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the recruiting point of view, it doubtless had its advantages. As Captain WALTER KIR- TON explained at Shanghai, the Legion is an organisation of a civilian, self-governing and self-supporting body of British frontiersmen throughout the Empire. In time of peace they are to promote Imperial interests and in time of war, if called upon, they will help to defend the Empire. But "the promotion of Imperial interests in time of peace was the primary idea of the Legion", and it is unfortunate that no explanation was forthcoming of the nature of the duty expected. If it is merely to usurp the functions of the China Association, the new organisation is superfluous, and it is not easy to see what else they could do, ia time of peace. Even in time of war it is not so certain that they will be helpful. Thus it was stated that "the British in Shanghai were Frontiersmen who would be able to
de service for their country", which they may be already doing, but certainly not as "men trained, and qualified by previous military service, or by working, hunting, or fighting in wild countries". The country around Shanghai is tame enough. The few Frontiersmen who know it sometimes do shoot one of the savage natives, but the affair is generally compromised by the payment of small sums of money. It is only recently that the Frontiersmen have enjoyed an training, since the line was opened towards Soochow. Many of them cannot speak a word of Chinese, aud, in fact, the office stool on which the Shanghai frontiersman sits has almost the same cramp- ing influence that it has on the backwoods- man of Mincing Lane. It is true that the SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR expressed his sympathy with the movement last February, but all he said was that it was a purely private organisation which he might be able to use on a suitable occasion. We do not think that commits kim in any way, and it is perhaps just as well, seeing that we read these legionaries are fellows who are "not prepared by temperament or vocation to submit themselves to the ordinary routine of military discipline except in time of war when they could serve as avisers, guides,
0:0".
But, indeed, the name of such is legion. Many of us who object to join the volunteers are debarred by our temperaments from obeying orders, but we are always willing to sit on the fence and advise the others. It seems there are three kinds of frontiersmen. There are those pledged to military service in time of war. These seem mere trespassers in the volunteer camp. There are those prepared to act as guides, local assistants, or advisers. That must also mean in time of war, and we have already suggested that the regulars and volunteers will not be too eager in asking their advice. The third are the Lonorary frontiersmen, who need do nothing beyond sympathising and subscrib- ing two guineas. We fear after reading Captain KIRTON's detailed argument that the only merit of the organisation is its amalgamated characteristics of Amateur Dramatic Club, Philharmonic Society, and Mutual Admiration Association. The members are to know each other by distinctive badge ". They can hardly need that, if they intend to dress as they did at the London function.
*6
a
Licences have been granted Sir Paul Chater to prospect for metals and minerals other than gold, silver and precious stones, in the districts of Lantao Island, Teünwan and Shatin. Ten cents royalty is to be paid on every ton of iron ore when ready for exportation, or for amelaug or reducing during the current year.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD,
[Angust 25, 1906.
the provisions of section 112 of the Ordinance which made no reference to re-concrete the A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held entire ground surface of any domestic build- on Angust 21st at the Board Room. The Hon.ings, etc., but only required that the landlord Dr. F. Clark (president) presided, and there or owner should make good such material of were also present-Hon. Mr. W. Chatham the floor as had been subsequently broken, or otherwise disturbed or had excavated perished. The premises in question were all inspected last year by an officer of the Board who found that only theconorets under the verandahs of Nos. 11 and 15 was unsound and their clients remedied the defect. The letter concluded by reminding the Board that in order to comply with the requirements of the notices a large the landlords were also asked to take the risk sum of money would have to be expended, and
of losing their tenants altogether.
Vice President), Dr. Pearse, M.O.H., Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin, Dr. Macfarlane, Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett, Lieut.-Col. Joslin, Mr. A. Shelton Hooper, Mr. H. Humphreys, Mr. F. J. Badeley, Mr. Fung Wa-chun, Mr. Lan Chu-pak, ad Mr. G. A. Woodcock (secretary).
A NECESSITY KEPT IN VIEW.
to the application for a site for a Roman In reply to a letter from the Board relative Catholic cemetery on the north side of the the necessity for such a cemetery had not been harbour, the Government replied stating that overlooked in the plans for the laying out of
Kowloon.
CLEANSING AND DI INFECTION OF PRE 18ES.
“
In reply to a letter from the Secretary of the authority of the Government be obtained to Board forwarding a resolution that the incur the necessary expenditure involved in restoring property damaged in connection with plague prevention to a presentable condition, or in the event of the owner so preferring that compensation to meet this expenditure be paid to the owner", the Colonial Secretary wrote accordance with the provision of the Pablic stating that the Government would, in Health and Building Ordinance of 193, give reasonable compensation for property destroyed or damaged by cleansing or disinfection where the case of infection had been duly reported. They had no authority, however, and did not propose to go beyond this provision.
Mr. HOOPIE minuted-Who was the officer
who inspected the floors last year? Let his report be annexed. The notices to re-concrete should be withdrawn.
•
Mr. HUMPHREYS I am entirely opposed to notices being served by the Board ordering ultra rires, and when enforced infliot much yards to be re-concreted, as such notices are damage on landlord and tenant, the effects of which are far reaching. When a yard has once been properly concreted, the landlord should only be liable to keep it in repair.
Mr. LAU CHU-PAK-I think the notices should be amended to say that only the broken when the premises were inspected last year only surfaces need be made good. It is strange that the concrete under the verandahs of 11 and 15 was condemned, whereas now, every foor is condemued.
The PRESIDENT-I think the proper remedy is to serve new notices calling upon owners to make good one or two house basements. In the case of those basements attention should be called to the provision of the Ordinance re- quiring two inch cement.
Mr. HUMPHREYS-Before going any farther in this matter we should know exactly what making good" means. The matter came up before the last meeting of the Board, when moved a resolution which I afterwards
The PRESIDENT minuted-In all other cases but those referred to in the Colonial Secretary's letter (in which compensation is not payable), every effort will be made to leave the premises in a present able condition, by removing nails from beams where ceilings have been taken down, by filling up holes left by the removal of beams, and by limewashing or painting woodwork or brick-wi hdrew on the understanding that the work which has been exposed in the processes of disinfection.
is not quite satisfactory.
Mr. HOOPER The last part of the minute
The REGISTRAR-GEN (RL-I should like to
know the sum spent on this compensation during the years 194, 1905, and up to date this year.
matter would be taken up by the Commission. It will probably be a gool many months before the Commission deals with this subject, and three notices are now before the Boa d. I therefore think it would be just as well if we passed a resolution defining the words "making good". It seems to me that the phrase leaves reat scope for the inspectors to do what they like. A friend of mine had a concreted yard Mr. HoPER said the only part of the letter which was so hard that he was quite proud of referred to which was not satisfactory to him it was that wherein it was stated that every effort would be made. He asked the President if he undertook to see the matter carried out. What would be his efforts, and bow could they be frustrated?
The SECRETARY-$186 in 1904; $419.70 in 1905; and $1.550 approximately for 1906.
The PRESIDENT-I have arranged with the M.O.H., and instructions have been issued to. inspectors to carry it out.
Mr. HOOPER-Then I am quite satisfied. The letter was laid on the table.
KEFERRED TO GOVERNMENT.
An application from a number of villagers resident in different hamlets near Lyeemoon for a piece of land to be set apart as a public cemetery, which came before the Board at last meeting, was referred to the Registrar-General | for report.
The REGISTRAR-GENERAL stated that he saw no objection to a small cemetery being established in this particular neighbourhood. It could be closed at any time by the Government, and after a certain lapse of years the land could be utilised for other purposes.
The Government is to be recommended to grant the application.
THE CONCRETE QUESTION AGAIN.
Messrs. Johnson, Stokes and Master wrote that they had been consulted by Messrs. Chu Shin-tong, Chu Chan and Cha Tsung with reference to a batch of 17 notices which had been served upon them by the Board calling their attention to the provisions of sections 111 and 112 of the Pablic Health and Building Ordinance, 1903, and requiring them to re- concrete (and in one notice to repair) the ground surfaces of various rooms and kitchens of their respective premises at Hing Loong Street and No. 05, Quen's Road Central. The writers directed the attention of the Board to
But an inspector took advantage of his being away to go and out thres large holes two feet square in the concrete. When my friend saw it he almost cried. The yard will not be as good as it was before, and in the end my friend was served with a notice to say that the concrete was only three and a half, instead of four, inobes thick. It is well known that three and a half iaches of cement concrete is better than four inches of lime. It was absolutely ridiculous to out up the yard in the first place, and still more ridiculous to serve the notice, I move that where concrete of back yards which has been daly passed by the Sanitary Board or Building Authority afterwards becomes broken or in need of repair, that the landlord shall always be called upon to re-render and not re-concrete”.
"
Mr. LAU CHU-PAK-I beg to second the motion. It is time the Board decided to take some definite action.
The PRESIDENT-The motion overlooks the question provided for in the Ordinance when occasionally lime concrete perishes,
Mr. HUMPHREYS-- If it perishes it is still covered by the motion. If lime is covered with two inch concreto it is perfectly good.
Mr. HOOPER-I am sorry I cannot support my unofficial colleagues, because I think they are making the rod stronger for their Own backs than it is to-day. I am per. fectly satisfied with the wording of "the Ordinancs provided it is properly carried out, It says that if there is any defect the party interested shall make good. That means, as far as I understand it, that if a floor other than a wooden for is found to be defective the Board by its officers shall el upon the owners to make good, and the Board can do nothing more. If a surface of cement rende ring is defective by being chipped or broken,
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