30
from Tongku or Taku loaded with passengers or cargo from Tientsin, and reeking with cholera, we could take no steps to protect our selves against them.
The PRESIDENT-We cannot declare them infected until we have information to that effect. Our information at present is that there is no cholera at Tongku or Taku.
Mr. OSBORNE-It is just a case like that of
declared Shanghai; although Shanghai is infected, you could not inspect ships from Woosung.
The DIREC OR of PUBLIC WORKS-I think the Government might be asked if any steps could be taken to carry out Mr. Osborne's suggestion. It seems perfectly sound that this step should be taken; I do not know whether it is practicable or not..
ANALYSES OF WATER.
.
This proposal was unanimously approved of. A report was laid on the table, showing that Mr. F. Browne, Government Analyst, had aua- lysed water from the Kowloon, Tytam, Pokfu. lam, and Cheung Sha Wan services; the results in each case showed that the water was of excellent quality.
FOOD AND DRUGS ORDINANCE.
A report was laid on the table which showed that Mr. F. Browne, Government Analyst, bad during the quarter ended 30th June examined 2 samples of bread and found both genuine; beer, genuine; 2 gin, genuine; 4 milk, a genuine; 3 whisky, genuine.
THE DEATH-RATE.
The mortality statistics showed that the death-rite during the week ended 14th June was 27.6 per 1,000 of the population per annum, as against 26.9 in the previous week and 44.4 in the corresponding week of the previous year.
This was all the public business.
DINNER TO SIR CHIHCHEN LO FENG-LU.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
About fifty members of the Chinese Fokhien community and guests assembled in the Con- naught bouse on the 9th inst. to attend a ban- quet given in honour of Sir Chihchen Lo Feng-lu, K.C.V.O., who was recently Chinese Minister at the Court of St. James, and who arrived by the German mail yesterday, Mr. Kaw Hong Take presided, and unfor- tunately the distinguished guest was unable to be present, but his two sons, his brother, and several officials of his staff attended.
An excellent dinner was provided, and after the usual loyal toasts of the King, and the Emperor of China had been honoured,
re-
The CHAIRMAN said that he regretted exceedingly that they should be disappointed in the object of their meeting together that night, namely to do honour to their distinguished fellow-countryman Sir Chilicheu Lo Feng-lu. Unfortunately, as many of them anticipated from the telegram they received from Singapore, his health would not permit his dining with them and to ceive personally the reception they had prepared for him. He had, however, asked his son and his other relations to join them, and they were all, he was sure, delighted to meet the relations of one who, as Minister at the Court of St. James, bad so ably sustained the dignity of his responsible office, and drawn closer the ties between the British and the Chinese Government. Their best wisties went with Sir Chibchen Lo feng-lu for his speedy recovery, and they all sincerely trusted that his much needed rest at his home, in Fokbien would soon enable him to assume ån even higher office which the Chinese Government was bound to bestow on one so able and so upright. He asked them to drink with him long life and prosperity to Sir Chibchen Lo Feng-lu and his family, coupled with the name of his eldest son. The eldest son of the Minister made a very appropriate response, and other toasts were proposed by Mr. No SAU SHANG of "The Guests," coupled with the names of the Hon. WEI YUK, and Mr. Ho TUNG, who suitably responded-Mr. Ho TUNG referring to the able way in which Mr. Kaw Hong Take had arranged the proceedings. The toast of "The Press," proposed by the CHAIRMAN, was responded to by Mr.
A. CUNNINGHAM.
which was only marred by the unavoidable absence of the one whom it was arranged to honour.
Sir Chibchen Lo Feng-in will proceed to Shanghai, and from there will return to his home at Foochow.
THE HEALTH OF HONGKO NG.
The total plague fi nres on Monday were : -412 cases (3 Europeans, 94 Chinese, 15 other Asiatics), and 42 deaths (1 European, 389 Chinese, 12 other Asiatics),
During the two days ending at noon on the 7th, 7 fresh plague cases were reported in the Co ony, the two most notable being a couple of European cases on board the s.s. Valetta. Since then up to noon on Saturday there have been 20 more cases (17 Chinese, 2 Indian. one Japanese), making a total of 433 cases in all.
[July 14, 1902.
they were both chalked. The former sent over four boxes of "No. 1," cigars and the latter drinks. for all the men. On Saturday, 31st May, the sports were continued. 'I Le Volunteers had an obstacle race, and biscuit, glass of water, and wheel-barrow races. A tug-of-war wis won by Sergt. Andrew's team of eight men. Four teams entered. Yesterday (Sunday) we paraded for church at 11 a.m; the service was taken by Bishop Awdry.
"On the whole the men have Leen very well. There are two or three half-hearted fellows who do not seem to care for the soldier's lot. There was a complaint about the food, but this was at once fixed up by the chief steward, Mr. Vick, when the matter was put before him. Taking it all round, the men are having a very good time. They have also behaved themselves well, and have tried to be good soldiers. Drill every day has doce much to smarten them up. They are very fit now both in drill and health and spirits."
The cases of communicable disease in the,
Writing from Vancouver on Wednesday, Colony in the week ending the 5th inst. were:-- Plague, 32 (31 Chinese, 1 Iudicu), with 314th June, our correspondent says:- deaths; cholera, 9 (1 European, 4 Chinese, Japanese, 1 Indian), with 6 deahts; small-pox, 1 (Chinese), fatal.
THE VOLUNTEER CORONATION
CONTINGENT.
Writing under date 2nd June, on board the Empress of Japan, our correspondent with the Hongkong Coronation contingent of Volun- teers says:--
"We left Yokohama åt 1230 p m on Friday 23rd May. The first two days ont were a bit rough, which rather upset some of the con- tingent. We had a church parade on Sunday, 25th May. The service was taken by Bishop Awdry, of Tokyo, who preached a very good sermon. Thongh a fairly old-looking mau, he is a keen sport, joining us at cricket, potato and wheel-barrow races. I wish we had him on the Island of Fragrant Streams! We have had several days of rain-drizzle and fog-raw weather, with the temperature down to 1. Warm clothes had to be served out.
•
The King's Birthday, 20th May, was duly observed, the whole contingent parading at 11 a.in. We have on board Major-General Fuku- shime, of Tientsin and Peking fame. He is on his way to London for the Coronation. He is a typical Jap, with rather a good face, and very courteous. When approached, be said he would be very pleased to inspect the contingent. 1 bis he did in uniform and decked out with medals, orders, etc. He was received with the general salute- Present arms,' He went down the line, and after this was over the Royal salute was given, helmets being doffed and three cheers given for His Majesty. After parade the captain, officers and passengers adjourned to the saloon. where the King's health was drunk in champagne, Commander W C-Pakenham. R.N., stood fizz. God'save the King was also sung. Major General Fukushima visi ed the men's quarters at their tiffin time. Three cheers were given by the men, and the General said he was very pleased indeed and felt highly honoured. About twelve kodaks, etc., were much in evidence during the parade and after. A group was formed by Capt Pybus, Bishop Andry, Maj-Geu Fukushima, Major Chapman, Capt. James, and Lieut. A rmstrong, and they had to stand and be potted at. They were kept stand- ing some time, so that all of the many photo- graphers should get a shot.
Sports were held during the latter part of the morning and all afternoon. In the evening a concert was given on deck by the Volunteers, when the following contributed-Major Chap man, Sergt. Wolf, Copl. Hance. Prvts. Heckford, Hainsworth, Gunrs. Leykum, Logan, Lammert, Claridge, Witchell, and Spr. Edward. Gunr. Jordan accompanied.
"A great deal of fun has been obtained by chalking rings round passengers who visited the Volunteer poop-deck. There is an unwritten law that if a person visits the forecastle or poop and one of the crew draws a ring round him on the deck with chalk, the person has to stump up." The Volunteers have secured several free drinks in this manner. Sir Thomas Jackson and Mr. J. J. Bell-Irving were amongst these who visited the poop-dock Altogether a most enjoyable evening was spent, to see the Volunteers at their games, etc., and
We arrived at Victoria at 9 a.m. yesterday, but stayed only a short time; no one went on skore, there Leing nothing much to see. Lt.- Col. Holmes, the District (fficer Commanding, came on board, also two R.A. officers. Col. Holmes came down here with us and made an informal inspection of the contingent. While at the wharf at Victoria, some excitement was caused by the Shinano Maru running into us when trying to berth at the wharf She stove in, but not badly, next to us. two of our boats, bent a strong davit, smashed a spar (about 8 in.) and did some damage to the cargo port aft. The Muru had all her fore- castle railings smashed and anchor damaged, and sustained a dent in her side. We left Victoria as 11.30 a.m. and arrived here about There was a fairly p.m., a pretty good run. large crowd on the wharf to meet us, but the local Volunteer band did not turn up, as, owing to our quick run, we were about an hour ahead of our time.
"It was rather a pity, as it would have livened things up a bit. The band was warned for p., and by that time we were all on shore. Our contingent created a great sensation here, as a soldier is very rarely s'en. The Indians and Chinese drew quite little crowds after them. The Volunteer officers came on board to meet our officers. The regiment here is the 6th Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles). Lt.-Col. Waisnop is in command. We are to entrain at 8 p.m. to-day and leave at 1 p.m. to- morrow. There is to be an inspection by the General to-night."
The contingent is all well, and the Volun- teers, are behaving themselves, with one or two exceptions, who overstayed their leav, etc, The culprits were hauled over the coals."
A Montreal despa'ch of the 11th ult, says "The members of the Hongkong contingent, who arrived here this morning, spent the day To-morrow they are to be sight-seeing. inspected by Lieutenant-Colonel Roy, D.O.C., . after which they will witness the Fas- tern League baseball game. They sail on Saturday by the Tunisian. They are a fine body of men, and have made a splendid im- pression." By the Tunisian, which conveyed. our representatives to England, there also sail d the Canadian team for Bisley.
Mr. Le Mesurier, the ex-civil servant of Ceylon, whose conversion to Mohammedanism caused so much sensation, has succedeed in bis libel case againt the Ceylon Independent on appeal. Damages are fixed at £1,500, and the costs will probably increase this three-fold.
The St Petersburg Sviet recently published an exhaustive article deploring the inadequacy of the docking accommodation at Port Arthur and the lack of an ice-free naval station, com- pelling Russian ships to winter in Japanese harbours. The journal urges that it is certain that during hostilities Japan would blockade Port Arthur and Vladivostock and sees many sinister possibilities in the present situation. It declares that it is an absolute necessity for Russia to acquire a fresh point-d'appui on the Pacific Coast, preferably at Masampo. It is to be presumed that the Sviet has never heard of the phrase "the integrity of Cores."
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