March 4, 1907.]
from being burnt to death. He said that on the morning in question he was awakened by the sound of a police whistle being violently blown in the street. He jumped out of bed and found the room full of smoke. Not much time was lost before the flames ate through the floor, and he started to leave the burning building. The main stairway leading to the street was on fire. There was a panic and the inmates of the floors below-he lived on the top floor-all made a rush for his flat to escape by the roof. Several succeeded in doing so whilst others met their death ascending the ladder. In a very few minutes the trap-door was blocked by these fleeing persons. Witness worked his way to the top of the ladder and get, ting on the roof, was the means of pulling six per. sons up through the trap-door. The flames were then burning fiercely. Soon the ladder took fire, and it was in dragging up the last person that he had his fingers burnt. There were eleven persons living on this floor and only five are alive now, six being killed in the fire.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
/
189,
the Public Garden is being levelled and laid out flusncial position to be sound and satisfactory. with turf and is destined for a lawn, but some The outstanding debentures, considerable time must elapse before this will be | $15,000 are the only charge on the Council and amouating to available for purposes of recreation. Thanks these are not yet redeemable. It is proposed are due to Mr. H. Beat for big services in superintending this alteration.
that the incoming Council should be empowered to take over the old boat-shed and bɔat-house sad should erect a new iron structure, after dredging the immediate foreshore, which would cost approximately $7,000. The sections would be let on similar terms as heretofore. The retiring Council is in favour of this scheme, which must be decided by the annual general
¡
meeting.
DRAINS. -The open drainage scheme con. tinues to work very satisfactorily and there can now be no doubt whatever that the community has benefitted enormously by the adoption of this scheme. Malaria and typhoid, which, as older residents will remember, were continually with us, are now reported by Dr. Davenport to | ba conspicuous by their almost entire absence. Some additional storm-water drains are contem- plated for the middle avenue. The outgoing Council again urgently recommends more atten- tion to cleansing of private compound drains and every householder should visit his compound daily to avoid the existence of stagnant water in pools, flower pots, old kitchen utensils, etc., in which mosquitoes breed, which are the root of most evils on the Concession.
Further evidence was called concerning the provision of ladders for Chinese houses, and the jury then retired to consider the verdict.
On returning into Court their verdict was delivered as follows:-We find that Fuk Kwan and seven others, male and female, died through misadventure, being burnt to death in a fire at No 3, Tung Loi lane, whilst endeavouring to escape by the roof. We would recommend that section 149 of the "Public Health and Build | inge Ordinance of 1903," with regard to fire escapes, be strictly enforced,
SHAMEEN (CANTON) MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.
The report of the Shameen Municipal Council for the year 1906 is received for publication as follows:-
The Council begs to lay before landrenters and ratepayers the following report for the year 1906, with the accounts duly audited and to submit estimates for 1907.
REVENUE.-The sum of $21,364.46 has been collected during the year, being $110.89 less than collected during 1905 and $445.54 less than the estimate.
EXPENDITURE.—The sum of $19,000.46 has been expended on all accounts, which is $1,150.46 in excess of the estimate and is explained by the two items Patent Fire Extinguishers and Children's Garden account, which were not provided for in the estimate,
POLICE.--The Force has been reorganized and somewhat augmented and consists of Superintendent Brimble, Sergeant-Interpreter Ah-Yau, 3 Chinese Sergeants and 18 Lukongs. The services of Indian Sergeants were dispens- ed with, being found unsuitable. The duties of the Police continue to be enhanced by the general increase of the population of the Concession but the present Force is adequate and has worked very satisfac torily. It is with regret that the Council records the death of late Superintendent Lindberg, who died on 9th June last, after baving served during 3 years as Chief of Police in a most exemplary manner. Council decided to erect a tombstone at its expense, on behalf of the community, in memory of the deceased and in appreciation of his services, which has been placed and suitably inscribed.
The
The annual registration of native boats anchoring in the canal brought in a sum of $2,266, and this amount should not be exceeded, as the Council had to refuse licences to a further number of applicants, owing to lack of
space,
BRIDGE. This was damaged during the fire, which occurred along the Canal Road in November. It was decided to build an iron shelter to replace the wooden structure destroyed, the cost of which will figure in next year's accounts,
ROADS.-It was found necessity to relay a considerable number and the expenditure under this heading exce ds the estimate by 475. Where new buildings are in course of erection new roads will have to be constructed daring the coming year, but generally roads and streets are now in gool repair.
++
BUND. This is in good condition and should require practically no expenditure in the im- mediate future.
BUILDINGS. The bungalow has baen thoroughly repaired and painted at a cost of $850, and is let to Messrs. Howarth Erskine & Co., on a two years' lease. The Police tation and Engine-house will require little attention with exception of whitewashing.
LIGHTING.-The existing agreement with the China Light and Power Company has been | continued and which, in the general opinion of the community, leaves room for improvement. GARDEN. It was decided to make a more suitable play-ground for children, and the western end of the Garden-land was enclosed
and laid out and a serviceable summer-house erected, the whole costing $500. The centre of
FIRE INSURANCE.-All policies have been renewed with the Hongkong Fire Insurance Co. The Bridge hitherto has not been insured and the incoming Council may consider it advisable to do so, now that a permanent roofing
has been added.
FIRE BRIGADE-Mr. S. Shelley resigned and Mr. W. G. Saunders accepted the post of Superintendent; thanks are due to both these gentl-men for their services, The Brigade
Drills have been held
now consists of 15 members and this number
fairly regularly and Mr. Appleby, consulting might well be added to. engineer, has overhauled the engine, which needs attention. It has been proposed that a will be laid before landrenters and ratepayers new engine should be ordered, but this mattər
at the general meeting.
WHARFAGE DUES.--The sum of $3,034.3 has been collecte1, being $31.8) less than last year and $34 34 more than the estimate.
caretaker's house requires enlarging and white CEMETERY —This is in good order. The washing, and it has been suggested that a small jetty should be constructed at the landing place. The Council would now submit the following estimates for the year 1907 :-
EXPENDITURE.
Polion pay and clothing Lighting
Road and drain cleaning Road maintenance and construction Fire Brigade Buildings
Bridge .. Defence Corps
Cemeter}
Garden, recreation ground, etc. Drains, construction and repairs Printing, auditing, secretarial
sundries
Interest on debentures
Total... REVENUE.
Thanks are dus to Mr. D. A. Mençoal for his careful audit of the accounts.
T. E. GRIFFITH,
Chairman. THE LAND RENTERS Or SHAMREN IN ACCOUNT CURRENT WITH' THE TREASURER OF MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.
1st Jan, to 31st Dec., 1906. Tonalisa may and clothing $9,012.63
To Shamsen defence corps To lighting streets
To lighting police quarters To roads
To fire brigade account To drains
99.30
Dr.
$ 8,913,33
102,00 1,133 16 212.23 2,075.62
685.68
1,175.33
$108.75
974.23
l'o fire insurance To charges account including auditor and clerk's fees for 1906 To patent fire extinguishers 68,00
To garden account To children's recreation ground To repairing, painting and white
washing Municipal bungalow
1,691,09
536.48
500,00
Council
850.60
225.00 900.00
To interest on debentures 1936 To architect and surveyor's services To balance at Hongkong
and Shanghai Bank ...$5,408.02 To fixed deposit with Hong-
kong and S'hai Bank... 6,411.71 To balance at International
Banking Corporation 2,719.78
1st Jan. to 31st Dec., 1906. By balance brought forward By dog tax... By house and land tax
By garden fund (rent of bungalow 8 By boat license
months)
By licenses...
By cemetery account...
Less amount paid...
14,539.51
$33,539.97
Cr.
$12,175,51 11,755 67 445.00
2,263,00
1,760,00
$350.00
Less dog and boat license
refunded
109.52
240.48
115.50
86.80
28.70
$8,500
1,600
40
1,500
800
By wharfage dues account 1905 By wharfage dues account 19 16 By night soil yearly contract By French Municipal subscription
to fire brigade -.
282.53
2,751.81
++
300.00
100.00
300
By interest on indemnity
100
fund (garden)
$560.00
By interest on daily balance
85.30
650
645.30
3,0
900
By exchange on small coins
25.00
By sundries...
763,97
1,000
and
1,000
$38,539.97
900
817,950
$2,000 11,000
Land tax, $25 per lot House tax, at 5 per cent ou assessment Dog tax Garden fund, rent of bungalow
Garden indemnity Wharfage dues Licences French contribution to fire brigade Fines, sundries and interest
Total
OPIUM TRADE AND REFORMERS.
THE MARKET ALREADY AFFECTED, The opium trade already begins to experience results from the interference of would-bẹ 400 reformers. We have it on good authority 2,100 | that private telegrams received yesterday 3,000 informed merchants that the Indian Govern- 560 meat have declared that the quantities to be 2,600 sold at the monthly public sales at Calgutte 100 from July next will be 200 chasta saab, Patna 1,60 and Benares, less than at present.
$23,360
The accounts of the year 1906, as presented,
|
together with the above estimates based on an unchanged rate of taxation, show the Council's'
The total sales for the year will, therefore, be 48,000 chests as against 32,800 chests. learn that even yesterday there was a mensa- This will inevitably affect prices, and we tional rise in quotations.---- Daily Press, 26 Feb.
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