575
would undertake the work.
In many cases the people set to work and cleansed before the 3rd day and the houses being found clean by the Inspector on the appointed morning were exempted from further cleansing. It was necessary also to exempt many ground floors used as shops, but frequently shop-keepers turned all their goods out voluntarily and cleansed. No serious difficulty occurred and no complaints against either the people or the Board's Officers were made.
The work started on November 10th, 1903, and ended on February 8th, 1904, well before the Chinese New Year.
During the time 31,226 floors were cleansed at a cost of $6,122.99. This sum includes $2,052.00 paid for the fitting up of the soap boilers, the remainder for the purchase of soap, fuel, and for coolie hire for haulage of dust carts etc. Since this first general cleansing was finished and shortly after the Chinese New Year holiday was over the Board decided that the work should be continued. This has been done and although there has occasionally been difficulty through shortness of water 16,430 floors have been recleansed.
(Sd.) W. Pearse.
12th April, 1904.