The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-10-26
Interesting Extracts From agent
Neyers' Letters.

The board OF health met at PM.
| Wednesday.
There were present President w. o.
Smith, Theo. F. Lansing, DR.. An
drews, John Ena, J. t. Waterhouse,
Jr., c. =. Reynolds, agent of the
board, and Collector General James
B. Castle. The latter gentleman was
present on the invitation of President
Smith.
The minutes of the previous meet
ing were read and approved after cor
rection.
The president suggested that as Mr.
Castle was present the proposed
amendment to the quarantine regula-
tions, introduced at last meeting, be
taken up. He stated that as objec-
tions had been raised at the last meet
ing to the original amendment, as to
the expense of meeting incoming sail
ing vessels, he had added a proviso to
the original, which he read Herewith
as follows:
RESOLUTION.
Resolved that section 20 of quaran-
tine regulations of 1891, be amended
so as to read:
20. Vessels arriving from an Asiatic
port, or from any port reported to be
infected with cholera, yellow fever,
smallpox, scarlet fever, plague, or any
other disease deemed by the board of
health to be dangerous to the public
health, or vessels carrying passengers,
whether steamers or sailing vessels, if
under fourteen days from the last for
eign port of call, shall not enter any
port of the Hawaiian islands until
permission is granted by the port ply
stefan, or duly accredited officer of
the board of health. Such vessels if
refused entry shall be anchored in
quarantine at such places as may be
the port physician, and remain at such
anchorage until changed or admitted
into port by the board of health.
Provided, however. that in the case
teen days from the last foreign port of
call, and not having any such danger
Gus disease on board, the pilot may
bring her into port and anchor her;
but no person shall be allowed to land
from such vessel until permission is
granted by the port physician.
The amendment, if passed. would
reduce the expenses of incoming sail
ing vessels from $25 to SIS.
Considerable discussion took place
as to the relative risks of the import
alton of disease by sailing vessels and
steamers.
Collector General Castle said he
wished to point out the matter of
boarding steamers was one OF
custom and not of law, except those
coming from Asiatic ports. In speak
ing of the use of the custom house
boat by the board of health, Mr. Cas-
tie said he thought it was necessary
for the board to have a boat of its own,
as sailing vessels were now often COM |
ing in without pilots. He cited sew |
eral sailing vessels which had lately |
come in without a pilot and stated the |
custom was increasing. He had lately |
sent pilots out who had been Obliged |
to chase vessels around to get aboard, |
when the pilot was told his services |
were not required. The law provided |
the pilots should sign the vessels bill |
of health. He was of the opinion the |
customs and health departments
should be separated. Should this be
done the pilots would not be obliged |
to board vessels unless they were
for as provided by law. As
III HOW Is dlI tDdG OIISIl pllOl 10
a vessel is the bill of health.
MIR. Reynolds pointed out that as
both sailing vessels and steamers
often brought transshipped Chinese
here from foreign ports there was
danger of introducing
smallpox, if any vessel was allowed
20 enter without an officer of the
board being on hand.
President Smith again read the pro-
posed amendment and explained its
ourport.
ColIector-G General Castle suggested
hat perhaps the safest and speediest
way to settle the matter would be for
he board of health to pass law, SIM
lar to that of the United States, pro-
viding that duly authorized officer
IF the board should visit and inspect
every foreign vessel entering the
honolulu harbor.
President Smith read section 20 of
he quarantine regulations which it
vas proposed to amend.
Mr.. Ena said the charges of the
bort physician should be reduced and
lie should be obliged to visit all in
coming vessels.
President Smith explained that it |
,ost just as much to board sailing
ressel as steamer. The duties of the !
,ilOts could not be changed by regu-
alton of the board as they were a
natter of statutory law. 1t was his
opinion the present amendment could
lot reach the pilot question. On the
ther hand there was nothing to pre-
-ent the board from ordering the port
MUSICIAN to board all vessels enter
ng this port.
Collector General Castle again
'ointed out the law did not always
rovide pilot should board n vessel,
nd in the case of some sailing vessels
substitute could be appointed by the ,,
oard of health. He thought regula- :
ion should be passed that when a =,
essel does not take a pilot, she ;
hould await health officer before
ntering the harbor. Nine-tenths of
be sailing vessels which came were
receded by the date of their depar-
ire from San Francisco.
Mr.. Lansing pointed out the diff /