July 28, 1900.]
His Excellency then formally laid the stone, saying: "I declare this stone well and truly laid and I dedicate this building to the future benefit of Kowloon." On the stone is the inscription: -"This stone was laid by His Excellency Sir Henry A. Blake, G.C.M.G., Governor of Hongkong, 21st July, 1900." A handsome silver trowel was presented to His Excellency. It bore the following inscrip- tion:-"Presented to Sir Henry Arthur Blake. G.C.M.G. from Ho Tung, of Hongkong, in commoration of the laying of the foundation stone of the Kowloon School, 20th July, 1900.”
On the call of Mr. Ho Tung, three hearty cheers were given for His Excellency, followed by three for Lady Blake, and on the call of His Excellency three cheers were given for Mr. Ho Tung.
This concluded the proceedings.
THE HEALTH OF HONGKONG.
We
have
of
The suspicion that Bombay owes the intro- duction of plague within its limits to communi- cation with Hongkong, says the Times of India. gives us a certain Interest in the sanitary for- tunes of that town. Its plague history has a special claim upon our attention. If analogy counts for much there is lille ja this encourages the hope of an early disappearanICE of plague from Bombay. Hongkong was first visited with the epidemic in 1894-two years before it was detected in Bombay, and in 1899 plague was still prevalent on the island, the sixth visitation lasting from March until September. It never reached the proportions of the earlier outbreaks. In March there were 25 cases, in April 101, in May 421, in June 514. Then, when the maximum mean monthly tem. perature was reached, the epidemic gradually decreased. There were 263 cases in July, 86 in Angust, and 57 in September. Here again an illustration the baffling caprice of plague incidence in relation to tem- perature. In Mesopotania, the plague disap- pears with the cold weather; in Karachi it has been at its worst in the hot season; in Bombay, as in Hongkong, the approach of high tem- perature has begh a signal for decline. In Hongkong as in Bombay the plague has shown a tendency to ching persistently to chosen seats of infection. In spite of all measures of disin. fection eleven per cent. of the cases occurred in houses infected in the previous visitation. The rat, we learn from Hongkong experience, seems determined to puzzle enquiries into the part that he plays in plague. How is it, if the rat is the most potent disseminator of plague, that the West Point, the district of Hongkong where plague was most severe last year, was never so free of rats as just before the outbreak? Plague notwithstanding, and despite the insanitary con- dition of the Chinese quaters, Hongkong is able to show, statistically at all events. a sanitary condition which we may well envy. With a population of over a quarter of a million there was last year a death-rate of only 23.8 per mille; this included plague mortality; had this been excluded, the rate would have been about 18 per mille. This seems excellent. but in reality Hongkong is not quite the city of health that the bare death statistics reveal. The fact that the birth-rate was only a little more than four per mille shows that the population is less dependent
that проп
than average towns for its increase, and that the factor of infant mortality therefore has a subordinate place in its vital statistics. Hong- kong, in fact, maintains its population chiefly by immigration instead of by birth, and keeps numbers down by emigrations instead of by deaths. The fact that last year there were 110,000 Chinese immigrants, and 60.000 emi- grants, explains the relative insignificance of births and deaths amongst the vital data of the town. The young and the old are alike largely eliminated from the tables in this way; and once again we are warned that things are not what they seem, and that it is well sometimes not to to let even figures speak entirely for themselves.
source
We understand that the men who went away with the Cheung Yuen launch have been captured at Canton, where they will be dealt with much more expeditiously than the crow who were imprisoned in Hongkong.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE LIGHT-DRAUGHT GUNBOAT "ARGUS."
The French river gunboat Argus, the Kowloon Docks, made her preliminary steam erection of which has just been completed at
trial on the 14th inst. This vessel was built to the order of the French Government by
Messrs. John I. Thornycroft & Co., London, and outfit for re-erection in Hongkong. and was shipped in sections with her machinery
The last of the cases were delivered on the Srd instant, and including fitting together the hull, mounting superstructure and battery, fitting the machinery and auxiliaries, the work was completed and the vessel ready for steam on the evening of the 13th-ten working days.
The Argus is a sister ship to the Woodcock and Woodlark recently erected at Shanghai for service on the Yangtsze. The principal dimen- sions are length 145 feet, beam 23 feet, depth 6 feet, and draft of water with 30 tons on board about 2 feet 2 inches. She is propel- led by twin screw engines of 540 indicated horse Power driving four turbine propellers.
The official trial was made on the 17th inst., when a mean speed of 13 knots was maintained during six consecutive runs on the moasured mile, after which the vessel was taken in charge by Capt. Henry Florius, Lieut. de Vaisseau, of of the French Navy. Capt. Florinq commands a craw of 30 Europeans. On arrival of the guns from France the Argus will take her post as patrol on the West River. A second vessel of the same type as the Vigilante has arrived and Sado Maru.-Contributed. the sections are now being discharged from the
INDIAN FAMINE RELIEF FUND.
The Honorary Treasurer (Mr. R. T. Wright) begs to acknowledge with thanks receipt of the following contributions to the above Fand.
Further subscriptions will be thankfully received.
Already Acknowledged
R. M. S. Empress of India Entertainments in Club Lusi-
tano
$36,702.17
333.00
324.43
Concert in Shameen by the
Portuguese Residents
30450
Incognito
250,00
Captain Scott's Lecture in the
City Hall
152.05
Concert on R. M. S. Empress of
Chi a...
J. P. Laird
W. E. Hipwell
Wm. Patou. Swaton
114.12 15.00 10.00 1000.
Subscribed at Tamsui and
Twatutia:-
52.63
R. de B. Layard Isabel Layard
F. Ashton F. B. Marshall F.S.
52.62 50.00 50.00
50,00
31.58
T. Harrington
Goo. S. Beebe
21.05
C. H. Best
20.00
A. F. Gardiner
20.00
H. P. White...
20.00
A Fine"
20.00
A. N. Wilkinson.
+
J. M. Tait H. Bathurst
20.00
10.00 6.32
$38,639.47
A further remittance of Rs. 6,000 has been forwarded to India, making Rs. 56,000 remitted to date.
On the evening of the 17th instant the follow- ing Express, in Malay, was circulated among the Straits-born Chinese in Singapore: I wish to friends that now these beasts and uncivilized make known to all my Straits-born Chinese Manchus have begun to break the laws of the world. We all are very thankful that we are under the British Flag. We all must show how thankful we are to the British Government by asking leave to go and help the British soldiers in China by fighting with them against the Boxers and the Manchus. Whoever wishes to join will please to send their names to me. I am. &c., Wee Thiam Tew, Advocate and Solicitor, Singapore.
HONGKONG JOCKEY CLUB.
75
A meeting of members interested in obtain- ing subscription griffins for the next Hong- kong Races was held at the Hongkong Hotel on the 21st inst. at noon.
The Hon. R. M. Gray presided and there were also present Messrs. Lewis, McKie, Moxon, Brown, Gresson, Brutton, Kelly, Wibel, etc., and T. F. Hough (Clerk of the Course.)
The HAIRMAN informed the meeting that they had been called together to consider what steps should be taken to secare
2
supply of subscription griffins for our next Races. The Clerk of the Course had been in communication with the Shanghai Horse Bazaar, who had informed him that they could hold out no hopes of being able to fill the order this year. An offer to supply Australian ponies having been made it would rest with the subscribers to say whether the deficiency should be made up from that source.
After considerable discussion it was decided to import Australians, which had been offer- ed at $250 each, landed here with following stipulations, viz. :-
All ponies to be broken to saddle, 4 to 6 years old, minimum height 13 hands 2 inches, maxi- mum 14 hands 2 inches, none but geldings to be sent, on which understanding the following resolution was proposed by the Chinaman :--
That this meeting authorises the Clerk of the Course to start a list of subscribers to the subscription griffin circular and to open nego- ciations with Mr. Bell re supply of Australian ponies as subscription griffins for our next Race meeting."
This was seconded by Mr. J. H. LEWIS and carried unanimously.
We have since been informed that 25 have already been subscribed for.
From our advertisement columns members
will gather that the list will be open until Saturday next, 28th instant.
UNITED ASBESTOS ORIENTAL
AGENCY, LIMITED.
The fourth annual general meeting of the United Asbestos Oriental Agency, Ld., was held on the 25th inst. in the offices of Messrs. Dodwell and Co., Limited, general managers. Mr. G. H. Medhurst presided and the others present were Messrs. C. S. Sharp, T. Skinner, A. Ritchie, A. Stewart, E. G. Barrett, E. G... Sinith and . N. Young (secretary).
The CHAIRMAN said he had the pleasure of meeting the shareholders with a report which, he thought, would be acceptable to them al', and with their permission he would take the report and accounts as read. In November last it was found necessary by the General Managers to make a call of two dollars a share, in order to meet the grow- ing needs of the Company's business and, as a consequence of this, they were able to thorough- ly extend their operations. At the last annual meeting the General Managers pointed out that they had earned a dividend but had not the wherewithal to pay it. This time they were in the position of having earned a dividend and having the money to pay it. The business during the year under review had been satisfac- tory, and there was no reason why it should not continue to be so, but they must bear in mind that they had to meet increased expenditure, and the Directors therefore recommended the plac ing of a sum of $2,000 to the reserve fund. They had succeeded in wiping off $1,750 off the cost of the launch Gladiator and $317.85 off the value of the furniture and fittings. The stock had been- very carefully looked after by Mr. Brewitt and they were satisfied it was of the best quality and of a suitable nature for the trade of Hongkong. The launch had been well kept up and was in the books at $5,000, whereas it was worth from excellent condition, and was now standing in ten to thirteen thousand dollars. With these few remarks he, the hairman, moved the adop- tion of the report and accounts. If any gentle- man had any questions to ask he would be pleased to answer them.
There boing no questions Mr. SHARP said he had much pleasure in seconding the adoption of the report and accounts. He congratulated the shareholders on the position in which the Com- pany was and on the excellent report which the
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