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The effects were those of W. Napier, chief officer of steamship
"Lombardy," who died at sea July 7th, 1888, and those of W. T. Farmer,
storekeeper of the same vessel, who died at Hong Kong July 5th, 1888.
Both died from cholera. No evidence as to whether disinfection had or had
not taken place accompanied them. They were also fumigated.
As these clothes were not reported to your Inspector on his boarding the
vessel on her arrival, the matter was reported to the owners (The Peninsular
and Oriental Steam Navigation Company), with the result that they replied
that they "have instructed their Secretary to communicate with all their
"agents abroad in order that effects of seamen may not, in future, be
" forwarded to this country without proof of disinfection."
' UNSOUND MEAT.
The particulars given in Appendix H will show that although during
the half-year no considerable seizures have been made, still that the quantity
is a large and increasing one.
The articles of food thus dealt with include fresh meat, tinned meat,
onions, sardines, pigs' heads, plums, pears, hams, herrings, poultry, and dates.
In all cases where a large quantity is seized at one time it is in consequence
of some accident. The cause of the sardines being condemned, on September
11th, was a fire in London Dock. In the case of a large seizure of herrings,
on November 26th, from steamship " Sitona," the cause of the consignment
being unfit for food was the fact of the vessel being detained for a week on
account of heavy weather ; and again in the case of the dates, seized on
December 28th, the vessel herself had been sunk in the river, and the damage
was caused by sewage-polluted salt water. With these exceptions, the
damaged food forms an extremely small percentage of the quantity coming
into the Port.
THE LAUNCH.
The Launch continues to perform her work satisfactorily, and requires but
very small expenditure for necessary repairs.
On the 13th August last she came into collision with the barge " Isis,"
and sustained some slight damage to the house ; the owners of the barge in
question at once admitted their liability, and had all the necessary repairs
carried out at their expense.
The only change in the staff has been that the boy Grilles has voluntarily
left the service in order to go to sea, and Alfred Brown has been engaged by
your Worshipful Committee to take his place at the same salary.