The Hongkong Telegraph.
NEW SERIES No 4308.
NOTICE.
All communications intendol for publication in The "HONGKONG TELEGRAPH should addrowed to the Editor, 1, Ice House Road, aut should be accompanied by the Writer's Naune and Ordinary business communications shall benditressed The Editor will not undertake to be responsible for any rejected MB, nor to return any Contribution.
Address.
to The Manager.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES (IN ADVANCE). DAY$30 per annum, WEEKLY--$13 per ann
Single Copies Daily, ten cente: Weekly, twenty
five Cents.
Birth.
CONTENTS.
Loading Artioles;
Chinese Labour for South Africa. Cr city in Anima's.
Telegram:-
Opium for China.
Meetings:-
日九初月六年九十二精光
SUPPLEMENT.
(ESTABLISHED 1881).
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1903.
Year,
六拜禮
Plane
TABLE C.
Ies
號一月八英港者
Plans Huses Certi Can- carried 'ficater received. drained. celles, forward. granted 11891 1922 13,082 11,721 648.7135,199 137
inclusive)
(1st Or
1903
2nd
The President said it was evidently the wish of the Government that applications regarding exemptions from the provision of open spaces should be dealt with by the full Board. A c munication to that effect had been received from the Colonial Secretary, and therefore he did hot propose to further deal with the first of the proposed additional standing orders. With reference to the second, it would expedite the business of the Board, if it was agreed to by | -1 have, &c., the members. He thought, the agenda of the present meeting would show that some such standing order was necessary, otherwise they would have something over 20 or 24 of such applications to deal with practically at each meeting of the Board. He moved that the Board make this standing order,
5.4
79 08
688
I
13,226 11,868 649
105
5.441
J. W. BRYAN, Sanitary Surveyor.
Mr. H. E. Pollock minnted :—Why is it that the drainage of so many houses has been carried forward? Is it due to insufficiency of
stiff?
The President said it was not to in- sufficiency of staff that the drainage plans of so many houses were carried forward. in some years Frequently plans were sent even before the work was completed, and a certificate could not be given until the house was properly finished. The Surveyor had told him that he had just inspected som: houses in Seymour Road for which the plans were sent in August, 1901, and which were not yet completed.
The report was adopted.
AMENDMENTS IN PUR IC HEALTH BILL. Mr. Pollock, pursuant to notice, suved:- That a sub-committee the Board' be ap- pointed to consider what amendments appetit to be desirable in the Public Health and Buid- ings Ordinance, 1903, and to report thereon to the Board
of the labour position which Sir G, Farrar | skilled artisans; (4) Employers must deposit is reported to have given at the monthly a sum to cover the cost of repatriation at meeting of the Chamber of Mines at the termination of the engagement. All the Johannesburg, on 18th June. Advices had leading financiers are now on the side of the been received, it was stated, from the Cham-introduction of Asiatics, and a majority of ber's Aslatic Labour Commissioner, Mr. the papers is pro-Chinese.. Financiers ex- Skinner, from China, in which he stated that pect the introduction. of Chinese to com he had visited California, and had found themence in October, and within three months Chinese were the best workers in the world, all the mines will be supplied. This is, The rates per quarter and per massen, proportional, being docile, willing and obedient. An agi- however, too sanguine a hope to be seriously The daily one is delivered free with the addremitation was proceeding in San Francisco for entertained. Our information leads us to
xccessible to movinger On copies sent by post an schlitional $1.90 per quarter in charge! for postage. the importation of 100,000 indentured Chi-expect that far more difficulties will be met in The postage on the weekly ise to may put of the
nese into California for the extension of rail- the way of prompt shipping of free emigrants world in 30 cents per quarter.
ways, and an investigation into the proposal than seem at present to be realized. In any was being held. Regarding Japanese, Mr. | event, it is more than doubtful if two hun- Skinner advised that they would be willing | dred thousand will be available in so short to enter into a five years' contract at Kaffir a period as three months. It is true that wages, but Mr. Skinner favoured the Chinese. there are the teeming millions of China to and reported that the charges brought against recruit from; but South Africa is a long way them had been greatly exaggerated. This from the recruiting ground and those of the opinion, might be supplemented by those of Chinese who are there are far from unanim- Mr. C. G. Warnford Lock, general managerous in regarding the country with the same of the Raub Gold Mining Co., who wrote in degree of favour and popularity that they do his last report that "underground, the Chi- the Federated Malay States. naman, taken all round, has absolutely no rival. He is hard-working and enduring beyond any other race-white, brown, or black-in this climate; he gives many evid. ence of ingenuity, and his love of gambling Hewett, who revived the proposal for the makes him prefer piecework. He has his formation of a society in Hongkong for the faults, of course.. *
prevention of cruelty to animals, it may now is astonishingly cheap, especially if a little be said that the establishment of such an patience and trouble be taken to instruct institution in the Colony is within measur him. No better evidence of the capabilitiesable distance of accomplishment. From the of these Chinese miners could be wanted least expected quarter assistance and co- than the way in which they carried out operation in this most humane object has the work of straightening and re-timbering been forthcoming. We are pleased to be Koman Shaft, under condition that the able to state that Mrs. J. D. M. Cameron, a white miners would not face." Returning member of a similar society in the United to Hongkong, Mr. Skinner made it a point States, with the object and working of which to communicate with the most reputable his lady is thoroughly familiar, has interested these applications through more quickly, and it awners for structural allerations of their houses, firms-both British and foreign-in the Colony with a view to obtain offers from them for the supply of coolie labour to the extent of from one hundred to two hundred
Sani ary Board,
Legislative Coun. il.
Legal Intolligenoa:-
The Criminal Sessions.
Delays in the Supreme Court, Obliging a Frien
Correspondence—
Cruelty to Animals.
Miscellaneous. Articles and Reports:--
The Admiralty Dockyard Extension. Proceedings of the Public Works Committee.
His Late Holiness the Pope.
Presentation of War Medals.
The Typhoons.
Johannsen Discharged.
Big Land Deal
Kowloon Property Sale.
William Powell, Limited.
ton.
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corpora Hongkong Water Polo League Competition.
Freight.
Goal.
Kerosene
Canton Notes.
The Viceroy and the Rebellion.
Kwangsi Rebels in Honan.
The Late Mr. Hector Sampsam. Departure of SS. Pembrokeshire.
More Spurious Bank Notes.
The Canton-lankow Railway. The Hongkong Electric Stre ́t Trams. Tientsin.
China in Manchuria Arming,
The Opening of Peking.
The Japanese Jack-Tar.
The Hanoi Exhibition.
The Philippines Opium Monopoly,
The Indian Viceroyalty.
The Long Trail.
Doom of the Currency Note.
Life in Lhassa.
timported Sugar.
The Defence of China.
A Yacht Missing.
The Russo-Chinese Bank.
lengeance and Goliath.
Great Britain and China.
The New P. &0. Freight Carriers.
Bad Freights.
The Regular Progress.
Currency of Indo-China.
Discovery of imperial Jade,
Prof. Sharp and the Oriental Problem. American Monetary Commission. Desperate Situation on S.S. Ching Wo. Local and General.
BIRTH.
On the 29th July, at 13, Albany Road, Hong kong, the wife of Mr. A. PIERRE MARTY, a daughter.
thousand men.
sures
But his work
CRUELTY 10 ANIMALS,
(30th July,)
Thanks to the initiation of Mr. E. A.
The Vice-President seconded Mr. Hewett, in opposing the motion, said that at the last meeting of the Board he had stated his objections to the insertion of these standing orders, and he was glad to find that, so far as concfeed that most important one, the Government had fallen in with their views, was most important that matters of this son should be dealt with by the full Board, in sup port of his contention he could only repeat what he had said at the last meeting. Speak ing for himself, and he believed for all the unofficial members of the Board, they were very busy men, and it was impossible for them. to give close attention to matters circulated on papers or to decide by such a means whether a licence should be granted or not. The other night, when leaving his office at 5 o'clock, he had two tin boxes chock full of papers from the Board put into bis hands, and another was brought the following morning. These papers he had to rush through as quickly as possible, hecapse the meeting was to be held that after noon and the other members had to see them. He could not therefore take time to consider the matters dealt with, and he thought it very much better that they should be discussed by the fill Board. Ifa man proposed to start in busipess as a baker or as a boiler of fat, he did not make up his mind all at once. Не клен what be was going to do weeks or months be fore, whether he wanted a new licence granted or an old one renewed, and if it was necessary for him to give earlier notice to the Board he could do so. Without commenting on the way the work was done, or making any unfavour able criticism in the matter at all, it appeared to him that there must be some way of getting a way could not be found the applicants should be made to understand that it took a certain through, and that they must make any applica amount of time to get their applications passed tions in good time any way.
The President-Do you move an amend ment?
Mr Hewett-Yes; my amendment is to negative the proposal.
Mr. Pollock supported the remarks of Mr. Hewe L There was no doubt, he thought, thal in order to get trailers thoroughly threshed out it was advisable that they should be discussed and deliberated by the whole Board. It was matter of common knowledge that two heads. thing more satisfactory conclusion was arrived Upon the motion being put to the meel. ing Messrs. Pallack, Hewett, Fung Wa Chan, Mester, and Lau Chu Pak voted against, and the President, Vice-President, Capt. Lyons, Col. Webb, and Mr. Rumjaha for the motion. The President gave his casting vote in favour of the proposition which was carried.
herself actively in Mr. Hewett's movement, with the result that personal canvassing of members and interviews with probable sup- porters of the scheme have elicited that Tenders have been made, degree of interest in the object of Mr. although one British firm declined to sub- Hewett's society that its establishment must mit an offer under contract. They hold be reckoned as only a matter of weeks, that the facility for obtaining a large num- while its complete success is fairly assured, ber of coolies was somewhat doubtful unless We understand that the main difficulty in touting was resorted to by the headmen giving the society a start has already been who might have to take recourse to mea-overcome. A gentleman has volunteered his
for securing emigrants from the services as secretary and the help of another are better than one, and that by criticising a interior which would at once be open promised as assistant secretary. Among in-at. to grave objection on the score of peruential members of the community con fectly free emigration. This appears to be siderable interest has already been aroused a generally conceded belief. It is thought since the publication of Mr. Hewall's letter that no difficulty will arise in connection in the Press on Friday last, and before long with the first batch of some five or eight support will be obtained from high quarters, hundred who will be required to proceed to whose sympathy with the scheme must, their destination as a sort of a "trial" lot.
assuredly, be enlisted. But subsequently recruits may not be so easy to obtain, granting that the great difficulties which will undoubtedly be met with the Chinese officials in the recruiting territories are satisfactorily overcome. From one tender- ofing firm upon whom our representative called
this moming, we learnt that the offer of 775, Gd. per month is far too low to make it tempt. ing for supplies of labour from this side.
The Hongkong Velegraph The net rate of £3. 175. 6d. would be satis-
HONGKONG, Saturday, AUGUST 1, 1903,
CHINESE LABOUR FOR SOUTH AFRICA.
(29th July.)
A private telegram received at this office
|
TELEGRAM.
*
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH"
SERVICE.
Opium for China. (From Our Own Correspondent.)
BOMBAY, 30th July. The P. & O. Steam Navigation factory enough but for the inclusion of food Company's mail steamer left Bombay and transport which have to be deducted yesterday afternoon with about 963 from wages. The offer is regarded as au chests of Malwa Opinni. The prices extremely venturesome one and which firms of high standing would not care to make. The importation of Chinese labour now for the South African mines seems, however,
BTC :--
Malwa New......Rs. 1,270
Okl
1,340 Oldest... 1,450
"
J
SANITARY BOARD.,
ADDITIONAL STANDING ORDERS. The President was to have moved that the following additions be made to the standing orders of the Board :---
on the 26th instant gave us the first indica- | practically assured. There has naturally been tion that the result, of the Asiatic Labour a great deal of hesitation in resorting to this Commissioners' recent visit to Hongkong expedient, and if any practicable alternative
A meeting of the Sitary Board was held was about to be made the subject of con- had been possible it would have been eargerly
on Thursday in the Band Koom. Present:- siderable comment in London. To-day we seized upon, as the objections to introducing The President (n. Dr. J. M. Aikinson, W. Chatham, D.P.W.). publish a Reuter's telegram which, for the the yellow element (and especially Chi-PC.M.O Hon
Mr. C. McI. Mess r. (Acting Registrar past twenty-four hours, has been the subject nese) are not regarded by any means as
General), Capt. Lyons, Acting C. S. P.), Mr. of much speculation and considerable invest entirely sentimenta! But what has mainly H. E. Pollock, K.C., al. Webb, RA.M.C., igation on the part of interested individuals weighed with the authorities in adopting a Mr. Ahmet Rumjahn, Mr Es A Hewett, Mr. Fung-Wa Chun, Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Dr. Pearse, Sand-Roma unha hawa, tandured for the supply leag·hrosite attitude on the subject in the Acting M.0.1., Dr. Hamell, Assistant M. O. H.,
of coolie labour for South Africa on the fact that the present supply of Kaftirs is not and Mr. G. A. Woodcock, Secretary,
The minules of the prey ous meeting were occasion of Messrs. Skinner and Noyes visit sufficient for the requirements of farmers
confi. med. and other residents, apart from the mine here about two months ago. It will be re- called that these two gentlemen came to the owners, and unless the supply could be in For East as a special commission of inquiry creased, "boys" would be tempted away in regard to the securing of Chinese for the from the land by the offer of higher wages (1) Applications for exemption from, the Transvaal mines. While at Vancouver they than private individuals could afford to pay Health and Buildings Ordinance, ico, be for- provision of open spices required by the Public made inquiries into the employment of Chi. Moreover, there is the question of the ex-warded for the content of the Governor in nese in the mines and in other work there. tensive public works in contemplation, which Council, without a resolution to that effect in each case, after the circulation of the papers to Speaking of the Chinese, Mr. Skinner re- could not be started till a better supply of the members of the Board, provided there are marked that they appear to be good work labouris available. Such considerations have no adverse minutes on the circulating cover men, but they will not be able to form any been gradually bringing the opposition into under which the application has been circulated
to the members of the Board. teal opinion of them till they have seen them line. Draft legislation, says a telegram, to at work in large numbers, and in similar the Daily Mail, is in preparation, consisting work to that for which they are required in of laws prohibiting immigration to the Trans- the Transvaal. From Vancouver the Com-vaal except, under indentures. Provision is missioners proceeded to Hongkong en route also, being made for repatriation at end
of the contract and for enforcing registration on the circulating cover under which the appr to the Malay Peninsula, where they had an opportunity of seeing the Chinese working in the extensive tin mines of the Federated States and neighbouring places. What was the impression formed by the Commissioners from their personal investigation of the men required for South Africa working in similar conditions in the Federated Malay States will probably be best teamt from a review
REJORT OF THE SANITARY SURVEYOR. The following report for the second quarter of 1903 was laid on the table:--
Sanitary Board Office, 27th July, 1903. 518,I have the honour to forward herewith my report for the and quarter of 1903.
14 Plans have been deposited and passed by me during the quarter for the drainage of go houses, plans for 713 houses were carried for. ward from 1902 and 54 from last quarter inaking a total of 557 in hand during the quaiter.
The drainage of 143 houses has been completed leaving 709 to carry forward.
Notices for repairs or alterations to the drains of Sa houses have heen received, 91 were canied forward from 901 and 60 from inst quater making a total of 38 in hand during the quarter Of these 127 have been completed and 4 cancelled leaving 107 to carry forward.
4. Certificates have been gented under section 8 of Ordinance 13 of 1951 to 105 houses, that they have been built in accordance with the provisions of that ordinance.
Notices were served on the owners of the above 8 houses cling on them to execute the necessary work.
$30 PER ANNUM, SINGLE COPY, 10 CENTE
it down as a principle that it was not advisable to have cubicles built round windows and no partition should be erected or if already existing should be allowed to remain nearer than four feet to any window, Therefore the practical effect obviously of section 154 of Ordinance X of 1903 would be that it it was desired to main- Lain cubicles on the floors at all-and no doubt that was very necessary in the case of family houses-every single cubicle which was either originally in conformity with Ordinance 13 of 1901 or which afterwards was altered and made to conform with that law would, as it seemed o him, be illegal under the provisions of section 154 of Ordinanca of 1903. That meant that alterations which had been made two years ago were very little more than now declared to be wrong, to be illegal, be done. and something further had to That was a very unsatisfactory state of affalys into which they had got; and he thought it was very necessary that a sub-committee of the Board should be appointed to look into the question of amending the Public Health Ordinance 1 of 1953, with special referva this question of cubicles. There were Do doubt other points also would require to be looked into, but it was this question of cubicles that was the burning question of the day, because he understand that quite recently notices hd been served with reference to certain houses
d that there were proceedings, some con- cluded, some still pending, before the Police Magistrate with reference to cubicles. Hadid not know whether the other members of the Bord were of the same opinion, but he thought that in view of the fact that it was obvious that section 154 of the Ordinance would require some amendment, it was extremely desirable that after a sufficient number of cases had been - maken in the Police Court, constituting lest-
Mr. Rumjaha minuted :--Many sections of the Ordinance require amending. The total abolition of cubicles, including those provided with windows opening into the open air, is not the object aimed at by the framers of the Bill, but has the effect of inflicting unnecessary hardships on the population, and of endanger cases, the Board should stay its hand and not take any further proceedings with reference to cubicles. There was no doubt it would be a ing the prosperity of the Colony. Unless a comprehensive scheme of reconstructing our
move cubicles which in consequence of amend- insanitary dwellings is adopted plague and ery great hardship if persons now had to re- kindred diseases will be always with us and all monies expended to combat these diseases ments recommended by the Board and adopted by the Government were afterwards found not will be only thrown away."
to be illegal. That, he thought, would be a Mr. Lau Chu Pak minuted "I have great very lamentable state of affairs and therefore it pleasure in supporting the motion. As the Or-
was desirable that the Board at the present inance stands at present it is impossible and time should not take action in regard to cubi- unreasonable to expect the inhabitants to
cles but only take such action as was neces- conform themselves to its requirements. No
sary to bring certain points before the Magis. provision has been made to house the poor trate for his decision. Otherwize there was no who will be displaced and to compensate doubt the people would feel very much aggriev ed if they had to remove cubicles which were without which in the sense of the definition of sanctioned by amendments that might be made external air no rooms or cubicles can be
on the Ordinance and which they would not maintained or erected in about 90 per cent. of
have been compelled to remove if the amend the existing houses both European and Chinese
He felt alike. At the confidential meeting held by the bound to make this criticism upon the provi-
ments had been passed into law. Board to discuss the advisability of enforcing sions of this Ordinance, but he was perfectly the Ordinance it was then speculated that
well aware, and he was sure they were all the property-owners might arrive at some
aware, that it was easy enough to criticise and scheme or would, as the Government had
a good deal more difficult sometimes to remedy been led to believe, pull down every third the thing criticised; but he thought that, with- house so as to facilitaté, the carrying out of the faw. But it bas since been proved that out being too sanguine, he might express his confidence that the sub-committee of the the property-owners had not the least inclina- tion to follow that idea and I do ast.blame Brand would hit upon a better scheme, with reference to cubicles and would be able to sug- them for repudiating it without compensation gest to the Government some amendment of Every law inflicts a certain amount of hardship section 154 which would press less hardly upon but no hardship would be anything like what is likely, to be inflicted by the present Or the poor people in this Colony who ma
ried and had families and wanted a ceriam dinance. The majority of the population is
amount of separation and privacy in theirdwell Chinese, and their tenement houses are 50 ings. He would rather not move the names of peculiarly constructed that every storey is simply one long room, commonly called a floor or flat. any members of the sub-committee as he sug mittee, but he ventured to suggest as suitable The reat of each of such floors ranges from $8 gested that he himself should serve on the com- per month in the poorest districts to $75 per members the President, Dr. Pearse, Mr. Lau month in the busiest part of the city. Very few can afford to take a whole floor. Generally, Mr. Rurijahn and himself. He thought three or four families share it together. Under they would be able to discuss this matter throughly and he hoped they would be able to the present Ordinance they cannot do so and advise the Government to make such amend- very likely two families will have to pay the. ments in section 154 as would preserve what same rent as four have been paying. This may
was very necessary-the privacy of Chinese be a secondary consideration as compared with family life-while at the same time securing as -the depriving them of the little decency they
far as possible such distribution of cubicles on have hitherto enjoyed. It is a well-known fact the floors of the houses as would meet to the that none of the existing Chinese tenement greatest possible extent those sanitary require houses, with the exception of the corner ones,
ments which they were all agreed were very. opens directly into the external air, and conse.
necessary. quently no floor can be partitioned off to secure
Mr. Hewett in seconding the motion, said he the necessary privacy to the men and women. of the different families living together. Even entirely agreed with Mr. Pollock that it was very unwise to rush too soon into criticisms of an members of the same family must have a certain amount of privacy. It would not be Act newly brought into force, an Act which in accordance with propriety for parents and they all knew perfectly well had been carefully considered by the Government and by many grown-up children or masters and servants to herd together in full view of each other. The people in the Colony, including the leading property-owners. It was admitted also that object of the Ordinance is to relieve over-
The Act would go a long way towards improv crowding, which can attained by increasing the habitable area for each adult, as it has in the sanitary condition of Hongkong, but it was unfortunately evident that the particular already been done, and not to deprive people section dealing with cubicles was quite im of their domestic privacy. There are other circumstances calling for prompt investigation possible. Therefore he thought Mr. Pollock's It is no use making a law which is beyond the proposal an eminently reasonable one, and to appoint the members named as a sab. ability of the people to obey, even if they wish trusted the Board would agree to accept it and
committee to consider this extremely com plicated question.
to."
of
No
Mr. Fung Wa Chun supported the motion, and said it was necessary to have a sub- Committee to recommend amendments that were urgently needed. The wholesale abolition of cubicles would have a severe effect on their welfare, for it would simply tend to drive all the respectable. families from their midst.
The drains of to houses have been opened In moving the resolution standing in h's and reported on. Of these & required amen-name, Mr. Pollock said he thought it must be ding, and z were found to be in good order. apparent to every member of the Board that the legislation which was passed with reference to cubicles and was contained in Ordinance 1 973 was unworkable in practice. douh the Government when passed Section 154 of that Ordinance must have been under the impression that every third house was
The Vice-President suggested that before likely shotly to be pulled down and that
resolution might be somewhat limited. Mr. lateral windows were going to be made in the any further steps were taken the scope of the side-walls of the houses and that in that way Pollock's remarks bed had especial reference the cubicles in the houses would receive light to cubicles, and it appeared desirable to insert and air. That was no doubt the impression in something to that effect. the minds of the Government when that section
6. In addition to the shore 7053 houses result with the have
been inspected that 430 drainage nuisances have wen dis covered. Notices have been servert in each ase on the owner or occupier to abate the 44 nuisances have been reported
fiisa-ce.
tothe M. O. H. and 35 to the Hon. D. P. W. to be dealt with by them.. 66 choked drain traps on private property have been cleared by the Drainage Inspectors..
7. The records have been maintained ard are complete.
A. The following tables show :- (a) The new drainage work done during the
quarter.
(b) The number of repairs or additions executed during the quarter,
(c) The total work done since the Public Health Ordinance came into force:
Year.
TABLE A.
Number of
bosses drained.
Carried for->
1st Qr. 73 ward from
and
(z) Application for licences issued ander Schedule B of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1901, may be issued, without a re- solution to that effect in each case, after the circulation of the papers to the members of the Board, provided there are no adverse minules
appli-1903
It
The Director of Public Works minuted:— No. (2) is incorrect in its present form. reads Applications for licences..... may to issued."
The President minuted-Please circulate
for the identification of Asiatics under the the Board. penalty of summary expulsion. The follow ing are to be the conditions for the employ ment of Asiatics:-(i) They shall be used exclusively in mining and public works; (2) No employer shall be allowed to use less than 100; (3) Fotal-prohibition under penally for an employer to use Asiatics as
and attach copy of former resolution of the Board concerning applications for exemption from construction of backyards, passed, some. time in 19′′a.” “I think a standing order, prefer-+ able to resolution of the Board,
11902.
cancelled.
44.117 I
1st Qr. 6
Sand
"
... 56 24. 30 ...
147 TABLE 1
Passed.
1 Year..
Carried for-in
| 1st Qr. 38 ward from
md 1902.
29
1st Qr. 36 1903*** and 6.45
Number f
*ttEH
713 595
30 90.144 174
1 148
Cur. Total called.
857 700
Rein ceived, hand.
1 39
8.47
3 39
60
194
94.47
45 84.84.144:60
13138107
Mr. Pollock did not think it desirable to limit was passed, but he thought it was quite obvious the resolution, because they might possibly now that every third house was not likely to be have to consider other matters more or less pulled down ander existing arrangements, and,
connected with cubicles. They had better funhemore, he believed it was extremely leave the motion general otherwise they might doubtful whether it would be safe in the case
of old houses in the Colony to pull down every thi dhouse. This Colony is subject to typhoons and heavy rains and he imagined that in the case of old houses the taking down of every third house would be a very danger ous operation unless some very expensive method were employed to prevent the houses on cach side from collapsing into the middle and thereby creating a worse state of affairs than existed at present. In view of the fact that it was not likely that every third house would be taken down; the effect of Section 145 of this Ordinance, assuming that the Magistrate held partitions to be legal at all, would be that cubicles could be grouped round the windows, and all the rest of the floor which was not taken up by the cubicles would be very dark, very badly ventilated, and, one might say, prac tically useless for any purpose whatsoever. Now, this was as different as almost anything could be from the scheme which was passed by the Legislature as late as 1901. In Ordinance 13 of 1901, sub-section (e) of section 70, it was expressly provided that no partition should be erected or, if, already existing, allowed to remain nearer than four feet to any window the area of which was included in the calculating the window area specified ip job-section (s): thetefors the Legislatore in toni expressly laid
have to go back to the Board for a further mandate."
The Vice President thought that the words more especially with reference to the question of the provision of cubicles in dwelling-bouses," or anmething to that effect, should be inserted. The President :-Mare especially with re- ference to section 154-
Mr. Pollock I would rather not limit it 'to that extent
The Vice President-More especially with reference to cubicles in dwelling houses, or something to that effect.
Mr. Pollock-I don't think there is any object in limiting the resolution. The sub- committee might be trusted to keep to certain points
The President-It is somewhat wide in its scope, but I gather from Mr. Pollock's remarks that it is intended to apply to the cubicle question,
Mr. Pollock-Yes; more especially to the bousing question.
Mr. Hewett-1 think the sub-committee up pointed will not go out of their way to enlarge their labours unduly.
The motion was put to the meeting and carried,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.