February 2, 1898.]
the houses that ought never to have been built. Therefore he seconded the resolution of the Medical Officer of Health.
The PRESIDENT said he had inspected the houses with Dr. Clark and the Secretary and he certainly thought the houses were unfit for human habitation. He did not think they were good enough for pig-sties. In wet weather they must be unfit for human habitation in every sense, as the roofs were loosely tiled, The weather was dry now and consequently the floors did not look so bad, but any sullage and drainage to be got rid of had to be thrown on the hill side and probably on to the roofs of houses below, which were in a leaky condition.
Mr. EDE supported the resolution..
The resolution was carried, only the Director of Public Works voting against it.
WATER CARRIAGE VERSUS HAND CARRIAGE.
On an application for permission to erect a water closet being read.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS mid Le bad considered the question of the introduction of water closets into. Hongkong and he found that Mr. Chadwick had in 1890 reported that the water carriage system in Hongkong was superior to any other. He thought the opinion of such an authority on the subject as Mr. Chadwick was very important. He also found that the Committee which was appointed to investigate the subject advised against the intro- duction of the system, one of the reasons being that the sewage would silt up in the harbour. He was not aware what evidence was given before the Committee, but a very full and able report by Mr. Cooper seemed to be entirely at variance with the opinion expressed by the Committee. He (the Director of Public Works) therefore thought that the application should be allowed.
±
The PRESIDENT said he was entirely in favour of Mt. Ormsby's views. Water closets were much more sanitary than the hand carriage system at present in vogue, but as the special Co- mittee had reported against the general introduc- tion of water closets and, as the Board had refused applications before he could not see how they could grant this one. It would be better perhaps to refer the matter to a sub-Commit.ee for an opinion as to whether water closets should be introduced.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS said that one of the objections to water closets was that there was not sufficient water. In 1897 the rainfall was just oror 100 inches, or about 11 inches above Loaverage of the previous fourteen years. That was not a very good year to take, but he would like to point out that the depth of water in Tytam reservoir on the 1st January, 1896, was 34 feet below the spill; in 1897 the depth was 6 feet below spill; and in 1898 it was 3 feet below the spill. At Pokfulam reservoir the depth of water was 12 feet below the spill on the 1st January, 1896, 42 feet below the in 1897, and 10 feet above in 1898. There had been an enormous increase of the store of water since Mr. Chadwick mentioned this particular objection, and he did not think that any such objection could be taken now.
:
Mr. EDE entirely opposed the water carriage system. With the present system the sewage was taken right out of the colony, so there was no possibility of it injuring the colony in any way. The method was perhaps not quite so pleasant as the water carriage system, but in his opinion it was far better in the interests of health to get the sewage carried right away than to have it anywhere near the colony. On that ground be entirely opposed the water carriage system.
I
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE agreed with Mr. Ede. If the hand carriage system was a very insanitary one he thought the town would not be so healthy as it was. They heard a great deal about the stinks of Hongkong, but it was the healthiest town he had ever lived in. It was far more healthy than his native city-the city of Limerick. (Laughter.) He begged to suggest that the question of the removal from Chinese tenements be renewed. Mri Ede had said that the night soil was carried right away from the colony. He was afraid the real objection was that the night soil was not removed at once. There was not the slightest doubt in his mind that the present system of removal was so imper- fectly carried out that it must constitute a
|
75
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. danger. The Board had made certain proposals, which the members of the Hongkong Civil- but they were not acted upon, and he thought-Service desire to present to your Excellency on the subject might be taken up again.
your departure from the colony. To His Excellency SIE WILLIAM ROBINSON, G.C.M.G., Governor and Commander-in- Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice Admiral of the
The PRESIDENT said that anyone who passed along the main road in the early hours of the morning knew there was an offensive smell which must injure the public health to some extent.
{
A resolution that the application be granted was then put.
The Director of Public Works and the Pres- ident voted in favour of the motion and Mr Ede, the Medical Officer of Health, and the Captain Superintendent of Police voted against
it. 1.
The resolution was therefore lost.
OUTBREAK OF SMALLPOX. The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH reported that there had been thirty seven cases of small- pox] during the current month in the centre of the city. Of these half a dozen had been imported from Wanchai. He was in favour of free vac, cination for the Chinese community and of a warning being issued to the European com- munity so that they could take steps to protect themselves from the disease if introduced by their servants...
The PRESIDENT thought it was the duty of the Board to open two free vaccination stations so that the Chinese might attend. Ons station might be in No. 5 health district and the other in Wanchai..
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH said that last year the Chinese did not take kindly to vaccination. A public vacoinator went from house to house and it was found that when he went in the front door the occupants went out by the back...
•
In reply to the President the MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH said 1,100 Chinese were vaccinated in three week last year.
Mr. EDE seconded the President's motion, which was carried unanimously,
It was also resolved to open a free station at the Government Civil Hospital for non- Chinese.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
For the week ended 15th January the death rate per thousand per annum was-22.3, as com- pared with 11.7 for the corresponding period of last year. For the week ended 22nd January the rate was 14.7, as against 17.4 for the corres- ponding period of last year.
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE, A report was read from the Medical Officer of Health and the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, who were appointed a Select Committee under that four cattle imported from Canton by local the provisions of Ordinance 11 of 1895, stating butchers on Thursday last were upon landing found to be suffering from foot and mouth disease. The cattle were at once destroyed and buried
ADJOURNMENT,
The Board adjourned until Thursday week.
THE DEPARTURE OF HIS EX- CELLENCY THE GOVERNOR. PRESENTATION OF AN ADDRESS BY THE
14. CIVIL SERVICE.
Governor, Sir William Robinson, G.C.M.G., was On Monday, 31st Jan.,, His Excellency the presented with an address by the members of the place in the drawing room of Government Hongkong Civil Service. The presentation took
L.L.D., C.M.G. (Chief Justice). There were House and was made by Sir John Carrington, also present the following members of the Civil Service: Hon. J. H: Stewart Lockhart (Colonial Secretary), Mr. A. G. Wise (Puisne Judge), Hon. W. M. Goodman (Attorney-General), Hon. H. E. Wodehouse (Police Magistrate), Hon. R. Murray Rumsey (Harbour Master), Hon F. H. May, C.M.G. (Captain Superin- tendent of Police), Hon. T. Sercombe Smith (Colonjal Treasurer), Hon. R. D. Ormsby (Director of Public Works), Mr. A. M. Thomson (Postmaster-General) Mr. J. G. T. Buckle (Clerk of Councils), Dr. Atkinson, Mr. A. W. Brewin, Mr. A. Seth, Mr. C. Ford, Mr. H. C. Nicolle, Mr. W. Chatham, Dr. Bateson Wright: Mr. GS. Northcote, Mr. C. Vivian Ladds, Mr. W. J. Tutcher, Mr. J. R. Crook, and Mr. E. Bowdler.
Sir JOHN CARRINGTON-Your Excellency, with your leave I will read to you the address
|
same.
May it please Your Excellency
On the eve of your departure from this colony, which you have successfully governett for the long and practically uninterrupted period of six years, we, the members of the Hongkong Civil Service, desire to convey to you a brief but sincere expression of our ap preciation of the kindly relations which have always existed between Your Excellency and ourselves, and of our regret at your departure:
In the Far East you have thoroughly sustained the character for justice, geniality, and hos pitality which you gained during your career in the West Indies.
The members of the Service have always found you considerate, and desirous of giving effeet to their recommendations, so far as these seemed to you advisable and practicable.
To all members of the Service, of what- ever creed or nationality, you have, during the term of your administration, accorded just and impartial treatment, and have shown yourself anxious to promote their welfare. In your relations with us, in duty and pleasure, business and pastime, Your Excellency has con- sistently taken as the rule of your action the sympathetic motto-Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto,
It only remains for us to offer you our respectful congratulations on the long and distinguished career of forty-four years, which you have just completed in the service of Her Majesty, and also on the high honour which has recently been conferred upon you.
Begging that you will accept our most cordial wishes for your future prosperity and happiness, and with renewed expressions of regard and high esteem,
We subscribe ourselves,
Your Excellency's Most obedient humble Servants, (Here follow the signatures) After reading the address Sir JOHN CARRING TON said--Perhaps Your Excellency will, let me add a few remarks, as spoken words are warmer possibly than written words. We part from you now with much regret, and, as we have said in the address, with varied feelings-feelings of admiration, of regard, and of high esteem. Of Civil Service ourselves, cannot but think that admiration, because we, as members of the Your Excellency has achieved signal success in rising from the lowest grades of the Civil Ser- vice to so high and distinguished a position as 'that which you now hold. Of respect, because we have been serving under you in this colony and have therefore had opportunities of seeing the successful and impartial way in which you have carried on the affairs of this colony and kept it on the road to prosperity; and of regard, because we feel, as is indicated in the address, that you have been to us a kind and considerate and, indeed, an indulgent master. For all these things we are grateful to you, and we beg to assure you, Sir, that we shall always remember your kindness, and we hope you will secure long life and happiness wherever your lot may be cast. (Applause.)
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR, in ac- ton, Mr. Lockhart, and members of the cepting the address, said-Sir John Carring Hongkong Civil Service, I thank you most sincerely for the address which you have just presented to me. : you that I shall always recollect with pleasure I can assure the sympathetic relations which have existed between the Service and myself during the past six years. What you are so kind as to term my successful government of this colony is in great measure due to the assistance that I have received from the several Departments of the Service as well as to the advice I have been given by the official members of Council-the Heads of those Departments. I have treated you, gentlemen, as I would have wished myself to have been treated had I been in your position, and in return you have naturally rendered to me the most efficient service you could. W ont exception I have found you all willing and
d With
loyal public servants and whilst thanking you
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.