CO129-203 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [10] — Page 171

No. 68.

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OCE, VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 6th August, 1874. SIR-I beg to transmit to you, for His Excellency's consideration, a letter from Mr. GRANVILLE SHARP, who proposes to let out two of his lots (Nos. 674 and 671) for the erection of pig-sties.

I apprehend that I ought to issue the licences required, and allow them to continue in force so long as the places are kept clean and no nuisance is created.

I have the honour to be,

The Honourable the COLONIAL SECRETARY,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

CECIL C. SMITH,

Registrar General.

MR. AUSTIN,

MINUTE BY THE SURVEYOR GENERAL.

I see no reason why Mr. SHARP should not convert the lots 671 and 674 into pig-sties, provided he paves the latter and keeps hem sufficiently drained and free from filth and smell. I avail myself of this opportunity to respectfully request some explanation in regard to questions of this kind, especially as to what office the Nuisance Inspectors are to report upon the eligibility of sites. I was under the impression that, as Mr. SMITH issues the licences, he would most naturally be the person to whom they should report. Had this been the case, the abuses lately discovered by Dr. AYRES as regards pig rearing in bed rooms could never have arisen. It may, perhaps, be worth while to con- sider the advisability of empowering the Inspectors to report directly to Mr. SMITH in the event of his requiring information upon the fitness or otherwise of sites which the public are constantly asking him to license as pig-stics.

12th August, 1874.

J. M. PRICE,

Surveyor General.

Referred to the Surveyor General.

7th August, 1874.

MINUTE BY THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

J. G. AUSTIN,

Colonial Secretary.

MINUTE BY THE SURVEYOR GENERAL.

MINUTE BY THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

I think that the Inspectors should report on the eligibility of sites to the Colonial Surgeon, who would take care that all sanitary arrangements were provided for, and then refer any application to the Registrar General for issue of the licence.

J. G. AUSTIN,

Colonial Secretary,

12th August, 1874,

170

Honourable COLONIAL SECRETARY,

Public business connected with the licensing of places as pig-sties appertaining to the Depart ment of the Registrar General, I would be obliged by your kindly referring this document to Mr. SMITH in the first instance. It is true that lately I have been prominently connected with pigs, but only indirectly so. Pig-sty nuisances had arisen from the inefficiency of Inspectors of Nuisances, and I undertook to explain and to make them understand what places were fit, and what places were not fit, from a sanitary point of view, for the reception of pigs. I think that soon they will thoroughly understand the matter and learn to act and judge for themselves, and that they will conse quently become of somewhat more use to Mr. SMITH; then, of course, my services will not be required.

J. M. PRICE,

MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

Inform Mr. SHARP in substance of Surveyor General's Minute. The duty of Inspectors of Nuisances is ill-defined and requires reconsideration. I think it desirable that some one officer should be responsible that licences to keep pigs are not granted unless the locality and premises be suitable, and the locality and premises should be specified in the body of the licence.

A. E. KENNEDY. 12th August, 1874.

7th August, 1874.

Surveyor General.

MINUTE BY THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

The Registrar General will be good enough to inform Mr. SHARP that the Government has no objection to the erection of proper pig-sties on Inland Lots 671 and 674.

MINUTE BY THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

Referred to the Honourable Mr. SMITH,

13th August, 1874,

J. G. AUSTIN,

Colonial Secretary.

10th August, 1874.

MINUTE BY THE REGISTRAR GENERAL.

I very much regret being wholly unable to understand why this letter, which I wrote myself, should be referred back to me. I cannot find anything in the Surveyor General's remarks calling for comment from me, except perhaps I may refer to the error which he has fallen into of supposing that I have anything whatever to do with the Inspectors of Nuisances.

14th August, 1874,

CECIL C. SMITH,

Registrar General.

11th August, 1874.

P.S.-Mr. SHARP is anxiously waiting for an answer to his application.

15th August, 1874,

J. G. AUSTIN,

Colonial Secretary.

MINUTE BY THE REGISTRAR GENERAL.

Done.

C. C. SMITH,

Registrar General.

MINUTE BY THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

File.

J. G. AUSTIN,

Colonial Secretary,