September 29, 1897.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
DR. LOWSON'S SERVICES IN INDIA.
The following correspondence is published in the Gazette:-
THE COLONIAL OFFICE TO THE GOVERNOR,
Downing Street,
г
18th August, 1897. Sir, I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information, the documents noted below on the subject of the good services rendered by Dr. Lowson to the Government of India in con- nection with the recent plague in that country. -1 have the honour to be, sir, your most obedi-
EDWARD WINGFIELD, for the Secretary of State. The Officer Administering the Government of
Hongkong.
THEINDIA OFFICE TO THE COLONIAL OFFICE.
India Office, Whitehall, London, S.W,,
9th August, 1897.
roof of the back verandah and the house itself was partly unroofed. What with water from the roof and the flood the doctor's instruments, books, a small dispensary kept in the house, carpets, &c., &c., were much damaged. The hospital also was partially unroofed, and the dispensary and wards suffered a great deal. Consul Kahn's compound wall and back verandah were thrown down, also his massive flagstaff. His cellar and servant's quarters were under water. Messrs. A. Schomburg & Co.'s private house had its substantially built enclosing wall on the western side entirely blown down, the outhouses and kitchen unroofed, and windows blown in. Consulent humble servant, Butler's verandah on the water frontage came down entirely and the Post Office, which is on. the ground floor, was a complete wreck. No books, papers, or furniture in this office can be recovered. Postage stamps and registry and other valuable papers in the safe are totally des- troyed, so that no mail has been made up since the typhoon for want of stamps, &c., &c. Berttrion's Albumen Depôt is a total wreck, windows blown in, house unroofed, and casks of albumen, boxes, &o., &o., all in a topsy-turvy state. Mr. Sequeira was still more unfortunate. Although his main roof stood the force of the wind, holes were made in several places; and his back yard facing the harbour is a mass of ruins. During the height of the typhoon two large junks ran into each other and both were carried into the yard, knocking down the out- houses, in one of which there was stored 25 tons of coal, which was washed away. His flagstaff was also broken in three pieces and blown on top of the house. The house itself shaking tremendously, Mr. Sequeira and his family took refuge in a small shop attached to the house, but this was flooded to the height of four or five feet, so that he was in danger of either being buried under the debris of the house or being drowned in the flood. He and his family of little children had to stand on tables and chairs until the water subsided. Further down is the residence of the Com- missioner of Customs. The house was un. roofed, and, like, Mr. Sequeira's, had the misfortune of having two large junks carried into the compound, the strong retaining wall being totally knocked down. The Custom House was unroofed and the substantial flagstaff broken in two. Messrs. A. Schomburg & Co.'s flagstaff was also broken and their office flooded.
Sir,--With reference to my letter, dated the 20th July, 1897, reporting that Dr. J. Lowson of the Colonial Service was returning home from plague duty in India, I am directed by the Secretary of State for India to say that he expects to receive hereafter specific reports regarding the good work done by this officer. Copy of such reports will be forwarded to the Colonial Office when they are received.
Meanwhile Lord George Hamilton directs me to state that be has heard from India very favourable accounts of the good work done by this officer, and of the benefit derived from his knowledge and experience of plague treatment at Hongkong. His work was arduous and at times dangerous, and his Lordship desires that his acknowledgments may be conveyed to Dr. Lowson, and to the Colonial Office for lending his services.-1 have, &c.,
(Signed) A. GODLEY. The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office.
Downing Street,
16th August, 1897.
255
And in hearty accord we attach our sign. atures hereto,
T. J. EDWARDS SCHLITZ EMANUEL
G. C. BROOKE Robt. 8. BREWSTER Edw. EMANUEL
Mrs. Edw. EMANUEL
H. T. EDWARDS
J. L. BRETT
R. G. WATKINS
W. M. S. BREDE, M.D. VIRGINIA FOOTE BEEDE W. B. MONTGOMERY
J. A. FITCH
W. D. MONTGOMERY
}
Mrs. A. C. MONTGOMERY Mrs. M. J. BRETT Mrs. J. A. FITOH JULIUS KOHN H. LEHMANN Mrs. MEAD DREW G. D. BRILL
THE HONGKONG JOCKEY CLUB.
the annual meeting to be held on the 2nd Octo- The following is the report for submission at
ber:-
In submitting the Honorary Treasurer's ac- counts, the Stewards consider them satisfactory although not quite so good as the previous year. stands were available for the 1897 meeting, and The permanent brick stables and private
proved a great convenience.
Gymkhanas, as in recent years, have been held on the Race Course under the auspices of the Jockey Club.
The race
course, compound, and stands were lent for the review and celebration at the
Happy Valley on the occasion of Her Majesty's Jubilee and for the gymkhana subsequently held in this connection.
The course is in good order.
P. F. HOUGH, Clerk of the Course.
Hongkong, 25th September, 1897.
Sir, I directed by Mr. Secretary Cham- berlain to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, expressing Lord George
FOURTH GYMKHANA MEETING. Hamilton's appreciation of the manner in which Dr. Lowson performed his duties in connectioning of the season, which was held at the Happy The attendance at the fourth gymkhama meet-
with the plague in India.
Mr. Chamberlain is glad to learn that Dr. Lowson has rendered such excellent and useful services to the Government of India.
A copy of your letter will be communicated to Dr. Lowson.--I am, sir, your most obedient
servant,
Among the natives, all houses along the water frontage suffered more or less by having the portion facing the water demolished. Among the craft great distress prevails. Innumerable boats and junks were smashed to pieces and the
(Signed) C. P. LUCAS, loss of life is great, being variously estimated at The Under Secretary of State, India Office. between 250 and 350. In the harbour there were the steamers Hongkong, Hailan, Frejr, Else, and the Chinese gunboat Kwongyok," The first two sustained some damage on dook. The Frejr, besides losing a large anchor and 85 fathoms chain, sustained general damage on deck, and in her fore-peak a plate was cracked. The Else stood well with damages on deck only. The Chinese gunboat went ashore on a sandy bottom and up to the time of writing (23rd) is still stuck up.
The damages and losses are estimated to amount to over $200,000. According to the natives, there has not been such a heavy typhoon for the last twenty-five years. Very few persons have had such an experience as we had on that memorable might, when death stared us go fixedly in the face. To try to escape from being baried under the roofs and walls of falling houses was out of the question, for one would simply have risked death by drowning, for the country being flat the whole town was flooded.
The day following the typhoon was a funereal one; all day long coffins were being carried through the streets and dead bodies floating in the river were being picked up by friends or charitably disposed persons. The stench from dead animals washed ashore, wet Chinese clothes and furniture, mud and rubbish, was something awful.
It is announced in the British North Borneo Herald that a gold-bearing quartz reef has been discovered in the Darrel Bay district and that concession to work it has been granted by the Court to the discoverer.
ADDRESS TO THE CAPTAIN AND OFFICERS OF THE P. M.
STEAMER “ PERU."
The following address was presented to Cap- tain Saunders by the cabin passengers of the P. M. steamer Peru on her last voyage-
On board the steamer Peru,
September 12th, 1897. We, the undersigned cabin passengers on board of the good ship Peru, being desirous of ex- pressing to Capt. Saunders and his officers our thanks to them for the uniform, courteous, and gentlemanly treatment received throughout the voyage, moreover we feel it our duty so to do, since one and all of us were repeatedly cautioned while in San Francisco against travelling on the Pacific Mail Steamship Co.'s steamer Peru; therefore be it resolved, That We thank Capt. Saunders and his officers for their kindly efforts in making our long trip on such an expanse of water pass so pleasantly and quickly, and that we express
to our friends both in the Occident and Orient that the reports concerning the Peru are without. foundation, and that we have been more than pleased at the excellency of its table and the thorough cleanliness throughout all departments of the vessel; therefore be it resolved:That a copy of these resolutions be presented to the Commander on behalf of himself and his officers and that a copy be placed with the principal newspapers in both China and Japan.
Valley on Saturday, 25th Sept. was rather small, too warm. Pony racing took a back seat, in- although the weather was very bright and not
terest being principally centred in the tent peg- ging and ladies' nomination events, while the dog race also provided much amusement. There were only two pony races. For the first only two competitors turned out and the second was a tame affair altogether. During the afternoon the band of the West Yorkshire Regiment, un-. der Mr. W. G. Bentley, A.R.C.M., played the following selections of music: March....
Overture....
"King Cotton".
"Fest
Sousa
Leutnes
Kontaki
Strauss
E. Bach
Waltz Caprice Heroique "Le Reveil du Lion"
"Autograph". Romance "Fruhlingserwachen
God save the Queen. The following were the officials: Patrons-His Excellency Sir William Ro- binson, G.C.M.G., His Excellency Major. General Wilsone Black, C.B., Commodore Swinton C. Holland, A.D.C.
Committee:-The Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving, Mr. Hart Buck, Capt. Barney, R.A., Messrs. R. M. Gray, V. A. Cæsar Hawkins, T. F. Hough, J. McKie, Capt. Loveband, A.D.C., Mr. G. C. C. Master, The Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G., Mr. C. H. Nugent, R.E., Lt. Col. The O'Gor man, D.A.A.G., Mr G. H. Potts, Commander Taylor, R.N., The Hon. T. H. Whitehead, Mr. M. D. Wood, W. Y. Regt.
*
Judges: The Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving and Mr. V. A. Cæsar Hawkins.
Handicappers -- Messrs. Hart Buck, R. M. Gray, G. C. C. Master.
Timekeeper :-Mr. G. H. Potts. Clerk of the Scales:-Mr. J. McKie, Hon. Secretary :-Lieut.-Col. The O'Gorman, D.A.A.G. ONE MILE HANDICAP; firet prise, presented; second, 15 dollars; entrance, $1; but if left in after 2 p.m. on 21st instant, $3 extra. Mr. Potts's Tocsin 11st. 7lbs. (Capt. Burney.) Mr. Cox's Saucy 10st. 12lbs. ....(Owner.)
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