount of silver received from New York has been almost the same, though the arrivals from Canada have slightly increased. The exports of silver the Continent, Ruseia, Germany, and show that considerably less was sont to
the quantity they took in 1911. France having each taken only about half Royal Mint has again been very active for home coinage, though the coinage for West Africa has been much less than the two previous years.
INDIAN DEMAND FOR GOLD.
Tho
FATIGUE,
EXPOSURE.
The Food Question
All disappear or are alleviated With regard to gold, Messrs. Mocatta by the gentle stimulus of a glass of and Goldsmid state that, as in 1911, there! is little of interest on which to comment PEMRTIN'S CLUB SHERRY with regard to gold, the chief feature being the extraordinary lack of movement The delicious aroma, together with in the quotation which has remained at the minimam price. 77s. ed., throughout its inviting comfort, drives away the whole year, with the exception of the weariness and cheers on to further not fully measured so year,
last day of September and the first two days of October, when 778. 9id, was
Was efforts. and by the middle of February 17jd.
keen been reached. February, however, was a demand for New York. With these condi- mouth of somewhat wide fluctuations, ༡
The requirements of the Indian Govern- crops, and therefore on a favourable or ment, which depend so very much on the
not belly meal to carly in the ear,
but the market became distinctly buuoted, there being at that time a
torium, and asked whether there should in the Clyde shipbuilding industry, if In view of the unprecedented activity not be special bye-laws to
is known that a number of import govern this matter, one of which would be the
developments are under
con- necessity for a post-mortem examination.
sideration. Announcement has just
and Engineering Company (Limited) has applied to the Greenock Harbour Trustees Mr. CHAN KAI MING-I think a public for a large arch of hitherto undeveloped mortuary for the use of those who prefer ground with a river frontage for the pur-these unfortunate men. There are some of formal abdication of the Manchu dynasty trade) at the official minimum of 770. 9d., there is no need to insist upon post. hose of extension or new developinents in their haunts where for thirty cash with and the establishment of a Republican £2,200,000 in bars.
The Hon, Mr. Hawer minuted-I am been made that Scott's Shipbuilding shop they are allowed to sleep for a for fall of 11-16d. occurring on the 18th. This tions there have been very few weeks when i
in favour of the erection of a public mortuary for the use of all.
cremation would benefit ali.
Certainly
mortem examinations in cases where doc- tors have certified the cause of death and there is no suspicion of foul play.
Dr. FITZWILLIAMS-I think that this is a matter on which the Medical Board should have their opinions recorded. A crematorium would be of great benefit in Hongkong, but a post-moriem examinn tion should be a sine qua non. It would satile the question of overcrowded cene
connection with the business of the
company,
The Hamburg-American Shipping Line bas definitely decided to enter into com petition with Canadian, American, and Japanese lines for the Pacific trade be- tween the western ports of North America and the Far East. The new service will be inaugurated as early this year as is practicable. It will be in the nature of an extension of the company's existing The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-The service to the Far Last, the vessels proceed. Medical Officer of Health raises the ques-ing from Chinese and Japanese ports to tion of passing bye-laws with reference to Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, and San crematoria. In view of the fact that one Francisco. such establishment has been started in the Colony, he might be asked to submit draft bye-laws for the consideration of
teries.
the Board.
The HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT-The pro- visit of gauernt crematoria can be con- sidered with the estimates. The present question is whether the cromatoria require to be regulated by bye-laws
The PRESIDENT This is a pew question, The first crematorium has been opened near Mount Caroline Cemetery, and I suggest, before taking any further steps in regard to it, we obtain, through the Government, information as to bye-laws governing crematoria in Japan-this is a Japanese crematoria-and also as to the laws governing crematoria in England. If this information, together with a set of drafted by-laws, is furnished it might If any be of use to the Board later on. member desires any particular bye-law inserted in that draft I should be glad to hear of it now.
Mr. BoWLEY-I do not think it is neces- sary to refer to Japan on this subject, as all the material is in the Colony. suggest that the bye-laws should framed on the lines of the English regula
The collision action resulted
bedding, and thirteen cash without, a man may sleep for the night on the floor or on one of the tiers of shelves used for beds. Here the conditions are terrible: in the small rooms any number from ten to fifty sleep. In three small houses, which M. Matheson visited, he was informed that between 200 and 300 men were quartered at night.
The Rev. E. Box stated that the lives of the coolies were very short indeed after they entered upon this work, and he added that it should be possible to do something to alleviate their condition.
Dr. Davenport said the condition of went to Shantung Road coolies who Hospital was most pitiable. There was no question that their lives were short.
Mr. Matheson further stated that he had ascertained that some 4,000 of these coolies were married and that the marrica men lived outside the Settlements in huts which were worse than those of the beg gars. The figures quoted were the result of personal investigation,
Dr. Schab suggested that the Municipal Council might have pointed out to it the desirability of the institution of a medical examination of coolics as was the case in Japan.
After some further diseassion the follow ing resolution was adopted :-
In the Admiralty Court, London, a num- ber of consolidated actions were brought to recover salvage remuneration for ser- vices rendered to the Glasgow steamship Glenroy, niter she had been in collision with the Dutch steamship Rijsstroom in the River Humber, off the Alexandra Dock, at Hull, on the night of November 2nd last. in the Rijnstroom being found alone to The plaintiffs in the present blame. actions were the owners, masters, and crews of several steam-tugs. The award which the Presidenti mando was as follows: -Diplomat, $210; Minas, £210; Hutton £425; Clansman, £138; the Hall and the Dock Authority, £385-of that I give £50 to the master and crew of the Hull; Mr. Wheeldon £238, to include £138 expenses; Mr. Spink £50, and Mr. Collin £25-workers. making a
total award of £1,708.
THE MANILA CARNIVAL.
That this meeting, recognizing that the ricsha coolies of the International aid in improvement of their present com- Settlement are in urgent need of material dition, appoints the following as members of a Committee with power to add to their number to investigate the physical ricsha coolies of Bhanghai live, the com- and social conditions under which the mittee to report to a meeting to be called by the secretary of this meeting with view to steps being taken to improve the condition of this large contingent of The Committee was elected as follows: Rev. E Box, Messrs. Matheson, Lock wood, Ma Boo and Tsao.
fall was attributed to some profit-taking part or all of the arrivals (subject to tho the Bank of England has not received sales before the Chinese New Year, and not as might have been thought to the usual requirements for India and the
and
the during
has year
received
The total exports also show an increase, amounting to about six million sterling, for, although Franco and Turkey have taken less, the requirements for India continue to increase and the shipments there in small bars and sovereigns reach the very big total of $12,000,000. Nearly £5,000,000 has gone to Egypt and about, £7,000,000 to Germany.
Government in China which was nounced on February 12th. The change of Government was, as a matter of fact, considered a bull point, the question of large Chinese loans being immediately talked of.
to
Bix-
TANJONG PAGAR CASE.
END OF THE RECORD ACTION IN CHANCERY,
This is how the Daily News and Leader of December 21st alludes to the close of the Aird-Tanjong Pagar case in London:
boots behind.
oily, watery, and
BOLE AGENTS:
H. RUTTONJEE & SON,
Wine and Spirit Merchants.
131
Chs. J. Gaupp
& Co.,
ALEKANDRA BUILDINGS,
CHATKE ROAD.
WATCHMAKERS,
JEWELLERS AND OPTICIANS
FINE DIAMOND
JEWELLERY
A SPECIALITY.
AND
SWISS
GOLD AND SILVER WATCHES,
GOLD ·AND SILVER BRACELET
WATCHES.
ENGLISH MOUNTED CHINESE JADE
JEWELLERY.
galaxy" of juniors MAPPIN & WEBB'S
The Dock Board denied the allegations that of misrepresentation, declaring plaintiffs were well aware of the condi tions, and said they had suffered a loss of a million through Meters. Aird not carrying out the contract.
Five B.C
.C.'s and were briefed, and the fees and re- freshers" are said to have run into five figures. The leader on one side received
"refresher" of £100 a day, on the other 2,000 guinsas, each getting
During April and May the quotation gradually advanced to over 28d., a level which had not been reached during the last five years, and it was very evident in the market that purchases of large amounts were being made, and the silver stared at the Bank of England, in order conceal its ultimate destination. Suspicions, however, were raised as to the identity of the purchaser as the stock of rupees, according to the currency re- turns, being now reduced to 11 crores, it was felt the Indian Government would hardly risk further withdrawals without
An action which has extended over 42 making some provision to replace them.
In the meantime there were hopeful days and is said to have cost $7 a minute signs of the approaching monsoon, and came to an end in Mr. Justice Parker's these signs were quickly followed by the Court in the Chancery Division yester- CHRONOMETER-MAKERS, actual commencement of the rains in day. The documents on cach side weighed The dispute concerned a India, and the market once more seemed half a tort. to take fresh life at rather a higher level, £1,000,000 contract by Messrs. John Aird as high as 28-9-16 being quoted on June & Co. for the construction of a dock ut The Chinese Loan Singapore for the Tanjong Pagar Dock 22nd and 24th.
famous contractors negotiations, however, with the
Board, and the Power Group, which had been under claimed £500,000 damages for alleged mis- consideration for some weeks, were re-
representations with respect to the strata ported not to be progressing smoothly. through which the trenches had to be The opening statement of Mr. Upjohn, and as these loans were one of the ball sunk. factors in the market, the deadlock which K.C., took four days, and he called was reported caused some uneasiness amongst the large holders of silver. Dur- twenty-four witnessen, some of whom ing Juls, on it becoming realized that declared that there was no mud in the China had definitely rejected the terms on world to compare with Singapore, and ENGLISH, AMERICAN "Six-Power Group," some heavy profit- impossible to had the men who did. which the loan was offered them by the that it was taking sales on Chinese account depressed not catch fever got some form of skin the market, and with India the sole sup- disease, the frogs made a noise like
fell in, and if a man slipped off be dis- porter, prices, sagged till 27-9-18d. was motor bus in Fleet-street," the timber touched early in August.
This last-mentioned quotation (27-0-188) appeared unless somebody was near to proved, however, to be another turning pull him out, and then he left his high point in the price fluctuations of the year, and early in August, on it becoming de finitely realized that the large purchases which had given so much strength to the market since last March were for the Indian Government, and that therefore a large portion of the above-mentioned stock was carmarked for them, there was a sudden revival of orders and the price rushed up to 284d. by the 17th of that month, which is higher than silver had Indian Government continued through August and September, and the price far.
advanced to 28-7-16d.; but at this. comparatively high level China was a filled. During the latter part of Septem- bar the Shanghai exchange became dis- a rather tinctly firmer, and there was sharp advance in the rates, apparently influenced by the issue of loans to China by independent financiers, both on the Continent and in London, outside the "Six-Power Group. Purchases of silver were made in connection with these loans, and by October 2nd the price was ne high a3 291d., and remained at about that level Large arrivals of for some days. Mexican dollars, however, prevented the likelihood of much further rise, and on A conference of delegates from branches STUDY this being realized, profit-taking sales of the National Sailors and Firemen's caused a rapid decline, and within the Union all over the country was held on next few days 29d. was quoted.
December 29 at Poplar Town Hall to During November the Indian Govern consider the position in the shipping ment bought silver to the extent of a fur industry. A circular urging members The text has been issued of the Merther £1,000,000 to add to the five million of the union to prepare for a strike was THE EYE We learn that the concessions which will chandise Marks (No. 2) Bill, to amend bought earlier in the year; but this had rerently issued by Mr. Havelock Wilson, There were about 150 line both sides of Joy Lane are more the law as to trade marke and trade little effect on the price, which remained the president. numerous and better than ever this year, and include almost every known amuse-by Mr. Basil Peto.
descriptions, which has been presented at a lower level than it had during Octo representatives present at the conference ber. The effect of these purchases, how-yesterday, including delegates from Ham- ments devised, from "temples of horrors" calculated to send one into shrieks of goods bearing inscriptions liable to make ber, the shipments considerably reducing. Mr. Wilson presided over the meeting. The measure seeks to provide that all ever, became more marked during Decemborg, Bremen, Antwerp, and Rotterdam. laughter to that hilarious delight of the purchasera believe that they have been the visible stocks in London and giving which was private. At the close he made
The Merry-go-round," or
The the following statement to the Press- manufactured within the British Islands the market a healthier undertone.
"The conference dealt with the question The patron saint of this year's carnival shall be marked with the words British highest quotation of the year, 29-11-16d. is Billikin, and a monstrous image of this Empire made, if manufactured in any for spot, was reached several times dur of the national policy, which means the German: Women," which is published is little fellow, with his happy-go-lucky part of the British Empire outside the ing the last month and the market has demand on the part of the seamen for the Defence, the organ of the German army Bruile, has been installed on the verandah British Islands, or with the words Not been unusually active, although at the establishment, of a conciliation board, money, and partly to signs of the stock wages, but also hours of labour, the man- League, German mothers are urged to of the administration building, at the British" if manufactured outside the actual close, partly owing to dearer not only to deal with the question of, and the agreements, take up a firm stand against the growing back of which rises a tall steel tower of British Empire.
All goods marked "British Empire again accumulating, we now quote conning question, in Berlin electric lights, which change from white for "night life
general conditions of service on board It will be seen that the feature of the ship. After a full discussion of these Nothing, the writer states, is so surely to red and green. This can be seen from made in accordance with this provision siderably below the highest quotation.
are to be accompanied by a sworn declara- designed to sap the vitality of the nation Corregidor, 30 miles away.
has been the large quantities bought and to annihilate martial virtues. Judging from the way in which the tion before a Commissioner for Oaths verdian Government, and the con- questions, and an expression of opinion
"We women," she says, are the nerves|
hotels are filling up with visitors from that the goods were manufactured within sequent advance in the price, though the from the delegates of all the differenti of Germany. The merr are the muscles, the China coast and Japan, Manila is the British Empire.
Chinese Loan negotiations have not been ports strongly in favour of insisting on & national conference with the owners, again to have her hotel accommodation The importation of goods not comply without their influence. We have it in our power to lend those severely taxed, but now that the new ing with the proposals is to be prohibited, muscles the strength necessary for the Manila Hotel is open and in running and persons selling any such articles or
Looking to the future, the probable it was resolved that the matter be referred course of silver is very difficult to fore to the executive council to take whatever maintenance of Germany's position in order, the lack of suitable accommodation making false representations us to the cast. We have to remember that the action they may deem necessary at their the world and the realisation of her cannot be so badly felt as on previous place in which the goods were made will metal is now (in spite of the recent fall) next meeting, which will be held on Jegitimate ambitions."
carnival occasions,
be guilty of an offence.
about 4d. au ounce, higher than a year January 4 at the Maritime Hall. ***
tions, and all the questions mooted in number of visitors as well as in quality condition of affairs which, judging from been since 1907. These purchases for the 2,500 guineas on his brief, and the leader
bye-laws that would be passed ought to cover any crematorium, whether erected for public or for private purposes,
Mr. BOWLEY-I suggest the bye-laws should be general.
will
he
a
His Lordship came to the conclusion that there had been a blunder through and reserved judgment on other points.
Mr. Noel O. Watson writes to the N.-. All Manila is now sitting up o' nights planning for the 1913 Carnival, which Daily News on the subject as follows: will open on February 1ste and close The meeting held yesterday to discuss the abovo subicct only went to prove the "when they get through or February Ioth, and from the advanced statement of futility of any charitable organization be the Carnival Directors it shows that this to deal with these wretched men,
Are we not as rulers and residents in year will eclipse all previous efforts in
this foreign concession responsible for a of attractions,
Just now interest is centred in the recent figures, is becoming worse! Surely the minutes could be dealt with.
auto and comic parade, it is to the Settlement's interest to curb The PRESIDENT-With regard to the commercial,
the immigration into our midst of the. which will be bold on the opening least desirable specimens of Chinese; how question of a public crematorium, any day and end with a grand festivy many, disgusted at such an existence, fairly heavy seller, and orders were easily carelessness, but no intention to deceive,
"Raising the Devil," which known as
followed by the "Devil make a trial at thieving or burglary as
welcome change? Raising Ball" where everybody ex- pects to have a grand times. More than
Dr. von Schab's suggestion that coolies $3,000 in prizes will be awarded to those should be medically examined, is good who participate in the parade, which this this with the issue of licences, should koep a check on their whereabouts or rear combines commercial, government, automalle, and comic sections, to make doings. Another remedy is that the tax pageant surpassing any of recent years on rieshas be raised: the industry can in the Far East. Besides the many hand support this judging from the type of somely decorated floate, bundreds of natives now able to hire these luxuries.
I hold no brief for trame, but they maskers will join in the competition for
have come to
Our narrow, busy the best costume prize of $100. After the thoroughfares are choked with a mixture parade has passed the reviewing stand of vehicles such as no other town is where the judges and officials will be afflicted with. The time has arrived when sentext, the ceremony of Raising the Devil" will take place, and a huge head showing the sneering countenance of his satanic majesty in green and red electric lights will be hoisted over the gate with appropriate ritual..
Dr. FITZWILLIAMS-1 second that that the by-laws be drafted as a preliminary to discussion here. I think the question of a post-mortem is a very big one.
LESS INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
there Dr.
mentioned that CLARK
of small nx had been eight cases
There was during the last seven days. no case of enteric, one of diphtheria, and one of puerperal fever, so that the report was rather more satisfactory than the last presented to the Board. Dr. Clark added
that there were two cases of plague this year at Bhaukiwan.
NO"NIGHT LIFE" FOR MOTHERS.
In a letter from "A German Woman ta
craze
youngsters, the Carousal."
atay
we should endeavour to relieve them,
BRITISH TRADE MARKS BILL.
HIGHEST PRICE TOUCHED.
In the fees paid, the mass of documents, and time occupied this case beats the famous Wyler v. Lewis" action in the King's Bench Division, which lasted thirty-five days and was known as the
'everlasting case."
THE THREATENED STRIKE OF SEAMEN.
OUR
OF
SILVERWARE,
CUTLERY and
PRINSES PLATE.
41
and its anatomy and our long experiance in correcting defective vision enable us to tell beyond doubt if your eyes will be benefited by wearing glasses.
Our method of testing is scientiño and scourate. If you do not need glasses we will tell you so. If you do need glasses we can supply and fit them at artremely moderate prices.
MAKE
CERTAIN.
WE WILL TELL YOU.
•SCIENTIFIC OPTICIAN YO
VORK BLOGS.
CHATER
F
RQ
MONGKONG