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October 6, 1906.ļ
The PRYSIDENT- A letter from the contrac. for asking the Government to assist him.
Members agreed that it should be circulated.
OBSTRUCTION AT GARDEN ROAD. Mr. HOOPSR-Since the removal of debris on the 18th ultimo I think it would be well for the Board to know that at the Public Gardens the debris has increased within the las four or five days four or five fold. Bushes have been cut down from trees and planted on the road. I don't know whether this is a matter for the Sanitary Board, but I think the attention of the Government should be called to it. The obstruction at the Garden Road before was bad enough, but on Saturday night it was four foot thick and extending from gutter to gatter. In fact it was so thick that a chair could a t. pass.
The PRESIDENT—That work was undertaken by the Botanical and Afforestation Department, aud is not within the province of the Board. I understand it is now being undertaken by that department.
Mr. HOOPEE-I am speaking of the staff left there for the scavenging contractor to re- move. don't think the Botanical Department is removing the rubbish to the just boats.
Members decided that the Board should call the attention of the Botanical department to
the matter.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
The mortality statistics for the week ending 4th August showed that the death rate for the whole civil community British and foreign, was 9.98 as against 34 9 in corresponding week of last year. The death rate for the whole colony, excluding the army and navy, was 15.0 per 1,000 per annum as against 24.7 for the corresponding week last year. Week ending 11th August-civil population, British and foreign, 44.9; whole colony, 22.2. Week ending 18th, August-civil population, 24.9; whole colony 19.8. Week ending 25th August-civil popnla tion, 29.9; whole colony, 22.3.
ST. GEORGE'S SOCIETY, SHANGHAI
The annual meeting of the Shanghai Society of St. George was held on September 28th:- The Chairman (Mr. Hobson) stated that the following gentlemen had consented, if elected, to serve on the Committee for the ensuing year : Sir Pelham Warren. Messrs. R. D. Allen, E. F. Bateman, E. T. J. Blount, A. D. Brent, H. Browett, R. Carr, H. E. Hobson, E. Jenner Hogg, S. Shorrock, G. R. Wingrove, A. P. Wood and C. W. Wrightson. No further names being submitted, a resolution that these gentlemen be elected, and that Sir Pelham Warren be President, and Mr. E. J. Hogg Vice-President, was proposed by Mr. P. W. Massey, seconded by Mr. G. V. T. Marshall, and errried nem. con.
It was decided to give a ball on King Edward's birthday. Almost without discussiou, the members also decided to affiliate with the
Royal Society of St. George, the Home Society whose last annual report attracted considerable ridicale, which it richly deserved. However, the usefulness of the Shanghai Branch (as it must now be called) cannot be mach impaired by the payment of an annual guines to Londou.
"AKASHI MARU" STRANDED.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
TYPHOON NEWS.
(Daily Press, October 1st.) Hongkong was visited by another typhoon ou Friday night and Saturday but although the gale was almost as furious as that of the fatal 18th of September, its effects were by no meins so disastrous, thanks to the timely warning which enabled adequate preparations to be mad to resist it or to obtain shelter. After the gan was fired at five o'clock on Friday evening the sampins for the second tim that day made a speedy run for shelter, while the Star Ferry made its last journey across to Kowloon with a boat that was packed by people anxious to return to their homes before the mens of communics tion was stopped. The wind did not rise until about midnight when, accompanied by heavy downpours of rain, it blow with terrific violence all through the night. The vessels in the harbour secured by two anchors and steaming ahead were able to ride through in safety, with perhaps one or two exceptions. On Saturday morning a man-of-war near the Tamar was seen drifting, but she soon recovered herself. The shipping losses
comparatively light, two lighters and two jaaks foundering in the harbour.
were
Naturally all bussiness was suspended for the day. All the established means of com. munication, the Star Ferry and both tramway services, ceasd, aud the few people who patronised ricshas and chairs experienced somewhat exciting journeys.
On this occasion the heavy seas were dashing over the Praya, and the spray was rising to a great height, presenting an awe-inspiring spectacle to the number of spectators who lined that thoroughfare. By noon, however, the sea bad somewhat subsided, and the gale also moderated, but again increased in violence as the afternoon advanced. The high tide aud the heavy rain were responsible for a number of godowns and houses being flooded at West Point, where considerable damage was done. and U Praya Fist and in the Central District similar conditions prevailed. Along Praya East great pits were formel in the roadway.
While little fresh dimage was done, all the attempts to repair the havoc wrought on the 18th were completely undone. Scaffolding in many cases was swept away, while partially raised boats were again submerged. The tress also suffered considerably, many being blown down or denuded of their branches. In the city one or two houses were partially stripped of their roofs, and had the jalousias torn from the windows and verandahs. Owing to the rain having penetrated and softened the mortar several Chinese houses collapsed, but fortunately there was only one loss of life reported.
A LANDSLIP,
!
a
i
[
One of the most serious accidents resulting from the recent typhoon was the landslip at Macdonnell Road. The heary raids caused a large portion of the hillside behind Mes. Watts' boarding house," Braeside," to carry away. In its fall the mass of earth broke down substantial retaining wall and then razed the western half of the brick coolie-house to the ground. Several coolies were in the house at the time. This happened about 9 p.m. on Saturday, and the firemen, who were called out, continued rescue work until midnight. Working among the debris in the dark, with masses of earth and boulders slipping down the side of the bill, was a difficult and dangerous occupation, but as a result of their efforts three men were rescued. All were injured and had to be removed to hospital. One of the baried men was recovered from under a mass of earth, the weight of which must have been over three tons. His escape was miraculous, a large boulder, the top of which projected over his body, saving bim from being crushed to death. One coolie was killed by the falling earth, and it is believed that three are still barled in the ruins, but when the search party ceased opera tions yesterday, no trace of their bodies had been The found.
The "Akashi Maru" ran ou # reef near Amoy on the 30th September, but fortunately there was no loss of life. The vessel, which belongs to the Osaka Shosen Kaisha, plies between Hongkong and the coast ports. She had left Amoy on Sunday morning bound for Swatow and Hongkong, but about two hours' dista ce from her starting place she ran into the North Merope reef. here were about 100 passengers on board, including many Europeans, but all were taken off by the C.N.Co.'s steamer Yochow", to which the treasure and mails were also transferred.
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HRED UP.
walls cracked in many parts. The residents were remov. d and the buildings shored up.
DESERVING CASES.
We understand there are one or two Europan cases particularly deserving of relief. For obvious reasons it is consideret undesirable to mention names in the Press, but hopes are being freely express that the position of European widows will not be overlooked. In one case a special subscription was starteds.
IN THE CEMETERIES.
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passengers were landed here yesterday. I he
Akashi Maru", of 1,571 tons, was built in The occupants of two buildings at 142 and Dundee. She was commanded by Captain 1.
146 Queen's. oad Central found it necessary to J. A. Merlin who was also brought to Hong-seek shelter in other parts during the gals. kong through the good offices of the. The woodwork of their residences, which was badly eaten by white ants, was smashed, and the
16 Yochow",
Great havoc has been wrought in both the teries. The heavy rains have caused many Protestant and the Roman Catholic Ceme-
graves to sink, while the besutiful flowers and srubs have been ruinei, damage to the extent of hundreds of dollars being done.
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PROTECTED VOYAGE1.
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·Passengers on the W st River steamers had a somewhat exciting timə dari 1g th, we k-end.
The
left Canton on Friday Kwong inng afternoon and did not reach here till yester lay followed a little later by the" Hankow", but morning. Leaving at the usual time she was
though the weather was threatening nothing serious was anticipated. Passing the Tiger Forts the "Ying King" was met ; and, as she indicated that there was a typhoon in Hongkong, it was decided to return to the forts for shelter. The "Hankow" proceeded until she met the Powau and then went back with her
About ten to Tiger Forts.
o'clock which continued with more or less force till Friday night there was a hurricane_blowing early Sunday morning. The "ing King" and the " Powan", which had left Canton on the return journey, had also to anchor at the sime place, and it was quite a flotilla which left the Tiger Forts yesterday morning.
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NAVAL DOCK FLODED.
од
As a result of the typhoon the new dock was damaged, the incoming water flooding it.
SOME FORMER TYPHOONS.
There was a great typhoon at Hongkong in July 1841, when "the harbour and the new settlement on shore presented a weird scene of heart-rending disasters." Matsheds all went, as usual, and almost every bungalow or h use on shore was unroofed," Six foreign ships ware totally lost, four were driven on shore, Iz were diamasted or otherwise injured, and the native boating people suffered great loss of life. "The last days of Hongkong seemed to be approaching." That typhoon recurved and three or four days later barst again over Hong- kong undoing all the reconstruction work that had been started. This led to a much more sub. stantial style of godowns and buildings. The European loss of life was not great. Tae Chinese suffered most, Nevertheless", writes Dr. Eitel,
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His benevolent Majesty, the Emperor of China, rejoiced when he heard the news Ki-kung and Eliang, the Viceroy and Governor of Canton, sent a hasty memorial to Peking, stating that at Hongkong innumerable foreign ships had been dashed to pieces, that innumerable foreign soldiers and Chinese traitors had been swept into the sea, that all their tenta and matsheds, the now Prays, and so forth, had been utterly annihilated and that the sea was literally covered with corpses. On receipt of this news, the Emperor went forth- with in festive procession to the temple of the dragon god of the seas, and solemnly returned thanks for the destruction of Hongkong! An Imperial E iot, published with rejoicing all over the Empire, also proclaimed the judgment that had fallen on Hongkong, with the same display of inhumanity, contrary to the leading principle of Confucian ethics which declares humaneness to be the essential characteristic of civilized humanity". In those days the three chief enemies of the new Settlement ware enumerated * in this order-fever, typhoons, and confia- grations.
The next typhoon o comparative severity was in August-September 1848, when the barometer fell to 28.84 Shipping suffered severely, although timely warning was given (by the Harbour Master) and the wind was not of full typhoon force. Thirteen vessels were damaged or wrecked, and there was considerab's loss of life and property. On shore there was not much harm done. Macao and Canton suffered more than Hongkong. We first read of injury to piers by a typhoon which passed near by in 8-ptember 1855, and these piers were
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