Sessional_Paper_1894 — Page 303

299

In considering the details of the mortality statistics it should be borne in mind that the registration of the actual causes of death is in the great majority of cases very unreliable, so far as the Chinese community is concerned.

HEALTH DISTRICTS.

Cemeteries.-The bye-laws which came into force on 1st January, 1892, have been carried out without any hitch of importance, but some inconvenience has been experienced from the fact that the different sections for which a scale of fees has been constructed have never been properly laid out. If this work could be done by the Public Works Department in the near future it would greatly simplify the work of the Board's officers and would probably lead to an increase of revenue from burial fees. The following are the number of burials which have taken place during the year 1893 in each of the public cemeteries for Chinese :-

Mount Davis, Mount Caroline, Kaulung,

Shaukiwan,

Aberdeen,

.731

...309

.......352 .178

.....142

36

5

Stanley, Shek-o,

Total..................1,753

During the past year the fees collected amounted to $1,473 and the total expenditure in connection with Cemeteries amounted to $2,271.70.

An improved approach to the Mount Caroline cemetery from the Wong-nei-chong Valley has been constructed, which it is hoped will be a convenience to the Chinese community.

In December a burying ground at Caroline Hill was marked out for burying the carcases of animals; the space at the disposal of the public for this purpose being previously very inadequate.

Laundries.-Only two out of the ten public laundries at Wanchai are occupied, at a rent of $10 per month each. So long as the washing of clothes in public streams is permitted it is improbable that these laundries will be more generally patronised.

The laundrymen maintain that the buildings are unsuitable for their purpose, but this is probably with a view to avoiding the use of them, and whilst they can wash in the streains rent free it is not very surprising that they should be anxious to evade the necessity of paying $10 per month for these premises, where they would also be much more subject to control.

Bakeries. The bye-laws for regulating bake-houses which came into force on 1st January, 1893, have been enforced with excellent result. Previous to this there was some outcry concerning the insanitary state of these premises, and enquiry by the Board into their condition disclosed the fact that their drainage arrangements and general surroundings were not such as should be required in places where a staple article of food is prepared. Something still remains to be done, especially in the direction of improved drainage, but speaking broadly these premises may be said to be now in a wholesome and sanitary condition.

Common Lodging Houses.-The bye-laws for licensing and regulating these are still in abeyance pending the fixing of a day by the Board on which they shall come into force.

Infectious Diseases.-There were 123 cases of small-pox reported, of which 51 ended fatally. Of these a very large proportion occurred during the first six months of the year, viz:-112 cases and 49 deaths. It is probable that all cases of small-pox are not reported, and that deaths which result from this disease are not unfrequently registered as resulting from other causes.

A case of hydrophobia occurred in January. The case was treated in the Government Civil Hospital and ended fatally.

Contracts.-The Conservancy and Scavenging contracts entered into in 1892 have been carried out during the past year in a satisfactory manner. Complaints are occasionally made as to the details of the Bucket System, but speaking generally the work has been well done. It might be a subject for the consideration of the Board, in entering into a fresh contract, whether the Conservancy Contractor should not be responsible for the collection and removal of all excretal matter from the City of Victoria, in which case it would be possible to insist upon the exclusive use of a bucket of superior type. It is estimated that there are 550 night-men who collect the night soil from private houses. They are responsible to no one, and as a consequence it is a matter of difficulty to keep them under complete control.

The estimated quantity of night soil removed by the Conservancy Contractor from Victoria, Hill, and Kaulung districts during 1893 amounted to 14,000 tons.

The estimated quantity of house and trade refuse, street sweepings, &c., removed by the Scavenging Contractor from Victoria and Kaulung districts during 1893 was 25,000 tons.

The annexed table C. gives the names of the various contractors employed by the Board with the number of men in their employ.

STAFF.

Sanitary Superintendent and Secretary:-Mr. HUGH MCCALLUM left the Colony on leave of absence in July and Mr. A. H. RENNIE was appointed to act in his stead during his absence.