was all nonsense. Those coolies who went were infigitely better treated thau they were at home, they all appreciated the change, and it is only too probable that the camp troubles. subsequently reported were directly and entirely due to the fact that they were, as the horsey men say, "full of corn. On the other hand, it seems abundantly clear that they are not taking the
11
"
bread away from BUY other workers. Their work is admittedly not white man's work, and in the case of the kaffirs, we have been told recently that these black meu hute mining, and prefer farm labour, while the Boers and other agriculturists are only too glad to welcome their assistance back to the farms. That the mining companies should obtain cheap labour is not for the Home-staying Britou to complain about while he tolerates so much " sweating" in his midst. The local failure of the scheme, which the Chinese officials in the south will probably say has been brought about because the Hongkong depot was a distinct breach of Article V of the Convention of last May, ha without a doubt been brought about by them for a very understandable reason- the fact that it robs them of squeeze chancey. Whether the palms of these officials were subsequently oiled or not, they could not undo the mischief they had already done. All kinds of ridiculous stories had been set afloat in the southern provinces, to frighten prospective colonists away from the agents of the scheme, and sach rumours in rural China
like grow rolled snowballs into a perfect avalanche of prejudice. The return of those who were discovered to be affected with beri-beri would be regarded as absolute confirmation of the horrifying descriptions of the Rand, which descriptions had to a certain exten the countenance and support of faddy European writers in the East, whose opinious would doubtless he added to the rest, with ample elaboration. Another factor that has helped to make the outlay at Laichikok wasted expenditure is hinted at in the methods of the administration with regard to its white employees, which, if half so unreasonable as Australian medical men describe them, would be sure to militate against the enterprise. The scheme as a whole must still continue successful. Naturally, the immediate demand for coolies must have slackened considerably, and the outside observer can no longer expect to see the rush and hurry of some months back. As relays are required, we fancy they will be easily obtainable, if not down here, certainly at the northern ports.
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HONGKONG JOTTINGS.
27th March.
It will rejoice the "Children of the Mist " to know that the Public Works De-
" Not
partment has under consideration the question of improving the lighting of the roads on the Peak.
before it is necessary" I fancy some of them will say, but it is not a little surprising that, althou.h there has been much silent grumbling there has been no united demand on the part of the Feak community, that I am aware of, for what is a crying necessity. What the illuminant is to be is not yet decided, I believe, but if the cost of gas or electricity be prohibitiva, there are on the market oil and acetylene lamps which will admirably meet the public lighting re-
quirements of the Peak.
Had it not been for the meteorological marplot, there would have been a fine muster of Volunteers for the Annual Inspection which was to have taken plane on the Polo Ground on Saturday. It was found in the morning
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND that the Polo Ground was covered with water, | and as swimming does not form part of the training of the Volunteer Corps. the Geueral decided to postpone his Inspection for three weeks. Many were, by means of the telephone, and in other ways, made acquainted with the fact, but there were many who were not, and at least forty members of the Corps turned out in Kuaki prepared to brave the elements rather than be mulcted in a fine of $25 each. And when they at last were made aware of the postponement, they returned to their homes discussing what fine would adequately met the case of the General, taking into consideration the volleys of bantering re- marks to which they were exposed on the way
to their homes.
The Colony this year, as last, has been singu- larly free from plague during the first three There have been a few months of the year sporadic cases, but these scarcely count when we remember the history of these epidemios in the Colony during the past ten years. Whether this result is to be attributed to the drastic and thorough measures carried out by our Sanitary Authority, or whether it is a sheer good fortune which is enjoyed similarly by Canton and other plague centre in China, I am not in a position to state. We cannot take too much for granted when we bear in mind the undisputed state- ments that in the years when the plague returns have been comparatively low in this Colony, there has been a like decline in Canton, where no such persistent efforts are made to eradicate the scourge as we rigorously enforce in Hong- kong. The problems of the origin and infec- tivity of plague are still unsolved. Plague seems to be as bad in India this year as ever. Over 30,000 deaths from plague are rep rted every week, and strange to remark, the disease is most virulent in the city where most is done
to combat it-Bombay. The best hopes of this Colony in this connection rest, I think, in the resumption of insanitary areas a work which I am glad to learn is steadily going on.
"
I hear, and I am sure the community generally will be glad to hear it also, that this year steps are being taken with a view to stopping the dumping of bodies dead of the plague, which during the last two years has been so common in the Colony. The Daily Press last year suggested that this could most effectually be done by ordering all bodies dumped" in the streets in this way to be cremated. There is another way, it seems, not so repugnant to Chinese susceptibilities. It has been alleged that the delays which have heretofore occurred in procuring the attendance of the Sanitary Board's medical officers to certify the cause of death have been among the cansos the dumping of bodies,
which crtainly plausible if we believe that the occupants of the house fear contagion, but I am rather inclined to think it is the objection to having the home turned upside down and fumigated by the sanitary inspectors that has given rise to the practice. Sir Henry Blake, when he
which have led
an excuse
to
seems
induced the Chinese themselves to take an interest in the efforts made to prevent the
spread of plague started on the right lines, and mach in the future is to be hoped for in this direction. I am told that this year the Chinese will be permitted to call in Chinese doctors to certify the cause of death so that a body may promptly be removed. Heretofore in official quarters there has been strong objection to this, but it appears to have been successfully argued that a Chinese do tor is as qualified as a sanitary inspector to say whether a death has been caused by plague or not, and by calling in a Chinese doctor a body may removed many hours sooner than might other- wise be the case.
be
There has been some talk about the Fleet getting their letters before civilians, and the Hongkong Post Office has been more or less abused. By a sp cial arrangement and extra expense, Singapore gets its mail thus:-the bags are transhipped at Aden on to the "førry " steamer to Bombay, are sent by rail to Negapa tam, and from thence are forwarded on to Singapore by the regular British India steamer. The Fleet mail bags at home are addressed to
[April 3, 1905.
The
Singapore and Hongkong, and Chins letters are forward-d by the first steamer. postal authorities here are not prepared to enter into a similar arrangement, one reason being that there is no regular B.I. service between Singapore and Hongkong. If it could be worked, though, it might be an improvement.
(3rd April)
I gather from the Registrar General's Re- port concerning the affairs of his Department for the year 1904 that the Government is now taxing the food supplies of this Colony by means
of market tolls and market licenses to the extent of $105,827 per sunum. The market tolls alone amount to $101,310; the balance represents fees charged for licenses issued by the Sanitary Board for the sale of food outside In 1903 these licenses brought the markets. in a revenue of $1,352; last year the revenue from this source was 84,565-au increase of no less than $3,213 (not $2,313 us the Report states). The increase shown in the revenue from market
observed-
rents is $4,619-together, then, an increase of $7,832 in one year in the taxation of the food supplies of the Colony in the form of rents and licenses. For some years past, in fact, the Government has presumably with great content-the steady increase in revenue from this source. Curiosity impelled me to glance at the returns of five years ago, and I found that in 1899 the revenue from the markets amounted to $80,901, which was $6,133 more than the total for the It was then explained that the previous year.
increase was due to the "increased rent obtained from stalls, which were put up to tender on being given up by their holders." Subject to correction, I assume
4
that the increase of
revenue is attributable to the same cause.
820,000 which has since taken place in the
Yet
in the outery which has recently been raised over the increase in market prices, it is Chinese ‘squeeze pidgin" only that has been condemned. The Food Commission appointed in 1900 specially referred to the market rentals as a tax on food and recommended that they should be kept as low as possible. The figures I have quoted show the supreme contempt the Govern ment has for the Reports of Commissions! Will some member of the Legislative Connoil
kindly ask the Government whether any limit is to be put to this taxation, and, if so, what ?
In England a few years ago one used to be persistently asked: When is a place not a place within the meaning of the Act!" A case at the Magistracy this week has evidently reminded a good many people of this, and now, instead of being accostel with the old familiar
"What do
think of the you question: weather " the Naval Yard man is called upon to solve the conundrum When is a site not a Messrs. site within the mesuing of the Act." Punohard, Lowther and Co., the Government contractors, were summoned by the Water Polics for using cargo-boats which had not been licensed. These boats were employed in connection with the Naval Yard Extension works, and the defence set up was that the Government were the people to go for, as the boats were Government property, although they
had been paid for by the contractors. The defence relied on a clause in the contract which stipulates “that all temporary buildings, ap- pliances, plant and machinery of all descriptions provided by the contractor for use on the works shall from the time they are placed on any part of the site by the Civil Engineer-in-chief over the works at Hongkong, become the absolute property of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.' Mr. Hazeland came to the conclusion that by no stretch of language or juggling of words could a cargo boat used for conveying materials to the works be regarded as having been "placed on any part of the site" The Magistrate subsequently expressed the view that these words meant not only over the ground (i.e. on the water) but attached to the ground. It would be in- teresting to hear the views of the the Admiralty authorities on this decision, for they doubtless regarded the cargo-bosts as part of their security. Dooks cannot be constructed with- out the use of cargo-boats, and the exclusion of these from the term "contractors' plant on the site is a decision which has naturally 'roked much discussion. It is dificult for a
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