May 27, 1899.1
by H.E. Major-General Gascoigue, and he subsequently called upon Commodore Powell.
The Olympia will dook here and will then proceed leisurely home, stopping at several of the Mediterranean ports en route in order to give the men a little holiday after their nearly two years' cruise.
On account of his health the Admiral has had to decline the Governor's invitation to be present at the dinner given at Government House in honour of the Queen's birthday. It is to be hoped, however, that before he leaves us he will feel himself well enough to go about a little.
Admiral Dewey took up his residence at the Peak Hotel on Wednesday. Up to now he has not felt well enough to go about.
THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.
Wednesday, May 24th, being the 80th an- niversary of the birth of Her Majesty the Queen the day was celebrated in the usual manner in Hongkong. The banks and insurance offices were closed the whole day, and most of the other European business houses closed earlier than usual. The ships in the harbour were gaily decorated, and at noon a royal salute was fired.
Later on the troops paraded at Happy Valley. They made a brave show and were heartily cheered as they marched past by the spectators, who, notwithstanding two or three sharp showers. stayed to see the review through. H.E. Major-General Gascoigne and bis
staff
were early on the scene, and by six o'clock, when H.E. the Governor, wearing his full uniform, rode up, all was in readiness. His Excellency was received with a general salute, after which the firing of the royal salate was at once commenced, the Blue-jackets, Volun teers, and Asiatic Artillery each firing seven shots, a je de joi being fired and a strain or two of the National Authem being played after each section had done their work. The march past then took place and in little more than half-an-hour from the arrival of the Governor the return to the barracks was commenced.
In the evening His Excellency gave a dinner at Government House in honour of the occasion.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
On 25th May a meeting of the Hong- kong Sanitary Board was held. The President (Dr. J.M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer) occupied the chair, and there were also present the Vice-President (the Hon. F. H. May, Captain Superintendent of Police), the Hon. R. D. Ormsby (Director of Public Works), Mr. A. W. Brewin (Acting Registrar-General), Mr. E. Osborne, Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), and Mr. J. W. Duggan (secretary).
QUARTERLY INSPECTIONS,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The VICE-PRESIDENT, in pursuance of notice, proposed "That a committee of the board consisting of the Director of Public Works, the Acting Registrar General, and Mr. Edward Osborne, be appointed to make quarterly in spections of such of the health districts as they may select, and to report the results of their inspections to the board." He said he did not wish in any way to infer or imply that their staff of sanitary inspectors was not sufficiently supervised by theirindustrious Medical Officer of Health but he thought that the Board itselfought really to have some practical knowledge of the condition of the city, and especially of the in- sides of the domestic dwellings in the city. Such information could only be gained by actual inspection of premises. He was aware that the gentlemen whose names he bad taken the liberty to include in the resolution had a great deal of work on their hands, like they all had, but he trusted that that would not stand in the way of the resolution being favourably entertained by the board.
Dr. CLARK, in seconding, said that of course the members of the board fully understood that
|
go on and sanitary work generally would pro- ceed more smoothly perhaps than in the past.
Mr. OSBORNE said he should be very happy as far as he could to assist in carrying out the resolution. He suggested that the Secre- tary be instructed to arrange a course of inspections so that the matter might not be forgotten.
The Hon. R. D. ORMSBY thought that in this matter they must to a great extent trust to their excellent Medical Officer of Health keeping his men up to the mark, but if he thought he could be assisted by surprise visits to certain districts occasionally he should be happy to do his part in the matter.
The resolution was carried.
APPLICATIONS FOR WATER OLOSKTB,
Two applications were received for permis sion to erect water and trough closets in a new building on the Praya Reclamation and in the Union Church Yard respectively.
The first application was from Mr. Chater, who also applied for permission to erect water and trough closets at his offices in Victoria Buildings.
The Hon. R. D. О×м8вỶ proposed that the application of Mr. Chater with regard to the block of buildings which are being erected south of Queen's Buildings should be grauted, pointing out that whilst some 109,500 gallons| of water per year would be consumed they had just added a reservoir which increased the water supply of the colony by 30,000,000 gallons per year.
The VICE-PRESIDENT seconded.
Dr. CLARK, who had minuted against granting the application, said that while he had no great objection to the water-closete he had to the trough closets, and pointed out that the latter used a considerable quantity of water. He proposed as an amendment that the application be granted as regarded the water closets but not as regarded the trough closets.
Mr. OSBORNE said he had had experience of these trough water-closets, and he must say that it was not the same as that of the Medical Officer of Health. They were an immense improvement on the ordinary bucket system.
In view of the remarks of the Medical Officer of Health the VICE-PRESIDENT seconded the
amendment. It was ultimately decided, how ever, to postpone the matter until the next meeting.
The Hon. R. D. ORMSBY proposed and Mr. OSBORNE seconded the application as to the Vic- toria Buildings
The mover and seconder and the President
voted for and the other three members against. The President gave his casting vote in favour,
so that the resolution was carried.
The other application was refused, on the motion of the VICE-PRESIDENT, seconded by Dr. CLARK, on the ground that the building did not come within the category of those allowed by the board to have water-closets.
THE RECEPTION OF PLAGUE PATIENTS AT
TUNG WAH HOSPITAL.
Mr. Ho Tung. Chairman of the Tung Wah Hospital, wrote as follows to the Colonial Secretary on May 13th:
"As the plague appears to have been on the increase during the past fortnight, the directors of the Tung Wah Hospital are desirous of establishing a branch hospital at the earliest opportunity at Kennedy town by making similar arrangements as in former years.
"I, therefore bag to apply that permission be granted to the Tung Wah Hospital to utilize the old mat-shed at Kennedytown in the same way as before, which, as you are aware, is the property of the Government.
"I may mention that both Mr. Brewin and Dr. Clark have been interviewed respecting this matter, and they were pleased with the suggestion of the directors.
As this matter is urgent I shall feel greatly obliged if you will kiudly favour me with a reply this afternoon if possible."
The Board approved of the proposal.
A further report on the lighting of the Central Market was submitted.
it was impossible for one man to exercise super | THE LIGHTING OF THE CENTRAL MARKET, vision over the large staff which the board now had under its control, and if members of the board would assist in a very small way in personally inspecting some houses and keeping an eye on the work of the sanitary inspectors be thought the sanitation of the colony would
Dr. Clark minuted: The re-painting and cleansing of the Central Market is now com- pleted by the P.W.D., and the general lighting
437
of the place appears to me to be adequate. would strongly recommend the absolute pro- hibition of the smoking flare lamps, which are used mostly, it seems, at the fish stalls, as they will soon soil the new paint work and render the place dark if permitted to continue. I see no objection to the use by the stallholders of lamps with chimneys. In fact such are necessary for the making up of books and accounts in the stálls, as many of them are covered in at the top with baskets, cases, etc."
Mr. Ladds (Colonial Veterinary Surgeon) miupted-" Although the Central Market has been painted and whitewashed, I still maintain that it is most inefficiently lighted, nor do I see how it can be improved except by the addition of more electric lights or by the adoption of gas as previously recommended by me.
It was decided that the Hon. R. D. Ormsby and Mr. Brewin should visit the market and report on the matter.
THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF NUISANOES. A despatch dated April 14th was submitted from the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain to the effect that, on the recommendation of Mr. O. Chadwick, he had selected Mr. J. H. Dandy, recently employed in the Public Health De partment of the Corporation of Liverpool, for appointment as Chief Inspector of Nuisances, Hongkong.
THE PLAGUE AT TAINAN.
A report from the British Consulate at Tai- nan showed that from April 25th to May 1st there had been 107 cases of plague reported, the deaths numbering 113 and the recoverion 51. From January 7th to May 1st 1,632 cases were reported, the deaths numbering 1,270 and the recoveries 243.
|
HONGKONG MORTALITY STATISTICS. The Hongkong mortality returns showed the death rate for the week ended May 6th to be 30.21, against 24.0 for the previous week and 31.41 for the corresponding week last year. The rate for the following week was 33.5 against 45.3
THE MUTUAL STORE EMBEZZLE- MENT CASE.
At the Magistracy on the 23th May, before Mr. T. Sercombe Smith, Reginald Hopkins was charged on remand with embezzling $1,000, be longing to the proprietors of the Mutual
Stores.
defendant being undefended.
Mr. Hastings appeared for the prosecution,
Evidence having been given by Mr. Hurley, who had examined the books of the firm, the case was further adjourned.
FRAUDULENT EMIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES.
The Acting Registrar General, Mr. A. W Brewin, in his report for last year, says:
The issue of these certificates (certificates of identity issued to Chinese proceeding to the United States) has entailed a great deal of work on this department. The prospect of going to the United States was so inviting that people were willing to pay large sums to get there. Frauds of all kinds were attempted and syndicate was formed which guaranteed to pass applicants through safely on payment of $400. Independent brokers made as much as $100 on each certificate, and sureties received thirty or forty dollars.
On taking over the work of Registrar-Gen- eral, I found that applicants were only required to show that they were "other than labourers.” I thought that more was necessary and required that they should also prove that they were what they alleged themselves to be. It quickly fol lowed that applicants, who had until then been posing as merchants, now appeared as account- ants. When that device failed, they sank to the position of shroffs, and when this proved untenable, they called themselves salesmen or shop-assistants. It has now been laid down that only those who belong to the specifically named exempt classes, viz. officials, teachers, students, merchants, or
or pleasure, can claimavellers for curiosity.
a right of entry. This has relieved this offics of a great deal of work and the only difficulty remaining is the inter- pretation of the terms.
In order that the Registrar-General may have an opportunity of testing the truth of their
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.