404
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on Thursday afternoon at the offices. Hon. F. A. Cooper (Director of Public Works) presided and there were also present-Hon. Commander W. C. H. Hastings (Acting Captain Superin- tendent of Police), Dr. Atkinson (Acting Colonial Surgeon), Mr. N. J. Ede, and Mr H. McCallum (Secretary).
MINUTES.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
him under the Building Ordinance to grant permission for the construction of such wells; at the same time calling the attention of the ap plicant to the fact that the Board has power at any time to cause the water of the well to be analysed, and if it thinks proper order it to be closed. I ask you to concur in the opinion so that I may be able to dispose of two or three applications which I have in hand.
Mr. EDE agreed with these remarks. The PRESIDENT-I will Dow move the The minutes of the previous meeting were following resolution That this Board is of read and confirmed.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF WASHING TANK8. The Director of Public Works reported on the Tai Hang, Tung Lo Wan, and Pak Shai Wan nullahs now used by washermen as open- air washing places. A number of washermen had squatted in the vicinity of the nullahs, and constructed roughly built tanks, in which the water was very seldom changed at any time, and hardly at all in the dry season. The overflow from the tanks is often very foul, and finds its way down the nullah, stagnating here and there. He therefore proposed to put the nullahs in order and build proper tanks and drains, etc., and impose a small charge on the washermen.
The following minutes were appended- Mr. Ede- I think the scheme a good one; bit will the washermen leave the land, or will they go further afield where they can do their washing with- out payment for water?
The Acting Colonial Surgeon-Has the Board any information with reference to the establishment in the colony of Japanese laundries?
The Acting Captain Superintendent of Police-A very good scheme.
The PRESIDENT, in reply to the Acting Colonial Surgeon's minute, said that the Board had received no information with regard to the establishment of Japanese laundries in the colony. As regards the proposal contained in the papers, it met the recommendations made by the Board about two years ago. A strict watch was now kept on the water in the varions streams in order to prevent the washermen from going elsewhere than to the places they were permitted to use. There were now very few streams within easy distance of the city which would be available for washing purposes at all. He moved that the Colonial Secretary be in- formed that the Board agree with the proposal contained in the report of the Director of Pub- lic Works.
Mr. EDE seconded. Carried.
CATTLE SHEDS AT KENNEDYTOWN,
A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary stating that plans and estimates for the erection of reception lairs for cattle, sheep, and swine at Kennedytown had been submitted by the Director of Public Works, but in view of the very large expenditure involved his Excellency the Governor was unable at present to hold out any hope of the buildings being undertaken at an early date.
The PRESIDENT said that he would not press the matter in consequence of the heavy cost which would necessarily be entailed. THE USE OF WELL WATER FOR MANUFAC-
TURING PURPOSES.
An application was received for permission to re-open a well, and in the course of the discus- sion on the subject the PRESIDENT said-Under the Building Ordinance the Director of Public Works can grant permission for a single well, and he can make such regulations as he thinks desirable for the structure. There are cases in this colony where a well can be legitimately used for certain purposes, and I have had my atten- tion drawn to a manufacturing industry which has been stopped because a proper supply of water cannot be got for the boilers. This Board is not going to lay down a hard and fast rule and is not going to close wells simply because a satisfactory guarantee cannot be given that the water shall not be used for any other pur- poses, but if the Board is advised that the existence of a well is likely to be a source of danger to the health of the colony the Board is perfectly justified in making an order for the closing of that well. I would therefore like you to say that this Board agrees that there are certain cases where it is desirable to sink wells for building and manufacturing purposes and it has no objection whatever to the Director of Public Works exercising the power given to
November 27 1895.
It was agreed to inform the cordingly
ADJOURNMENT.
The Board adjourned until Thursday week.
SUPREME COURT.
20th November.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTIÓN.
opinion that the Director of Public Works BEFORE MR. A. G. WISE (PUISNE JUDGĒ) should in his discretion give permission to sink wells for the purpose of obtaining water for manufacturing and building purposes, subject to the provisions contained in Ordinance
15 of 1895."
Mr. EDE seconded. Carried.
rate
MORTALITY RETURNS.
For the week ended 9th November the death was 29.8 per thousand per aunum, against 20.1 for the corresponding week of läst
year.
as
The following note was appended by the Medical Officer of Health-The only feature of importance appears to be the death recorded as due to plagne. No cause could be found for this case and the house occupied by the patient was in a fairly clean and well ventilated condition. I am inclined to think that some inquiries should be made by direction of the Board into the alarming number of deaths which are recorded weekly as being due to infantile tetanus at the Asile de la Sainte Enfance, as this is a disease which is largely due to overcrowding and insufficient ventilation.
The following minute was appended : Mr. Ede-With reference to Dr. Clarke's sugges tion re cases of trismus at the Asile, some very exten- sive inquiries were made some time
ago, and I think these papers should be referred to again before fresh inquiries are made.
For the week ended 16th November the death rate was 29.6 per thousand per annum, as against 20.1 for the corresponding week of last
There were no minutes.
year.
THE VENTILATION OF BACK YARDS.
On the 28th September last notice was served on the owners of houses 1 to 8, George. Lane, namely, the Land Investment Company, to remove certain obstructions to ventilation about those houses. The obstructions were roofs
over the back yards. After ten days had elapsed a letter was written to the Company saying that the notice had expired and it had not been com. plied with. On the 4th November the Secretary of the Company replied stating that the back yard roofs in question were permanent structures, built with the houses and at the same time. This was in 1888, and they were then passed by the Sanitary Board as having been constructed in conformity with the Sani- tary Ordinances. The whole of the block had been lately thoroughly redrained and the floors concreted and the buildings put into a perfectly sanitary condition. The Company therefore requested permission to retain the structures, especially as a good portion of each yard still remained open to the sky.
The following minutes were appended.— Mr. Ede-I think the obstructions to ventilation should be removed and the air spaces enlarged.
The Acting Colonial Surgeon-What is the width of the back yards in question? The bridges accord- ing to the by-law should not exceed 3 feet 6 inches in width, but the Board may grant permission for the erection of bridges of greater dimensions if they
think fit
Refuse permission and require immediate compliance The Acting Captain Superintendent of Police- with the notice.
The PRESIDENT moved that the company be informed that the notices must be complied with.
Carried.
A LITIGANT AND THE BOARD'S BOKS. An application was received for permission to inspect a book of the Board. The PRE- SIDENT said the applicant wished to obtain certain informaation before he proceeded with an action he was bringing. He (the Pre- sident) moved that no information be given until the suit had been commenced: He thought that the time of the officers of the Board should not be occupied in enabling persons to see whether they had or had not a good ground for action.
JULYAN V. FRANCO.
Works Department, sued Tilomeno Maria Peter James Julyan, clerk in the Public
Franco, clerk in the Public Works Depart- ment, 9, Robinson Road, for the recovery of certain forniture wrongfully detained; in the alternative plaintiff claimed $500. Mr. Dennys appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Grist for the defendant.
Mr. Dennys said the facts were very simple, About two years ago the plaintiff got married and he had no idea what the defence was. and he and his wife went to live with his father- in-law, who is the defendant. Some time. ago there was a family quarrel and plaintiff left the house, but the defendant refused to give up the furniture which plaintiff had put into his own rooms. The only point in the entitled to take the furniture away. Perhaps case was whether plaintiff was or was not it would save trouble if Mr Grist told the court what the defence were.
Mr. Grist said the goods had never been in the defendant's possession or under his control. reside at his father-in-law's house, but he had It was perfectly true that the plaintiff went to
separate rooms.
His Lordship-Well, may the plaintiff take the furniture away P
perfectly willing to let the plaintiff take it away. Mr Grist As regards the defendant, he is His Lordship-Well, I'll adjourn the case for half an hour; in the meantime plaintiff can take his furniture.
Mr. Grist The defendant has never stopped him in any way.
His Lordship-Plaintiff can go and get it now then.
Mr. Grist-I apply for my costs, as this case ought never to have been brought. afterwards.
His Lordship-I'll talk to you about that
Mr. Dennys-It is the defendant's house and we cannot get in without his permission.
(To defendant) Will you allow the plaintiff to His Lordship-We will soon settle that point.. take away the furniture P
Defendant-I do not wish to interfere. His Lordship-Will you allow him to take it away ?
Defendant said he would, and he was then furniture.. told to wait in Court until plaintiff had got the
to settle the case as amicably as possible.
Eventually his Lordship left it to the parties
$
21st November.
IN BANKRUPTCY.
BEFORE SIR FIELDING CLARKE (CHIEF JUSTICE.)
!
PUBLIC EXAMINATION. The public examination of Chan Yat Shun
Johnson, Stokes, and Master's office) appeared was proceeded with. Mr. Gedge (of Messrs.
for the petitioning creditor and the debtor, and Mr. Reece represented creditors.
The Official Receiver's report stated that since the first meeting of creditors held on the 22nd October the debtar had filed a statement of his affairs showing assets $6,594.45 and liabilities $31,725.50. The assets consist of three junks which are estimated at $6,000, and a cargo of salt, valued at $590.45. The salt had been sold and after paying expenses the sum of $594.45 was realised. This is claimed by a judgment creditor, and an action is pending in respect of it. Two of the junks were sold and realized $2,701.65; the third was at Saigon. Claims amounting in the aggregate to $22,257.82 have been filt up to date.
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