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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
covered arcades, so that it really only leaves a 30 feet street.
Dr. CLARK-But still the width of the verandah is always included in the width of the street for the purposes of height.
Hon. R. D. OEMSBY-Chater Street, which is the widest street on which the building abuts,
8 75 feet.
the way of the surrender. In consequence of the many stories he had heard concerning him, Father McKinnon expected to find in the Archbishopanaggressive overbearing individual, and he was accordingly somewhat surprised when he was introduced to a mild little man who soon convinced him that the story that he was in favour of the Spaniards resisting to the bitter end was not correct. His Grace said that he had favoured the surrender for some time, and in proof of this he took down the Council records, which showed that he and two others had voted in favour but that they had been over-ruled by the military element. Father McKinnon states that the leading Catholics in Manila are strongly in favour of the retention of the Philippines by America, as they consider that in this lies the salvation of the Church in the archipelago. The rev. gentleman will re- main here until the arrival of the City of Pekinging with officers and marines who go to Manila as reliefs, when he will return to his regiment.
With regard to the landing of 6,000 rifles, &' million rounds of ammunition, and 11 rapid- firing guns at Iloilo by the Spanish mail steamer Buenes Ayres, a correspondent writes: "While this is presumably another precaution against the rebels, it is certainly contrary to the terms of the armistice." The correspondent adds: "I am informed that in South Tanzon a government is organised of local chiefs not recognising Aguinaldo. Also that Aguinaldo has sent three of his gunboats to Bokol, and thence to Iloilo, for conquest. I doubt this, as Spain has half. a-dozen gunboats in the neighbourhood, each one of which is equal to all of Aguinaldo's.
We hear that the German cruiser Arcona is still cruising in the vicinity of the southern islands,
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD,
A meeting of the Hongkong Sanitary Board was held on 3rd November. The President (Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer) occupied the chair, and there were also present: the Vice-President (Hon. F. H. May, Captain Superintendent of Police), the Hon. R. D. Ormsby (Director of Public Works), Mr. J. Dyer Ball (Acting Registrar-General), Mr. E. Osborne, and Dr. F. W. Clark (Medical Officer of Health and Acting Secretary).
INSANITARY DWELLINGS IN SAI WA LANE.
Dr. Clark (Medical Officer) reported for the information of the Board "thut the basement floors known as Nos. 3 to 8, Sai Wa Lane, are in my opinion unfit for human habitation, and I beg to recommend that a notice be served on the owner requiring him to vacate these pre- mises within a period of one month from the dale of service of such notice."
The PRESIDENT—I move that a notice be served on the owners in accordance with the recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health. The Hon. R. D. ORMSBY seconded, and the motion was carried.
TAINTED WATER AT SOKONPO).
A report of Mr. Crowe (Government Analyst) on a sample of water from a well opposite the entrance to the Sokonpo Market latrine was submitted, the report stating "I herby cer- tify that this water is so tainted with impurities as to be unfit for potable purposes and likely to prove injurious to health."
On the motion of the VICE-PRESIDENT, seconded by Mr. OSBORNE, it was decided that the well should be closed,
ANOTHER HOTEL TO BE ERECTED.
Mr. W. Danby, architect, wrote on behalf of the managing directors of the Hongkong Land Investment and Agency Company, Limited, to enquire if the Sanitary Board would be pleased to give them permission (under section 12 of Ordinance 15 of 1894) to erect a building on the Praya extension of marine lots Nos. 2 A, 2B, and 101 to height of 106 feet to the eaves, which Keight (Mr. Danby said) is practically that of the new wing of the Hongkong Hotel. The building is to be utilised as an hotel and will be situated at the corner of Icehouse Street..
The PRESIDENT asked where the building would be situated.
The Hon. R. D. ORMSBY-At the corner of Ice House Street.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-What is the width of the street P
The Hon. R. D. ORMSBY—There is between the houses 50 feet. On both sides there are
Dr. CLARK-I should think the best thing ito do would be for the Board to sanction the erection of a building one and a half times as high as the street is wide. The principal street is 75 feet wide, so that would allow them to have a building 112 feet high.
Mr. OSBORNE-This building is at a corner and will have roads on three sides, won't it ?
The Hon. R. D. ORMSBY -Four sides. There is a private road as well.
|
Mr. OSBORNE-So the argument about keep
the air out of other houses would hardly hold good?
Dr. CLARK-No.
[November 5, 1898.
of the chairman)-Are all the sureties in con- nection with these hotels on that list P
The list was handed to him.
Mr. WILCOX thought that if Mr. Crawford's proposal was adopted there would be some diffi. culty.
Dr. Lowson-I beg to move an amendment, because this wants further consideration.
✅ Mr. J. H. LEWIS seconded.
The Hon. F. H. MAY I was going to say so. The Government have just passed a new Or. dinance and to give effect to that resolution they would have to amend the Ordinance which has just been passed.
Mr. DUGGAN-Oh, no. Section 41 of the Ordinance says the Governor in Council may from time to time make, alter, and repeal rules not inconsistent with the Ordinance for the better carrying out of the same.
Mr. CRAWFORD objected that the Ordinance was passed before the Justices got copies.
MT. SETH-It was published in the Govern
Mr. DYER BALL-What is the height they ment Gazette, and I believe each Justice gets one, want to build ?
The Hon. R. D. OEMSBY-106 feet. Mr: OSBORNE-The hotel will be above and Lane Crawford's store below.
}
On the motion of Dr. CLARK, seconded by the Hon. R. D, OBMSBY, the application was granted.
MORTALITY RETURNS.
The returns for the colony of Hongkong for the week ended October 22nd show a death rate of 18.0, against 21.1 for the previous week and 15-2 for the corresponding week last year. The returns for the following week show the death rate to be 213 against 20-2, for the correspond. ing week last year.
Mr. OSBORNE-Are there any cases of plague in the returns for Hongkong?
Dr. CLARK-There have been two cases and one death.
The PRESIDENT-One case at the gaol and a suspected case among the Asiatic regiment.
This was all the business.
ANNUAL LICENSING SESSIONS.
On 3rd November the annual session of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace was held at the Magistracy for the purpose of considering applications for liquor licenses for the year 1898-99. The whole of the licenses were renewed with the exception of that of the Stag Hotel, which was declined for the time being on account of the applicant not being resident on the premises. Mr. Craw ford, it will be observed, spoke in favour of a license-holder's sureties being placed on the same footing as the house-holders who testify as to character, that is, that they shall in no way directly or indirectly be connected with the sale of liquor to the applicant.
Commander Hastings, Acting Police Magis- trate, occupied the chair; and there were also present: Dr. Lowson, the Hon. F. H. May (Captain Superintendent of Police), Messrs, D. R. Crawford, J. H. Lewis, R. C. Wilcox, J. Dyer Ball, A. S. Hooper, E. W. Mitchell, G. Murray Bain, W. H. Percival, A. Seth, C. W. Duggan, and B, Byramjee.
LICENSE-HOLDERS AND THEIR SURETIES,
Mr. DUGGAN-Only if they buy them. The CHAIRMAN (to Dr. Lowson)→→What is your amendment?
Dr. LowsON That the consideration of the question should be postponed) until we have considered the matter and have a better knowledge of it.
Mr CRAWFORD-For how long?
Dr. Lowson said they could call a special meeting any time they liked. Mr. Crawford had given a lot of attention to the matter no doubt, and other people would like to give some attention to it too.
Mr. CRAWFORD-I do not object to the amendment as long as it is clearly understood that the matter will be brought up at the next meeting.
The CHAIRMAN-You can bring it up your self if you like.
Dr. LowSON-I will bring it up myself for Mr. Crawford, if he likes, but I won't promise
to vote for it.
On this understanding the proposition was withdrawn.
THE STAG HOTEL.
Moosa Mahomed applied for a liquor license for the Stag Hotel, Nos. 148 and 150, Queen's Road Central. He had held a license for two years.
The CHAIRMAN said the police objected
the premises. the ground that the applicant did not reside
Mr. HOOPER-Is it absolutely necessary that the applicant should live on the premises under the Ordinance?
The CHAIRMAN said the licensee was respons- ible, and unless he resided on the premises he could not undertake supervision.
The Hon. F. H. MAY said there had been some complaints against this house about hav ing girls upstairs dancing on two occasions. There was nothing of the sort there now, this having been stopped. The police had been looking after the place, but he thought that in this colony it was desirable that a licensee should live on the premises and attend to the business himself. In this case the licensee was employed elsewhere. It was not like the Hongkong Hotel, where there was a respectable manager.- Mr. HOOPER (to May) Has he ever
the Magistrate for dis orderly conduet in connection with the matter of which you speak ?
Mr. CRAWFORD said he had a strong feeling, been brought befp
and he thought most of his brother Justices would agree with him, that the new Ordinance, which did not provide that the sureties of a license holder should be in no way directly or indirectly connected with the sale of liquor to such holder should be corrected. He had agreed to be surety for one of the appli- cants. He was a perfectly respectable man, and no doubt he would get his license, but he thought that the sureties as well as the guarantors should not supply the applicant with liquor.
The CHAIRMAN-You have heard what Mr. Crawford says. If you pass any resolution I will forward it to the Government. At present it is outside our province.
After the transaction of the ordinary business, Mr. CRAWFORD raised the question again, and proposed a resolution to the effect that in the opinion of the Justices sureties should be in no way directly or indirectly con- nected with the sale of liquor to the applicant.
Mr. J. DYER BALL seconded. Dr. Lowson (referring to a list in the hands
The Hon. F. H. MAY-No. Mr. CRAWFORD-It is somewhat strange he should have been allowed to have a license, so long under those conditions.
The Hon. F. H. MAY—There have been no complaints against the house before.
Mr. HOOPER-Those you referred to have been made quite recently P
The Hon. F. H. MAY-Yes. I suppose it was because of the want of proper supervision over the place.
Dr. Lowson-Can you grant a license on the understanding that the applicant must reside on the premises, or must you say yes or 10 without any delay?
The CHAIRMAN-Yes or no, but we can have him in if you like; he is here.
Mr. BALL Will the applicants be questioned as to whether they intend to reside on the premises P
The CHAIRMAN—Yes, new ones. The Hon. F. H. MAY said he would like to
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