Directory_and_Chronicle_1897 — Page 275

HONGKONG

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swept the whole district between the Queen's Road and the Praya, from the Cross Roads to the Harbour Master's Office. During Sir Richard MacDonnell's vigorous administration the revenue of the Colony, which had fallen much below the expendi- ture, was augmented by the imposition of the stamp duties and other measures. One of His Excellency's last official acts was to preside at the opening, in February, 1872, of the Tung Wah (Chinese) Hospital. In April, 1872, Sir Arthur Kennedy arrived and assumed the reins of Government, which he held with such dexterity that he acquired the title of "good Sir Arthur," and a bronze statue of him has been erected in the Public Gardens. Under his administration the Colony prospered, but the year 1874 was made memorable in Colonial annals by one of the most destructive typhoons which has ever visited it, causing enormous damage and the loss of thousands of lives. The peaceful reign of Sir Arthur Kennedy was followed by the stormy administration of Sir John Pope Hennessy, who arrived in April, 1877, and left in March, 1882. In this interval the trade of the Colony increased greatly and Governor Hennessy accumu- lated a large surplus, but public works made little progress, the Breakwater at Cause- way Bay being the principal work completed during his administration, while the Observatory was projected. On Christmas Day, 1878, a fire broke out in the Central District of Victoria which destroyed 368 houses and entailed enormous loss on the community. On Sir John's departure Sir William (then Mr.) Marsh, the Colonial Secretary, assumed the Government, and affairs proceeded placidly until the arrival, in March, 1883, of Sir George Bowen. His advent was the signal for great activity in the prosecution of public works, amongst others being the Tytam Waterworks, the Victoria College, the Lunatic Asylum, and the enlargement of the Government Civil Hospital. He was also the means of securing to the residents the privilege of nominating two of the unofficial members of the Legislative Council. Sir George Bowen left Hongkong on the 19th December, 1885, and another interregnum followed. Mr. Marsh admininistered the government until April, 1887, when he retired from the service, and Major-General Cameron assumed the reins until the arrival of Governor Sir William Des Voeux in October of the same year. The Colony steadily progressed, though naturally with some fluctuations in its prosperity, until in 1889, when, writing to the Secretary of State on its condition and prospects, Sir William Des Vœux was able to remark, with obvious satisfaction :-"It may be doubted whether the evidences of material and moral achievement, presented as it were in a focus, make anywhere a more forcible appeal to eye and imagination, and whether any other spot on the earth is thus more likely to excite or much more fully justifies pride in the name of Englishman." After that date a period of deep depression, arising partly from the fluctuations of exchange, partly from over-speculation, and partly from other causes was experienced, and continued for five years. Sir William Des Voeux resigned the government on the 7th May, 1891, and in the absence of the Colonial Secretary Major-General Digby Barker was sworn in as Acting Governor. Sir William Robinson was appointed Governor and arrived in the Colony on the 10th December, 1891. The year 1894 will be memorable in the annals of the Colony as the disastrous year of the plague. The disease, which is endemic in Yunnan and some years previously had appeared at Pakhoi, this year made its appearance at Canton, and from there was introduced to Hongkong. Tho Colony was declared infected on the 10th May, and the mortality rapidly increased until at one time it reached more than a hundred a day. Energetic measures were taken to cope with the disease, a system of house to house visitation being established by means of which all cases were promptly discovered and at once removed to hospital or, where death had already taken place, buried, and every house in the Chinese quarters was whitewashed and cleansed. Special hospitals were erected and the medical staff was augmented by additions from the Army and Navy and the Coast Ports. The Colony was especially indebted to the Shropshire Light Infantry for the services of about three hundred volunteers from the Regiment, who were engaged in the house to house visitation and cleansing. Captain Vesey while engaged in this work contracted the disease and died from it, and one sergeant and four privates also suffered from it. The other corps of the Garrison as well as the Navy likewise lent assistance. Amongst other measures taken to combat the disease, a portion of the Taipingshan district, where the cases were most numerous, was cleared of its inhabi- tants, for whom accommodation was provided elsewhere, and the property in the con- demned area was subsequently resumed by the Crown, the intention being that it shall be reconstructed in accordance with sanitary requirements.

The disease reached its climax on the 7th June, when 107 deaths and 69 new cases were reported. After that date its virulence decreased, and on the 3rd September the proclamation declaring the