December 31, 1904.]
Chamb rlain Road, at the Peak. The road has really never been repaired since it was first made during Sir William Robinson's adminis. tration. It is an admirably constructed road - the best at the Peak -and the most used, reflecting much credit on Mr. Chatham, under whose supervision it was made. The concrete in some parts is, however, now worn away and some nasty holes are developing, while for a good stretch at the farther end it has become decidedly unpleas nt for pedestrians. parti. cula ly for ladies, owing to the protrusion of stones through the concrete, making it rather like the " petrified kidney" parement, once common in som English towns.
The remarks addressed by His Excellency the Governor to the pupils and teachers of St. Joseph's College, on the 17th inst.. at the
ceremony of the distribution of prizes at that institution, were very much to the point. Sir Matthew Nathan dwelt with much forc on the necessity of training going hand in hand with education. Training without education, he said, lost a good deal of its value, and education with- out training might prove injurious. That is, at least, I think, the pith of what he laid down and all friends of the rising race will endorse these words, The chill is the father of the man; the tree grows as the twig i bent; and i rests with those responsible for the training of the young as to what the next generation will turn out. Sir Matthew Nathan wasn t content with pointing out a defect; he suggested a remedy. and if it be acted upon, it will. I think, prove efficacious.
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In the history of the Colony it has, happily. not o ten been the painful duty of the Chief Justice to pronounc th sent nce of death on white men, but it is a mistake to suppose that Sir Henry B rkeley is the first judge who ha had that extremely disagreeable duty to perform I do not think, however, that a white man has been executed in the Gaol since 1878. Then an American named Charles Newman paid the extreme penalty for the brutal murder of a Portuguese named Severando Ces r Gutti-rrez. Newman was a desperate character, and not many months before the murder had suffered imprisonment for a brutal assault on a police inspector. After his release he went to Shanghai but his violent conduct there led to his de portation, and he had been back in Hongkong only two days when he com nitted the crime for whic Lis life was forfeite in December 1878. This is not, I am told, the only previous case, but of any that may have occurred prior to that date I am un ibe to furnish any information.
1
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Hongkong enjoys a reputation for religious toleration, but in every community there is to bal found somebody keen to raise the odium theolo- gicum. It appear‹ that the fact that the laying of the foundation stone of a Roman atholic hurch in Kowloon within a few days of the commencement of work on the new Episcopal Church which Sir Paal Chater is generously building has suggested the appearance of bitter rivalry between Catholics and rotestants. As a matter of fact, the proposal to build a Catholic Church at Kowloon had taken definite shape long before the other. It was an "open seer -t that Dr. Gomes intended devotinz a third part of the legacy he re eived from his father to that object, but until the dispute over the will had been settled the matter had to r main in abeyance The practical and unosten u- tious >ssist ince Dr. Gomes has for many your Liven to Catholic institutions, especial y in Kowloon, is very g usrally knowa, ant it was long a to recognisel that the growinr population on the Peninsula hgl ren·lered a larger Cathol c Church a necessitý. It surpriss most people when they learn for the first tim that there is neither an Episcopal nor a Rom in Ca holic Church in Kowloon worthy of the name.
BANYAN
The tea merchants are already taking steps to secure space for China teas in the Belgian exhibition, and arranging to have exhibit ship- ments passed throurh¿the Customs free. It is donutful, however, thinks the Peking limes, whether they will meet with as much success as they enjoyed in America.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
FONGKONG SANITARY
BOARD.
Dr.
in the Board Room on the 27th instant.
A meeting of the Sanitary Boar was held J. M. Atk 'nson presided, and there were also present the Hon. Mr. P. N. H. Jones, the H Mr. A. W. Brewin, Col W. E. Webb. R.A.M.C., Mr. Fung Wahun, Mr F. J. Bad ley, Mr. Lau Chu Pak. Mr. E. A. flewett, Mr. A. Rumjahn, Mr. H. Pllock, K.C Dr. F. Clarke, Dr. H. Macfarlane. Dr. P. Barnett and Mr. Örme (A-sistant Secretary).
The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.
▲ MOTION.
The PRESIDENT, pursuant to notice, moved→ that the Board, with the approval of His Ex- cellency the Governor, appoint Police Sergeant Robert Fenton, a Sanitary Inspector for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the bye-laws for the "Prev ntion or mi'igation of epidemic, endemic or contagious disease."
Mr. Lau CHU PAR seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
CHINESE METHOD OF SLAUGHTERING.
The Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, in a minute to the Board, wrote:-The large anim ls, water buffaloes, are shot at Kennedy Town by a ser- vic rfle and at Hinghom by a Winchest r carbine. Thes are used by the Inspector only.
Pa tern ammer poleaxes were made locally after the English pattern, but were not a great The bu che s had not the dexterity required. A heavier and modified form substituted and these now work satisfactorily.
Mr. B. A Hewett minute-l I should lik to
succes‹.
Was
485
hardship, the yard he suggested being less than one tenth of the site.
The Hon. Registrar-General minuted-Why is the owner being forced to pull down the building?
The Hon. D.P.W. minuted-Walls 'in
the architects agreed to pull down the entire dangerous condition, and after much pressure premises, but pressed that some modification should be given in view of the fact that Govern- went was insisting on pulling down the houre which they held was not seriously defective. The proposals are for really improved premises to those that exist at present, and the modifios- tion recommended by the M.O.H: should be granted.
prove
The PRESIDENT moved that the Board ap- the application with such modifications as recommended by the M.O.H.
Mr. F. J. BADELEY seconded, ani the motion was agreed to.
LANF AREA.
A third application was for a modification of the requirements in respect of Nos. 26, 28, 30, and 32, First Street. It was an application to allow a lane at the rear of the mentioned houses to count towards the open area as required by the Ordinance. The applicant also asked for exemption from the provisions of a scavenging laue, as an open lane of ten feet in width had been provided entirely by the owner of the pryerty
Dr. F. Clarke. M.O.H., recommended that
all that portion of the lane in excess of six feet in width required by the Ordinance be allowed to count as open space in the rear, provided that a wall in the plan be removed.
The Hon. D.P.W. minuted-I agree with- the M.O.H.
The PRESIDENT moved that the application be
have an official statement from the C.V.S. that the present pattern of pol are is of the best granted subject to the terms mentio ed in the
pa tern suitable for use here. What we have to aim at is that animal slaughtered for food are d no to death as humanely, and with as little pain as possible.
The Coloni Veterinary Surgeon again minute-The poleare in use produces complete unconsciousness instantaneously, and is, so far as I know, the most suitable weapon for use by Chines butchers. The effectiveness in pro ducing death with a minimum of suffering is quite equal to the English pattern. The reason why the English pattern was not a success is that the English butcher strikes his blow with a swing as in golf playing, whereas the Chinese butcher strikes his blow overhead in the same way as a fore hammer is used by a blacksmith. The English pattern was the afore 100 light for use h re by Chinese unless with a training that meant an infliction of suffering wich it was our objec' to avoid
OPEN SPACE.
There was an applicatio for a modification of the requ rements of the Public Health nd Buildings Ordinance i resp ct of No. 8, Chung Ching Street.
The PRESIDENT moved. Mr. A. RUMJAHN s conded, and it was agreed that th- application be grant d
·
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REBUILDING OLD HOUSES.
Anothe application was for a modification of the requirements in respect of No. 104, Jervois he Street, and Nos 8 and 10 Cleverly Street, owner of these houses contemplated rebuilding the pemises, and applied for exemption from provi. sio of backyards as the houses would be tron ing Jervois Street with leverly Street along the side and a wai Wa Lane for a portion of the back. The houses were inten led for a good class of tenants-not coo ies
Mr. Perkins, of the P W.D. minnted that. the case was ex ept onal, as the owner was being f reed to pull down the present premises under notice from the P bic Works Department. There ore, it seeme harsh when they were forcing a man to rebuilt the entire place, to also subject him to penalties for so doing by estricting his available building area He would suggest that i a fire-proof floor vas erectel as a floor for the first floor the building might be exempted from open space on the ground floor which was practica ly shops, and that an open space of at least 100 square feet for the rest of the building be insisted on.~
Dr. F. Clarke, M.O.H.. in a minute, re om! mended that under the exceptional circumstances the Board require a yard of restricted area, about 100 square feet. This would involve no geat
M.O.H.'s minute.
to.
Mr. A. RUM AHN &econded, and it was agreed
THE EUROPEAN RESERVATION.
There was also an application for a modifica. tion of the requirements in respect of No. 18, Caine Road. It was an application to erect a kitchen on the 1oof of the house.
Dr. B. Baruett, assistant M.O.H., in a minute, did not recommend exemption, as he thought it would form a bad preceden', and if the land in the rear was built over such a kitchen would obstruct the air from such houses. He thought that if a closed stove were used in the present kitchen the occupants of the house would not suffer from a smoky chimney.
Messrs. E. A. Howeit and the Captain Superintendent of Police minuted-Refase.
The Hon Registrar-General minuted-I agree with the ssistant M.O.H. Is not the building in the European Reservation ?
The Hon. D. P. W. minuted-This building is not in the European Reservation, but this does not affect the matter..
Mr. A. RUMJAHN-I think it is in the European Reservation.
The Hon. Mr. JONES-No, that is on the other side of the road.
The Hon. Mr. BRAWIN—All Cain, Road is
in the European Reservation.
The PRESIDENT moved, the Hon. Mr. BREWIN seconded, and it was agreed that the application be refused.
FIVE STOREY HOUSES.
A further application was made for a modi. fication of the requirements iu respect of a uilding on Kowloon Inland Lot No. 402, Robinson Road.
This application was in respect of Station Hotel. The applicant desired to erect five sto ey wings at the rear of the building.
Dr. F. Clarke, M.O.H. recommended that p'an be Mr. J. Leiam's (the architect) not accepted If, however, he left additional open space of more than 400 square feet around the building he recommended that the plan be accep ed-the extra open space would make a great difference to the lighting and ventilating of the Hotel.
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Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., minuted---I think that the new plan may be accepted.
Mr. A Runjahn minuted-I agree with Mr.
Pollock.
&
he Hon. Registrar-General minuted-The optability of this plan seems o d pend upon, 1e probability of the neighbouring lot owners not making as much use as they can of their
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.