།, ན" "*་།
December 20, 1902.]
SWATQW.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
Swatow, 16th Decembar FRENCH SPHELES.
Persistent rumours are heard of late that a
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
495
of coal made by the Chinese Engineering and regions. It is a well established fat tal Mining Co. to $8.50 per ton as against the yellow fever has nover prevailed in the City of exorbitant "squeeze" of its agents last year who | Mexico, although this city has constant and only dropped from $16 to $10 ou prospect of unrestricted intercourse with the infected Japanese coal being put on the mark t. When sea-port, Vera Cruz. Persous who have been the cost of the coal is less than $3.00 at the pit's exposed in Vera Cruz during the epidemic mouth, even this figure does not give a "bad season frequently fall sick affor their arrival
French Consulate i to bo established shortly percentage of profit when delivered at Tientsiu, | in the City of Mexico, but they do not com/
here and that la beffé France bas obtained a concession at Swa'ow; the last piece of intel ligence s ́ems to be a canard.
SAD ACCIDENT.
We are thankful for this appreciativa favour ou the part of the Company, and hope it may come well out of its snarl. Tho change in temperatura An unfortunate catastrophe haj pened on board that has come to us in the last few days from the Singpore emigration steamer Hong Wan I
the exceedingly pleasant weather we had been during her last stay in port. By some un-baring, increases the sense of satisfaction at the controllable mishap, six m n, who were sitting
abore reduction in the cost of coal.--N.-G. on the upper hatch on the main deck, fell Daily News. from there into the cargo-hold and sustained serious injuries. Two of them were fatally hurt.
ANOTHER ENTERTAINMENT The second smoker of this season was given by the shipping fraternity on Saturday last in the Kialat Club The British Consul. Mr. B. Twyman, who is ever ready to promote a social function, acted as chairman, A well arranged programme, consisting of songs, recitations and music, was got through with great success and enjoyed immensely by all those present. Special mention deserves Mr. Laing, who in masterly way executed on his fute some pieces from well known operas. Mr. Brackstone, as a comic singer, is finding general favour.
TIENTSIN.
Tientsin, 26th November.
RECENT TOURING
into the country in different directions has brought to notice several interesting and rather important facts. Over a very large extout of country the rainfall has been so small during the last few months that the ground is exceed ingly dry, and almost no wheat has been plauted In the wheat harvest of early June, many fields scarcely yielded the seed, while the yield of others was nil. The yield of the autumn crops has been better, but hardly up to " fair," which makes the winter outlook for the poo anything but pleasant. At the same time the ground is so dry and hard that the amount of wheat planted is very small Unless there are heavy snows during the winter to put the ground in a good condition for sowing spring wheat, the first half of next year will be a trying one for the mass of husbandmea over this large section of country.
TWO DANGER CENTRES,
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
DR THOMSON ON MOSQUITOES.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY TRESS." Hongkong, 18th December. SIR,The very intresting and instructive lecture of Dr. Thomson on mosquitoes and malarial fever must have given food for thought to a good many people in the Colony. My purpose in this letter is to draw the attention of Dr. Thomson to that part of his lecture in which reference is made of Culer fusciutra, and the transmission of yellow fever.
44
Facts relating to the propagation of the disease indicate that the mosquito which serves as an intermediate host for the yellow fever germ has a somewhat restricted geographical range and is to be found especially upon the sea- coast and the margins of rivers in the 20- called 'yellow forer zone.' While occasional epidemics have occurred upon the south-west coast of the Iberian peninsula, the disease, as an epidemic, is unknown elsewhere in Europe, aud theres no evidence that it has ever invaded the great and populous continent of Asia In Africa it is limited to the wost coast. In North America, although it has occasionally prevailed as an epidemic in every one of the seaport cities as far north as Boston, and in the Mississippi Valley as far north as St. Louis, it has never established itself as an endemic disease within helimits of the United States. Vera Cruz, and probably other points on the Gulf coast of Mexico, are, however, at the present time en- demic foci of the disease. In South America it bas prevailed as an epidemic at all of the s a While quiet prevails generally, and litle was ports on the Gu'f and Atlantic Coasts, as far heard of petty thieving or bold. r robbery, yet south as Montevideo and Buenos Ayres, and a suppressed sense of fear and uncertainty ap- ou the Pacific along the coast of Peru. The peared to be present everywhere. Sometimes region in which the di ease has the greatest it found expression, but when asked for exp'a- and most frequent prevalence is bounded by nation, there was nothing definite, only an the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, and includes apprehension of something in the future that the West India islands. Within the past few may occur, or that in the mind of the speaker is years yellow fever has been carried to the West likely to occur, the when, why, and how of which coast of North America, and has prev il d as were exceedingly vague. And yet occasional, an epidemic as far north as the Mexican port of indefinite remarks uppoared to point to two Guaymas, on the Gulf of California. It must danger centres. Ons is in Peking, and finds nt be supposed that Culex fasciatus is only its cause in the course pursued by the highest found where yellow fever prevails. The pro- anthorities there. It is felt that there is no pagation of the disease depends upon th, in- sympathy with or desire for reform or progress troduction of au infected individual to a locality or with the new impulse that has come to so where this mosquito is found at a season of the many of the Chinese, even of the illiterate, and year when it is active. Owing to the short that all that is put forth looking in that direc-period of incubation (five days or less), the brief tion is more sham. Not that there is any very definite or distinct ideas as to what these terms mean, but a vague sense that China is behind the times, and that there are things which might be done to help her to better things.
THE REPORTS
from all who hare made tours iulo the country are much the same. They find that the Pro- testant church is more than ever in favour, and a greater willingness and in many instances a desire is manifested to hear the G. spel greater than ever in the past. The people are seeking information; they are beginning to think with more independence than heretofore. H nce the opportunities for Gospel and educational effort are increasing on every side far beyond the power of the Missionary Societies to meet them. There is grea encouragement labour, but the workmen are suarce.
CHEAP COAL.
to
It is with great pleasure that the Tientsin community accepts the reduction in the price
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municate the disease to those in attendance u on them or to others in the vicinity."
+
The above is an extra t of an article published in an American scientific review, over the sigature of Surgeon-General Georg M. Emberg. U. S. Army. It will appear that Dr. Thomson's reference to the new steamship line that will inaugurate a direct service with thế Pacific Coast ports of Mexico, as the possible carriers to this Col ny of the dreaded yellow fever, is nanecessarily alarming in nature.- Yours, etc.,
B.
SUPREME COURT,
Tuesday, 16th December.
IN ORIGINAL JURISDICTION.
BEFORE HIS HONOUR SIR WILLIAM M. GOODMAN (CHIEF JUSTICE).
LU PISO v. CHAN TUNG.
which Li Ping, building contractor, sud Chan The hearing was continued of the action in
Tung, contractor, for $14,0.0 damages for alleged encroachment on the former's quarry at Mataukok.
F. B. Deacon, of Messrs. Deacon & Hastings), Mr. E. H. Sharp, K.C. (instructed by Mr. appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr. M. W. Slade, barrister-at-law (iustructed by Mr. E. J. Grist of Messrs. Wilkinson & Grist), appeared for the defendant.
His Lordship, addressing Mr. Sharp, and referring to a previous endeavour to arrive at a settlement of tho case, pointed out that if his client did not get above $1,000 damages the question would arise whether there would be any costs at all, for the only matter for his Lordship to consider then would be whether the words of the Act referring to actions brought in Original Jurisdiction which might have been tried in Summary Jurisdiction applied here. Supposing that the plaintiff recovered $900, there was no earthly reason why the su't should not have been brought in Suni- mary Jurisdiction, and the plaintiff would have to take the chance whether he got any costs at all. If he got more than $1,000 he would probably get fall costs. Th expenses were enormously increasing day by day, something like $400 a day. Would it not be possible for the plaintiff to accept a reasonable sum towards his costs? The claim had been exorbitant. in the first instance, as arranged by Mr. Francis,
and he had no doubt that the inistake lay in charging the value of the whole of the store instead of the royalty, Would it not be well for the other side to do as he had suggest d. because there was no doubt that if the plaintiff could prore that they had wrongfully taken any stone away he was entitled to a nominal verdict and nominal damages, and Mr. Elade's client would have to pay bis own costs, which were mounting up day by day in the way be had described? Before witnesses were called his Lordship suggested that the solicitors should see their clients and endeavour to come to some arrangement. He thought that if the defendant paid $500 towards the plaintiff's costs and accepted a $100 verdict he would be recy well out of it.
Mr. Sharp said that so far his client's costs had amounted to something like $3,000. Would he be justified in advising him to accept $500?
duration of the disease and especially of the period during which the infectious agent (gorm) is found in the blood, it is evident that ships sailing from infected ports, upon which cases of yellow fever develope, are not like'y to introduce inc disease to distant seaports. The con'inuance of an epidemic ou shipboard, as on the land, must depend upon the presence of infected mosquitoes and on non-immune individuals. Under these conditions we can readily under- stand why the disease should not be carried from the West Indies or from South America to the Mediterranean, to the east coast of Africa or to Asiatic seaport cities. On the other hand, if the disease could be transmitted by infected clothing, bedding, etc., there seems no good .reason why it should not have been carried to these dis'ant localities long ago. The restriction as regards altitude, however, pro- bably depends upon the fact that the mosquito which serves 83 un intermediate best is a coast species, which does not live in elevated' about $2,0.0.
His Lordship pointed out that if he only recovered $90) damages he w uld have to phy his own costs, and if the case went on for other ten days these would probably be increas al by another $3,000. The amount of money expended over this case was infinitely greater than the value of the thing, and he would strongly advise the parties to settle.
Mr. Sharp remarked that the difference between $500 and $3,000 was a very seriong matter.
Mr. S'ade said the costs on his side were
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