Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 354

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DISTRICT WATCHMEN.

A full statement of the Revenue and Expenditure for the year is given in Table VI (4), and the state of the Force on the 31st December, and other particulars, will be found in Table VI (B). The District Watchmen were instrumental in bringing 240 cases before the Police Magistrate, and the Committee is again indebted to the Chinese newspapers, the Ts'un Wan Yat Pò and the Wai San Yat Po, for continuing to publish weekly lists of these cases for the information of subscribers.

The contributions to the Fund for the year were $10,598.29 as compared with $8,909.09 in 1899. The actual expenditure was $12,804.12 as compared with $11,510.05 in the preceding year. The balance to the credit of the Fund is $6,223.20.

The allowance of $2 a month to each Watchman, which was first made in April, 1897, on account of the high price of rice, has been continued during the year.

Forty-one applications for admission into the Force were received, as compared with 43 in 1899. The Government has granted a site for a Central Watch-house on the Taipingshan Resumption Area for the Watchmen of Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 Districts and has promised to contribute $1,000 towards the cost of the building, in which quarters for two European Police Sergeants will be provided. It is anticipated that this change will exercise a beneficial effect on the discipline of the Force, and there will be a considerable saving in rent, &c.

CHINESE RECREATION GROUND.

A statement of revenue and expenditure is given in Table VII. The total e: penditure for the year was $701.36, whilst the revenue obtained from the rent of the shops, letter-writers' tables, &c., was $1,161.22. There is a balance of $3,319.29 to the credit of the Fund.

CHARITABLE Funds.

Tables VIII and IX give statements of account of the two Funds administered by this Office.

TUNG WA HOSPITAL.

The proposal made by last year's Committee to erect a permanent branch hospital for the treat- ment of contagious diseases, has received the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and a free site has been granted on the Western site of Inland Lot No. 1,082. The necessary legislation in connection with this extension is provided in Ordinance 2 of 1900 (The Tung Wa Hospital Extension Ordinance).

The new hospital will take the place of the temporary matsheds, which have hitherto been erected for the reception of infectious cases, and will in every way be a change for the better.

BROTHELS.

During the year all houses of ill-fame, with a few temporary exceptions, have been removed from the Central districts to certain specified areas in the Eastern and Western quarters of the City. This step has been taken in deference to the wishes of both the European and Chinese population of Victoria, and has already had most beneficial results. The houses, thus left vacant, have almost all been occupied by members of the Chinese community, by whom the want of sufficient accommodation in the centre of the town had been severely felt.

TYPHOON.

A disastrous typhoon visited the Colony in November, causing great loss of life and property among the Chinese, more especially the floating population.

A fund for the relief of the sufferers was set on foot, which was most liberally subscribed to by all classes of the community. A sum of nearly $30,000 was collected and entrusted to the hands of an influential Committee, who made the necessary arrangements for its distribution.

LEGISLATION.

The following are the Ordinances passed in 1900 which more particularly affect the Chinese and this Office

No. 7 of 1900.-Chinese Certificates (American Possessions) Fees Ordinance.

No. 11 of 1900.-Nuisances Amendment Ordinance.

No. 12 of 1900.-Regulation of Chinese Amendment Ordinance.

No. 14 of 1900.-Protection of Women and Girls Amendment Ordinance.

Ordinance 7 of 1900 provides for the issue of certificates of identity to Chinese proceeding to any Colonial possession of the United States of America, and repeals Ordinance 28 of 1898 (the Chinese Manila Fees Ordinance).