284
DR. DOBERCK AND THE MANILA
OBSERVATORY.
བམ བྷ ---
DR. DOBEROK'S ACTION DISAPPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
A RENEWAL OF THE MANILA STORM WARN- INGS REQUESTED
The following correspondence has been for warded to us by Mr. R. C. Wilcox, Secretary of the Hongkong General Chamber of Com- merce, for publication
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, Hongkong, 21st March, 1899.
SIE, This Chamber has received a letter (with enclosures) from the Director of the Manila Observatory, of which the enclosed is a made of a com- oopy, and in which complaint munication addressed by the Director of the Hongkong Observatory to the Weather Bureau of the United States Government as seriously reflecting on the value of the typhoon warnings supplied to Hongkong by the Mauila Observa- tory.
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The experience of the Committee and of the commercial community is that the telegrams giving warning of approaching or expected typhoon furnished by the Manila Observatory have been most useful, and the Chamber and the commercial community would view their discontinuance with extreme regret.
The Committee would be much obliged if the Government will kindly favour the Chamber with a copy of the letter addressed by the Director of the Hongkong Obseratory to the Weather Bureau of the United States Government.— I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary. Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., Colonial
Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Hongkong, 24th March, 1899. Sir. I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant and its enclo sure on the subject of typhoon warnings from Manila, and to state that the matter is engag- ing the attention of this Government.
I will cominunicate further with you in due course.—I have the honour to be, sir, your most
obedient servant,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary. The Secretary, Chamber of Commerce.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 28th March, 1899. Sir-In continuation of my letter, No. 485, of the 24th instant, I am directed to state for the information of the Chamber of Commerce that the request made by the Director of the Observatory to the Chief of the Weather Bureau. United States of America, for the discontina- ance of typhoon warnings from the Manila Observatory was not authorised by this Govern- ment.
Dr. Doberck acted under the belief that he had for several years the necessary authority for his communication to the Chief of the Weather Bureau at Washington. His mistake has been pointed out to him. Intimation has been made to the Military Governor of the Philippines that the request was unauthorised, and a hope expressed that the order for the dis- continuance of the meteorological information would be rescinded. The Military Governor has also been informed of the appreciation of your Chamber of the warnings sent from time to time. I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.
On the night of 26th March a fire broke out in Hongkew, Shanghai, where an outbreak occurred three weeks ago, that is, between the North Kiangse and North Honan Roads. Twelve houses were entirely gutted out, and the new buildings which were being run up on the recently burnt spot were more or less damaged. The origin is unknown. The property, which belongs to Messrs. D. Sassoon, Sons & Co., was insured in the South British.
[April 8, 1899.
A BRITISH BARQUE ABANDONED. | making four and a half knots. It was then
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THE CLWYD STRIKES THE
PRATAS SHOALS.
ALL HANDS SAVED.
5th April.
The new steamer of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, the Futami Maru, which is making her first trip to Australia, arrived in Hongkong yester- day, having on board the captain and eleven members of the orew of the British barque Clwyd viz., Captain Thomas; David Williams. steward; John Williams, cook, Thomas Hughes, sail and boats-wain; William Williams, A.B.; Williams R. Rees, O.S.; Joseph Hitchen. A.B., apprentice; David John Asplet, apprentice Car! A. Peterson, carpenter; Thomas P. Curry, William James Felton, apprentice; and James McLaughlin, A.B.
The Futami Maru left Yokohama on the 28th of March and Nagasaki on Saturday. On Monday she experienced fine weather but a lot of fog. When about 180 miles from Hongkong, to the north of Pratas Shoals, she observed a small boat displaying siguals of distress, and Captain C. H. Hillcoat gave the order to bear down to her assistance. As he neared the boat the Captain saw that its occupants were Europe. ans. Ou coming alongside the latter asked it they could be taken aboard, and on receiving the reply Yes," they got on to the Futami Mara, some other Europeans on a junk which was standing by doing the same,
Captain Thomas explained that he was master of the British barque Clwyd, which left Houg- kong on Thursday for Pisco, Peru, with a cargo of rice.
He added that on Saturday morning, about 2.3, when the weather was heavy and there was a heavy sea on, his ship got on to the Pratas Shoals. The vessel was not abandoned until it was apparent that there was no hope of saving her. At four o'clock, when it was seen that she was sinking fast, the Captain ordered the bosts to be got out, he taking charge of one and the Chief Mate (Hugh Jones) of the other. They stood by until eight o'clock in the morning, when they endeavoured to get aboard again, but were prevented from doing so by the heavy surf.
Just before the Captain gave the order to take to the boats a heavy sea swept over the poop, going into the cabin and hold. This would swell the rice, and ultimately burst the planks apart.
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The Captain's boat, which soon separated from the other, was very leaky. Three men were bailing all Saturday night. All the provisions were spoiled by the water. The men had been 23 hours in an open boat, and were despairing of keeping afloat much longer when a Chinese junk fortunately hore in sight and some of the men got aboard her.
All the men speak very highly of the Chin ese, who could not speak a word of English. The Captain of the Futami Maru rewarded them with a couple of bags of rice and some stores.
The crew lost everything they had except the clothes they had on. The only living creatures left on board were some canaries, which were forgotten in the excitement. The eat and dog were brought off safely,
Captain Williams speaks highly of the great kiuduess shown to him and his companions in distress by the Captain and crew of the Futami Maru: Captain Hillcoat, by the way, has had to do with the saving of some 450 shipwrecked people and years ago was awarded the order of Medjijeh and the Star of Zanzibar for saving life.
In addition to Chief Officer Jones, the se- cond boat contained Michael Crowley, second officer; Stauley Cottear, Gustar Anderson. Johu, Kagam, F. Smyth, N. E. Nielsen, David Jones Williams, A.B's; and E. T. Roberts, ap- prentice. They had to row almost the whole of the distance to Hongkong. The first day Until five o'clock yester- they made 120 miles. day morning the weather was calm, but there was much fog. Provisions ran out yesterday morning and there was only a little water left. A further supply, however, was obtained from a junk. They arrived in Hongkong at a quarter past four yesterday afternoon.
The Clwyd had fairly good weather after leaving Hongkong, and when she struck was
pitoh dark. She was carried on to the reef by a strong current.
The Clwyd (for which Mossrs Sander, Wieler, and Co. were the agents) was built at Newcastle- on-Tyne in 1883, and was formerly the Melate, of Rotterdam. She was in good condition, being a fine and tight sea-boat. Registered at Liverpool; owner Walmsley,
HONGKONG SANUARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Hongkong Sanitary Board was held on 30th March, The President (Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer) occupied the chair, and there were also
D. Ormsby (Director of Public Works). Mr. present the Vice-President (the Hou. F. H. May, Captain Superintendent of Police), the Hon. R.
A. W. Brewin (Acting Registrar (Heneral), Mr. E. Osborne, Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), and Mr. C. W, Duggan (secretary).
EXEMPTION FROM CONCRETING,
Mr. Ho Tung applied for exemption of Nos. 237, 339, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, and 353, Queen's Road West from concreting ground surfaces, inasmuch as they are used only as domestic buildings." He godowns and not as was going to have Nós. 935 and 341 concreted, as they were to be used as a bean-curd maker's workshop.
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On the motion of the PRESIDENT seconded by Dr. CLARK, the application was granted,
THE PLAGUE,
Plague returns for Bombay for the period 14th to 27th February were submitted. On the last date 16 cases were reported and 122 deaths.
A telegram, dated March 16th, was submitted reporting cases of plague found at Howrah, near Calcutta.
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A telegram, dated March 24th, was submitted reporting outbreak of plague at Saran district, Bengal.
The mortality returns for the colony for the week ended 18th March showed a death-rate of 164, against 21-2 for the previous week and 236 for the corresponding week last year. Three of the deaths were due to plague. The death rate for the succeeding week was 148 against 24 for the corresponding week last year.
The mortality returns of Macao showed 36 deaths for the week onded March 5th and 53 deaths for the following week.
Dr. CLARK said that during the past fort- night 43 houses had been lime-washed by the owners. Since the last Board meeting there had been 11 cases of plague, which was less than one a day.
It was stated that in the Central district, according to the bye-law made under sub-section 4 of section 13 of Odinance No. 24 of 1887, all bouses have to be whitewashed by the end of April, and in order to press on the work it was resolved, on the motion of M. OSBORNE, `se- conded by the Vice President, to issue circulars to the property owners stating that if by the end of April they have not carrial out the bye- law prosecutions will be instituted. Copies of the bye-law have already been circulated. It runs as follows :-
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Any house, or part of a honse, which is occupied by oarbers of more than one family shall-unless specially exempted by the Sani- tary Board-cleansed and lime-washed throughout, by the owner, to the satisfaction of the said Board not less than twice in every
year, namely, during the months of January aud February and of July and August in the eastern division of the City and in the eastern division of Kowlooa; during the months of March and April and of September and October in the central division of the City and in the western division of Kowloon; and during the months of May and June and of November and December in the western division of the City; and notice of such intended cleansing and lime-washig shall be sent to the Secretary of the Sanitary Board three clear days before the work is commenced.
"Note. The western boundary of the eastern division of the City is Garden Road; the western boundary of the central division of the City is Morrison and East Streets; the western division of the City lies to the west of Morrison and Eist Streets. The Kowloon Peuinsula is divided into
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