May 5, 1906.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRÅDE REPORT.
be expected to be assented to by self-govern- enlightenment and liberty. Personally, I bave ing Colonies. It may be that the utter- little interest in the matter, as my Sundays are ance of Mr. CHURCHILL has been taken a spent in my own particular way, but I fail to little too seriously by the Colonists con-
see why our unorthodox friends and those who | cerned, and that, making allowance for the adhere to the other Eastern faiths cannot be heat of debate, it may be considered that he practically the only day open to them. A word allowed to enjoy their games and exercises on merely wished to convey that if the Trans- to those responsible might have the effect of vaal, when it obtains responsible Govern-inducing them to extend to the people most ment, did not pay due regard to the sugges. | directly interested a little of that freedom tions which the Home Government had which they claim for themselves. made, it would run the risk of having whatever measure was passed by the Parliament vetoed ". If this was all be intended to convey, there is not much to object to, but it is to be regretted he did not make this intimation in a manner less likely to be seriously misunderstood.
HONGKONG JOTTINGS.
30th April.
It was with a feeling of real pleasure that I read the report in Saturday's Press of the Paisne Judge taking a solicitor to task for statements he had made at the Police Court in reference to certain proceedings at the Supreme Court. Of course we are all aware that legal practitioners enjoy a considerable privilege when engaged in their profession, but we sometimes wish they did not exercise it to the extent that they do. For instance, in this case it was quite unnecessary for the solicitor in question to go out of his way to say that the newspaper accounts of the action in the Supreme Court were altogether falas. A certain amount of reflection was cast on the journals implicated because of this insinuation, but bappily the Puisne Judge, with a sense of fairness which is certain to add to his popularity, came to the rescue and declared that he spoke even more strongly than he was reported. With a certain historica! character we would say "A most excellent judge."
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I suppose it struck most people who read the in Penang who joined the force for two years report that it was incongruous that a Volunteer should be expected to serve until he was 55 years of age or left the Colony. The argument that" not less than two years' than two years is absurd, and if the contention of the authorities is upheld by the Court it will seriously affect the Volunteer movement. No man will care to identify himself with a force which states the period of service to be not less longer, and not merely expects but compels him than two years and yet expects him to remain The movement is one that calls for every encouragement, but such proceedings will do it infinite harm. Fortunately a more sensible method is pursued in Hongkong, as a result of which the corps justifies ita proud claim "Second to none in the Orient"
The
uncanny experience the other day when an
The people in a certain hospital had a rather apparently dead body was found on the steps. The police were acquainted with the discovery, bat when the officer arrived the body was not to be found. regret,
doctor expresed his he did not indicate it was sorrow that the officer had been dis- whether appointed or that the man returned to life. There were all the elements had evidently of a mystery here, but a detective soon cleared matters up and had the supposed corpse arrested on a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond. BANYAN.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
321
There has been a recent census, but it is confined only to certain areas, and does not faolude th floating boat population, Honam, nor the villages in the outskirts. The estimate is 90,00) housed with an average of ten person in each hours. percentage of mortality is obtainable. There In regard to paragraph three of your letter, në have been some cases of plague in the western suburb; yet most ones that have come under the notice of the Customs Authorities are imported from Hongkong evidently due to the fact that the Chinaman prefers to die in his own country.
Mr. HUMPHREYS minutėd—The framers of doubt note the British Consul's at tement that the Public Health Ordinano, 1903 will no most of the deaths from plague reported in Canton are imported from Hongkong.
Mr. LAU CHU-PAK-According to the last paragraph of the Consul General's reply," it evidently contradicts the often repeated allegations that plague cases are imported from Canton.
Mr. FUNG WA-CHUN—I don't agree with the in their own country. I am inclined to think Consul General that the Chinese prefer to die that it is more on account of the stringency of the Sanitary measures and the consequent concealment of cases to avoid detection of their place of abode that they send their sick to the country.
Mr. B DELEY ---The Consul General only says, "most of the cases that come under the notice of the customs are imported from Hongkong. This does not contradict the theory that plague cases are also imported here from Canton.
The PRESIDENT-The Customs authorities deal with ships arriving at Canton, henc • cas 'U city are not likely to come under their notice. of plague or any other disease occurring in the
that all the houses in Canton were numbered, Mr. LAU CHU-PAK-I understood recently and the number of people being in each house recorded. If the British Consul General is asked to approsoh the Provincial Government he may be able to arrange for the, required information to be supplied.
MACAO MORTALITY STATISTICS.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held Government, the Health Officer of Macio for
In reply to a letter from the Hongkong
Dr. F. Clark (president) presided, and there based on a death-rate per 1,0.0 per annum. The on May 1st at the Board Room. The Hon.warded the mortality statistics of that island were als present Dr. W. W. Pearse, M.O.H., Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, Mr. P. percentage shows the death rate to be 33.1. Badeley, Mr. E. A. Hewett, Lieut. Col. Sparkes, Mr. Lau Chu-psk, Mr. A. Shelton Hooper, Mr. Fang Wa-chua and G. A. Woodoook (secretary).
COMPLIMENTARY.
Mr.
As I predicted a few weeks ago, the Chamber of Commerce displayed unanimity in their election of a gentleman to fill the vacatory in their representation on the Legislative Council caused by the absence on leave of Mr. Robert Shewan. On two previous occasions Mr. Hewett has tried for the honourable position and it must be very acceptable now to find himself a member of the Legislative Council without having been met| with any further opposition. He has the con- fidence of the Chamber of Commerce, and doubtless he will prove that he is worthy of it
We are to be favoured with another Royal visit soon. On this occasion the expected guest is a member of the Royal Family of Italy, Prince Ferdinando of Udino, who is quite a youth and is at present a midshipman on board an Italian battleship. It is perhaps interesting in this connection to recall the last visit of a member of the Italian Royal Family, the Duke H. E. the Governor wrote the Consul d' Abruzzi, in December, 1904, who presided at General at Cantou as under with regard to the meeting of the Society for the Abolition mortality statistics:Sir, I have the honour of Torture in China, as reported at the to request that you will obtain if possibly from annual meeting of the Society for this year the Commissioner of Customs or other source held last week, The Duke is best remem- a monthly return of the deaths in the City of bered, however, by the fact that he penetrated | Canton and transmit same to this Government nearer to the North Pole in 1900 than had ever
been done before, beating Nansen's previous
recori.
A correspondent sends me the following: More than once I have heard the question asked-Why should the Happy Valley be closed to sports on Sunday?. The first time I heard it answered was the other day when a friend deolared that it was the result of clerical intervention. Now this appears an instance where such interference is not only uncalled for but quite impertinent. In this cosmopolitan community with its mixture of peoples from all parts of the globs and their variety of creeds the least thing one should expect is toleration, respect for the different opinions which are as dear to their holders as those of the members of the several Christian churches, but the bigotry which insists on everybody con. ›forming to the one religious ideal has not apparently been discarded, even in this age of
The PRESIDENT said-Before proceeding with the business I am sure you will wish me to member of the Board, Lieut. Colonel Sparkes, extend on your behalf a welcome to the new who occupies the position formerly occupied by Lieut. Colonel Josling. Perhaps I may also be allowed to congratulate Mr. Hewett on bis promotion to the Legislative ouncil (applause).
Mr. HEWETT expressed his thanks.
CANTON MORTALITY STATISTICS.
Board. I should also be obliged by your for the information of the Hongkong Sanitary informing me whether there is any more recent official or non-official estimate of the population of the city than the census of 1895, and if so what is the number of inhabitants according to that estimate and whether in your opinion it may be taken to be approximately correct. I enclose a report of the proceedings of the meeting of the Sanitary Board at which it was resolved that this Government should be asked to ascertain the rate of mortality per 1,000 of the population in Canton.
T
SANITARY INSPECTION OF GOVERNMENT
PROPERTY.
The reply from the Government to the Board's recommendation cɔncerning inspection of Crown land and Government buildings by officers of the Sanitary Department, was oir. culsted.
all Government buildings be inspected by the The PRESIDENT-The Government have ao- ceded to the request of the Sanitary Board that officers of this department.
of Mr. Shelton Hooper to consider the forms of The Committee appointed at the suggestion
CORRESPONDENCE FORMS.
the Board's correspondence papers, More particularly with regard to the issue of notiose, was submitted, from which it appeared that the recommendations of the Secretary had been practically endorsed.
The PRESIDENT mail it had been thought better to issas two reports. There were two distinct matters. One referred to the procedure the other dealt with the specific complaints to be adopted in fature by the Secretary and made by Mr. Hooper and Mr. Humphreys who had received letters threatening legal proceed- ings if certain work was not done. The Committee went into the matter very carefully and their report covered all that needed to be said. He begged to move the adoption of the report. If either Mr. Hooper or Mr. Hum- phreys felt there was anything further needed in the shape of an apology that would no doubt be forthcoming.
Mr. HOOPER mid he was perfectly satisfied with the investigation. He was sure tand the Secretary made a bona fids statement when he said the two parties had received two previous notices.
The reports were adopteri.
The Governor forwarded the Consul's reply to this letter for the Board's information. It read-With reference to your Excellency's letter I have the honour to inform you that I have made careful enquiries from the Customs and other sources, but I regret to state that it
PLAGUE PROCEDURE, would be a matter of impossibility to obtain a The letter from Mr. Lau Cha Pak relative to monthly return of deaths in Canton, especially plague procedure, and a minuto by Mẹ Hùm as deaths are never reported to the officials. | phreys having been read,
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