The Municipal Council_having asked for a report on the working of the Sinza refuge, we are requested to publish the following, for the information of the numerous subscribers to the charity.
The Con mittee appointed for the relief of the Chinese Poor having, on the 19th November last, decided to avail of the organization then already existing at Sinza for that object, have now to report that they have taken over the management of the charity, and have found the employs extremely ready to meet their views, in adopting practicable improvements, as also in enforcing the labor system, Thus they are well satisfied in not having attempted, as they at first proposed, to organize a separate scheme, feeling certain that by the present plan a much larger amount of good has been accomplished than they could have secured without the practical experience of the reliable staff they at present have the benefit of.
guy consists, at present, of one long shed, constructed of bamboo, plastered walls and roof thatched with straw, capable of containing 300 persons, and two smaller in each fifty' persons. Wooden platforms are provided, raised about three feet from the ground, for sleeping accommodation; these have an abundance of straw and large quilts, made of foreign drilling and wadded with cotton, under each of which about ten persons can sleep. It is proposed to erect another shed, to take the place of the two smaller ones, which are old and in not very gued condition.
The whole is enclosed by a stout bamboo fence eight feet high, and under the charge of two native policemen, whose duty it is to erve order and keep the place locked The kitchen is in an old temple rds distant, and it is there the meals comber Mr. Powell was engaged, at a salary of $50 per month, generally to superintend the refuge, and' particularly the labour system; the Commnittce are happy in stating that they have found Mr. Powell diligent and trustworthy, while his knowledge of the Chinese language and customs has een, of material assistance.
Clothing distributed.—On Sunds December, twelve hundred waded secondhand garments were distributed by ticket.
Foud distributed.—For the past two months from 300 to 600 persons have been relieved daily at the Sinza refuge. The food at first consisted entirely of congee, but since the frost set in slices of salted turnips have been added; the extreme displayed to get this poor fare pro' arge amotint of actual want that prevails. The food is served out thrice a day, no limit being placed on the quantity except that it must be eaten then and there, in bowls provided by the charity.
At Hongkew, the Revd. R. Nelson has kindly undertaken the management of relief to the destitute who are unable to come far as the Sinza refuge. In the latter half of December a kitchen was started on the east side of the Hongkew creek, a house being rented for the purpose. Here about 400 persons receive four bowls of congee each per day for grown persons and two bowls for children. Mr. Nelson reports that the applicants are mostly natives from other parts than Shanghai, wretchedly poor, and living in small' boats or hovels made of mats.
Registration at relief is carefully registered, and receives a wooden ticket, with particulars written on it, which he must produce when called for.
'System of Labour.—This has been attended with greater success than was at first anticipated. Those coming to the refuge at Sinza have been found not only willing but eager to work, at fifty cash per day, and the mumber has only been' limited by want of tools and eilicient supervision.
Mr. Powell commenced with thirty men, and has number until he has now one hundred and iatually increased the as sixty, who work with steadiness and who, he states, under the pressure of his constant and immediate superintendence, do more work per man than the same number 5 a.m. the ship struck on a sunken rock, vf unwatched ordinary coolies at four or five times the pay.
Works ejected or in progress—Draining the village of Sinza into the Soochow Creek.
Filling up side channels at Sinza to cause the stagnant water to Blow 1 Metalling road from Defence Ditch to Sinza.
Digging out Defence Ditch at northern end Iso in the centr.
Filling up a large stagnant, and very offensive pool on Pekin road, near the Defence Ditch, and another near the western end of Kiukiang road, Making a bank for the defence of the Seitlement at the northern end of the Defence Ditch, Supplying mud from the Defence Ditch to the Municipal carts for raising the by-ronds and alley-ways in the Chinese quarter of the Settlement.
Cost of muintenunce.—As 0 ly as can be ascertained, the cost fur food about 25 cash per head per day, equal to one penny halt penny, while the t of food, lodging, clothing, supecv' gether with wages paid to those who amounts to about one Mexican dollar per heal per month, aay one penny three far thi Thus far only nati tors have been employed; & bull serve as a temporary Hospital is now being erected. Fifteen deaths have occurred since the Conunittee commenced operations, but some of these cases were of persons arriving from the interior in the last stage of starvation and disease.
ne Funds received are as fellow Subs options from Foreigners Tls. 1,517.46 do, Chinese 781.00 The Municipal Council 500,00
Total 2,738.46 with some further amounts promised from Chinese.
Expenditure thus far amounts to Taels 1,118.11, which does not include amounts incurred but not paid. It is however antic pated that there will be ample funds for all requirements, till the severity of the winter has completely passed.
Checking Menulicity.—One of the reasons for establishing the refuge outside the Settlement was tu prevent the usual crowd of applicants for relief from thronging our streets and soliciting alins, The attempt to prevent mendicants from benefitting by the charity, and then returning to the Settlement, by means of police stationed on the bridges crossing the Defence creek, has perhaps been as sttecessful as could have been j anticipated; but more ringeney on the part of the police, in ridding the streets of professional beggars, carnot be objected to now on the scute of inhumanity.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.