November 17, 1900.]
of the Times to hand by the English mail there is a leading article which deals with this question, and the writer thereof observes in conclusion that, whether the cases of Chinese emigration be due to excess of population or to the poverty of the soil and small rainfall of the provinces from which come the emigrants to the English, Dutch, and Spanish colonies, the stream is likely to flow. "For many years to come," he says, "steady, industrious labourers, skil- "ful mechanics, and peaceful citizens will be available. The point worthy of consi- 'deration is that they be sent where they are really needed; where they will not "lower the coudition of white men; where, "in short, if they do not perform the rough "work it will not be done by any one. It "will be a new view to many that, in spite "of the objections so widely entertained to "cheap Chinese and Indian labour, there **are still large regions of the world in which "it is welcome." Among these regions the Federated Malay States are to be counted, and it will be deplorable if, failing India, China cannot not supply the wants of Malaya out of her vast superfluity of labourers.
+6
THE RELIEF OF THE TYPHOON SUFFERERS.
(Daily Press, 14th November)
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
was feared, and that these people do not really require immediate relief on the large scale anticipated, because they have their own guilds on which to draw in periods of misfortune similar to that which has just overtaken them.
--
LIMEWASHING IN OUR
VILLAGES.
a year
38
387
the extension of the demand to limewash twice a year to the villages of the five dis tricts named-Quarry Bay, Shaukiwan, Stanley, Aberdeen, and Aplichau-and not to the other villages of Hongkong and, Kowloon, is it not rather to be regarded, a matter of time when the order must: be extended to these other villages ? None of the Board seemed to have any doubt that limewashing was good against malaria at least, even if against no other disease, Malaria is still one of the great scourges. out here, and everyone desires to stamp it out if possible, even at the cost of expense and trouble. We have done much to make the Colony healthy, and cannot now stop with. our task half or three-quarters finished, as if we had no money to spend on completing the task.
THE PROBLEM OF NEXT
CENTURY.
(Daily Press, 10th November.) Limewashing was once
the more to fore at Thursday's meeting of the Sanitary Board, but the point under discussion was the use of this method of disinfection in our villages, not in the City of Victoria itself. The new Bye-law proposed by Dr. CLARK, and assented to by the narrow majority of one vote, was intended to apply the provi- sions of a previous Bye-law to the villages of Quarry Bay, Shaukiwan, Stanley, Aberdeen, and Aplichau, which by some oversight, the proposer said, had been left out of the list of places covered by that previous Bye-law.
(Daily Press, 12th November.) What will be the characteristic of the The opposition to Dr. CLARK's proposal was very vigorous, the Hon. F. H. MAY failing Twentieth Century? So. far as we can at to see why these villages should be included the moment forecast, its. distinguishing and other villages of Hongkong and Kow- feature will be a struggle amongst the loon omitted; and Messrs. FUNG WA CHUEN nations for the supremacy of the Pacific and CHAN A FOOK pleading on behalf of the Ocean; yet if we take the analogy of the villagers, on whom even the small expense last we should be led to a very different of limewashing twice
would conclusion. To all appearance at this date. fall heavily. Dr. BELL, the fourth just a century ago, the main problem in In yesterday's issue appeared two letters opponent of the motion, attacked lime- which the world was likely to be concerned from correspondents, relating to the disaster washing in general and expressed the opinion was the future of Europe in face of the wrought by the recent typhoon, and sug- that the Board ought not, because they military ascendancy of France; yet the gesting that a subscription list should be wanted to have a house clean, to step in and flame burnt itself out with comparatively started on behalf of the many unfortunate make a man clean it. This latter is rather little effect on the world at large, and the native sufferers. One correspondent, with a startling statement and one which we only country which permanently suffered commendable spirit, sought to initiate such imagine will receive little support. Surely was France herself, the instigator of all the a list by enclosing a contribution. We
a householder's duties to the community in trouble. France has, during the century, pointed out briefly that although such a which he lives include keeping his home in from being the best organised and strongest means of relief might be necessary, a serious a clean and sanitary condition. As Mr. military power in the world sunk into the difficulty presented itself in the handling of OSBORNE said, it is not a great deal to ask position of being a mere satellite of Russia any funds raised and the distribution of the of anyone, even of the poorest people.the very nation whom after her victory. same, and suggested that the matter might With regard to the end served by limewash- at Austerlitz she assumed she had for ever be taken in hand by a public Committee ing, it has been stated, time after time, made subservient to her interest. Far other- of foreigners and representative Chinese. that it is not to be regarded as a preventive wise is the account of the expiring century There is little doubt that public sympathy of plague. In his report on the prevalence which will be handed down in history. In with the unfortunate sufferers requires of plague in 1897-8 Dr. ATKINSON remarked fact the nineteenth century, though it was but little incentive to assume a practical on the fact that the plague bacillus clung to
born amidst the struggle of the nations, shape, if it be really needed and if it can be houses in spite of afl fumigation with su,
and though during its existence it witnessed devoted to the alleviation of the actual phurous acid gas, the washing of the floors
some of the bloodiest wars in history, will sufferers. To raise a fund for distribution woodwork, etc., with Jere's fluid, and the in the future leave its deepest traces in the amongst all the Chinese who claimed to be limewashing of the ceilings and walls"
realm of mechanics. When it commenced sufferers would be unwise, especially with a This fact has been exemplified again in two or three inventions and discoveries were foreign committee. It would be impossible the current year, the plague breaking out just beginning to be spoken of. WATTS had to decide which cases were bona fide and again in many of its old haunts, in invented the steam-engine, and LAVOISIER which were not, and the list of claimants spite of all efforts to disinfect them and DAVY had erected chemistry into a would speedily assume gigantic proportions, thoroughly. It may be said that as far science. GALVANI and VOLTA had been thus defeating the real object of the as stopping plague, when once it has se-playing with electricity, but neither they sympathisers. We are, however, pleased to cured a hold, is concerned, finewashing and be in a position to state that the actual similar methods of disinfection have been work of affording practical relief to the proved ineffective. Probably they do some- sufferers was inaugurated immediately thing to diminish the liability of the inhabit after the typhoon by the several Chinese ants of the disinfected houses to the disease, benevolent associations in our midst, and up but even this cannot be asserted as an in to the present those associations are financi- disputable fact, for such statistics as have ally competent to dispense all the charity been secured in past years have not been necessary. When the typhoon had passed over conclusive. However, apart from all ques- H. E. the GOVERNOR thoughtfully put him- tion of plague prevention, a thorough self into communication with the Tung cleansing of the native houses twice a year Wha Benevolent Association, who were is obviously not too much to demand. The busily employed in aiding the sufferers, and expense où which Mr. MAY and the two recovering the dead. The Chinese informed Chinese members of the Board insisted, His Excellency that they were at present though it does not appear to be excessively quite capable of doing the work unaided, but heavy, is an item to be considered, and it should they require any financial assistance must be admitted that Mr. CHAN À Fook they would ask His Excellency to start a spoke with especial weight on the question. 'public subscription list. This information. But it is plainly impossible that these we are sure, will be most gratifying to our homes can be allowed" to become disease readers, and all will appreciate the prompt centres. Poverty cannot be accepted as measures taken by the affluent Chinese to
an excuse for the filth which imperils the relieve their unfortunate poorer brethren. lives of neighbours. Mr. OSBORNE indeed It is pleasing to learn that the number queried the extreme poverty of the villagers. of deaths amongst the sampan com- No one, however, expressed any doubt of munity is by no means so great as their want of cleanliness. With regard to
**
nor anyone else had dreamt that there in lay a mighty force which would one day change the mutual relations of the whole world, and practically eliminate time and distance. These, however, and not the struggles of the nations, will be the causes which to the end of time will make the nineteeth century a stepping stone in the progress of the world. Looking at the political aspect there are of course great and important advances to be noted, but it is noteworthy that the greater part of these were only rendered possible by the advances in the mechanical arts to which we have The most noteworthy of these is alluded. the growth of the British Empire. Whed the period opened Great Britian was an island off the north-west coast of Europe, with a single half-conquered dependency, in She had indeed struggled in the India. past to found a colonial Empire, but mis- management had alienated her colonies, and she had practically given up all thought of again attempting the task. When it ends a British Empire already an we find ́established fact-not merely nominal during
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