PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference: C.O./133

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH — NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHICALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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By me relative to the drainage of the district — Tapingshan, and as it is specially applicable to such a Report as this I beg to refer to it as an opinion, in explanation of a Report by the Colonial Surgeon, referring to its incompleteness, the want of Sanitary Measures for the preservation of the health of the Inhabitants.

My annual Reports have invariably adverted to the trials all Drains in the city have to sustain; every possible refuse article that can by possibility enter a drain is forced therein — shavings and sawdust from Carpenters' shops, masticated sugar Cane (a no inconsiderable item) and a variety of other articles — and these are thrust in at the mouth, and with an insufficient supply of water the result must be evident: the drains are choked. But this is of no great consequence in general to the inhabitants of the houses; they will allow it to be so and let the waste water flow through their yards or even houses, and excision alone compels them to do otherwise. But though improvements are intended in the Law and sanitary Measures may be taken, it requires constant surveillance by the Police to see them fully carried out. Drains, be they never so effectively formed, must, without water and without care, prove useless with any class of persons, but more especially with the dirty half...