July 24, 1909.]
The PRESIDENT-Would you like a clause to that effect put in ?
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Mr. HOOPER minuted-Are the duties of the cemetery inspector laid down in writing? If so,
should like to see them.
Mr. HOOPER-If you think it necessary. II think the justice of what I have stated must commend itself.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-Are not you overlooking the fact that between each grave space there is a strip of Crown land?
Mr. HOOPER-I won't press my point or make amendment, but it seems to me so unneces- Bary. I thought you would have all grasped the point at once.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I think there is a good deal in what Mr. Hooper says, and I would suggest that the matter be allowed to stand over, and the bye-laws brought up again at next meeting.
Mr.LAU CHU PAK-I think the best thing to do is to appoint a sub-committee to go into the question.
"1
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I beg to suggest that the words Head of the Sanitary Department should be altered to "President of the Board." The power of the Board has been gradually whittled away till it has become almost a farce, and I object to any transfer at all, no matter how small it is, from the President of the Board to the Head of the Sanitary Department.
-The motion in favour of appointing a com- mittee was agreed to, and the President, Mr. Lan Chu Pak and Mr. Hooper were appointed members.
The Board then resumed.
SCAVENGING CONTRACTOR FINED.
The complaint against the scavenging and conservancy contractor for Shaukiwan was con- sidered, the contractor appearing in person.
The PRESIDENT stated that there were three charges against the contractor, who failed to remove a quantity of nightsoil from Shaukiwan on June 22nd.
The contractor admitted this, but said there was a typhoon that day.
Sanitary Inspector COLLETT said the signals were up, and there were heavy rain storms, but there was no typhoon. The contractor had been very unsatisfactory/for sometime. ·
The PRESIDENT-There are other charges, but we are not proceeding with them, as it was considered those three would be sufficient to go on with, I might point out that another charge may be added of sub-letting the contract, which the sub-contractor admitted.
The contractor was then questioned by the PRESIDENT:
How often do you go to Shaukiwan ?-Some
times.
How often?--Once a week.
Mr. HOOPER said he received a letter from the duties of the cemetery inspector. The letter the Secretary in answer to his minute regarding
said the inspector should act under the instruc. tions of the Medical Officer of Health. Mr. Hooper wished to know if he did not get his orders from the Head of the Department.
The PRESIDENT-It is a departmental ar- for convenience sake. The inspectors report to rangement. I send my orders to the M. O. H
the Medical Officer of Health before action is taken in matter.
any
If a matter of urgency arises, I send for the inspector myself. I Medical Officer of Health inspects them once inspect the books once a month, and the
& week.
Mr. HOOPER-I see that he should be present at every interment in the, non-Chinese come- teries at Happy Valley. I would like to ask whether the Medical fficer and yourself are satisfied that he carries out that duty?
The PRESIDENT-I cannot say definitely what the practice has been in the past, but I was at the cemetery myself yesterday in order partly to ascertain the routine of the work there. I did not see the inspector myself, nor did the head sexton, and I was in the cemetery from 3-30 till five o'clock. I had the inspector sent for this morning, and he informed me that he was there watching a Japanese grave being dug
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-Do I understand that,
interment P. the inspecter has got to be at the actual
The PESIDENT-Yes.
Hon. Mr.HEWETT-It is unfortunately my duty to bury two or three Europeans in a year, but I have never yet, and I have buried a good pector at any of those interments. The only many men in the Colony, seen a sanitary ins-
persons I have ever seen were the Padre and Mr. Van Epps when I have been there myself
I have attended in the last eight years I have with certain of my staff. At all the funerals
never seen a sanitary inspector.
The PRESIDENT-My experience is not the same. Within the last fifteen months I have been to two funerals, and have seen two inspectors.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I did not know au in-
spector ought to have been there. If I had known I would have brought the matter to the notice of the Sanitary Board earlier.
Who does your work ?-My foreman. Have you any other contracts? Yes, the satisfied when I state that I have warned the
Aberdeen contract.
How many boats hare you got?- One. The PRESIDENT pointed out that according to the man's contract he was required to have a -boat at each place. Without two boats it was obvious that he could not fulfil the terms of the contract.
Hoa. Mr. HEWETT-Has there been a com- plaint against him before ?
The PRESIDENT-Complaints began in February, 1909.
The Board decided to fine the contractor $10 on each of the three charges, and to caution him. He was also informed that he must fulfil his contract by getting another boat.
A report in a month's time as to how he has carried on the work is to be submitted to the Board.
ANTHRAX AT KENNEDY TOWN CATTLE DEPOTS.
The COLONIAL VETERINARY SURGEON wrote, under date of July 12th -I have the honour to report for the information of the Board that a case of anthrax occurred in a Chinese bullock at the Kennedy Town cattle depot. The animal came into the depot, along with 16 others, on Saturday afternoon from Hoihow. It was segregated and placed under observation on the 11th, having the a temperature of 108.5 degrees Fahrenheit. It W&S
found dead next morning, the cause being thrax. The remainder of the lot have been put under observation, but so far all are healthy. The carcase of the dead bullock has been cremated.
an-
The PRESIDENT-I think members will be inspector that his presence is necessary at all funerals at the Colonial Cemetery. In cases of Japanese funerals I informed him that he need not look on at the ceremony, as they did not like it.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-With regard to the duties of the inspectors, when the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance Commission was sit- ting we found it was very necessary and im- portant that we should know which sanitary inspector was in charge of each district at a certain date. There is no record that that has been kept, and I think it is most desirable that à record should be kept, so that if a dispute crops up later on, there will be no question of the identity of the sanitary inspector.
The PRESIDENT-I don't think that can arise now, because they have their diaries to show where they are.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-You ought not to trust to a man's diary; you ought to have a muster roll We found it had handicapped us very severely in that Commission after sitting for the best part of a year:
The REGISTRAR-GENERAL Can you tell me what is the object of an inspector being present at every non-Chinese funeral ?
The PRESIDENT said it was to keep order. On Monday he saw a number of Japanese going to a Japanese funeral, and they were going along as if they were out for the day with their arms round each other. This was hardly the way to behave in a cemetery. He thought on those grounds it was better that an inspector should be present, and, apart from that, he was the A list detailing the duties of Sanitary Ius-person to see that the undertaker's men carried pectors for the year 1909 was laid on the table. -out their duties properly.
SANITARY INSPECTORS' DUTIES.
LIGHTING OF THE MARKETS,
75
Messrs. Alderup and Schluter wrote to the Board with the object of drawing members' attention to their Tantalum' lamps, which they asked should be given a trial in the Central Market.
·
Mr. Ho Koм TONG minuted-There is no harm in giving the Tantalum lamps a trial in the Central Market as requested.
Mr. HOOPER-I don't quite understand why these papers are again before us. What further information do they contain?
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I thought this question was disposed of. Why should it have been re- opened ?
BAD MILK AND SPIRITS.
The Government Analyst reported on the result of his examination of certain samples submitted to him. Of two samples of brandy he found both to be adulterated, and the vendors were convicted and fined. Of four samples of milk one was found to be adulterated, and a pro- secution was pending. Six samples of whisky tested were all fou d to be genuine.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES.
The Government Bacteriologist forwardel a report on the result of his examination of sam ples of water taken from the public supplies. One sample taken from a hydrant in alisbury Road near the found
Star Ferry wharf was
to certain 300 micro-organisms, and in the opinion of the Bacteriologist should be filtered before used for drinking. Another sample taken from Tytam was a good drinking water, and so was a third sample from Pokfulam.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
Based on a death rate per 1,000 per annum the mortality statistics of the whole Colony for the week ended June 12th showed a percentage of 28.7, while for the week ended June 19th the percentage was 22.1 as against 31.7 for the corresponding week of last year.
PRESENTATION TO CAPTAIN AND
MRS. F. A. BROWN.
A large and representative number of the Wanchai Wesleyan Church congregation and friends gathered in the Sailors' and Soldiers' Home on Wednesday evening to do honour to Captain and Mrs. F. A. Brown, the Rev. R. Ellison presiding. During the evening Rev. W. J. W. Anderson, M.D., of Fatshan, presented apt. Brown with a silver kettle, stand, and lamp for his wife, a set of gold buttons for him- self, and silver-mounted hair-brush for his son Max. The inscription read as follows;“ Â parting token of affection presented to Capt. and Mrs. Brown by the congregation and friends of Wanchai Wesleyan Church, Hong- kong, and by the members of the Wesleyan Mission, Canton. July 21, 1909. " Dr. Ander-
son also presented Mrs. Brown with a pair of beautiful drawn-thread work cushion covers in the name of the Sewing Meeting. Later in the evening the Chairman announced that some friends who had not been aware of the presentation had handed to him several sums to be conveyed to captain. Brown for the purchase of books. Dr. Anderson in a speech full of feeling and sparkling with humour dwelt on the invaluable services rendered by Capt. and Mrs. Brown to the Wesleyan Church. He recalled the fact that in the early days before the present Chapel was erected a weekly fellow- ship-meeting used to meet in the house of Capt. Brown. Dr. Anderson also eulogized the unbounded hospitality which had been extended not only to lonely civilians in Hongkong but also to numerous members of the Army and Navy. Reference was also made to the pro minent part taken by their departing friends in the Coffee Bar opened in 1895, which now had developed into the present Sailors' and Soldiers Home in Arsenal Street. In the inception and development of the Home, Capt. Brown had given ungrudgingly of his substance, time and influence, while Mrs. Brown had endeared her- self to all by her willing service rendered week by week in the Temperance meeting and the Sunday Evening Gospel meeting. In closing Dr. Anderson wished them God-speed, and assured them that in their life in Canada they would be followed by the prayers of the con. gregation and the blessing of the Triune God.
Capt. Brown thanked the friends on behalf of his wife and himself and said how he had been
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