May 2, 1904.]
•
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
339
sow, Moses raising the serpent in the wilderness, ing it and drawing out plans free of cost. The around and collect the deficit. He would per- the foolish virgins that failed to trim their Bub-committee then had approached the Govern-sonally put in their hands $5,000 to meet the lamps, and so on. In the next building one sees ment as to the possibility of obtaining the land deficit for the next fivɔ years. ancient pictures of the Yellow Dragon and allfree of premium and at a nominal Crown rent.
(Applause). his satellites.
Considerable discussion between Dr. Sted. The matter was under consideration of the man and Dr. Jordan followed, when Mr. DANBY It only remains to be said that Kowloon City, Government and the Committee had every interrupting the Chairman said that as however interesting it may be, is not a place to reason to be satisfied with the reception it Sir Paul Chater in visit at present. Plague is prevalent there and received from the Officer Administering the had
his usoal manner made there is a rumour abroad that if the worst comes Government. Assuming the site came free of had better strike while the iron was hot,
such a generous offer they to the worst the whole central part of the city premium. the building Was estimated may be demolished. Apart from the sentimental to
Mr. J. H. Lewis thought they had better cost $5,244, and it Was point of view, there can be no doubt that suched it should be a three-roomed bungalow. would be a lot of scandal in time.
propos- also provide for a matron in the house or there a step would not be out of place.
NOTES FROM THE BOTANIC
GARDENS.
The seeds of Basil (Ocimum viride) obtained some months ago from the West Coast of Africa have now grown up into small plants and are in flower. A few may be seen in a pot on the lower pedestal on the left as one descends the steps from the Fountain in the Old Gardens, It has a slight interest for Hongkong because it was once thought to be a specific against mosquitoes.
In the Orchid House is a fine plant of Hemerocallsi aurantiaca var, major which Mr. Wallace, of the Hongkong & hanghai Baok at Amoy, bus most kindly brought down for us from his beautiful garden at that port,
The flower-border around the outer edge of the middle terrace in the New Gardens so much
resembles in general aspect the old-fashioned herbaceous borders so to be seen in such English gardens as Hampton Court, or in the garden for that matter of any old country house, that one concludes that the actual species must be the same. This is in fact largely the case and shows that the vigour of some of our English flowers is little affected by the Hongkong
climate.
HONGKONG NURSING
INSTITUTE.
SIR PAUL CHATER'S MUNIFICENCE.
To get a net return of seven per cent. Finally, after further discussion, the follow they required a rental of $45 per month on aning amended resolution was put to the masting invested capital of $5714, after deducting Crown and carried ouanimously :-That this meeting rent, insurance and repairs. The Committee is of opinion that it is necessary in the in reckoned that the annual expenditure in a terests of the Hongkong Nursing Institution building of their own amounted to $3,528, while that it should be provided with a building the income calculated on last y ar's basis was of its own to house its nures $3,481, giving a small deficit of $47. H. and the Committee are hereby empowered to would propose the following resolution :-"That take snoh steps as they may deem necessary this meeting is of opinion that it is necessary towards carrying out the object in view upon in the interests of the Institution that it should the most favourable terms possible, the success be provided with a building of its own to house of the enterprise being guaranteed by the its nurses and the Committee are hereby generous offer of Sir Paul Chater. Any such em owered to take such steps as they may scheme that the Committee shall consider is to deem necessary towards carrying out the include provision for a matron. object in view upon the most favourable terms possible."
Mr. M. SLADB in seconding the motion said that if it was not ourried it would practically mean that they had no confidence in the Com- mittes.
him like one
NEW TERRITORY NOTES.
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
CROPS.
20th April.
The recent rains have been welcomed by the farmers; they have softened the paddy-felds and made ploughing possible. Already much planting of sugar-cane has been carried out, and occasional patches of early paddy are also to be met with."
INDUSTRIES.
Jottings makes referencs to the different New I notice that "Banyan" in his Hongkong Territory industries of which a return is at present being compiled. Beside the industries ha enumerates, there might also be mentioned the bean cake factories, the salt-pans, and many others lesser industries and trades,
SALT-PANS,
.
The method of making salt is primitive bat effective. In the low-lying broad valleys which are covered by the sea at high-water the silt- pans are placed, being of a square shaps about ten yards across.
The water is allowed to rua into the enclosures to a shallow depth, and then the entrance is closed. When the water has been evaporated by the heat of the sun, a thin layer of salt is left on the floor of the pan. This is scraped off, and the filling and drying processes are repeated from time to time as quickly as the water evaporates.
Dr. STEDMAN rose to oppose the resolution for different reasons. He felt it was being said that he filled the position of proprietor where the nurses lodged. Mrs. Dickson and himself had started the institution, and he had been Presi- dent ever since the beginning. It was not well, he agreed, for a public institution to have nurses at a private institution, but they could not afford to put them at an hotel. Three years ago when they came out they (the Peak Hospital) offered to put them up at cost price, viz., $30 a room, and $1 a day for food, washing clothes, servants, guests and coal. Working the expenses out it was found that sach inmate of the Hospital cost $2.90 per diem, so they came to the conclusion that these A general meeting of subscribers to the nurses were costin. them about $2 a day, and Hongkong Nursing Institute was held at the when they asked for 82 the Committee turned City Hall on the 27th ult, to discuss the advis-on
man and said he was ability of building a house for the nurse. Those trying to make proft on the Institution. present included Dr. Stedman (chairman), Dr. This had led up to the present motion. It had Jordan, Mr. and Mrs. Pinckney, Mr. and Mrs. been said that there was no guarantee that Marcus Slade, Mr. H. W. Slade, Mr. and Mrs. prices would not be put up in another year. Moron, Mr. Siebs, Sir Paul Chater, Mr. There was no guarantee. Could they say that and Mrs. Danby, Lady Goodman, Mr. Harrison, prices in the Colony would not go up, or Mr. Kadoorie, Mrs. Goetz, Mrs. B. Wright, if the Peak Hospital failed, for instance, Mr. and Mrs. Peter, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Johnstone, the nurses would have to go ont. Mrs. Hastings, Mrs. Badeley, Mr. Cruickshank, They could not look into the future. The Mr. Gresson, Mrs. Ormiston, Messrs. Tomes, building, it was said, could be bailt for $5,000 J. H. Lewis, Forbes, Harrison, Smith, and It was to be built on Barker Road, where there Gibson.
was now a five roomed house which cost $18,000, or $3,600 a room.
That rate made their new home cost not $5,000 but $10,800 Their money invested was bringing in six per cent, so they had, also, to deduct that inter- rest in their estimate. With a this expendi- Dr. JORDAN having taken the chair addressed tare it would cost more than at the Peak the assembly. In the course of his remarks he Hospital. They would have to make up stated that three years previously a public the deficit from somewhere Great di- meeting had been called under the presidency of culty had been experienced in Dr. Stedman to form a Nursing Institution, subscriptions for the Institution. It was an to-day called the Hongkong Nursing Institution institution for the better class of people, With subscriptions they had then been able and it was not nice to tout for $10 sub- to bring out two nurses who were b used scriptions for the better class. They had in the Peak Hospital. In 1902 the Govern had to get subscriptions through their friends. ment voted a grant in aid of $12.00 Bachelors did not subscribe because when as a building fund for the Institution. At that they got ill they went to Hospital and did not time the committee did not think this sum suffi- often have nurses in their private homes. If cient, and applied to the Government for the this scheme was put forward more subscriptions amount for pur,oses of investment, so that the had to be got. Nurses, moreover, liked living Institution might enjoy the interest on the at the Peak Hospital because they had the money. The original arrangement with the company of other nurses. He could not consent Peak Hospital to house and board the nurses to the two nurses living by themselves; had continued for three years, but they had they must have someone to live with. The just been obliged to form a new agreement as scheme would fail and they would lose the to board for one year at an increased charge nurses altogether. If they had money to keep The old agreement was $1 50 per diem per nurse a matron he was with the Committee heart and while she was off duty and in the Hospital, but soul. the new one was $2 under simi ar conditions. The matter was then discussed. Boarding Besides, they wanted nurses to be an houses were found impracticable because they advertisement for their own institution, not for could not afford to let rooms for the number of ⚫thers. One of the Committee already had in days occupied, but preferred t› let them by the view a site within a few yards of the tramway month. and with almost no levelling to be done. Messrs. SIR PAUL CHATER said if the new house Palmer and Turner deserved thanks for survey, should even cost $10,000 he would engage to go'
The CHAIRMAN said that he regretted to say that he was the only member of the committee opposed to the scheme of building a house for the purses, so he would vacate the chair to Dr. Jordan.
1
getting
ROAD-MAKING.
It is rumoured that a new road is pro- jected by the Public Works Department, leading from the New Road ust before it commences to rise up the hill beyond Yau- mati, round by the coast as far as Čapsuimua
Pass.
CAPSUIMUN,
Also I hear it stated that the old Customs station at Capsuimun is going to be tenanted by a police patrol (probably Indians) for that district, and that the Harbour- Master intends to put up a light there to facilitate the naviga- tion of this dangerous channel.
TELEPHONES,
It may not be generally known that the whole of the Terri ory is covered by a complete system of telephones, This is a single-wire line at present and is borns upon wooden poles which have suffered greatly since their erection The line of poles between Antan and Pingstan from typhoons and other climatic severities.
(about four miles) is in a bad state of repair and is about to be renewed.
From Shanghai we have received the first number of a fortnightly Jewish paper devoted to the interests of Jews and Judaism in the East. The title given to the paper is Israel's Messenger. Among the contents there is a note remarking that the Jewish community in Hongkong has not yet followed the example of their brethren in the faith at Shanghai by form ing a Zionist Association, though it is under- stood that most of the Jewish residents of the Colony approve of the movement. The Associa tion in Shanghai has a membership of nearly 80.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.