Page
April 17, 1895.J
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
SCARCITY OF WATER AND THE
PLAGUE.
Officer of Health will not be subject to the Sanitary Board: Indeed, it does not appear that he is to be subject to any one, or that he is to have any duties or responsibilities
A Government notification has been issued thrown upon him. He is endowed with certo the effect that in the absence of rain it will tain powers, namely powers of entry, but become necessary in the course of a few days there is no duty thrown upon him to exercise to limit the water supply to three hours per those powers.
If his curiosity prompts him day, and in some districts less. This is a to go and inspect a honse he is at liberty to contingency that cannot fail to excise p. do so, but if he does not want to go he need prehension, for with a diminished water not. Assuming|| he makes an inspec-supply the chances of a recurrence of the tion, the matter ends there, so far as the plague are proportionat ly increased. It is Ordinance goes, and the Officer will be at now little short of a year since the plague liberty to spend the rest of the day in a lougpurst upon us, and that there may be ho chair drinking whisky and soda.
That will repetition of the painful experience that not be the conception of his duties that followed must be the earnest hope of every Surgeon-Major Westcott will entertain, but one. The Government, we believe, has it is the conception suggested by the made provision for coping promptly and Ordinauce.
energetically with any future epidemic that may occur, even to the extent of Having in readiness a large number of graves so that there may be no delay in disposing of the corpses of those who fall victims to the disease. But even more important than being prepared to cope with the enemy when
it
can
be
283
without the usual flushing app tratus. Pre- sumably the occupants of the houses, for dushing purposes, but when water is scarce their own comfort, would carry water for this is more likely to be neglected. The houses that have been discovered with arrange- ments of the kind mentioned have, of course, been ordered to remove them, but as the house
to say.
to house inspection of drains has not yet been other bouses with like arrangements that completed it may be supposed there are have not yet been found out. Whether they exist in large numbers or not we are unable If they do they increase the danger attendant on a scarcity of water; if they do not, so much the better. That, however, is nly a detail. On general grounds it is in the of the year, when highest degree desirable that at this season
the recurence of plague is a danger that must be kept in view, there should be no limitation of the water service beyond what is absolutely unavoidable and that any steps that can be immediately taken t increase the supply ought to be adopted.
PRESENTATION OF COLOURS TO THE HONgkong eEGIMENT.
The preamble recites that the Governor has been pleased to appoint a Medical Officer of Health in addition to the Health Officer of the Port: Section 1 gives His Excellency power to appoint the Medical Officer of Health a member of the Sanitary Board, with all the powers, privileges, and au appears within our borders is the pre- thorities of any other ordinary member of vention of is entrance. The plague is a the said Board. Ordinary members of the filth disease, the preventive for it is clean- said Board, it may be remarked, are at liness, and for cleanliness an adequate water liberty to attend its meetings or absent them-supply is essential. By the next dry season selves as they like, and some of them are there will be an increased storage capacity
A BRILLIANT CEREMONY. very far from being as regular in their atten-at Tytam, but the important question now
whether Section 2 gives is
anything dance as might be desired.
On Saturday afternoon, amid the pleasantest done the Medical Officer of Health the right to to tide over the present danger. Two of surroundings, and favoured by what was cor- enter and inspect any house between the schemes were proposed to increase the tainly Queen's weather," and in the presence hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. for the purpose Tytam supply, one, which has been adopted, of one of the most brilliant companies that ever of ascertaining the sanitary condition thereof the enlargement of the storage capacity, and assembled in Hongkong, His Excellency the and whether any infectious or contagious the other, to dam the perennial stream below Governor, Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G., disease exists therein, provided that unless the level of the reservoir and pump the presented the Hongkong Regiment with its delay is likely to pro've injurious or detri, water up to the tunnel. Would it be im colours. The Cricket Ground, where this iu- mental to the public health the occupants practicable to establish some makeshift teresting, important, and indeed, histori al cerer are entitled to demand two hours' notice of pumping arrangement to tide the colony over
mosy was performed, presented a truly remark. the inspection. Section 3 provides that the few weeks of scarcity with which we are
able asp.cl;
there was an abundant wealth of under a special order signed by the Colonial threatened? That is a question for en Secretary or the President of the Sanitary gineers to decide, but nothing that can be beauty and colour whose effet was considerably Board the said officer may enter a house at done ought to be left undone, for the danger heightened by the bright sun, and the whole scene was picturesque, impressive, and dignified. any hour of the day or night. Section 4 of another ontbreak of plague is imminent. imposes a penalty on any one obstructing The present is perhaps not a very suitable A long time before the proceedings commenced the said Medical Officer of Health. That is moment at which to enter on controversial the Regiment, under Colonel Barrow, who might the whole sum and substance of the Bill, questions as to the control of the water supply, be justly called the herp of the afternoon, took and, as will be seen, it imposes no duties on the but we cannot but remark that it seems an
up its position on the ground, three sides of a officer. It is not even made incumbent upon anomaly that the Sanitary Board, the square being formed. The men wore their full him to officially report in writing the results body which is supposed to be responsible for uniform, and it can be well imagined what a of his inspections to the Sanitary Board. the health of the colony, although it met on
bright picture they made. The vari-coloured Section 11 of the Insanitary Dwellings Or-Thursday afternoon after the time at which
turbans, the scarlet coats with yellow dinance gives the Sanitary Board power by the decision with regard to restricting the facings, the white leggings, their glitter- its officers to enter and inspect, upon rea water supply must have been arrived at, sonable notice to the occupiers or owners, should not have been informed of that decision arms, and the green field upon which any building and curtilage for the purpose or asked for its opinion as to what should the men stood, all formed a happy combination of ascertaining the sanitary conditon, clean be done in view of the threatened scarcity. of colours which was admired by everyone, and liness, and good order thereof and of the There are few things having a more direct which no one could justifiably criticise adversely. partitions, mezzanine floors, storeys and cock bearing on the public health than the water Shortly before five o'clock the spectators begau to flock to the ground, and a quarter of an lofts therein, or the condition of any drains supply, and to leave the Sanitary Board in therein or in connection therewith. The ignorance of any steps taken in regard to it hour later there was a big throng awaiting Sanitary Board and the Medical Officer of is dangerous. The Board had under con- the arrival of the Governor and his suite. There were officers. English and foreign from the men- Health will therefore have concurrent juris-sideration on Thursday a matter with which
of-war lying in the harbour, and they all wore diction in this matter and may work at cross the question of the water supply has a purposes, as they are very likely to do direct connection, namely, the condition of their full uniform; there were also numerous if the Government tries to them the public latrines. Dr. Lowson has placed
officers of the army and volunteers, and by the ears at the outset. The Medical on record in his excellent report, laid be- Officer of Health ought to be an officer of fore the Legislative Council on Thursday, on the Board. That is the only sensible and last year's epidemic, his opimou that the the only workable arrangement. Some high public latrines were one of the principal officials hate the Sanitary Board like posion, causes of the spread of the disease. It is because the existence of a body partly said that the by-laws in connection with elective and with independent powers seems those places are being enforced, but it to them a menace to the principle that Go- would appear that they do not] com- vernment officials are the governing body pel the use of disinfectants in the instead of merely public servants; and some ceptacles. That is the most important of the unofficial members of Council also, matter to be seen to, but scarcely second to it for reasons of which we have no knowledge, comes the observance of general cleanliness, do not appear disposed to regard the Board and the absence of a sufficient water supply the difficulty with a very friendly eye. It is to be hoped, must necessarily increase
It ap- however, that in this matter the good of the of keeping the places clean. -colony will be placed before official jealousy pears, also, from the proceedings at or private pique, and that the Bill will Thursday's meeting, that arrangements undergo considerable amendment before it have been discovered in certain private is finally passed.
houses which are virtually water closets
set
re-
a
huge gathering of civil offici Is aud private
residents Presently the approach of the Go- vernor was signalled, the order Shoulder arms" was given, and His Excellency, in his official uni- form. Lieutenant-General Digby Barker, Mrs. Barker, Admiral Fremantle, and enite came on to the ground. There was no further waiting. Four officers of the Regiment came forward, namely, Captain Retallic and Lieut. Woodcook and two native officers. The fligs were thereupon uncovered and unfurled. The Right Rev. Bishop Burdon then stepped forward, and read special prayer for the santification of the This was repeated in Hindustani standards. by the moulvie, a d at the conclusion the soldiers in a lond, solemn voice replied "Amen, Amen, Mrs. Barker thereupon handed the Amen.” standards to two native officers, and expressed the hope that they might be jealously guarded and loyally defended by the Regiment. Mrs. Barker's remarks were translated by Colonel Barrow, and then the Governor formerly pre-
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