1881-11-25 — Page 2

AND

SHIPS' MEDICINE CHESTS REFFITED, PASSENGER SHIPS SUPPLIED.

Prompt Attention given to Const Orders,

HONGKONG DISPENSARY,

HONGKONG. SHANGHAI PHARMACY,

SHANGHAI.

CANTON.

Foocnow.

CANTON DISPENSARY,

THE DISPENSARY,

THE

Songkong Telegraph.

HONGKONG, 25TH NOVEMBER, 1881.

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH-FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH, 1881.

whatever to the owner."

sion of these documents, however, can

It

We are not

Excellency himself. The whole of the Daily Press leader writer's argu- ment is based on the assumption that, as a matter of fact, the Governor did suppress the Colonial Surgeon's re- port recently published in a Parlia mentary paper, and taking this for his text, the inspired journalist im- Her Majesty's Representative all the proves the occasion by applying to

ugly names in his extensive vocabu- lary. We are told it is a "great hard- ship that we should have to pay for a Governor's mistakes"-suppressing an official report deserves a harsher word than this" whom we would gladly see removed, and against whose policy we have constantly that His Excellency's tortuous protested." We are likewise informed system of administration is not uni- formly successful," which is a source of much gratification to the Daily

A & WATSON & Co. seem likely to bear with Impunity such ad- thrown away, and the most damning WHOLESALE AND RETAIL ditions to the already oumerous inmates charges which could be associated of poor houses. Occasionally two houses DRUGGISTS,

are separated only by an open sewer about with the official conduct of a high GENERAL CHEMISTS,

ayard wide. In other cases three or more and responsible officer of the British families are stowed away in a single room, Crown ure coarsely attributed to Manufacturers of the following

whith is partitioned off for their several His Excellency, and triumphantly us. The upper floors are often made of reiterated throughout the whole of AERATED WATERS, viz: boards which fit so badly that scrubbing the article. Sir John Pope Hen- SODA, TONIC, SARSAPARILLA, is impossible, and the leakage of the so-

cond floor tenants comes down in unox-nessy is distinctly accused of having AND POTASH, LEMONADE,

pected showers upon the lodgers beneath. wilfully suppressed, in order to avoid GINGERADE, RASPBERRYADE, At the same time this species of house pro- awkward revelations, certain official

·AND PHOSPHORIC CHAMPAGNE.perty remains at a high premium, inasmuch

as the landlord is never expected to do any reports sent in dealing with sanita- герліга. A house of three rooms, each tion and other local measures by Dr. Deliveries in Town and Harbour from about fourteen feet square, lets for a rent Ayros, the Colonial Surgeon. Not

7 A.M. to 7 P.M.

of from. £55 to £70 a year; and as long only is the Governor accused of burk as it can be prevented from absolutely ing the special report, of which the falling down, is the anuse of no expense above garbled extract from the Globe His Excellency the Governor considered is a summary, but the Daily Press that the revelations made by Dr. Ayres assorts that His Excellency has of late were awkward, we presumo, and render- received a few very severe despatches ed necessary some action on his part which from home, which no doubt refer to he was not inclined to take. The suppres- sanitary, as well as other matters. only be regarded as a miserable confession The rest of the article, as will be of weakness. The Colonial Surgeon, sim- readily seen on reference, is a fiercely ply as a matter of duty, records a condi- hostile attack not on Governor Hen- tion of things inconsistent with the main-nessy's general policy, but on His tenance of health among the nativo рори lation, calculated to increase mortality. and to spread epidemics. Instead of burk- ing the report, surely it would have been more in consonance with the duty of the Governor to have had a. (Jommission ap- pointed to inquire into the sanitary con dition of the native town and have such improvements affected in the drainage and the construction of all new houses as sani- tary science pronounced necessary. How much lower will it be possible must not be forgotten that during His for our morning contemporary to Excellency's tenure of office more houses have been constructed than in any pra. descend? To what degrading depths vious decade probably. Opportunities is the Daily Press, known for many have thus been afforded of mending must years throughout China as a high ters to some extent, but has it been avail- class journal, to be dragged to satisfy ed of in any particular?

aware that any remedial measures have the insane designs of the Anti-Go- been adopted or that the slightest improve vernment party, for the purpose of

ment has been made in the new houses currying favour with a clique who lately erected. In fact, there is reason to apparently are determined to stop at believe that, by the greater height and tempts to blacken the official cha- evil has rather boen aggravated than other nothing in their unscrupulous at closer contiguity of the new buildings, the wise. That no dreadful epidemiu haa bro- racter of Sir John Pope Hennessy?ken out and decimated the population of The Daily Press has lately been Taipingshan is ascribable to our good for- guilty of many mean acts unworthy tune rather than the absence of the germs of a respectable public newspaper; of disease. His Excellency has more than but we think this latest atrocity is Chinese sanitary system, to the detriment once in the Council Chamber extolled the the most blackguardly and most con- of Western systems, and we doubt not he temptible of all. As a system of has done the same in his dispatches to the underhand persecution of a most Secretary of State His representations. malevolent character has been car- such evidence as that furnished by the can, however, have little weight against ried on through the medium of our Colonial Surgeon, and the fact that an in- morning and evening contemporaries depondent commissioner is being sent out -to their eternal shame be it re- to inquire into the subject la indica- corded against H.E. the Governor tive of the importance attached to the for some considerable time past, in matter by the Downing-street authorities which truth, honour, and every cha- has incurred. Indeed, we hear that Elis and of the responsibility the Governor racteristic of honest and independent Excellency has of late received a few very journalism have been made subser- severe dispatches from home, and no doubt vient to miserable spite and petty matters. However this may be, it is sa- they referred to sanitary as well as other jealousy, we accept this opportunity tisfactory to hear that the Home Govern- of laying before the community of meat have declined to accept His Excel- Hongkong, the English public at lency's representation on the subject, and home and abroad, and the Ministers that an independent commissioner is to of Her Majesty's: Government in inquire into the matter. It would have London, a fair specimen of the kind for the inquiry had never been created-if been still more satisfactory if the necessity of treatment to which Governor Hen- the-reports of the Surveyor-General and nessy has been subjected from the Colonial Surgeon had been at once accorded old established press of this colony the attention they deserved, and if the during his term of office. We there dangers to the public health which they poialed out had been promptly removed. fore propose to, publish in extenso It is a salutary practice of the law courts the leading article which appeared to condemn the losing party in suits; and in the Daily Press of the 23rd inst., it is almost a pity that the practice cannot and then to submit to public opinion be extended to disputes of this kind. The the actual truth of the matters dealt with. The leader is as follows :~~

1

In the London Globe we find some de- tails gathered from a report by Dr. Ayres, Colonial Surgeon, printed in a Parliamen- tary paper just published. The paper, in question has not come to hand, but the ar trasts from the Globe serve to show very plainly why the two last, roports of the Colonial Surgeon were suppressed. This is how our London contemporary summa- rises the report in question-

commission will involve expense, which the

Colony will most probably be called upon to pay, and it certainly sooms somewhat hard that the community should have to pay for the mistakes of a Governor whom they would gladly see removed, and against whose policy they have constantly protest ed. All this, however, must be submitted to, and the only satisfaction to be got out of it is that the Governor's tortuous system of administration is not uniformly success- ful. It may, possibly, be urgod on the other side that until the inquiry has been "A Parliamentary paper recently issued held it is unfair to pronounce upon the contains a report by Dr. Aryes, the Colo- merits of the case, and that it may turn nial Surgeon in Hongkong, in which the peculiarities of its dwellings are described Colonial Surgeon wrong. In reply to this in detail; and those who have the courage in sanitary matters may be plended, while the personal experience of the community to read through his two or three pages of oriticism will not be in'any great hurry to the Governor, having had resort to such a take their abode in that centre of Colo nial commerce. Amongst the favourite social and domestic customs of the natives in this place is the Hibernian fashion of pig-keeping; but the Chinese householders do not limit their hospitality to this animal to the use of the dwelling-rooms. He is

up

also admitted to the inner chambers, and is not unfrequently accommodated under the bed of his lord and master. A licence is, to be suro, required before these animals can be kept but it seems to be pretty freely granted by the authorities, as no less

than twelve pigs were counted by the me

dical ofheer in one kitchen which he in- spected. The sanitary arrangements of the people are not, however, auch na would

out that the Governor is right and tho

Press. And then we are again seri-

"resorted to the contemptible expe ously assured that the Governor has dient of suppressing departmental reports, and by so doing has tacitly exhibited the weakness to shelter confessed himself in the wrong, and himself behind the enforced ignor- ance of the community."

I think that the Government is much indebted to the Colonial Surgeon for this Report. but I do not consider that it would be in any way advisable to print it in its be the subject of spacial Reports, and is in Mr. J. Gardiner Austin, who, during some parts misfending. the absence of Sir Arthur Kennedy, approved of Mr. C. C. Smith's was administrating the Government

be printed in its entirety. I leave it en- gestions in the following minute:

I quite agree with you that this cannot tirely to your discretion to apply the prun- ing kaito.

entirety. It contains details which should

Bug.

gested, with the exception of the proposed: inspection of the houses. by the Surveyor- Genoral.

4.-But whatever improvements were effected by my predecessor, I cannot say that I was entirely. satisfied with the sani tary work of the Colonial Surgeon and the Surveyor-General as disclosed in my own pecially within their province as health inspection of publio institutions, more es officers, and of the streets and lanes in the Chinese quarter of the town. On the other hand, duties have been thrown upon the Colony, should have been performed theso two gentlemen, which under laws of by other officers specially designated for: sanitary work. I have, &o.,

(Signed) J. POPE HENNESSY.

sesses to the confidence of the com munity, as an honest, reliable, and trustworthy representative of public opinion, wo can devote a slight amount of attention to the Raport of Dr. Ayres, which has caused all this commotion. The Annual Report of the Colonial Surgeon for the year 1874, dated April 5th, 1875, has been printed in full with minutes and marginal notes in a volume of Hongkong Administrative Reports, and garbled extracts from the same appear in some papers laid before both Houses of the British Parlia ment in August last. The report is It would therefore appear that instead a comprehensive one, Dr. Ayres' ob- of suppressing the now famous report servations concerning the health of of the Colonial Surgeon, our present the Colony and the different esta- Governor was actually the means of blishments under his supervision, having it printed and brought di- dealing with the Police, Troops, Go-rectly under the notice of the Secre vernment Civil Hospital, Tung Wah tary of State for the Colonies, and Hospital, Victoria Gaol, Lock Hos- both Houses of Parliament. Instead pital, Health of the Colony, and of receiving unjustifiable censure for Sanitation. Our space being limited what he never did, His Excellency. we must reserve the publication of has firmly established his claim to a the Colonial Surgeon's views on the very large meed of praise for what different matters dealt with in his he has actually accomplished against voluminous report and our comments bitter opposition and ceaseless per thereon until à more favourable op-secution, to remedy many of the portunity, when we can deal with grievances pointed out by Dr. Ayres. them in detail, and compare the state We are glad to notice in the Parlia- of affairs seven years ago with what mentary Papers that Governor Hen- actually exists at the present time. nessy's action in that most abomin Clementi Smith, who was Acting of the Registrar General's Depart The Report was sent into Mr. Cecilable practice followed by the officers

Colonial Secretary, on April 6th, ment under the Brothel Ordinance in 1875, and elicited the following the detection of unlicensed prostitu- minute from that official:- tion, namely, the employment of in- formers, has received the warm ap- proval of Her Majesty's Government. In a despatch dated, July 26th 1881, Earl Kimberley says "The system of informers paid to obtain evidence by personal intercourse with women, which was introduced in pointment of inspectors, was a revolt- 1860 simultaneously with the ap- ng abuse which you most properly put a stop to as far back as the month of October 1877,"With regard to `an- other matter which has attracted a great deal of attention in England, the cruel treatment of prisoners in. gaol, the Annual Report of the institution, the members of which are Howard Association-an admirable

men of rank and standing including a large number of M.P's-says- "Another example of this (cruel by the barbarisms of criminal treat treatment of prisoners) was afforded ment at Hongkong, until the noble.

braved the opposition of selfish and hearted Governor Pope Hennessy inhuman colonists, and effected a practically successful reform of the system." We could quote dozens of instances in which His Excellency's enlightened policy, during his go vernment of this Colony, has elicited the admiration and approval of some We have done His Excellency the Go-

of the greatest men of the century, vernor an unintentional injustice, and

Government House, Hongkong,

men whose judgment is neither to be hasten to make the amende honorable. In

September 17, 1880.

misled or influenced by selfish aims; writing yesterday on the Colonial Sur- MY LORD.-The two special reports of but as we have already taken great geon's report we stated that the report it- the Colonial Surgeon in 1874, on the sani- liberties with our limited space ene self had not come to hand, and that the tary stato of the licensed brothels, and on extract which we reproduced was taken the state of the streets, lanes, and housee

more extract must suffice to show from a London newspaper. We now find in certain parts of the town, and specially the estimation Governor Pope Hen- that the statements contained therein were those parts where pigs were kept in dwellnessy is held in by those who are in not takea from either of the two last re- ing-houses. under Government license, are

herewith enclosed for your Lordship's in- consistency in the cause of progress, a position to appreciate his thorough formation. I was not aware of the existence of those reports until your Lordship's

for the amelioration of those whom Despatch of 14th May, 188), drew my fate has placed under his govern- attention to the Colonial Surgeon's annual ment. At a meeting of the City of report dated 5th April, 1875, which was

London Committee, held in January suppressed at that time by, the executive, last under the presidency of Samuel and which I recently ordered to be printed Morley, M.P., a resolution was un- in full, and which was laid before your Lordship in my Despatch of 15th July, animously passed which honours 1880.

Governor Hennessy as few public 2-I have no doubt Governor Sir Ar-` men have ever been honoured. We thur. Kennedy took steps to remedy the quote but one paragraph which says. but ad lood, those various reporte, that His Excellency the Go but I find it somewhat difficult to trage the precise measures that he adopted. vernor, in particular, deserves the Your Lordship will observe that in his grateful acknowledgments of all who minute on the sanitary state of the licensed value liberty, purity, humanity, and brothels. Sir Arthur Kennedy said the righteous administration of Eng- "This is a horrible revelation." And Mr. Gardner Austin, the Colonial Selish Law. This was no Exeter oretary, says "If, without exaggeration, Hall conclave, but a body of gentle- this report reflects seriously upon the Go- men whose names are honourably vernment in respect to the past, and throws known as living monuments of Eng- much responsibility upon it as regards the

land's greatness. In addition to Samuel Morley, there were present Sir Thomas Chambers, Q., M.P., Recorder of the City of London; Sir Charles Reed, L.LD, ESA., Chair man of the London School Board; Sir Andrew Lusk, Bart., M.P., Sir Francis Lycott; William McArthur,

The charges made by our morn- ing contemporary against H.E. the character, and without undoubted Governor are of the most serious proofs of their absolute accuracy columns of a respectable public jour- should have never appeared in the nat Are the charges true? They are entirely without foundation, absolutely false from beginning to end. Before going further we contemporary's own words. In the sider it advisable to prove this by our

Daily Press of yesterday we read:

con-

ports, but from that for the year 1874, which was burked, it appears, during Mr. Gardiner Austin's administration. This has been printed in its entirety in the Ad- ministrative Reports for 1879, with mi- nutes and marginal notes.

Our contemporary has in the above paragraph, neither made the amende honorable for the false and scanda- lous statements published respecting the Governor, or done His Excellency half justice. After the column and a half of lying assertions and villain- ous abuse, our contemporary finds that the report referred to was burk- conteraptible expedient as the local eup-ed, "during the administrationof Mr. pression of departmental reports, must be

Gardiner Austin in 1874," years be- taken to have tacitly confessed himself in the wrong, for there can be no doubt that fore Sir John Pope Hennessy came to had he been in a position to show that the Hongkong. It is enough to say that report was inaccurate, he would have de-

an unintentional injury has been done molished it in a characteristic speech in Council and not have exhibited such weak- His Excellency, probably on the ness as to shelter himself behind the en- principle that if the scurrilous abuse forced ignorance of the community as to was not merited in this affair, it will doubtless be deserved some other time.

what was contained in it.

Now that we have completely open-

We specially, direct attention to the definite character of the offen- sive charges deliberately and authorised the eyes of the public to the true tatively made against Governor Hen- character of the Daily Press, and the messy. The mask of politeness is real claims that journal actually pos-

The result of this was that Dr. Ayres

report was

Austin and Smith to suit their own "cooked" by Messrs.

views, and the "pruning knife" was mercilessly applied to the whole of the remarks on Sanitation, and the the Tung Wah Hospital and Victoria more important references concerning Gaol. With these important omis- Report for 1874 was duly printed. sions the Colonial Surgeon's Annual The part played by Sir John Pope Hennessy in this affair will be best gathered from the following letter which appears in the printed papers

Governor Sir J. Pope Honnessy, K.O.M.G.

to The Right Honourable the Earl of Kimberley.

laid before Parliament:-

future,"

3-Mr. C. C. Smith, the head of the Department, responsible for having licon- sad the houses in question and for the general administration of the Brothels Ordinance, does not appeur, to call in the Colonial Surgeon; nor does he seemi question the serious statements made by to doubt the value of the remedies sug