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Beri-beri was responsible for 517 deaths, as compared with 398 during 1915 and 399 in 1914. During the past few years circulars have been distributed to all large employers of coolie labour calling their attention to the fact that Beri-beri is produced by the consumption of white rice as the staple article of diet without a sufficiency of other foods, and advising that beans should be supplied with the rice, when fresh meat or fresh fish cannot be afforded.
A tabular statement of the principal causes of death is appended.
(c.)-CLIMATE.
The mean shade temperature for the year at the Royal Observatory, Kowloon, (108 feet above mean sea level), was 71°.8, 1°.6 lower than in 1915, and 0°.4 lower than the mean for the past 10 years. The maximum temperature was 92°.4 on the 25th August and the minimum 39°.3 on the 24th January. The hottest month was July, with a mean temperature of 82°.7, and the coldest, February, with a mean temperature of 59°.6.
The temperature at the high levels of the Peak District is from 3° to 8° less than at the Observatory. At Victoria it is practically the same. The rainfall and humidity are considerably greater at the Peak than at Victoria, the Observatory, or Tai Po (New Territories).
The total rainfall for the year was 79.855 inches, as compared with an average of 82.56 inches during the ten preceding years. The wettest month was June with 32.18 inches, the driest, December, when 0.05 inch fell. The greatest amount of rain which fell on any one day was 9.12 inches on the 1st June while no rain fell on 245 days of the year. The mean relative humidity of the atmosphere for the year was 76%, or the same as for the ten preceding years. The average daily amount of sunshine was 5.7 hours, being 47% of the possible duration.
X.-POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH SERVICES.
The total revenue from the Postal Service in 1916 amounted to $401,742.33 being $33,284.56 more than that collected in 1915, the excess being mainly due to increase in the sale of postage stamps. The expenditure amounted to $308,136.33 being less than that of 1915 by $95,472.69, due to arrears of transit dues for the year 1914 recovered in 1916 and to the high rate of exchange prevailing during the year under review. The balance of revenue over expenditure amounted to $93,606.00.
The revised parcel agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia came into operation on 1st January.
The Parcel Agreement with Russia which provides for the exchange of parcels between that country and this Colony via ...