A pril 18, 1904.]
the Chinese evidently realising that it was to their interest that this measure should be well done.
Those
Rats. The number of rats caught during the past three years is ав follows:-1901, 77,763; 1902, 117,839; 1903, 101,056. caught in 1903 have all been bacteriologically examined at the Public Mortuary, and 3,744 were found to be plague-infected. By far the greater number of these rats were collected in the first half of the year,
Towards the end
of June, from information received it became evident that a large number of rats were being imported into the Colony for the bonus. fresh system was adopted, and although much A fewer rats are now caught the greater number of these are caught in houseS.
Haffkine's Prophylactic-352 of the Plague Staff were inoculated, five afterwards developed plague, and two of these died. The inoculations were discontinued in June, as the Government Bacteriologist found the serum to be contaminat- Dr. Hunter intends making the serum locally next year,
ed.
Enteric Fever. At no time was this disease epidemic. Only 44 cases occurred. as compared with 55 in 1902. Half of these occurred during the first four months of the year, when the water supply was intermittent. Fifteen of these cases were imported.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. NOTES FROM THE BOTANIC GARDENS.
SUPREME COURT.
Monday, 11th April.
IN ORIGINAL JurisdictION.
299-
BEFORE HIS HONOUR SIR WILLIAM M. Goodman (CHIEF JUSTICE).
THE CHEUNG KAM TIN V. C. EWENS CASE.
Perhaps the most attractive part of the New Gardens is the upper terrace. Here on the from Victoria Gap seldom fails. From the warmest days in summer the refreshing breeze shady seats among the palms charming views of the harbour can be seen, and behind it Taimoshan. Here, too, in consequence of the butterflies are at their best. comparative retirement of the spot, birds and small wrens can be seen on any fine morning Just now flocks of
flowers. busily engaged upon the scarlet Erythrina China Commercial Company, and the Company Creasy Ewens, solicitor, and trustee for the occupy them so closely it is hard at first to say. for $850,825, being balance due to Creasy Ewens What the little creatures find there to aforesaid, sued Cheung Kam Tin, compradore, pecking small holes in the base of each dower. fendant in respect of money lent to the defen- Upon close inspection they appeared to be and to the Company as beneficiaries by the de- This is probably to obtain the honey that dant and interest thereon under a covenant of the flowers examined. abounds there; no insects could be found in anywhereby defendant promised to repay
sum of $70,000 with interest at the rate of 7 per Creasy Ewens as trustee the
principal cent. per annum. for the plaintiff; and Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C. (instructed by Mr. C. Ewens, solicitor), appeared Mr. E. H. Sharp, K.C.
(instructed by Mr. G. K. Hall Brutton, solicitor), was for the defence.
Looking down through the trees one can still see the wonderfully vivid masses of red Azaleas, provided in a continuous succession of flowerings which the skill of the makers of the garden has from week to week.
deserve their share of attention. The curious
The shrubs and trees above the path likewise! Javan Ostodes paniculate is just about to
to
consented to judgment, and the only question Mr. Sharp stated that the defendant had
Malarial Fever. The return of deaths from expand its flowers which hang in numberless remaining was the question of costs. An order
this class, of diseases continues to show a de- cline, the number returned as having occurred amongst the Chinese being 283 in 1903, as against 393 in 1902, and 541 in 1901: a sure sign of the efficacy of the active anti-malarial
measures which have been carried on.
Beri-beri.-There were fewer deaths from beri-beri last year, the number for the past three years, being:-1901, 377; 1902, 452; 1903, 397.
Dengue. This disease was not so prevalent as in 1902. only 123 cases being admitted to hospital. as against 422 in the previous year. The epidemic commenced much later in the year, viz.. in August, and was over in October.
The number of cases of infectious diseases, notified during the year 1903, was 1,553. was a decided diminution in the number of cases of diphtheria. only 8 being notified in the year. as compared with 20 in 1902. All the cases of scarlet fever occurred in the military amongst those who had recently arrived from England.
GENERAL SANITARY CONDITION. The diminution in the death-rate both amongst the non-Chinese and the Chinese tends to show that the sanitary condition of the Colony is improving. This is more marked as plague was much more prevalent in 1903 than in 1902. The total number of deaths was 988 less in 1903 than in 1902. notwithstanding that there were 669 more deaths from plague in 1903 than in the previous year. The Public Health and Buildings Bill came into force on the 21st February and will do much to further the better sanitary condition of the Colony. This Ordinance will not, however. produce an im- mediate effect, as many of its sections apply to houses hereafter erected, and others, such as the cubicle sections, are so far reaching in their application that they must of necessity he enforced gradually.
festoons from the bare part of the branches behind the leaves. Gardenia globosa. a South' African shrub, now covered with large flowers, grows a little further along, with a species of Stenocarpus, also in full flower. near by.
·
FOOCHOW.
FROM A CORRESPONDENT.
Foochow. 2nd April.
LOCAL SUPPLIES,
HS
!
the general costs of the action. had already been made by his Lordship as to that the Company was entitled to the remaining He submitted
costs.
His Lordship, after hearing Mr. Pollock | entered judgment for the plaintiff with costs of and incidental to the amended writ and the costs of the day's hearing including counsels' fees: previous orders as to costs to stand.
of land
Mr. Pollock stated in opening the case that defendant Wus trustee for the China Com- mercial Company. Plaintiff employed him as a solicitor in connection with negotiations for the purchase of certain lands at Kowloon known as Farm Lot No. 13. The allegation was that defendant represented to the plaintiff that the ground was subject to a Crown lease of 75 years, failing to notify him that there was a Yuk) over the property. terminating in 1907; Crown lease of only 15 years (held by Mr. Wei and on the representations made to him by the defendant he purchased the land.
There was then commenced the hearing of a cross action by Cheung Kam Tin against C. ed of late by a movement which made itself felt
The community here have been much exercis between the value of 1.800.000 square feet Ewens for $94.382.04. being the difference of land and 100.472 square feet in Hongkong as well here, namely. the at-5 cents per square foot with costs of $908 exorbitant rise in the prices of our food-supplies. paid to the defendant There
It was not so long ago that we submitted to an
as plaintiff's solicitor. In this case Mr. R. Harding, of Messrs. Ewens advance in the cent price of various commo- and Harston. solicitors, instructed Mr. Sharp, dities because of the fall in exchange from 2. under power of attorney from Mr. J. Scott to 16. This was quite reasonable at that time Harston. as the articles affected had to be purchased from European or American Markets. But now we are called upon to pay a further advance of some 10 to 20 per cent. on locally obtained articles dealers to make sufficient profits at the old rates! on the ground that it is not possible for the local
What is the reason for such a plea being set up? We must confess we are unable to even guess. employees increased ? Hare îelts advel : Нако salaries to the whole gone up? As far as we are able to Has the cost of meat on
distinct negatives. gather the answers to all these questions are assign to the increase is that the two local The only reason we can Chinese dealers feel that they are
now able to corner the market, dictate their own terms to already plethoric purses! The crushed worm the community as a body and add to their will turn and the two firms in question may find that they can be done without and that even the More immediate improvement will be effected
easy going foreign community' will object by the resumption of the worst insanitary areas.
in a very real way to be driven to pay fancy which it is proposed to do by means of a Trust. How is it that a community which is go-ahead prices for the bare necessities of existence. It was found necessary to amend the Public enough to run such an excellent dairy as is run Health and Buildings Ordinance, so an amend-in Foochow should not have carried the idea a ing Ordinance was passed by the legislature on the 14th December.
step further and have run a store by the com- It effects alterations in some of the definitions and in the cubicle and being in the hands of Chinese dealers?
munity. Why is it that we should submit to overcrowding sections so as to render the carry-
Why should we run the numberless risks to health ing them into effect more practicable. In this and even life by eating meat raised no one Ordinance also the Principal Civil Medical knows where, slaughtered when in a state open Officer was appointed President of the Sanitary to the gravest suspicion and exposed to every Board and administrative head of the Sanitary contagious and infectious disease that may Department.
floating round a filthy Chinese street?
VACCINATIONS.
5,348 vaccinations were performed during the year.
The Italian cruiser Marco Polo left for the Far East in March. It is reported that the French cruiser Marseillense is also coming out. with reference to which a French service paper urges that the French home squadrons should be strengthened by the addition of the new cruisers now being completed before further warships are sent to the East.
!
f
be
AN ACCIDENT. While out riding in Little Wood Road. Mr.
G. Siemssen, the German Cousul. was thrown and injured. Fortunately his injuries are not of a serious nature.
Messrs. Samuel. Samuel, and
Co.. of Yokohama, a firm of which Sir Marcus Samuel is a partner. have subscribed £1.000 to the Japanese Soldiers and Sailors Widows and Families Fund now being raised in London by a committee, of which Viscountess Hayashi is
at the head.
Defendant in his statement of defence denied that any misrepresentations had been made as to the conditions under which the land was held.
Evidence was taken and the case wards adjourned.
Tuesday, 12th April.
was after-
IN ORIGINAL JURISDICTION.
!
BEFORE HIS HONOUR SIR WILLIAM M. GOODMAN (CHIEF JUSTICE.)
The hearing was continued in the cross-action by Cheung Kam Tin against C. Ewens, solici- tor, for $94,382.04. being the difference between the value of 1.800,000 square feet of land and 100.472 square feet of land at cents. per square foot with costs of 5908 paid to the defen- dants as plaintiff's solicitor.
Hon. H. E. Pollock, K.C. (instructed by Mr. G. K. Hall Brutton, solicitor, appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. E. H. Sharp, K.C. (instructed by Mr. R. Harding. of Messrs. Ewens and Harston. solicitors, acting under power. "of attorney from Mr. J. Scott Harston), represen- ted the defendant.
The hearing of the case lasted, all day,<and in the evening an adjournment was made.
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