}
256
tion in the fourteenth and fifteenth week is accompanied by a drop in humaa plague in the latter week. The figures do not con- tinue to correspond so closely after this; the human curve reaching its maximum with a rapid jump in the twenty-first week, while the rat-infection curve is not at its highest until the twenty fourth week; and the buman curvé drops far more rapidly toward the end of the epidemic. Commenting on the be- haviours of the curves, Dr. PEARS says that the epidemic of plague among rats evidently follows very much the same curve as does the human epidemic, but it seems to begin earlier and to endure longer, as though there were some factor or factors in the shaping of the epidemic which affected the rats earlier, and of which the influence passed off later from rats than in the case of human beings.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
colonies to spend a few days with him. The French Governor accepted the invitation, but
|
the German Governor was unfortunately un- able to do so because the surf prevailing on the coast of Togaland was so dangerous that he could not risk going through it. The Governor of the French Ivory Coast spent five days with Sir Matthew, during which a long programme of festivities was carried out, and his Excellency was naturally very pleased with his reception on British soil, while the popular view was, of course, that the good feeling which hese inter- national curtesies brought about redounded to the advantage of both colonies.
Why does the Public Works Department permit contractors and others to disfigure some of the most beautiful parts of the island? They are allowed to dump rubbish in all sorts of places, and the sides of the paths at the Peak are frequently so defaced. Perhaps, however, the most notable instance is the eastern side of Garden Road near S. Patrick's, Hall, which is piled high with debris and loose soil. This rub bish-heap is a blot on the landscape, and spoils the approach to the Gardens. Government, House, and Kennedy Road. Surely the time has come when this bank should be finally made and kept in order? If left until the heavy rains come a quantity of the soil may be swept down into the stone channel, and choke up the arches lower down.
The Hongkong High Level Tramway Co. have been good enough to accept a hint before to-day, for which I thank them and desire to express my appreciation of that open mind that I hope they will is ready quickly to see reason. not think me too prolific in suggestions if I say that a regulation requesting owners of dogs travelling in the car to take them on a lead or chain might with advantage be introduced. I am a lover of dogs, and have no objection to their presence in the car, but as a measure of safety, especially in the case of young dogs, I consider they ought not to be allowed on board
The relation between infected rats found in buildings and human cases of plague in the same buildings, could not be very closely studied. The majority of rats collected were The reported as found in the streets. tenant of a shop has no mind, as the report says, to allow the authorities to discover rats in his shop if he can avoid it. Of the total of 2,579 plague-infected rats caught in the City of Victoria from January to June, 1903, only 43-1.66 per cent.—were returned as found in infected houses, and of these only 27 were brought in by the rat-catching coolies. In a table of houses in which rat and human plague were both known to occur, only five cases show synchronous rat and human plague, the rats being found during the cleansing opera- tions following the report of the human plague in each house, Dr. PEARSE rightly remarks that "these figures are interesting, but it is disappointing that they are so small," and that, were the people willing to allow all rats caught in their houses to be returned such, more light would be thrown on the relationship of the rat to human plague. But unfortunately the people will not put themselves to incon- venience for the public good, and this attitude, coupled with the more than
There has always been a cry that Hongkong suspected dishonesty of the cool.es employmen do not take the same interest in Volunteer- ed in rat-catching, deprives the investigators ing that is shown at home. A Headquarters of a sufficient amount of evidence to establish wh ch would afford some attraction for the mem- any definite statement. We presume that
bers of the Corps might go a long way towards the removal of the apathy complained of. there is no way of checking the coolics, or else it would be tried. It is most unsatis- factory that they should be in a position to cheat the Government and rob the public
money.
HONGKONG JOTTING“,
Daily Press 28th March.
Sir Matthew Nathan, our new Governor, is, I take it, now in England, as he intended bid- ding farewell to the Gold Coast last month. So very little is known to us in Hongkong about Sir Matthew, that we naturally read with avidity any news we may observe in the home In papers containing a mention of his name. one of the latest London papers to hand I notice a paragraph concerning him which may be taken as indicating in some measure the manner of man our new Governor is. Sandwich- ed as it is between the French Colony of the Ivory Coast and the German lony of Togo- land, the Gold Coast Colony is not one of the easiest colonies in the British Empire to govern, but the fact that Sir Matthew leaves the Colony in most amicable relations with its neighbours, and with peace reigning at Kumasie and in the Hinterland, must be regarded as an obvions tribute to his successful administration during a somewhat difficult period. The paragraph which I have called from a home paper men- tions that at Christmas-news takes a long time coming by mail from Accra-Sir Matthew invited the Governors of the neighbouring
without chain or leash.
It was to be regretted that General Villiers Hatton did not extend his inspection of the Volunteers on Saturday so as to include the Headquarters. The housing accommodation of the Corps is miserably inadequate as regards both drilling facilities and comfort for the members of the Volunteer body. The building itself is out of date, antiquated, and ready to be pulled down and replaced by a modern structure.
We all grumble, and with very good reason,
at the ever-increasing cost of living in Hong- kong. We grumble especially over the dis- proportionate item of rent in the domestic balance-sheet, but in the matter of food it still seems that we are better off than some European communities in Japan. This statement will conflict. I know, with popular ideas in Hong- kong, but the Japan Mail supplies the proof in a comparative table of market prices of butcher's meat in Hongkong and Yokohama. some of the items, the column headed being Yokohama prices and that headed being Hongkong prices :-
Sirloin, Roast Rip. Roast Corned Beef. Soup Meat Suet
Veal Chop
Mutton, Leg and Chop
Shoulder
Here are
+
་་
sen
"
cts."
sen.
cts.
per lb. 34
17
30
17
30
17
24
'13
17
32
18
52
24
42
20
(April 4, 1904.
With the nearing completion of the low- level tramways, further tramway enterprises are in the air at present. A tramway to Mirs Bay is talked about, and the mere rumeur should serve to stir up the concessionaries of the railway route from Kowloon to Canton. The Glenealy gap high-level tramway project is also on the tapis, and will take shape soon it is to be hoped. A scheme for a tramway round the island may also be looked for at no very distant date.
E
When walking round by Pokfulam the other day, I noticed that the Fathers of the French Couvent, which is at present being structurally enlarged, have fitted up an ingenious arrange- meut for conveying the building materials from the seashore to the Convent. It is an endless
rope worked by a small engine, and every twenty yards or so the rope carries a small basket inte which bricks mortar, etc., are put directly from the junks and taken up the hill. The saving of labour is immense. I am told that tas scheme is the work of one of the reverend Fathers, who is a particularly clever engineer.
I think it would be a good idea to work
54 be entitled article to up an Farmyards." It is not at all uncommon to see Hongkong
a herd of goats, if that is the right expression, grazing, or, rather, pumeloe-skinning, along the City slopes; while an Adam-like China- man driving an ugly-looking water-buffalo and calf along the main thoroughfares is an Chickens and the like, everyday occurrence. too, are reared at different parts of the City,
BANYAN.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held on the 28th ult. in the Council Cham- ber. Present
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER AD- MINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT, F. H. MAY, C.M.G.
HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL VIL- LIERS HATTON, C.B. (Commanding the Troops). Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Acting Colonial Secretary).
Hon. Sir H. S. BERKELEY (Attorney. General.
Treasurer).
Hon. L. A. M. JOHNSTON (Acting Colonial
Hon. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. L.A. W. BARNES-LAWRENCE (Harbour Master.
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Sir C. P. CHATER, C.M.G. Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, C.M.G. Hon. WEI A YUK.
Hon. GERSHOM STEWART.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Councils).
FINANCIAL.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minutes (Nos. 19 and 20) and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
EMPLOYMENT OF PILOTS. The HARBOUR MASTER moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to provide for and regulate the Employment of Pilots.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY second- ed, and the motion was agreed to.
The objects and reasons attached to this Bill are as follows:-This' Bill is designed with the object of exercising certain control over the existing so-called Pilots of the Colony, and thus establish a properly constituted Pilot Service There is this to be said about the published While no natural difficulty presents itself in the market prices in Hongkong: purchasers are navigation of these waters it is a well-known seldom able to buy at those rates. And there is fact that men are largely employed for the this other comment to he made: the price of purpose, in vessels using the Port, though butcher's meat in Hongkong, but for the doubtless also the masters are glad of their existence of a Ring, might be cheaper than it services for berthing their vessels, etc. Such actually is. Comparing market prices to-day with being the case, it has been deemed expedient those prevailing in the same month of 1900, that desirable persons only should be employed butcher's meat seems to have increased about 3 as pilots, if duly qualified. This Bill makes cents per pound, but rents have gone up, good-provision for the same, while it safeguards the ness knows how much!
service being one of option to the employers.
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