Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 903

[ XXVIII]

them come there now. He did "not" go to the Registrar General's with Mr. CALDWELL. The second man, who came to see deceased from the "Kwong Kee," looked like a thief, and, therefore, he asked him where he was from. The man went away, and did not return. When a man dies from an Emigration House, he goes to the house and reports the fact, and afterwards goes to Mr. CALDWELL to get money for the coffin. There are no fixed charges for anything that is done at the "I-Ts'z." He depends entirely on charity, but it does not pay well, for he (witness) "was so good-hearted. (Laughter.) He paid one tael to the Fookshow, for every emigrant who died. He had paid some $6 to Fookshow, and owed about three taels. In these coffins were buried two men from the "Loong Kee," one from the "Hing Kee," and six from the

Kwong Kee."

27

Inspector LIVINGSTON (of Nuisances) for the Western District-It was his duty to visit the "I-Ts'z," although he had no special instructions to do so. He inspected the place once or twice a week. He generally looked at the front, and saw all clean, and once or twice he had been to the back. He had special instructions not to go into any house. He was aware that at the back there is a row of little houses, but he had never entered any of them, as the doors were always shut, and he took them for cook houses. He never heard groans proceed from this place. He had seen coffius laid out at the back of the place, but they were not disagreeable.

The Coroner here explained to the Jury that it was usual with the coffins of men whose native place was far off, to leave them at the "I-Ts'z" until the relatives came and took them away.

Examination continued-He knew the master of the place, and saw him nearly every day. He had served him with notices to keep his up and down spouts clean. He made a daily report to Dr. MURRAY, in which he mentioned the houses summoned, noticed, &c.

Dr. COCHRANE mentioned that it was the first time he had heard of that.

Inspector LIVINGSTON continued-He had never made any report to Dr. MURRAY about the "I-Ts'z,” nor had Dr. MURRAY ever said anything to him concerning the place. Mr. STEWART said that one of the men who was taken from the "I-Ts'z" was get- ting better, and had spoken to Dr. COCHRANE, and strongly about the "I-Ts'z" and the treatment he had received there. He would suggest the man's evidence being taken that evening.

After some time the foreman of the Jury suggested that the evidence of the sick man should be taken at once, and this was agreed to.

Inspector PETERSEN, who was formerly Nuisance Inspector and now watches the bouses of ill-fame, said he visited the "I-Ts'z," and made a report to the Registrar General. He went to the "I-Ts'z" because he heard from the Chinese that there were a number of people in there. He had visited the place about eight months before, and found in it two or three people, but the place was not more dirty than ordinary Chinese houses. He had known of some women to have been sent there, one died and one survived. When he last visited the "I-Ts'z" it was very dirty, but he had seen some Chinese houses almost as filthy. He never made any enquiries about a doctor attend- ing the place until lately. He believed the women were looked after by their friends, but he did not know.

These women were in hospital in Mr. C. C. SMITH'S time. He never made any report to Mr. LISTER before.

MAK-A-FOO, master of the "Kwong Kee" Emigration House, said there had lately been seven men sent from the Kwong Kee to the "I-Ts'z." He was not sure, but he thought he had sent three papers with the sick men. (Witness here gave the names of the men.) Some of the men had yellow spots on their bodies, and seemed very ill.