1896-07-22 — Page 3

The bill was then read a second time and referred to the Finance Commkice.

FOOD AND DRUGS ADULTERATION,

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1896.

One case was

to the Government medical staff. He marived bere from Japan on the 14th March, since which time te bas been actively engaged in treating patients at the Kennedy Town hospital.

that such part of the profit ta' exempted as usay be devoted to necessary improvements in the service.

On the other hand, the levying of the contel- betion upon the gross revenue derived from the Post Office appears to be equivalent to the exaction from a merchant of 17) per cent. of his captial and income, and I venture to sabalt that the revenus derived from the Post Office

RE THE NEW TREAT? DE

* COMMERCE,

The Arahf's Peking correspondent, willing under the date of June 24th, says :-

The Colonial Treasurer wald The total become almost entirely free from it; the immunity expenditure for 1895 amounted to $3,189,343. it enjoyed being attributed by the Chloese to the while the salmate was only $3,368,3ar, leaving cold weather which prevailed during that period. an excess of 5973.142, but owing to the fact that 7. It was, of course, not to be expected that wotes for Public Works are kent dietlact the Chinese would submit with any great com-

19. With regard to the origin of the plague the total excess to be functioned is $1.007,375, placenes to the compulsory Inspection, dislofect there serms no doubt that it may be classed as a filth diresse. It is confined chiefly to the

The Japan-China negotiations on the new This sum is made up chiefly by the following ing and cleansing of their dwellings, which can- anforseen items:--Resam tion of Talpingshan not be carried out without chasing some dis-

poorer classes of the Chinese, whose dirty and

Treaty of Commerce, the result of which has been awaited with keen interest, bave now $810,00; Public Works recorrent, extra,

comfort to those concerned, and though I am insanitary habits foster its progress. The

assumed a peculiar and unexpected aspect, $17,000; Plague expenses $30,000 and Exchange happy to say that they have shown themselves ordinary Chinaman of the orer class in thle (or at least that part of fi which is required for Compensation paid on account of 1894, $40,000 ble rear more ready than to 1894 to recognise Colony seldom thinks of cleaning his house, and expenditure on the Postal Service) should be awing 18 a proposal to strike off the elime Supplementary votes amounting in all to the absolute really, the interests of the the heaps of dirt and rabbish which the house- regarded as the capital of the post-aring poritos relating to Japanese manufactures in China. The proposal is said to have been accepted by $nga.com mero sanctioned by the Council public benlib, of the sanitary measures which cleansing parties remove from one small floor of the community heid in trust for It and admi- from time to time during the year, The have to be adopted, they nevertheless have dis-of a house causes the spectator to wonder where Dhered on its behalf by the Government. I the Chinese plenipotentiary, and probably Japan will have to lose her privilege of remittance fram ordinary expenditure exceeded the estimate played great unwillingness to come forward to

the occupant can find room for himself. Many consider that the Government should be in a by only $00.000, which is made by the report cases of plague coming under their of the houses are, moreover, so situated and position to provide a Postal Service for the charges on her manufactures which ske obtained cognisance. Innumerable have been the constructed as to afford an utterly inadequate letter-writing public on a cheap terms (inas by the Shimonoseki Treaty. Nay, Japan has last three items shove mentioned. On the other hand the revenne collected came very near to devices and saterfuges to which they have had supply of light and ventilation and the position much as it is not its object to make a large voluntarily given up the privilege. Is not this a I understand that no clause $3 500,000 and if appropriations in ald be added recourse in order to remove patients and corpsen is aggravated by the high roals which prevail profit) as could be offered by private firms, but great concession

In this Colony and which encourage overcrowd at the same Ume without expense to the non-relating to large manufacturing bustness was It amounts to $2535.000, as compared with from the Colony without the knowledge of the $1,278.000 during the previous year. The excess Authorities, and, in many instances, with a view ing. The housing of the working classes in letter-writing potion of the community. The given in the draft produced by the japanese of expenditor, excluding an works, over to avoiding enforced segregation, they deteiled Fangkong is an important question the con- post of 173 per cent, on gross receipis renders plenipotentiary, owing to the fact that the last clause in Art. VI. of the Shimonosek! revenue in 1895 was about $490.000, but if the their houses, leaving victims of the disease dead sideration of which should be no longer delayed. this position quite impossible. In the case where

"Any provisions, which may extraordinary expenditure on Taipingshan be or dying, the bodies not having been discovered accordingly propose shortly to appoint a the General Post Office competes to some Treaty said

Commission to enquire into and report on this extent with pelvate firms (eg, in the carry" be necessary to be made regarding the concer- deducted from the former there would be a aur- some days after death,

ing of parcels) the latter EDUAT ealy slon (on the part of China relating to Japanese plus of over $130,000. In spite, however, of the brought to light in which a corpse was being matter

20. It is also a noteworthy fact that the out- an immense advantage at any rate if the parcels manufactures in the interior of Chins) above large expenditure, the balance of liabilities over conveyed secretly out of the Colony i mer-

break of the present year, as in 1894, was post ja to be conducted on strict business prin- mentioned shall be included in the Treaty of ansels on 31st December was only $175,000chandise in a camphor-wood box.

8. In order, therefore, to allay the suspicious preceded by a prolonged scarcity of water. In ciples, without assistance from general revenue. Commerce and Navigation provided for in this which it is hoped will be wiped off by December

and apprehensions of the Chir ese, who a peo-1864 the rainfall commenced exceptionally late, Avain, in cases where the General Post Office Treaty," and Japan considered it unnecessary Rext.

ple are naturally timid, and le induce them to sed not until the supply of water in the reservoir exercises a manopoly, owing to this impost of to make any such provisions. But Li Hung Leport cares with greater readiness, it was decid was nearly exhausted, while in 1895 the amount 171 per cent, there will be unnecessary hardship chang, the late Chinese plenipotentiary produced ed, towards the end of March, to permit them të of rain which fell was so abnormally mail either to the general pubile or to the post-using-another draft of his own in which he deliberately remove their sick to Canton under certain con-

it was necessary, in order to husband the supply the business of the Post Office is extended. I factores. Here came the Chinese statesman's until the tales of 18c5, to place the colony on a venture to hope that in view of these consider canning into fall play, in attempting to depriva limited supply throughout the dry season of 1895-allons it may be decided to exempt from the Japan of the privilege of remittance she had In consequence, the respective 1896. On the other hand It must not be forgotten deduction for the Military Contribution that obtained. that the rainfall of 1894, when it did at last come, portion of the revenue which is devoted to the plenipotentiaries disagreed in their interpretation charges upon Japanese sudden and very great necessary expenses of the Postal Service. 1 with regard to was accompanied by a Increase in the number of cases of plagas, doubt. should add that if the contention of the memo manufactures, and neither side yielded less because the wet weather drove the Chinese rialists ls upheld, the amount to be deducted in the within doors and facreased the overcrowding in

respect

1895 on account of transit charges their houses. The sains this year began early and expenses of the Postal Convention would and there is now no scarcity” of water in the be $145,711.00. The total revenue of the Post colony.

Office in 1895 was $244,449.71 while the expen- diture was $194,340.37, leaving a balance of $50,30944. For the reasons I have stated, I consider this to be the largest amm on which

posed to strike off the clange. Provisions in the the must of 173 per cent, should be charged,

4. The contention in paragraph 3 is obviously Treaty of Commerce are necessary, because sound, as the water accounts with departments both sides disagree to the interpretation of are simply a matter of book-keeping; the the Shimonoseki Treaty. To remain content without arriving at a definite interpretation in amounts are merely best entries : no money

the face of the difference is tantamount to actually passes and if it did it would simply be transiering money from one accent to another. tacft surrender on the part of Japan. This could 5. I agree with the memorialists also that the be no other than procrastination on the part of Hems classed last year as appropriations to aid Japanese statesmen, and must prove injurious should fairly be exempted. For example, the sooner or later to Japan's laterrats. The Treaty Government might hand over Queen's College of Commerce might be speedily concluded on or the Government Ciril Hospital to a Public account of this vague arrangement, but the time Body, paying. to auch Body the difference be will come when it is unavoidable to face the tween the cast of upkeep and the amount of question in a practical and aggravated form. the fees collected. The revenue would be Japanese capitalists fetending to start spinning thereby diminished by the amount of the fees, mills in Shanghat are now awaiting the conclu while it would scarcely be contended that Gov.sion of the Commercial Treaty, and the autho- emment should not entrust the management of riles will have to face in Shanghai the such institutions to a public body simply because difficulty which they have imperfectly avoided to do so would decrease the amenst of the in Peking. If the Japanese authorites have done this fully aware of the difficulty in the Military Contribution. Items of this nature are

A list of future, as I bellewe, it is probable that they have practically refunds of expenditure. the amounts of the appropriations in ald for long since decided to abandon the privilege they had obtained. In short, they have thrown 1895 is enclosed.

away in Peking what they had taken in Shimo- noseki This is not only injurious to Japan's commercial interest, but a great stain on her

The Attorney-General :-I do not prapore lo dittons, 1 copy of which is enclosed, and this 1 (45.84 inches instead of the usual ga inches) that section of it, and the hardship will increase am laserted a clause relating to Japanelą mani-

proceed with the second reading of An Ordin ance to make letter provision for the sa's of Food and Drugs im à pure state, to-day. I may mention that this Ordinance has been referred to the Sanitary Board, and they have suggested certain amendments which I have not yet had time to consider. and so I will not proceed with this hill to-day.

MARRIAGE ORDINANCE.

The Benililed An Ordinance to amend "The Marriage Ordinance, 1875," was read a second time, considered in Committee, read third time and passed,

TITLES OF PRISON OFFICERS.

The Bill entitled An Ordinance to alter the tiller of Prison Officers employed in this Colony was tead a second time, considered in Committee, read a third time and passed.

BIATHS AND DEATHS.

Tthe B entitled An Ordinance to amend

the regis “and consolidate the law relating iration of Births and Deaths was read a third time and passed.

ADMIRALTY PROCKEDURE.

privilege was abortly alterwards extended to the removal of corpses. Although this concession has been availed of moly to the extent of the re- moval to Canton of one patient and four bodies, I am at opinion that the granting of it has tanded to calm the minds of the native population and to discourage the concealment of cases from the knowledge of the authoriiles.

I am glad also in this connection to be able to state that although a good many of the well- to-do Chinese have removed their wives and families from the Colony, and although the attendance at most of the schools has greatly diminished, there has been no general exodus of the population such as occurred in 1894, and business bas so far not suffered to any apprecis ble extent, except perhaps from the imposition of quarantine by the Governments of Singapore and Batavia,

to. Early in April, the Sanitary Board recom- mended that, in view of the danger involved la sending inmates from plague infected houses to Canton, where the disease had by that time agala amomed formidable dimensions, sheds should be erected in the Colony for their segre- gation while their clothing was being disinfected. There such sheds bare accordingly been erected, one each in the eastern, western, and Central portions of the City, and are being used for the temporary housing of the inmates of infected The Council was then adjourned for a forthouses whlist the latter are being cleaned and

disinfected.

The Bill entitiert An Ordinance to regulati the Admiralty Procedure of the Supreme Court was sold a second time, considered la Committee, read a third these and pasted.

night,

ADJOURNMENT.

THE INCIPIENCE AND PROGRESS OF THE BUBONIC PLAGUE IN HONGRONG DURING 1895. The following report on the above subject was „laid before the Legislative Coonell by command of his Excellency the Governor this afternoon:-

No. 117.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, Hongkong, 6th Mar, 1896, SIR-I bave the honour to forward for your information the following account of the facial.

ence and progress of the bubonic plague in this Colony doring the current year, and of the measures ❤bich have been and are being taken to suppress li.

January there were

2. The first cate of plague occurred on the 4th January, and from that date to the sgth coses, as reported to you in my despatch No. 26 of that date. These cases were merely sporadic, being confined principally to the western portion of the City.

Precautionary measures of the following sature, to prevent the disease from sprending, were adopted without delay!--

(1) Every person found to be suffering from

the diess was at once removed to the hospital st Kennedy Town, situated in an isolated position at the extremo 'western suburb of Victoria, and was there placed under treatment.

(i) The other inmates of the house in which the case bad occurred and who were in close contact with the patient were segre gated on large and roomy junks locally known as "marriage boats," hired by Government for the purpare and anchored in the vicinity of Stonecutter's Island, where they were detained under observation for to days, 9 days having been ascertained to be the m xirgum period of incubation of the disease to 1894 Every attention was pals to the comfort of those segregated, who, besides heing fed at the expense of Gorera- ment, were supplied with clothing, whilst their own was being dllofected by the Sanitary Board before being finally returned to them. After the period of ra days had elapsed, they were at liberty, still free from the disease, to return is the Cliy, or to their own homes on the mainland. Only one or two person developed the disenss during the period of Isolation, and they were of conrra at once removed to the Kennedy Town hospital for treatment, (th) The house in which the case occurred was

11. On the 6 April, I found it necessary to apply to his Excellency the General Officer Commanding for military assistance to aid in the work of house to house visitations and cleansing, and he was good enough to detall for that work 12 men from the Royal Engineers and subsequently 17 men from the Rifle Balgade and 4 Non-commissioned Officers, who are cheer- folly performing their difficult work in a most efficient manner. They are being remunerated at the same rate as that fixed in 1894.

12. The search party visits and inspects each Chinese house to the Colony about once in every ten days, and from the 35th February to the zist April no fever than 3,200 houses, com- prising 8,330 floors, each floor forming, with few. Exceptions, a separate dwelling, were thoroughly cleansed, disinfected and, to many cases, also Ime-washed by the "Whitewash Brigade This work is still in progress. The total number of occupied Chinese houses in the city is 6,350, but as a number of these are accupied by well- to-da Chinese_no_interference on the part of the Sanitary Board is necessary. It is hoped that before long every house in the City requiring attention will have been cleansed and lime-washed.

13. Faring described in detail the sanitary measures which have been taken to cope with the disease, I now proceed to deal with the subject from a medical point of view.

14. I am informed by Dr. Lowson that the type of the disease is identically the same as in 1894, a fall description of which is given la that officer's report, forwarded in my despatch No. 123 of the 16th April, 1895.-

Ig, I enclose a return showing the number of cases and deaths to date, and the number of cases which have occurred during each week since the 4th January,

16 I may here mention that in order to ensure all possible accuracy in the statisties, the bedles of all Chlacno whore deaths are registered but the causes of whose deaths have not been certified by a medical practitioner are examined before burial by the Medical Officer of Health. In proof of the necessity of this step I may state that that officer found that between the 8th February and the 30th Apell as many as go deaths from plague had been erroneously registered as due to other causes, principally consumption, broschtile fever.

11. With regard to the financial aspect of the situation I will address a further communication to you at a later date. In the meantime I will contest myself with remarking that, although the measures which I have described acces

arily involve a considerable ostlay, all possible economy is belog exercised, besilog in mind the urgent necessity of complete and compre bensive sellos in suppresslóg at all hazards this fell disease, the annual recurrence of which cannot fail to affect prejudicially the prosperity of this Colony. That those mexinres are bearing good fruit may, I think, be fairly deduced from the figures of the return of cases, which cannot be considered alarmingly' bigh when it is borne in mind that the disease is raging with great virulence in the City of Canton and on the mainland in the neighbourhood of the Colony, and that the popnikilon of the Colony has gỏi been diminished by any such extensive exodus of the Chinese as took place is 1894.

23. In conc'asion, I desire to stale that the members of the Sanitary Board and its staff deserve great credit for the efficient manner in which they are supervising and discharging duties of an arduous and disagreeable nature, but extra and anxious work has also fallen on other departments. I do not propose on the present occasion to mention the names of ladividuals deserving of special commendation. I consider that the staff at present employed in plague work, aided as it is by departments of Government, is sufficient to cope with the exist- Ing conditions. but so long 18 the disease in epidemic in Capton this colony can never be free from grave anxiety. If the plague continues to rage in that clty it may be necessary to endeavour to prohibit Chinese immigration into this colony from thence, though I doubt whether it will be possible to devise steps for that purpose which will prove really effective. In say case nothing will be left undone which can in say way eradicate a disease which has already toficted great loss and suffering on the colony, and which may permanently affect its welfare unless it can be prevented from recturing,

I bave the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

WILLIAM ROBINSON,

Gourmor.

The Alght Honourable Mr. Joseph Chamber

ials, M. P., Her Majesty's Principal Secre- tary of State for the Colonies, &c, &c, &c.

·

THE MILITARY CONTRIBUTION.

The following despatch was laid before the Legislative Council by command of his Excel- landy the Governor this afternoon --

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, Hongkong, 21st April, 1895. Sir, I bave the honour to forward the from the Unofficial enclosed memorandam Members of the Legislative Council on the subject of the Military Contribution, and to submit the following observations on the several points raised by them.

2. The position assumed by the memorialists in paragraph of their memorandum L, in my opinion, untenable, and calls, I think, for no and Intermittent special remark.

to

withstanding this fact, there is not one single man to be added to the fleet in preparation for the 46 new vessain laid down this year. The complements accesasty for these vessels amount to 11,200; this makes 23,200 short of the zeilym service ratings of the flact. There are 4,900 te be joine 1 this year, but they will nat All ba folded illi the end of the yeas, and even then will be in process of training.

The case is really worse than this, when worked out in detall, but within the limits of letter it would be impossible to render It faitly # I am merely pointing out to you the facts publicly admitted beanthority. Setely that is the point for you to devole your energies and attention to. I admit that it might not be possible or politic for this country to maintain the number of active service ratings necessary as complements for every sbtp in the fleet-first" on account of the expense (which to my mind is a minor affair where the existence of the Empire la at stake), and secondly, the difficulties that would be incurred in training the officers and men at sea, in the number of ships that could reasonably be thought necessary for peace requirements. Allowing this to be the case, how Imperatively necessary it must be to have a real, thorough, well-disciplined, and perfectly trained reserve, egadt in number to its requirements, if the country should go to war. It is a fatal mistake, In my opinion, to think that we shall be able fight a modern man-of-war with hall-g-ship's compray of reserve men who have never book drilled or trained in a man-of-war in commitalom or passed through the fleet.

The first essential of a naval reserve man should be that he has passed through a man-of- was flent. The engine-room department have taken the place of the sexmen of the olden time, in so far as by their energy, ability, and loyalty we are now enabled to place our ships in the position of advantage when fighting su action.

other. Chang succeeded LI

Without counting the engine-room comple- Chinese plenipotentiary afterwards," and he

ments for the 46 new ships referred to, we ar also has tosisted as firmly as The clause is.

over 5,000 short in this department alone. If question then has been the sole cause of delay in the negotiations, and is, therefore, the most im- you will observe the naval estimates for this year you will find there are only 2,800 is the portant question in the whole affair. While the

reserve to fill up the requirements in the engine question has this remained unsettled, it is wur- prising to hear the rumour that Japan has probe found in the paper reserva. How are we to room. The remaining number are not eran to

6. The item referred to in paragraph 5 of the memorial should also, I think, be exempted. The sum mentioned, vix: $15,000, has been provided in the Estimates to meet the expendinatior al honrar. ture on account of refunds of revenus,

7. As regards paragraph 6, I have nothing to add to the remarks contained in paragraph 5 of my despatch No. 267 of 18th August, 1896, except that the memorialists are in error in sup posing that the revende derived from Water Rates and the Central Market will, in course of time, cease and determine, although they might be decreased.

8. I shall be glad to be favoured with an early decision so the several points raised by the memorialists.

9. It is satisfactory to note that the Unofficial Members have raised no objection to the pria- ciple of appropriating a percentage of 17% ptr cent, of the Colonial Revenues to the use of the Imperial Government as a Milliary Contribution: and 1. trust that, If it is possible to meel their wishes as regards some of the details to which attention has been drawn in their memorandum, this much-vered question will be at last satisfactorily and finally settled.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your mast obedient, brimble servant,

WILLIAM ROBINSON. The Right Honourable Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, M.P., Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO TES GOVERNOR,

Hongkong.

Downing Street,

No. 128.

8th June, 1896. Sir, have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 107 of 21st April Int, forwarding a Memorandum from the Un- which they suggest thai certain items should be official Members of the Legislative Council, In omitted from the statement of Revenue on 2. I regret that 11 am unable to meet the views which the Military Contribution is based. of the Unofficial Members in this matter, and I would observe that if any of their proposals were adopted it would be necessary to recon. sider the proportion of Revenue which has been fixed as the amount of the Contribution.

3. That proportion, seventeen and a half per cent, taken on the total gross revenue of the

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We do not necessarily sodorns the opinions expressed by Czernicoident in this colums,}

THE SUDDEN DEATHS ON BOARD

THE "AMARAPOORA.”

TO Y DEVOR OF THE "Howarowa TaiBTRAFE."

SIR.—I shall be glad if you will fosent the fol- lawing, for I think it is a matter that requires explanation,

On Thursday last, the 16th July, we had the mistertune on board the Amarpoora to lose coC. of our crew, named John Grant, who died and- denly on board just after bathing in the harbour, Most of my shipmates were anxious to see the last of poor Grant. We were informed that the burial would take place the Dext

day (Friday) at p.m., at the Protestant Cemetery. One Captala, the engineers, and most of the crow were at the Cemetery at the proper time, but no minister turned up. I and others walted two hours and a half in the Cemetery Chapel, and finally we left the body in the Chapel all night and it was not interred ill the next day! Surely such an affair requires some explanation.

As toon

Then, again, on Saturday, the 18th July, another member of our crew,

one. William Clayden, a Roman Catholic, our second steward, -who was apparently in the best of health-fell down suddenly on his faco on deck and died without speaking a word. He was in fact dead as-it was seen that the ind was seriously III within two minutes after falling down. the flag was hoisted for the Doctor, but no medical man came near the ship that day, al- though the death occurred at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, The corps of the poor ind way taken ashure by the Water Police, and was buried on the 19th instant (Sunday) at ten minutes. to 6 p.m. Our Captain informed as that the burial would take place at 6 p.. but It was 5.30 p.m. when that information reached us. When we reached the Roman Catholic Cemetery at ten minutes to six, the Reverend

st ones closed and guarded by the Police 603, or a little more than 80 per cent, whereLA TEVONDO collected on beħall of the Imperial Less Land Sales, and including all those Father told us the body had just been intered, 'vision of the Medical Officer of Health It must also be beras in mind that in the intim Profit to the Colony. Without the services of items which have hitherto been accounted for us and he added that had he known we were coming

maill a bad been thoroughly cleansed, disin fected and whliowashed under the super- attached to the Sanitary Board.

3. Daring the greater part of January, Canton was reported to be almost entirely free from the disesse, but towards the end of that month it This fact became more prevalent there, materially altered the state of affairs and as, is view of the difficially of restricting the passenger traffic from that post, from which Hongkong derives the greater part of its food supply, the was in any case exposed to the danger of colony the introduction of cases from thence and as the number of parsods in segregation amounted to over 200 and was rapidly increasing, the Sand tury Board resolved to abandon the system of Ispisilon on marriage boats. It was accordingly decided that wach of the inmates of infected houses 19 desired to do so should be permitted, after their clothing had been disinfected, to prossed to Canton, their deparare being super vised by the Felice, and a sufficient of money being given to each person to defray the cost of his passage and his necessary expenses during the voyage.

3. As regards the contention in paragraph 2, 17. The mortality generally, as compared the Unofficial Members seem to forget that ne with 1894, shows a slight Improvement. The monies are paid away la respect of the Postal total number of Chinese cass up to noon on the Service except for services actually rendered. It 4th instant was 675, and the number of deaths seems to me erroneous to maintain that the In 1894 the mortality among the Chinese who Government or of the Portal Union brings so were treated in hospitals was 93 per cent, and

the Imperial Government and the Postal Union, Revenue, sppears to me to be by no means an calculation no account is taken of dead bodies which are paid for by this ravenue, the Postal unreasonable sum to ask the Colony to contri- found in the streets and sent at once to the burial Service would either come to a standstiil or the botes and I have already explained in my ground, while the returns for the current year Colony would have to make direct arrangements despatch No. 18 of 26th October last why

the same percentage in the can of Hongkong method then that included all deaths from the plague. There are, for the performance of those services, which consider that there is no unfairness in charging however, grounds for believing that chlidren are might be a less economical more liable to infection than was the case in which at prosent exists. This part of the expenas in that of the Straits Settlements, although in diture is, in fact, just as necessary to the service the latter Colony municipal revenues are not that year.

as the salaries of the Post Office, staff. At the

aa persone other than Chinese have contrac ed the disease during the current year. Their nationalities were as follows >.

Europeans... Indians.........cameraman 13 (including Mrs. Joseph and her family, repared in my desnatch No. 87 of 16th April, 1895.)..

Slamere mayamanan I Amongst the Xaropese two Sisters of Charly from the Italian Convent have died, having conracted the diasas from a case which occurred in that Convent. The third case was a Master Mariner, named James Ernest Clawd, living at a marine boarding.homa, who, it is believed, contracted the disasse on board Chinese launch running between Hongkong and Kowloon, He, also, I regret to say, succumbed to the attack. The other cases were

4. Towards the middle of February the anm. ber of cases occurring dally began to show an appreciable increase, and the disease ceased to those of

same time it appears to me that there are strong resions why the entire portion of the revenue which is expended on the Postal Servics should be exempted from the Military Contribution, That service is one of the few commercial under takdags which are now controlled and managed by Government on behalf of the public, and believe that it is generally recognised as a fanda mental principle that, so far as is possible, only so much profit should be derived from a postal service as is necessary to meet such extensions and improvements as may be required from time to time in the survica Lizell, Any profit derived from the service, except when so applied, constitutes a special tax upon that section of the psbile which makes use of the service, from which the remaining ortion of the wo children of Warden Gidicy of the community is szempt, while a deficit is equiva. Victoria Gaul, one of when dita e employ of besent of one portion of B, wh, those who send over the whole City. recovered, and of an Austrian It, wix,

Mears, Sander & Co., he is still under treatment and receive correspondence through the Post at the Government Civil Hospital and is pro- This is so manifestly unfair that tariffs are in so mizenged it to guard against such a ereasing favourably towards convalescence. The Siamese died, and of the fifteen Indians six died, possiblity, with the result that the profit may be four recovered and five are willl under trestrauni. and frequently is considerably in excess of the About the same time the ordinary staff of 18. Early in March it was deemed advisable, amount required for imprevensents in the Postal the Sanitary Board was incressed by the appomni. in view of the possibility of the disease aandring Service, the balance going to swell the general ment se temporary Inspector of Nulaances of an epidemic loam, to procure extra medle sine European Police constables who werealstance, and, by the counery of Admiral estrested with the duty of siding in the supervi Hoffmann, I was fortunate mough to be able to sion of the Inspecting, cleansing and disinfecting secure the services of Dr. Wilm of the Imperial German Navy, whose eminent attainmenté us u 76, It is a somewhat remarkable fact that dus bacteriologist and intimate acquaintance with ing the latter part of February and the first three this particular disease, which he had previously Works in March, while the disesse was increas» - studied here as well as under Prefenné 15sch in Log in Stonguing, Conlon was reported to bare' Baits, render Miss a mom valuatio

pervall only in a single district, but appeared to on the 19th of that month It was declared by the Smliary Board to be epidemic and from that drite the Health Officer of the Fort ceased lasuing citan Bille of Health to vessels leaving Hoag.

kong.

of houses.

Tagiably

Ervenne.

taken into account.

I

4. Turning to thown item of Reyenne which

were in the Estimates for 1895, (for the Best and last time), treated as Appropriations-in-Ald, I world remark that they are in the nature of reimbursements towards expendlere, most of all of which expenditure would have to be focurred, even if nothing were recovered by wAY of reimbursement. There receipts are therefore, in my opinion, properly treated as Revenue, and can see no sufficient reason for deducting them as indicated in my telegram of this day's date I' from the total am which the Contribution is to be based.

to

STO

he would have waited for us. As it was, how- over, this young man, car shipmate, was buried without any of his friends being able to follow 3 think, Bir, you will concede that in bringing him to his last resting place.

your notice we, being these matters

only doing all that strangers here, lles in our power to have such unpleasant matters cleared up and properly explained.

John Grant was a native of Glasgow, and Williams Clayden's home is in Miwall, London. Thanking you for your kindness in publishing this.

We remain, Sir,

Yours falihfully,

DISAPPOINTED COMRADES OF THE DECEASED, Hongkong, and July, 1896.

THE MANNING OF THE NAVY.

fill up from the reserve as has lately been declared possible by authority? But remember the present laleation as expressed is to make up the first Gghting line out of the reserve, leaving none whaterer for casuallies and necessities inseparable from war-like operations.

Why does not the Navy League use its undoubted influence and get members of Parlia mant to ask for defalts and specified returns in these matters ? I can quite understand Governments adopting the line they invariably da on such occasions, by declaring that it is not to the interests of the public service to grant such return. From thy peint of view, the paramount loterests of the public service are the . undoubted security and absoluta safety of our Empire. If there lo nothing to be alarmed at, why not grant the returns? Granting returns appears to me is facilitate the doctrins laid dowo: "That upon the Nation depends the strength of the fleet.” If the Nation does not know the facts, how are they to determine what the strength of the first shall be 7.

I believe a motion for urgency was moved In the House of Commons and the real facts disclosed that the public would be as anxious for supplementary vote to Increase the Berzonnal or reserve, as they were eight years ago to hurry forward the focrease of the fleet mi a cost of £20,000,000, after they knew the facts

of our weakness.

The whole question of the personnel wanĪG complete overhauling under the following kendr

1. Defélte number of acılve service ratings necessary, bearing some sort of proportion to the numbers required for ships ballt and building, a. Similar lines with regard to the Royal Naval Reserve.

3. System of training adopted in both branches.-Navy League Fournal

SHIPPING And mail neWS.

MATIA DUE: Australian (Manmuir) to-morrow,, Tacoma (Olympia) 24th Inst. English (Mirzapore) 25th lust. American (Ctly of Río de Janetro) agih inst. German (Sachsen) 18th inst. Indian and Strakti (Chelydra) 28th inst. Australian (Tatyuan) zấth init. American (Garlic) 30th fest. Canadian (Empress of China) zrd prox. Tacoma (Bramar) 11th prox.

THE Indo-China Co.'s steamship Chilydre, from Calcutta and the Strafts, left Singapore for this part at 5 p.m. yesterday.

THE Ocean Steamship Co.'s steamer Tantalus, from Liverpool, lett Singapore for this post yesterday afternoon, and may be expected hera on or about the 27th Inst.

THE agents (Mesers Dodwell, Carill & Co.) Inform us that the "Mogul" Lino steamer Cromarty left Slugspere for this port to-day, and is daa here on or about the 28th inst,

•SHIPPING RETURNS.

From 8 pm. yesterday to 8 pm, today.

Polyphemus.............vtnamer, from Foochow

ARRIVALS.

"

Намовни Halloong Wingrang...zinde Independent s Canton Dari.. Graftom....Cruiser

Amoy, etc, Hoihow. Canton.

Canton

Shangbai:

11,

#

#

Singaporn.

19" Singapore.

Aggregating 7,869 tons register.

Talchtow............teaser, for Bangkok,

DEPARTURES.

|

Empress of Fapam... Melbourne SAILORED Hongkong. Coptic

#

Vancouver,

И

#t

Europe.

1

E

Holbow,

10

America.

Aggregating 8,645 tona register,

HONGKONG AND WHAMPOA Dock RETURNS, Plectola...

Adly mamm Strathalian.. Tomar (H.M.9.)

Koandals......... Bws Citrites mon Zaro............... Wandering Y

Sabine Richm

5. Silarly I can see no reason for dedscileg CAPT. LORD CHARLES BERESFORD, R., CB. The necessity for an organisation like the any portion of the Postal Receipts, as proposed in your despatch under acknowledgment. Hest Navy League is rendered conspicuously up. of the arguments advanced by you on this point parent by the apathy of the pubile with regard would apply equally to several other heir of to the serious statements Lataly made by inho-Fra Ravense, g, Harbour Receipts, Court Receipts, ity. It has been officially stated in the most and Water Receipts, all of which might in our polite stoper that in order to man all eur be be regarded as reimbursements in aid of chips it would be necessary to take 11,000 m 6. I request you to lay this despatch and my expenditure, despatch of 6th October last beins the Logis

Istire Council,

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant,

...). CHAMBERLAIN": Governor Sir W. Robinson, K.C.M.G., &, 8,

A deduction of 17) per cent. from such revanne as might be ruled to meet a dedalt would cons

Note-The previous despatches to which sittain a tax on general revenue and themfore from the present point of view would be waobjecremor is made in the above correspondence, tionable, but this case is not litaly in nouur in vis, the Governor's despaich Na, a6y of the 38th on locumberals' touch practice,

A dedocilan of a pásomulage an pendus slao: 77%, 458 of the ad: Octaber, 1995, have already djama te be open to në grave najvotiony provided. Védu jubilerade

Kowloon Dock

*

"

4

Cosatopolitan

PARED THE CANAL. From the reserve. To ensure succeskla a naval OUTWARD-Fath Jade-Exton, Egrement war every single ship that could be put is the Castle. 23rd Jane Benvenue, agth June- standing all that has been done during the last 30th June-Patrocius, Strathas City fighting line should be commissioned. Notwith Courtfield 25th June-Fornota, Tanialer. gight years, we are still short of the number of Dublin. 3rd July-Friggs, Tola Maru, p Vessels that would be necessary, in order to JulyOopack, Sachsen, Fünfikira, Elizabeth maistain undisputed the sovereignity of the sen Rickmers, toth July-Shanghai, 13th July against the forces which would probably be Aglata, Benalder, Clam, Glenavon, Charm, brought against us, if those clouds which now Saghalian. 17th July-Orlong, Sydney, Dar- danna, Leander, 31st July--Kritmktid, Manila, blacken the horizon really burst upon us,

Opinions differ, but the very last time that Agapanthus, Ceres, Detka Rickmaya.

HOMEWARD-16th...June-Brato, Malaica sufficient to train an able seaman thoroughly, mary on him quan la o mandi-war goth Jonem Pallery 3rd July- Serpadam votes, and thane ir barely sufficiens to educate || Cowriz, zih Julym Hartha, Natal, UNINI, lâu men of the englas-vents department. Motek nyih July-Prins Howwich, Tenure

is

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