December 30, 1905.
that would remove for all time any doubts as to what China most needs in the way of modern appliances. It may be supposed that men capable of such a stupendous enterprise should be trusted to go care- fully into all the conditions awaiting or likely to await their work; but not even the best men
are infallible, and the Yellow River is an extraordinary river, more full of surprises than a woman, and no man can claim to know what it will or will not do. The builders of this marrel. lous bridge knew that the bed of the river was a sort of quicksand; in the method they adopted to arrive at stable foundations, they committed themselves to a diagnosis, so to speak, which has since turned out to have been erroneous.
As the work went
more
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE RÉPORT.
QUESTIONS.
Mr. FUNG WA CHUN, pursuant to notice of motion. asked the following questions:-(1) What is the reason for the present scarcity of lymph in the Colony, and when will there in a sufficient supply P (2) Why, since the introduc- tion of the rider-main system, have the occupiers of upper floors not been getting sufficient water for potable purposes.
The CHAIRMAN said-In reply to the first question I may say that the temporary scarcity of lymph in the colony is due to the fact that sufficient number of buffalo calves cannot h obtained. Butchers say they are not allowe.i to export buffalo calves from China. Every effort is being made to obtain a sufficient supply. from the New Territory, and if these efforts fail a supply to meet all demands will be purchased from Saigon and Shanghai. In reply to the second question he stated-The ridermain system is under the coutrol of the Director of Public Works and I am unable there- fore to answer the question but if you will furnish him with specific instances of a deficiency of water on upper floors due to this system every effort will, I am sure, be made to remedy the defect.
INSUFFICIENT WINDOW AREA.
on, the weakest spots became apparent, and the engineers practically admitted that the river had been too much for them when they adopted the expedient of piling bags of stone around certain threatened supports. The same supports are still behaving in a way that excites continued suspicion; and there are those who prophesy that the cure (the stone ballast) will be worse than the disease. An extra rise of the river, it is said, will take those bags of stone, and find them useful battering ram. Further measures are being in addition to the front windows had windows taken to make the bridge safe, but it is leading into the yard and side lanes. It was evident that all are of an experimentaltion would spoil its original design,
only occupied by a small family, aud any altera- nature; and the spring behaviour of the Yellow River will be awaited with much anxiety.
+
ns a
HONGKONG SANITARY
BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on the 27th December at the Board Room. The Hon. Dr. F. Clark (president) presided, and there were als present: Dr. W. W. Pearse, M.O.H., Dr. Macfarlane Mr. F. J. Badeley, Mr. H. E. Pollock, Major Josling, Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin, Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, Mr. Fung Wa Chuo, Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Mr. A. Ruajahn and Mr. G. A. Woodcock (secretary).
RESIGNATIONS.
Mr. POLLOCK said he had an announcement which he made with some regret. It was that that would be the last meeting at which he would have the pleasure of sitting at that board. His experience during the past nearly three years at that board had been a very pleasant one and he had learned a great many things which were useful to him and which he hoped would be of profit to him on the Council on which he was shortly to take his place. He would only say in conclusion that he desired to express his sense of the very great courtesy which he had at all times received from the members of this Board (applause).
Mr. RUMJAHN said he also had an announce- ment to make. That was the last meeting of the Board he would attend and following Mr. Pollock he had determined to send in his resignation. He did so with regret. It had always been a pleasant duty to give his time to the service of the public, and he thanked the members for the courtesy they had always shown him. He had had many pleasant times with them, and it was with regret he resigned bis position.
The CHAIRMAN said he was sure be was expressing the feelings of the members when he said how extremely sorry they were to lose Mr. Pollock and Mr. Rumjahn. They bad been towers of strength to the Board-in many cases of difficulty, and they could hardly hope that as good men would take their places. In the case of Mr. Pollock they knew of his promotion and that they did not begrudge him. They know a busy professional man could not spare time to attend many of their meetings. Although their work did not bulk largely in the public eye-it was done behind the screens, in committee and by circulating papers-there was no question that to do the work & member of the Board must devote very much more time than could be spared by a busy professional man.
The owner of house No. 13 Wanchai Road applied for exemption frein providing the r. oms on the first and second floors with additional window area as required by the Board's notice. He said the house was a Chinese mansion, and
The Ilon REGISTRAR-GENERAL minuted-- Is this a private house? If so it should be treated more leuiently than one let out in tenements.
The M.O.H. minuted-Since the application came in the owner has made some alterations whereby two front rooms on the ground
window
floor have sufficient
area. There remain certain other rooms which bave
are, as
front
rooms,
too little window area; these windows the regards
of ornamental design. I suggest the follow ing-Pass the three front rooms on the first floor. Allow the rooms at the rear of the yard to be occupied only if the owner will
rooms
throw them all into one. Pass the three front of the second floor: the central rear room should be lit by a skylight, and the two small rooms at the west side of the central room
should have their windows enlarged. All the other rooms in the house should be used only as stores, etc., not for s'e-ping in.
The suggestions of the M.O.H. were adopted
CHINESE FOODS AND MEDICINES.
The proprietor of No. 1 Queen's Road West applied for permission to sell meat other than that sold at a public market.
Mr. RUMJAHN minuted --I think a licence for the sale of venison only should be granted.
Mr. POLLOCK minuted--I have never seen It is dog and cat meat sold publicly bere vet. not common food amongst the Chinese. If the veterinary surgeon does not recommend the issue of a licence for selling venison the applicant should be so informed. But I see no objection, as I understand no venison is sold in the western or Sai Ying Pun markets.
The VETERINARY SURGEON in a minute said :-I think venison is an article of food usually sold in a public market. During the winter season deer are regularly sold in the cen- tral market. With regard to the sale of dor, cat and badger meat, etc., I would suggest that a licence be issued to him for meat other than that sold in a public market." There is a demand for these dainties which are not in
M
themselves unwholesome and it would be better
that the sale of them be conducted in an open and above-board manner. At the present time they are smuggled.
The VETERINARY SURGEON reported-Deer are regularly sold in the central market: badger I bave not seen sold; cat is often sold, the most common place being up in the neigh bourhood of the Chinese recreation ground. I am told, however, that cat is not sold so much as a_food as a thing in the nature of medicine. It would be better, I think, to have the applicant in some way licensed, though I' do hot think for the sale of badger or cat there is any provision made in Ordinance I. of 1903. Cats, snakes. porcupines, dogs, etc., are all used in much the same way, each good for some particular sickness. Provided the shop is used only for the sale of these artioles I think the man might be allowed to sell under a licence and no fee exacted.
Should this
|
The application was granted.
SUPREME COURT.
Saturday, 23rd December.
IN ORIGINAL JURISDICTION.
BEFORE MR. A. G. WISE (PUISNE JUDGE),
A LAND SALE.
Leung Hung brought an action against Pang being the amount of purchase money for a piece Chiu Ngo and another to recover $11,718-32,
of landed property in the New Territory sold by plaintiff to defendant in January 1901 Mr M W. Slade appeared for plaintiff but as defendants did not enter an appearance, judg. ment was given for plaintiff with costs,
i
The Hon REGISTRAR-GENEBAL asked Are deer and badger or cats articles of food usually sold in a public market ? man apply for a licence?
The M.O.H. miuated-I should think that very little venison or cat flesh is sold here all, but if this man is going to make a habit of selling these articles it would be preferable to compel him to be licensed.
27th December.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE MR. A. G. WISE (PUISNE JUDGE),
The case
A CROSS-ACTION,
was concluded in which Ching wai Wan, trader, claimed from Leung Wai Ting, alias Chin Chin Tong, the sum of $90, being balance due on account of medicine pills sold and delivered.
In the cross-action the previous defendant claimed from the plaintiff the sum of $50,
money lent.
Mr. F. X. d'Almada e Castro represented the plaintiff in the first action and the defendant in the second, whils Mr. R. A. Harding appeared for the defendant in the first and the plaintiff in the second.
W88
In giving judgment his Lordship said the two stories told him were absolutely irrecon- cilable. Both were made up with the greatest care, but
one of them was wrong. Ching Wan's story
that he sold a Kwai
of
received ox pills for $140,
$50 on account, and was now claiming for the Yalance of $90. The receipt he gave for the $50 was on account of pills. Leung Wai Ting's story was that he, or somebody else, brought $200 from Canton for the purchase of arms to Jake into the interior of China, to be used, his Lordship presumed, against the authorities. Wing said that after a time the transactions fell through and he came to Hongkong to reclaim the $200. He was then told that $100 had been paid back; later another $5 was paid, leaving $50 due for which the plaintiff was suing. Of the two stories oue was a pure fabrica- tion, and his trouble was to say which was. Both as they stood were equally possible, but were there any outside circumstances to make the loaning one way or the other? He did not think the plaintiff in the cross-action came here to talk about rifles without there being some- With regard to the pill story he thing in it. was against it. If the defendant paid for pills the receipt would have said something about it, but it was for money. That was in favour of the rifle story, and judgment would therefore be for the plaintiff, Leung Wai Ting, with costs.
Messrs. Benjamin, Kelly & Potts received from Shanghai the following telegram:---- Messrs. 8. C. Farnham, Boyd & Company, Limited, have declared an interim dividend of Tla. 4 per share payable on the 6th January, 1906. The transfer books will be closed on the 2nd proximo."
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