Hongkong, has courteously sent us a copy of his despatch to the Colonial Secretary accompanying the Hongkong Blue Book for 1895. "It. bears. date the 30th of July last. 'The first reference is to the fortunate comparative immunity from plague enjoyed by the colony last year, 'There were only 44 sporadic cases during the year,' but of these cases all but one ended fatally, Three of these cases were Portuguese and the remainder Chinese, Sir William remarks that it is impossible to say how for the absence of the disease in' epi-domic form was due to climatic conditions and how far to the carrying oit of the precautions which he mentions. The experience of this year seems to show that it was the climatic conditions, which are, we must conclude, not yet understood by the medical and sanitary authorities. If the plague attacks Hongkong another year, we presume an adequate trial will be made of Dr. Yersin's serum, So far the learned doctor has not, as we know by his own statements at Amoy, succeeded in getting enough undoubted cases of the disease to make it certain that his serum is the remedy which al! hope it will prove to be.
Finances are next dealt with, The revenue collected during 1895 amounted to $2,486,229, an increase of nearly $200,000 over that of 1894,'which was, the largest on record. 'I'he expenditure was $2,972,378, or some $900,000 over that in 1894, But of this increase, $821,000 was expended in carrying out the resumption of the plague area, Taipingshan, an expenditure which will be recouped when that area has been swept and garnished and sold at public auction. Deducting that sum from the expenditure, the accounts show a surplus for the year of no less than $334,856. "All things considered, the financial position is one of which the colony has no reason to complain."
Then comes a long account of the Coolie Strike at Hongkong in the spring of last year. It originated in the desire of the Sanitary Board to prevent overcrowding; and with this object -bye-laws were made in 1890, providing
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.