Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 912

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tion which they addressed to you in the course of the year that they were prepared to face the heavy expenditure which stronger measures would certainly involve, Sir HENRY BLAKE asked you to send out an expert to enquire into the sanitary state of the Colony and report upon the steps which in his opinion should be taken to remedy existing defects. In October, 1901, you informed Sir HENRY BLAKE that you had selected Mr. OSBERT CHADWICK, C.M.G., a sanitary expert of wide experience and no stranger to Hongkong, for this special work. About the same time you informed him that you had selected Professor SIMPSON, M.D., to pay a simultaneous visit to the Colony with a view to a thorough enquiry being made into the origin of bubonic plague, and the best means of providing against its annual re-appear- ance. A notice of the work done by these gentlemen, who had not yet arrived in the Colony at the end of 1901 will, it is hoped, appear in next year's Report. A certain result of their visit must be the introduction of legislative measures to con-

solidate and amend the present Health and Building Ordinances.

(d.)—CLIMATE.

The average monthly temperature throughout the year was 72.1° F. as com- pared with 71.6° F. during 1900; the maximum monthly temperature was attained in July, when it reached 82.2° F., and the minimum monthly temperature was recorded in the month of February, being 54.8° F.

The highest recorded temperature during the year was 92.7° F. on August 3rd, and the lowest was 38.4° F. on February 4th.

The total Rainfall for the year was 55.78 inches, as compared with 73.73 inches in 1900 and an average of 77.2 inches during the past ten years. The wettest month was May with 14.10 inches, while there were also 14 inches of rain in the month of August; the driest month was January, with only 0.685 inch. The greatest amount of rain which fell on any one day was 4.23 inches on April 7th, while no rain fell on 213 days of the year; the relative humidity of the atmosphere throughout the year was 75 per cent. as compared with 77 per cent. in the previous year. The average daily amount of sunshine throughout the year was 5.5 hours, and on 35 days only was no sunshine recorded.

It may be mentioned that the rainfall of 1901 was less than half the rainfall of the year 1891. Taitam Reservoir, the principal source of water supply, was not filled throught the year, and only one rainfall during the last 20 years (that of 1895) was lower than that of the year under review.

IX. POSTAL SERVICE.

The cessation of the Boxer troubles in the North of China gave an impetus to trade, which was faithfully reflected in the steady increase in postal business.

The monthly sales of stamps showed an increase of $21,765, as compared with 1900, and for the first time since the adoption of the penny postage the revenue exceeded the highest revenue from the same source in former days. The returns from the Branch Post Offices at Ehanghai and in China also show gratify- ing results.

The Revenue of the Department from all sources in 1901 was $355,912, and the Expenditure $273,685. The nett balance to the Hongkong Post Office on the year's transactions amounted to $82,227.

The Acting Postmaster General comments on the fact that though many foreign Post Offices were opened at various ports in China during 1901, no new British Offices or Agencies were opened. He is strongly in favour of the establish- ment of Agencies at Chefoo, Tientsin and Peking.

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