38
to the question of the lighting and ventilation in this reetpoints out in my minute that the houses are very low-only about 25 feet high- but in dance with Ordinance 15 of 1894 they can considerably increased in height. and then have the ends of the streets blocked up there would be great danger to the public health. I move "That the Colonial Secretary be informed that the Sanitary Board advises that the application for the extension of the lease of Injaâd, Lot 1,347 be reinzed.”
Mr. EDs seconded and said he had very great objections to these lenes being obstructed. It was very necessary that they should bare plenty of light and he entirely agreed with the remarks of the Medical Officer of Health.
The VICE-PRESIDENTIt seems to me that there is force in what the Medical Officer of Health has said, but at present, I cannot see that the place is obstructed.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEAT-Not vory much at present, but the people are likely to raise the height of the houses very consider ably.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
the term of probation did not come into force until more than six weeks after Inspector Phillips was appointed, and under the circum- stances it would appear to me to be a distinct breach of faith to make it apply to his case. No such new rules ought in fairness to be made retrospective.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-I am not in favour of asking the Government to break or relax a rule. If Mr. Phillips is en- titled to it under any, well, let him have it, otherwise uot.
In a second minute the VICE-PRESIDENT wrote--The new rule came into force on the 29th September. He has drawn compensation up to the 30th September. What 1 object to is to ask Government to pay him compensation after the rule came in force, ie, from 1st Oct. to the 15th November.
In the discussion which followed the reading of the minutes the VICE-FRESIDENT pointed out that the applicant had already drawn six weeks' salary.
The MEDICAL OFFICHE
OF
There is no promise in regard to compensa- tion or anybody.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-If it is intended to raise the houses, I quite agree with the Medical Officer of Health, but I visited the place and saw that the lane was practically clean. I examined the archway on both sides and could not see that the houses created a nuisance. If the owner was called upon to take it down there would be considerable ex- pense, because he would have to take down the houses on each side, sud as there is not now any nuisance and the raising of the houses is a remote contingency I see no harm in extending | day week. the lease.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-I agree with the Director of Public Works. It seems to me that it would be rather bareh to put a man to case where we all admit that the expeuse in a place is not a nuisance or an obstruction. I am afraid I cannot vote in favour of the resolution.
The ICE-PRESIDENT-I propose that the application be forwarded to the Government together with the minutes of the members,
This course was agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT.
The Board then adjourned patil next Thurs-
QUEEN'S JOLLEGE PRIZE DIS- TAIBUTION,
January 19, 1868 seats, made by Dr. Stewart in 1982, was adhered to.
Ten years ago, I recomman 276 as a minimum, and subsequently as maximum accommodation; alleging as a rea the overcrowding in the Central Scheuing to the want of capacity in the building to met the demand, increasing every decade Fina financial point of view, too, it must be satisfa tory to have 224 extra monthly fees with additional cost in the way of increased staff.
5.--My experience at the old Central Sche with its 450 Loys taught me that it was ol when the demand exceeded the supply th regular attendance could be enforced with the necessary strictness,
Chinese are Exe nod
other people, they value most what there is some difficulty in attaining. If a guardar finds that his boy's sent. vacated for some trivial cause, is taken in bis absence by acober he learns to respect the exigencies of sche routine. I therefore glad to draw attention to a pronounced improvement this year in aitendance.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Where
274
247
,April 2, 1898.j domain she is now opening up by a railway, is well that England should uphold the assisted the Chinese Custotas authorities, which is approaching completion, but she principle of the open door, that she should other traders passed in goode almost with has no part on the castern seaboard that is assert herself, and recover the prestige in ont supervision, the Chinese having no open all the year round, Vladivostock, the Far East that she forfeited by her Consular aid from other Powers. The con ber most southerly port, being ice bound for negligence (rather than her weakness); but fusion from want of proper machinery of several months of the year. As a terminus it is not well that she should oppose the administration, after the withdrayal of the for the great Trans-Siberian railway Viadi-opening by others of doors that she is not British Consular aid to the collection of the
sicek is therefore unsuitable. But ad-in a position to open herself. joining Siberia at its south-eastern corner Russia touches British interests, as in Taiping Rebellion of 1858 Then came the revenue, was increased at Shanghai by the is the Chinese province of Manchuria, demanding the dismissal of British subjects establishment of why we know as the with its ports open all the year round and in the employ of the Chinese Govorument, which would serve admirably as an outlet or in endeavouring to secure control of the provides that the Chinese Government Foreign Customs. The Tientsin Treaty and inlet for the trade Siberia. If Great Chinese Customs, or in any like ways, it is may select any British subject to aid Britain were circumstanced as Russia is the duty of the British Government to ery in the administration of Customs revenue nothing on earth would keep Manchuria hands off, but it is neither our duty por our and in the prevention of smuggling. The Fout of our possession; we would be willing interest to oppose the legitimate develop interposition thus established between the to buy it if it was for sale, or to fight for nient and extension of Russia's Siberian Chinese Custom authorities on the one it if i could not be obtained otherwise, but possessions. we would have it by some mean or other.
hand, and the British traders on the other Haman nature is much the sape all the THE INSPECTORATE-GENERAL OF says not only to supply all that had been hand, wameaut, the article in the Journal The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-This
6-The total amount of fees collected thithet Russia should pursue a policy that we world over, and we cannot be urprised
CUSTOMS AND BRITISH The VICE-PRESIDENT-Would you have any man was appointed on the understanding that year has been $13,460, or $3,500 in exces d
INTERESTS IN CHINA.
"seful in the Hong merchants before the objection to allowing the obstruction to gain while he was on probation he would receive last year's revenue from this source, and bat know very well we would ourselves porque
treaties of 1842-43, and in the British if the houses remain as they are at prezent compensation. If a rule is passed after be hasing the previous record in 1895 of $12,807. f under similar circumstances.
The Board of Trade Journal for February
Consule afterwards, until withdrawn by The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-The joined the service I do not think it is fair should be remembered that the largest arous But it may be said that the principle of contains two articles which, appearing at
Lord PALMERSTON in 1851, but also to objection to that is that the man who owns the that it should apply to him. When civil ser- offs collected in the Old Central Schnai wa
doing us you would be done by has now the present juncture, may be considered
take up the construction and administra- obstruction does not, so far as I am aware, own vabts-
16.899 in 1888, and prior to my arrival in 188 place in the code of international relations to possess special significance. The Journal
tion of a new and improved system of the houses on each side of the street.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-It does not sayin | $4,051 in 1881.
and that every question must be looked at is edited by the Commercial Department of
Chinese Customs under Art. 46 of the is application that he was promised compeu- 7.It should be manifest that the introdus
solely as affecting our own interests. In the Board of Trade and its contents ordin- ation.
tion of so many new boys has necessitated considering the subject upon that groundly consist of abstracts of official reports
Treaty, representing, as towards the "Chinese authorities, the views and re- HEALTH-rapid promotions; this will be the mere evide
when it is understood, that of the 587 new bog
the conclusion arrived at must be that to
British and foreign, and reprints or trape-
quirements of the British traders, and, (not including 94 re-admissions) 443 wet fight with Russia about the sovereignty of ticus of newspaper articles bearing on trade
os towards the British traders, the views the Preparatory. 115 to the Lower, and Manchurit would be a stupendous mistake, questions. As a rule the editorial work cuu- "and requirements of the Chinese authori- the Upper School, 22 of these last bein Victory would no doubt attend our arms, sists of compilation and condensation only and
"ties.
It was fully recognised that admitted to the non-Chinese classes. As a cor but the not result of the campaign would does not include any original writing. The
"the officer to be appointed by the Chinese sequence 8 boys from Class IV. were exami
show a big balance on the wrong side. In February umber, however, furuishes oo
"Government as Inspector-General must, in in Class II., 24 from Class V, in Class III, an
the first place, even if it were granted that exception this rule The article on
"the order of things, be a British subject, more remarkable still, 23 boys from Class V
it was desirable to keep Russia out of Man-
"British Commercial Relations with China
"whilst the Commissioners at the Ports and were examined in Class IV., and 12 from Cie
choria, and supposing that that object was
"and the Estylishment of the Inspectorate-
"the foreign members of the Service, ap- VIII. in Class V. From these specimens.
attained, the advantage intensity of the upward impetus may perlay
would prove
General of Chinese aperial Maritime
"pointed by the Inspector-General himself, be estimated.
sphemeral. for Russia would immediately
"Customs," though compilation, does not
"should be subjcets of the various Powers 8.Three little books on English convers recommence working for the attainment of profess to be a mere famary of any parti
"with whom China had treaties--the prin cular public documgn but embodies in- tion were prepared by myself, at the ins her own end, and would in the long run
"cipal fentare of the service therefore being a of the Governing Body, and printed at get all she wanted, not by means of open dependent deductions and
conclusions,
Cosmopolitan staff, and its first essential expense of the Government early in the ghting, but by quietly and steadily press and appears to have been written spe- "being one Chief, and such Chief a British But as the cost necessitated excess of ing onward and taking advantage of every cially for the Journal, r, which is per-
subject." An attempt was recently made amount provided for this item, the Gererne opportunity that offered. But, in the second haps more probable, for the information to wrest the office of Inspector-General from more than re-imbursed itself by selling scholars the balance of these stores in brace, it is not to our interest that Russia in the first place of Her Majesty's Miuis British hands, but was frustrated, and it His Excellency the Governor then approved should be excluded from Manchuria, and to ters, being then placed at the disposal has now been formally agreed that as long as British trade with China exceeds that of in the colony for the express use of this colle operation of cutting off one's nose to spite the view not only of enlightening the other Powers the Luspector-General shall be should cease to be included in school stores, one's face. We do not like Russia's methods public in general as to our interests in a British subject. It is satisfactory to know expense of which is defrayed by the fees paid of government or her protectionist prin China, hut letting foreign Governments that the point has been so decisively settled,
Sclulars
thera ples, but making full allowance for all also see the position from a Brith stand and it is also satisfactory to have a semi-official announcement such as that published in be admitted that Manchuria would be much of the article, it is a useful and signicant 9. The immediate result was that a re
cre profitable to us in Russin's hands than one After a brief reference to the British Government. The article is fol- aseful bilingual vocabulary long in in manuscript form, prepared by the Sea Chinese hands.
ditions prevailing in the pre-treaty days lowed by statistics compiled from the Master (Mr. A. J. May) was approved by
Russia with 8 population only a summary is given of the various changes Chinese Customs returns for 1896 showing quarter as great as that of China, and that followed the opening of the treaty ports, that Great Britain carries 82 per cent. of Governing Body and published.
10-Towards the end of the year, I twithstanding her protectionist prin- leading up to the establishment of the the total trade with Chins under foreign mitted three suggestions, which on the recites, bugs from Great Britain nearly Inspectorate-General of the Chinese Imags and pays 76 per cent. of the dues and mendation of the Governing Body received twice as much as China. She will so perial Maritime Customs. By the General ties collected on that trade. Excellency's approval. The object aimed at prove a good customer in Siberia, And Regulations of Trade issued in pursuance all of then was the same, viz., the increst is not to our interest to try to cripple of the Nanking Treaty, the Chinese Superin The Trade and Shipping of the Yangtaze- English-teaching power throughout the coils
The immense possibilities of teudent of Customs at each port was to
"kiang, in which a good deal of informa- The total accommodation provided is 924 as follows: In the Preparatory Scket Seria are only beginning to dawn upon adopt the means that he might judge most tion is given regarding the working of the sents, We had a monthly attendance of overbolishing monitors and appointing an ex
he world, but that extensive domain is in proper to prevent the revenue suffering by transit pass systems, and statistics are com 900 scholars during seven months of the year, Chinese assistant; in the Lower School, bý
most promising fields fraud and smuggling and the British Consul piled showing the share of Great Britain in the the largest numbers being 961 in September, hier English masters of mathematical less ruth one of the 950 in May, 942 in June. The attendance 900 in the Upper School, a competant af trade amongst new countries, and was to be security for all British merchant trade. The article concludes as follows:
"It may be gain pointed out that the has only been touched in one previous year, mathematical roaster to be appointed, the possession of Manchuria is essential ships, and in the event of any instance
"grent river is the chief commercial artery viz., 1891, when the college was a novelty; in leaving the English masters at terty to its proper development it is to the inter-of smuggling coming to his knowledge
was instantly to apprise "of Chinn, down which will eventually March and April of that year the figures 919, lessons in English reading, &c., to classet of the world that Russia should have the Consul 932 were attained, to fail however before its the Lower School; in the College generally Manchuria. The completion of the Trans- the Chinese Authorities of the fact. Fol-"be carried the pucipal products of the close to 744, whereas in December last 866 boys increasing the English staff by two mast Siberian Railway and its extension to Port lowing the British Treaties France and the "Empire. The vast mineral resources, the
The scheme to divide the assistant mast were present.
3.---This sudden access of numbers is due to a into two graces, senior and junior, fourthur or Taliewan may mean some diver- natural spontaneous cause, which we may there each, thas providing eight instead of of traffic and may cut into some existing fore reasonably expect to prove abiding. A English masters, a sight additional cest terests, but on the other hand it will aftord demand for European dineation has arisen, Government, the vices of two Chivast market f British goods and give em
ployment te British shipping largely exceed- during the last two years, throughout the length assistants being of course dispensed with. and breadth of China, Native English-teach- Jameson's resignation affords oppor tanilag in abonat any that it may take away, ing schools have sprung up in Canton, Swatow, the appointment of e of these and Hongkong the Siberian trade will pro
masters, the full realisations of the frably in course of time become more valu- Government resolved to withdraw the Con: and the neighbourhood of Macao, while even in Yokohama the Chinese community are about to having to await a further uoy in these even that our extensive and rapidly suis from any interference with the Chinese open a school, where English, Japanese and grade.
11- Mr Jameson, absent on lare, ressing Pacific trade, and therefore from a Customs. The chief British grievance was Chinese will be taught.
not to return to the colony, as he has found cal point of view we certainly can have no this, that while
It strictly supervised by their Consuls who 'fered with in any way. There appears, climate prejudicial to his health; he accordi rest in trying to thwart Russia.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-It must be borne in miud, Sir, that this was originally an encroachment on Crown land and that owing to the lapse of time before it was discovered, the owner was permitted by the Government to retain the houses on payment
of an annual rental until such time as it was then thought the bricks and mortar would hol together. That time has now elapsed and think you will find that the solicitor for tho a plicant admits that very considerable repairs will be necessary if the lease is extended.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-Imove as an amendment that the lease be gatended as an annual lose as long as the lane continues in its present condition and the houses are not raised.
The VICE-PRESIDENT secondel. The amendment was put and the mover and
seconder voted in favour of it.
The original resolution was then put and this, too, received the support only the mover and seconder.
The VICE-PRESIDENT said he would not give a casting vote but would send both the amendment and the resolution to the Colonial Secretary.
A QUESTION OF COMPENSATION,
Inspector Phillips applied for compensation in respect of salary received during his three months' probatio. He pointed out that it was customary in i potice and gaol departments to pay office compensation in respect of salary received during the term of probation,
for.
The following minutes were appended - Mr. EDE-I am in favour of asking the Goverment to grant the compensation asked The VICE-PRESIDENT-It is distiretly laid down that no offices, except police, ou probation are to receive exchange compensation. I see no pe in asking the Government to break the rule that has been recet tly made.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-The Captain Superintendent of Police overlooks the fact that the rule as to compensation during
SPEFCH B SIR JÓNN CARRINGTON,
On 4th Jan., at noon, Is Excellency the Go. vernor distributed the prizes at Queen's College
There was very large attendance, among these presey being Sir Jhu Carrings (Chie Justice Hou, J. H. Stewart Lockhari (Colonist Secretary, Mr. A. G. We (Puisne Judge), Hon. Ho Kai. Rev. R. F. bbold, Rev. W. Pearce, Father Torres, Mr. W. Brewin (Inspector of Schools), Surgeon-Cornel Evatt,
The Head Master read his auunal Report as follows:-
&c.
my recommendation that all books, publisky to exclude her is suggestive of the of the Board of Trade for publication, with
vacation months.
were
1-681 boys were admitted in the course of / instructed to procure such books for themsel drawbacks of that kind it must nevertheless point. At all events, whatever the origin the Journal of the ground taken up by the
the past twelve months, raising the total voll from 531 in January to 1,212 in December. It is thus evident that we have in the same year been practically dealing with two separate schools, an old and a new one, each as large as the old Central Schools, whose record total at tendance in 1888 was 634. It is a somewhat
formidable undertaking to organise in one yea an entirely new school of 600 scholars; but the task of suitably accommodating and classifying an inrush of 600 new candidates for admission is even more complex.
4-It is a matter of congratulation to the Government that the original estimate of 700
at shops.
Sur customer,
United States also concluded Treaties, but neither of these contained any provision for Consular aid in the collection of the Chinese Customs revenue, as did the British Trea- ties. Unavailing negotiations with regard to the trade in opium continued for several years until at length, in 1551, the British
were British traders
other article in the Journal is entitled
"copper, iron ore, d coal of Yunune, "Szachuen, and Hupel, the white wax of Szechuen and the Indine ink of Ngaa- "whei, the China clay of Kangsi, and the "silk and silk manufactures of all the "central provinces must all their way "via the treaty ports of the river their "proper outlet at Shanghai and thence to "the markets of the Westeru world This is the reason why England is so determined that the Yangtsze trade shall not be inter-
こ