386
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Since October, 1994 the dager prints of all persons arrested for all criminal offences have been taken by Police at the time of arrest. for¦¦ the purpose of detecting previous convictions, The old system of taking the prisoners into the⠀⠀ gaol to see whether the warders can recognize! them as old offenders has been continued concurrently. By means of the finger prints I identified during the year 1:3 persons as being old offenders. Of there, 103 had served sentences in gaol, 19 had been convicted of unlawful possession and paid their fines, and one was a man who had been banished from the Straits Settlements. Of the 103 who had been | in gal all except seven were recognised independently by the warders, but those who had not been in gaol would, but for the finger prints, almost certainly have gone unrecognised as previous offenders.
NEW TERRITORY POLICE RECOBDI.
Mr. G. N. Orme, Assistant Superintendent of Police in the New Territory, reports as under :--
1
minor offences were
During the year 1905 there was not a large amount of serious crime in the New Territory and it was chiefly remarkable for its equal distribution through out the year, of which the early part produced fewer robberies than the later, and the period before and after Chinese New Year was free from the robberies by which it is usually characterised. The north-west borders of the Territory (previous to the erection of the block-house mentioned below) and the south of Mirs Bay with the Island of Ping ban, again suffered most from these depreds tions; however, the last successful raid upon Ping Chau Island induced the islanders to obtain permission to form a guard, which has repulsed a subsequent attempt at robbery: it is to be hoped that a similar spirit of enter. prise may in future animate other parts of the Territory. As usual, the large majority of the contraventions of the Opium Ordinance; larcenies have been of rare occurrence and it is noticeable that debts are seldom denied or disputed, which greatly facili tates the administration of justice. What was formerly the most exposed part of the Territory is now well protected by the block-house at the Ta Ku Ling, on the north of the Sheung Shui District. This was commenced on January 27th, at which date one Indian sergeant and four Indian constables (of whom two Constables were detailed from Sheung Shui and the others from the Central) were accommodated in tents close by, until they moved into the quarters in March. The block-house is connected by telephone with Sheung Blini and Sha Tau Kok and has proved of inestimable value. The past year has been dis- tinguished in the New Territory by two excel- lent crops of rice, and by appearances of incre s. ed prosperity throughout most districts, shown in the construo ion of new houses and in a con. stant demand for theatrical perfomances: but I regret that this has not led to an incrased readiness to pay rent. The redemption of land for the new road led to prompter payments by the districts concerned, and it is pleasant to report that the poorer districts of Sai Kung and Sha Tau Kok Lave paid without pressure, but the south-westeru districts of Tsin Wan and Tai Lam Chung have paid nothing, and owing to their distance from the police stations it is difficult to collect these rents. Nor has much success attended the arrangements made with certain elders for the maintenance of certain
roads in the rounds in the Territory. Through out the year the Chinese officials on the frontier have co-operated with the police in a most friendly manner.
HONGKONG POST OFFICE.
A YEAR'S WORL »
The following extracts are made from the report of the Postmaster General, published in the current Gazette:-The mails dealt with by the Portal Department amounted to 138,897 bags and packets, as against 10,64! Jast year. There are five pilla:-boxes n the Peak, 10 in Victoria and six in Kowloon. The number of articles posted in these, during 19 5, was 92 170, as against 66,74; in 19 4, and 48,110 in 1903. This is a complete justification of the appointment of special mess-ngers to clear these boxes nstead of leaving that duty to postman whose punctuality had to be saorificed
to
[May 28, 1908-
ever, no other country in the Postal Union has intimated its refusal of admimion to these cards.
FIRES AT HONGKONG,
BATO
Captain F. J. Badeley, Superintendent of fires and 77 incipient fires during 1905, as the Fire Brigade, reports that there were 3 against 67 and 64 in 19 4. The estimated damage caused by fires was $327,425.00 and by incipient fires $1,7080). The Brigade turned out 18 times during the year There was ab intermittent supply of water in the mains from 27th February to 28th March, during which period se water was used
much
to as possible in order the fresh water Three fires occurred in the harbour during the year. There were two prosecutions for arson. The first was it con- | nection with the fire at No. 168, Hollywood Road, where ten persons lost their lives. Two men were arrested and convicted at the Cri. minal Sessions and sentenced to imprisonment for life. The second was in connection with the fire at No. 462, Des Vœux Road West, Two men wore arrested and convicted at the Criminal Sessions and sentenced to seven and five years' imprisonment respectively. THE ROYAL SANITARY INSTITUTE.
the varying demands of deliveries. 639.977 registered articles and parcels were dealt with in the General Post Office, Hongkong. an increase of 39,919 with an average of 2,041 on each working day, as against 1,914 on the last annual returns. The great at number handled on a single day was 7,011. In addition to this, 104 313 passed through the various Agencies but not through Hoogkong, making a total for the Administration of 743,290. An arrangement for the transmission of parcels to and from German New Guines and the German South Sea Islands direct, instead of via London as heretofors, came into force on April 20th, 1905. During the year ending December 31st, 1905, two hundred and ten registered ar. ticles and eight parcels, evidently intended to be despatched by registers or parcel poat, were found in the drop-box of the General Office, they were sent to the Registration Branch and forwarded. The revenue amounted to $414,833.19, being an increase of $6,379.27 as against an expenditure of 8585 449.25. Under expenditure there is a very heavy increase of $258,692.69, due principally to the final settle- meat of the claim of the imperis! Post Office against this Colony for the share of the sudsidy to the P. & O. Steam Narigation Company, from 1st February, 1898, to 31st January, 1905 The transactions in money orders of all currencies show increased business. Comparing the figures of 1904 and 1905, the increase in profits on exchange on money order transactions in the latter year is 81,780.16. Arrangements were made during the year for the direct, exchange of money orders with Germany and German Colonies and also with Macao. 63 485 articles of correspondence were dealt with in the Dead Letter Office during the year 1905 33,514 being returned by Hongkong to other administrations and 29,971 being received from other administrations. Of these latter 7,415 originating in Hongkong or at its Agencies were returned to the senders, but a very large number of Chinese written letters, owing to the absence of any definite address of the sender OF even the name of the sender, it was found impossible to retura. At the Geueral Post Offies the following correspondence failed to be delivered:-Foreign etters 8.29, post cards 363, books, etc., 6,124, and local-Letters 1,785, post cards 1 8, books, etc., 2997. The first mentioned class were returned to their respective offices of origiu, and form part of those mentioned as being returned by Hongkong, and of the last men- tioned it was possible to return to the senders 2,934. In 42 ordinary letters opened in the Dead Letter Office and returned to the renders there were found the following :-Money orders to the value of £3 6x 6d. postal orders to the value of £22 3d. Od., cheques for £5 9%, and 58. respectively, bank drafts for 15s, 6d, and $15 respectively, and in one letter a hank note for $5 and a 50 cent coin. In addition to the above it may be mentioned that 40 Cuinese letters were irregularly posted with coin (con- sisting in each case, with bat one exceptions of
|
оро two
Dame
or two Chinese cash). 23 of these were returned to the senders compulsorily registered and the remaining 17. "owing to absence of sender's or address, were desir yed, their conteuts being converted into local currency and paid into the credit of the Government under the head of unpaid postage. A record was kept during this year of the number of pic ure post cards which were posted without the name or address of the persous for whom they were intended, and these reached a total of 65. It may be interesting to mention that in not a few cases these cards were posted in the same condition as they had been purchased, and consequently the senders could not be traced A new variety of picture post card appeared bearing fict tious imitations ‹f postage stamps of the different countries of the world instead of the usual views. It was brought to the notios of this office by the General Post Office, London, which, at the same tim, intimated that the admission of such cards to the United Kingdom was prohibited by its Regulation. 123 of these cards were returned by Londa and 11 others found at different times in the mails at this office addressed to places in the United Kingdom were withdrawo. Where the sender's name appeared on them they were returned. Up to the present, how
STUDYING BRICK MAKING,
A
The members of the Banitary Institute had instructive another of their pleasant and *xcursions 00 the 19th May. Da this occasion the Brick and Tile Works at Deep Water Bay was their destination, the privilege to inspect the works being kindly given by Messrs Showan Tomes & Co., while the Hon. their disposal. Arrived at Deep Water Bay, Mr. E A. Hewett placed the_launch Dragon at the party were met by Mr. Witchell, the manager, and conducted over the works, the bring demonstrated. The visitor was enabled different processes of brick and pipe making
to realise the intelligence and knowledge which when he noted that practically all the materials led to the adoption of that site for the works required in brick-making are to be found at haud, ther being no les than ten grades of cly obtained there. Prior to the staden's taking their departure the Hon. Dr. Clark expressed their appreciation of the service rendered by Mr. Witchell. The following members and students attended: --Hon Dr. Francis Clark, Lient T. J. Clark. RE.. Mesars. H. E. Goldsmith, A. R. F. Kaven, H. E. Haggard, W. N. Bissell, P. T. Lamble, R. Hemmings A. R. Bone. 8. R. Boyd, C. W. Ward, J. A. Bullin, J. Cole, A. P. Samy, W. J. Lewington, A. W. Simmons, C. W. Brott, R. Duncan, D. J. O'Halloran, F. W. Swaffeld, A. Williams, C. E. Frith G. W. (oysh, H. E. Craddock, A. Hamsay and Alfred Carter,
APPOINTMENTS,
II. E. the Governor has been pleased to make he following appointments—Mr. J. Macdonald, Government Marine Surveyor, to approve and certify on his behalf from Hime to time the position of any disc indicating the load-line and any alteration thereof on all Briti h and colonial ships registered in the Colony, (except ships under 25 tons, pleasdre yobts, ships not trading or plying for hire, and ships employed solely as tuge); Hon. Dr Ho-kai to be a member of the Medical Board for a further term of three years; Mr. John E. Menach to be chief storekeeper in connection with the Kowloon Cinton. Rail- way, British section, and J. H Wood to be a member of the Squatters' Board vice Mr. F. J. Badeley.
GROWTH OF CHINANFU.
We are informed that the new foreign settlement and trade portof Chinanfü, Bban- tung, in developing fast. Houses have sprung up, and many are building, and still the demand continues. Land values and houss. rents are doubling themselves; and Chinese traders and craftsmen. are focking into the place. This is a result of the railway, and the co-operation of German and British enterprise.
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