REPLY BY ACTING SUPERINTENDENT.
From information received from officials in the Gaol, it appears that the system of emptying part of the night-soil down the drain has been in force for at least six years.
25th January, 1878.
(Signed)
T. C. DEMPSTER, Captain,
Acting Superintendent.
No. 58.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 23rd July, 1878.
SIR,-On visiting the Hongkong Gaol on the 22nd instant I noticed an improvement in the sanitary arrangements as contrasted with those described in my despatches to Lord CARNARVON No. 34 of 14th of June, and No. 80 of the 1st of August, 1877.
2. In the Report of the Gaol Committee of April 1876 (transmitted by Sir ARTHUR KENNEDY in his despatch No. 40 of the 28th of February, 1877) they refer to the vitiated state of the air from the night buckets. The Colonial Surgeon had admitted that this was the cause of the frequent attacks of illness which ultimately led to the retirement of the late Warden, Mr. GREY: but owing to the supposed difficulties in the way of getting a proper supply of dry earth in Hongkong, the obvious remedy had not unfortunately been applied. A part of the night-soil was usually conveyed to the western end of the town and deposited in pits adjoining Belchers Bay, but a considerable portion was simply flung into a sewer that ran beneath the centre of the Gaol, and from which open gratings communicated with the Gaol yards.
3. I put a stop to the system of depositing night-soil near Belchers Bay, and by having a kiln constructed for baking dry earth I was able to provide a supply of deodorizing material sufficient not only for the Gaol but for all the Government establishments.
4. After nearly a year's trial of the system of conservancy, I have now the satisfaction of being able to report that, though Hongkong Gaol is almost as crowded with prisoners as it was in 1876, there is not a trace of vitiating air arising from the cause referred to by the Gaol Committee.
5. Mr. HAYWARD, the new Warden, and Mr. COLES, the new head turnkey, say they never saw the dry earth system more efficiently carried out, and that in this respect they find Hongkong Gaol a model of cleanliness.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
J. POPE HENNESSY.
&c.,
&c.
The Right Honourable Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, Bt., M.P.,
&c.,
HONGKONG.
No. 80.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, BT., M.P., To GOVERNOR J. POPE HENNESSY, C.M.G.
DOWNING STREET,
23rd September, 1878.
SIR,---I have received your Despatch No. 58 of the 23rd of July respecting the system of dry earth conservancy now carried out in Hongkong Gaol.
I note with satisfaction the success which has attended your efforts in this matter.
Governor HENNESSY, C.M.G.,
St.,
&c.,
&c.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
M. E. HICKS-BEACH.
EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE MEDICAL COMMITTEE ON THE MODE OF FLOGGING
AND ITS EFFECTS.
"The sanitary arrangements of the Gaol are good, the dry earth system recently introduced "works well.”
(Signed)
SAM. S. D. WELLS,
(*)
Deputy Inspector General, R.N. RICHARD A. O'BRIEN, M.D., L.R.C.S.E.
Hongkong, 8th October, 1878.
REPLY BY ACTING SUPERINTENDENT.
From information received from officials in the Gaol, it appears that the system of emptying part of the night-soil down the drain has been in force for at least six years.
25th January, 1878.
(Signed)
T. C. DEMPSTER, Captain,
Acting Superintendent.
No. 58.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 23rd July, 1878.
SIR,-On visiting the Hongkong Gaol on the 22nd instant I noticed an improvement in the sanitary arrangements as contrasted with those described in my despatches to Lord CARNARVON No. 34 of 14th of June, and No. 80 of the 1st of August, 1877.
2. In the Report of the Gaol Committee of April 1876 (transmitted by Sir ARTHUR KENNEDY in his despatch No. 40 of the 28th of February, 1877) they refer to the vitiated state of the air from the night buckets. The Colonial Surgeon had admitted that this was the cause of the frequent attacks of illness which ultimately led to the retirement of the late Warden, Mr. GREY: but owing to the supposed difficulties in the way of getting a proper supply of dry earth in Hongkong, the obvious remedy had not unfortunately been applied. A part of the night-soil was usually conveyed to the western end of the town and deposited in pits adjoining Belchers Bay, but a considerable portion was simply flung into a sewer that ran beneath the centre of the Gaol, and from which open gratings communicated with the Gaol yards.
3. I put a stop to the system of depositing night-soil near Belchers Bay, and by having a kiln constructed for baking dry earth I was able to provide a supply of deodorizing material sufficient not only for the Gaol but for all the Government establishments.
4. After nearly a year's trial of the system of conservancy, I have now the satisfaction of being able to report that, though Hongkong Gaol is almost as crowded with prisoners as it was in 1876, there is not a trace of vitiating air arising from the cause referred to by the Gaol Committee.
5. Mr. HAYWARD, the new Warden, and Mr. COLES, the new head turnkey, say they never saw the dry earth system more efficiently carried out, and that in this respect they find Hongkong Gaol a model of cleanliness.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
J. POPE HENNESSY.
&c.,
&c.
The Right Honourable Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, Bt., M.P.,
&c.,
HONGKONG.
No. 80.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, BT., M.P., To GOVERNOR J. POPE HENNESSY, C.M.G.
DOWNING STREET,
23rd September, 1878.
SIR,---I have received your Despatch No. 58 of the 23rd of July respecting the system of dry earth conservancy now carried out in Hongkong Gaol.
I note with satisfaction the success which has attended your efforts in this matter.
Governor HENNESSY, C.M.G.,
St.,
&c.,
fc.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
M. E. HICKS-BEACH.
EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE MEDICAL COMMITTEE ON THE MODE OF FLOGGING
AND ITS EFFECTS.
"The sanitary arrangements of the Gaol are good, the dry earth system recently introduced "works well.”
(Signed)
SAM. S. D. WELLS,
(»)
Deputy Inspector General, R.N. RICHARD A. O'BRIEN, M.D., L.R.C.S.E.
Hongkong, 8th October, 1878.
REPLY BY ACTING SUPERINTENDENT.
From information received from officials in the Gaol, it appears that the system of emptying part of the night-soil down the drain has been in force for at least six years.
25th January, 1878.
(Signed)
T. C. DEMPSTER, Captain,
Acting Superintendent.
No. 58.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 23rd July, 1878.
SIR,-On visiting the Hongkong Gaol on the 22nd instant I noticed an improvement in the sanitary arrangements as contrasted with those described in my despatches to Lord CARNARVON No. 34 of 14th of June, and No. 80 of the 1st of August, 1877.
2. In the Report of the Gaol Committee of April 1876 (transmitted by Sir ARTHUR KENNEDY in his despatch No. 40 of the 28th of February, 1877) they refer to the vitiated state of the air from the night buckets. The Colonial Surgeon had admitted that this was the cause of the frequent attacks of illness which ultimately led to the retirement of the late Warden, Mr. GREY: but owing to the supposed difficulties in the way of getting a proper supply of dry earth in Hongkong, the obvious remedy had not unfortunately been applied. A part of the night-soil was usually conveyed to the western end of the town and deposited in pits adjoining Belchers Bay, but a considerable portion was simply flung into a sewer that ran beneath the centre of the Gaol, and from which open gratings communicated with the Gaol yards.
3. I put a stop to the system of depositing night-soil near Belchers Bay, and by having a kiln constructed for baking dry earth I was able to provide a supply of deodorizing material sufficient not only for the Gaol but for all the Government establishments.
4. After nearly a year's trial of the system of conservancy, I have now the satisfaction of being able to report that, though Hongkong Gaol is almost as crowded with prisoners as it was in 1876, there is not a trace of vitiating air arising from the cause referred to by the Gaol Committee.
5. Mr. HAYWARD, the new Warden, and Mr. COLES, the new head turnkey, say they never saw the dry earth system more efficiently carried out, and that in this respect they find Hongkong Gaol a model of cleanliness.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
J. POPE HENNESSY.
&c.,
&c.
The Right Honourable Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, Bt., M.P.,
&c.,
HONGKONG.
No. 80.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, BT., M.P., To GOVERNOR J. POPE HENNESSY, C.M.G.
DOWNING STREET,
23rd September, 1878.
SIR,---I have received your Despatch No. 58 of the 23rd of July respecting the system of dry earth conservancy now carried out in Hongkong Gaol.
I note with satisfaction the success which has attended your efforts in this matter.
Governor HENNESSY, C.M.G.,
St.,
&c.,
fc.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
M. E. HICKS-BEACH.
EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE MEDICAL COMMITTEE ON THE MODE OF FLOGGING
AND ITS EFFECTS.
"The sanitary arrangements of the Gaol are good, the dry earth system recently introduced "works well.”
(Signed)
SAM. S. D. WELLS,
(»)
Deputy Inspector General, R.N. RICHARD A. O'BRIEN, M.D., L.R.C.S.E.
Hongkong, 8th October, 1878.
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