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April 3. 1895.1
BONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
meeting of the Sanitary Board was held Thoraday afternoon. There were present Mr. F. H. May, Captain Superintendent of Police, in the chair; Hon F. A. Cooper, Director of Public Works; Ur. P. B. C. Ayres, Colonial Surgeon; Hon. Ho Kai, Mr. J. J. Francis Q.C., Dr. Hartigan. Mr. R. K. Leigh, and Mr. H. McCallum (Secretary).
THE DRAINAGE.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORK› moved series of resolutions regulating the duties of the Assistant Sanitary Surveyor and dealing with certain matters of detail in connection with drainage.
After some discussion the resolutions were adopted with slight amendments.
THE BY-LAWS under thE INSANITARY DWELLINGS ORDINANCE. A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary stating that the by-laws made by the Board under Section 13 of Ordinaños 15 of 1891 had been approved by the Legislative Council with the exception of clause 31. [The clause in ques. tion gave the Board power to close houses certi- fied as unfit for human habitation, even although cleansed and disinfected.]
CHINA OVERLÁNY TRADE REPORT.
any case the Board would like to have an extra | inspector in order that the chief inspector might devote his time to supervision of the other ins- pectors instead of having a district of his own to attend to, and that if no Health Officer was about to be appointed soon the Board would like | to have the question of the sppointment of a Sanitary Superintendent referred back to them.
THE SANITARY SURVEYOR.
An application from the Sanitary Surveyor to be relieved of certain work and asking for additional assistance was considered.
After some discussion as to the duties of the Sanitary Surveyor and Assistant Surveyor, in the course of which reference was made to the fact of the Sanitary Surveyor being attached to the Public Works Department and the Water Department, it was resolved that Mr. Crook's proposal be adopted as a temporary measure and || that the strongest representations be made to the Government as to the appointment of a Sanitary Surveyor whose services should be placed entirely at the disposal of the Board.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS recorded his vote against the motion, which was carried as an amendment to s proposal of his own.
THE CAUSEWAY BAY SQUATTERS. Amongst other roptine work that cime before The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC Works said the the Board were a number of applications to senior unofficial member of Council had seen him keep swins on Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co's, with reference to this by-law and had pointed out land at Causeway Bay. It will be remembered that as it stood now the general impression would that some time ago attention was called to the be that the Board might close houses and keep insanitary condition of the squatter's village at them closed for any length of time, which would Causeway Bay. Most of the squatters have since be prejudicial to property. If the by-law could been removed, but it appears there are still be so read it was far from the intention of the some remaining and applications have been Board. He would therefore propose the inse-made by them for licences to keep swine. tion of the words "during the prevalence of
Mr. FRANCIS said that if Messrs. Jardine, such epidemic or for such less period," ete. Matheson & Co. thought fit to allow squatters The senior anoficial member said that would to live, on their ground those people, so far as quite meet the difficulty he had pointed out, and the Board was concerned, had a right to keep personally he (Mr. Cooper) did not see any pigs if they put up suitable sties. If it were objection to it.
proved that they were unlicensed squatters and had no land on which they could properly put up a sty, then they should not be licensed, but otherwise any man was entitled to a licence from the Board when the place was fit to keep swine in, and if the landlord objected to the keeping of swine he could turn the squatters The CHÀIEMAN said they had told Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. to remove the squatters. Mr. FRANCIS said that with all respect he did not think the Board had ordered Mesars Jardine, Matheson & Co. to remove the squatters. They ordered them to remove certain insanitary dwellings, but if they liked to have squatters then they were at liberty to have them if the dwellings were in a sanitary condition.
Hon. Ho KAI seconded.
Mr. FRANCIS said he did not think the by- law would be sumcient with the proposed amend ment and he suggested the addition of the words "But in no case shall such premises be reoccupied until they comply in every respect with the provisions of the Ordinances and by- laws made thereunder.”
**This suggestion was accepted by the Director of Public Works and the motion for the amend- ment of the by-law was put and carried.
Mr. FRANCIS moved that application be made to the Government to have the by-laws trans: lated into Chinese and widely circulated.`
Dr. HARTIGAN second.d. Carried.
IMPERMEABLE FLOORS. The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS said great many applications had been received by his department for concreting floors. Under his instructions these had been forwarded to the Secretary of the Sanitary Board for his informa- tion and he would like to know if any steps were being taken for exercising supervision over the work.
The CHAIRMAN said this matter had received his attention. There was as yet no provision for supervision and he would move that the Board do apply to the Government for the services of some non-commissioned officers of the Royal Engineers to do this work. If they could get such men they would suit the purpose. They had many of them working under the Permanent Committee during the plague. Without some extra assistance he did not see how the work conld be carried out.
Mr. FRANCIS seconded.
The motion was carried and it was decided that the number of men to be applied for should be three.
́HEALTH OFFICER OR SANITARY SUPERIN- TENDENT.
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off.
It was resolved that before the licences in question were granted Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. should be asked if the applicants ware entitled to use the land. RESTRICTION OF CHINESE IMMIGRATION FROM INFECTED PLACES.
A draft Bill which had been introduced in Council for the restriction of Chinese immigra tion from places where epidemic disease prevailed was considered and certain amendments sug- gested by Mr. Francis were adopted and re commended to the Government,
CHINA SUGAR REFİNING CO.,
LIMITED.
On Thursday, at noon, the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the China Sugar Refining Company, Limited. was held at the offices of the General Agents, Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. The Hon. J. J. Keswick pre sided, and there were also present--Hon. E. R. Belilios, Messrs. F. A. Gomes, D. R. Sassoon. St. C. Michaelsen (Consulting Committee), J.J. Bell-Irving, R. C. Wilcox, W. A. Cruickshank, K. McK, Ross, C. S. Taylor, A. Tillett, G Murray Bain, D. Landale, Geo Fenwick, Ho Tung, Họ Fook, and J. Barton (Secretary).
Some disenssion took place with reference to a letter received from the Colonial Secretary in reply to the recommendation of the Board that The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, with your the offices of Secretary of the Board and Sunitary permission we will, as customary, take the report Superintendent should be separated and a new and accounts which have been in your hands appointment be made for the latter office. The some days, as read. The course of business dur Colonial Secretary's letter made mention of the ing last year was marked by incidents happily prospective appointment of an Officer of Health. uncommon and, taken altogether, unparalleled in It was ultimately decided that the Government the bistory of the Company. During the earl should be informed that if « Health Offoer was lier spring months the output at the works going to be appointed a chief inspector of nuis- was curtailed owing to an insufficient supply ancos with an extra inspector would be sufficient of water caused by the exceptionally dry for the duties it had been in contemplation to weather, which lasted into the month of assign to the Sanitary Superintendent, thak in! May and seriously interfered with busi-
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news. No sooner had rain fallen and ply of water been obtained than the outbreak of the plague caused a temporary stoppage of Refinery, owing to a strike among the coelies, who refused to work. Following upon this came the Chins and Japan war, which immediately caused a cessation in the demand for sugar in the northern markets of the former country, and to a lesser extent in Japan also. In the meantime the prospects of a large ineresse in the produc tion of best sugar had begun to tell upon the market, and the price fell heavily during the early autumn months, until a level was reached absolutely unknown before in the history of the industry. The consequence of this was a cor- responding fall in sugar everywhere, which has rendered shipments to most of our outlying consuming markets during the past few mon
months unprofitable, and it is dimenlt to make a fore. east of the result of our operations so long as the present hostilities continue... Under there circumstances I hope you will agree with me that the results of the year's operations, as disclosed by the accounts laid before yon, though not so good as we could wish, are nevertheless not unsatis. factory considering the difficulties under which the business of the Company has been carried ou. Our trade is inherently of a somewhat luc tuating nature, and we cannot always expect to see results such as those of the year 1893. I think, however, that the result of the year's working should teach us the expediency of being moderate in our distribution of profits in excep tionally good times, in order that we may, hare something to fall back upon in times not to prosperons. I am happy to say that one of the dimouities with which we had to contend during the earlier part of last year is likely disappear in future, as we have obtained suitable site for a reservoir at a moderate cost, and when this is completed the dry weathe supply of water should be sufficient for all needs. Before moving the adoption of report and accounts I have pleasure in sekno ledging the seal and assiduity displayed the Company's stan at the various establish- ments, especially during the time plague, when much extra work was throw the Europeans employed at the Rennery plause). I had hoped that no exceptions would soon be again made upon their but I regret to say that the present labour strike is causing us great trouble and loss, and it quite impossible, apparently, to form any idos how long it may last. The daily loss to the colony must be enormous, and it is to be hoped some means will be devised for preventing the recurrence of such incidents. Before proposing the adoption of the report and accounts I shal be very glad to answer any questions which any shareholder may wish to address to me.
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The ChairMAN—As there are no questions, gentlemen, I beg to propose that the report and accounts as presented to this meeting be adopted and passed.
Mr. WILCOX-I have very much pleasure in seconding that.
Carried.
On the motion of Mr. G. FENWICK, seconded by Mr. RUICKSHANK, Messrs. Thomas Arnoid and Fu. ton Henderson were appointed andi. tors for tu gening year.
It was prosed by Mr. TAYLOR, seconded by Mr. BELL-IRVING, and carried, that the Hon. E. R. Belilios, Messrs. F. A. Gomes, D. R. Saf- soon, A. G. Wood, and St. C. Micha-lsen be re- elected as the Consulting Committee.
The CHAIEMAN-Gentlemen, that concludes the business of the meeting The dividend war- rants will be issued to-morrow. I am much obliged to you for your attendance.
LUZON SUGAR REFINING CO.,
LIMITED.
The thirteenth``ordinary annual meeting of the shareholders of the Luson Sugar Refining Company, Limited, was held on Thursday after- noon at the offices of the General Agents, Vesgra. Jardine, Matheson & Co. The Hon. J. J. Kes wick presided. and there were als› present--- Messrs D. Gillies (a member of the Consulting Committee), Hon. E. R. Belilios, Messrs. J. H. Cor, C. S. Sharp, K. McK. Ross, G. S. Taylor, W. A. Cruickshank, Ho Tung, and J. Barton (Secretary).
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, with your permission we will, as usual, take the report,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.