February 28, 1895.)
THE LATE ADMIRAL TİNG.
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If
HOUSE ACCOMMODATION FOR EURO- PEANS IN HONGKONG.
of
147
suggest, for it is notorious that these are trade no one would venture „to...
increased trade, however, gives a living now cut down to a very fine point. The muneration to an increased population, and as there is no present sign of a check to the growth of either the one or the other the question of the provision of house we. commodation calls for some consideration. It is no doubt the fact that a large propor- tion of the increase in the population ace unted for by the circumstance that men who would like to send their families home pecuniary considerations to keep them here, to receive their education are compelled by and the growth of the population does not therefore necessarily indicate that its com prosperity. ponent units are enjoying a high state of reverse, however, being here we must have Whether prosperous or the houses absence of floating capital in the colony to live in. Unfortunately the discourages building operations, but for any one seeking a safe and profitable invest- mest probably no better way of employing his money could be found than in the er ơ tion of European houses to let at moderaato rentals. There is not likely to be any very time to come, but houses to let at ansthing large demand for expensive houses for some under $70 a month will, it may safely be predicted, be in large and growing request.
HONGKONG RACE MEETING, FIRST DAY-20th February,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. peremptory orders forbidding Admiral check to the natural growth of legitimate TING to leave the port, his telegram ending trade as distinguished from speculation of Was Admiral TING a coward? He cer-
with the words:" Abide where you are to a gambling character. That profits bave tainly made a gallant fight of it at the
the last. If you stir from Weihaiwei increased in proportion to the increase last, when he was absolutely cornered
without orders and attack the Japanese and could not run away,
44 Some of the
you will be answerable for it even if you foreigners who at one time or another
"should prove victorious over them." served with have him expressed favourable this be true, and the Admiral was under the opinions of his abilities and character, Cap-orders of the Viceroy, then TING may be ac tain LANG being the principal of his eu. quitted of cowardice, but Lr must be hell logists. Or the other hand he was spoken guilty of conduct which cannot on the face of by many well informed Chinese, as well of it be distinguished from that of a traitor. aa by some foreigners, with the utmost con-
Perhaps the truth will be known sometime, tempt. It was alleged that he valued his but wherever the responsibility for the inac. position only for what he could make out of tion of the Chinese fleet may lie it is certain it, that he cared nothing for the efficiency of that the country has been very badly served bis fleet, and that when put to trial he by its officers, would be found wanting in all the qualifica tions of a great commander. This unfavour- able judgment seemed to be confirmed by his tacties in the present war, With a fleet superior in tonnage and armament to that of the enemy he adopted a policy of always European house in the colony vacant, At the present time there is scarcely a evading battle when possible and lying un- rents are rising appreciably, and in a short der the shelter of shore batteries. The time, unless there is an early renewal of battle of the Yalu was neither sought nor building, houses will be as scarce and as expected by him and when forced to fight he difficult to obtain as they were six or seven was worsted by an inferior force. That years ago. It will be remembered that at that might be partly accounted for by his being time the increase in the population had over. taken in a position unfavourable for taken the house accommodation and rents manouvring, partly by the want of training were increased in some cases as much as of his officers and men, and partly by his fifty per cent. own erroneous tactics; but there was on ing set
Then a mania for build- in; terraces of houses that occasion no evidence of lack of personal run up at Kowloon, the Peak, and Maga. were courage. The battle over, however, the fleet zine Gap, as well as within the limits of ran for shelter and never again emerged the city itself. The result was that the sup- from it, even when the Japanese commenced ply outstripped the demand, there was a cor- to invade China itself. Nothing more responding fall in rentals, and at the Peak pusillanimous and altogether despicable has especially houses were obtainable at rates been known in the history of the world. not much more than sufficient to cover Granting that Admiral TING formed anthe cost of keeping the property in re-kong has gained such extraordinary popularity The great annual sporting event in Hong- absolutely correct_appreciation as to the pair. As the decline in rents superiority of the Japanese fleet in orgauisa- greatest in the Hill District so is the re its complete success, and that is fine weather. was the that only one circumstance is needed to ensure tion and discipline and that he foresaw covery now going on the most inarked there, All other conditions-an attractive number of that the result of a series of battles must but it is only a question of degree, for the entries, hard working and obliging officials, necessarily be the crippling or destruction of tendency is in the same direction both at magnificent course, and perfect arrangements- his own squadron, still had he made a show Kowloon and in the city. The European
can always be relied upon, as everybody having of fighting he would have afforded the Japa and American resident civil population in-anything to do with the management of the nese a good deal of occupation in disposing of creased from 3,040 in 1881 to 4,195 in utmost possible for the well being of this very races has one fired idea, which is to do the him, could have inflicted material damage | 1891, on them, and could certainly have delayed that is, nearly forty per cent, and we one have wished for better weather than we the year of the last census, old established institution. And could any. their capture of Port Arthur and their ad- believe next year's census rance into the country
will show had yesterday P Instead of pursuing that the increase has since been going on typical English summer's day, with bright warm It was a glorious day—a an active policy, however, he left to the at an even greater ratio. The rapidity with sunshine and a gentle breeze that made all Japanese the undisputed control of the sea which the large number of new houses happy. We cannot think that even those good and passively awaited his own destruction at erected a few years ago have been occupied they have had a peep at the Hongkong Happy members of the Anti-Gambling League-could Weihaiwei, not even going outside the har is in itself incontrovertible evidence of a Valley yesterday-would have raised a single bour to try to obstruct the enemy's advance. growing population, and the larger volume protest against our ancient and well supported When caught inside the harbour he made a of business passing through the colony race meeting. During the three days that the desperate defence, but it was then necessarily necessarily requires a larger population to meeting lasts a general holiday is looked upon ineffectual. All his ships were eitber sunk or captured, and without having accom-
it on. It will hardly be disputed now,
88 a privilege which must never be denied, plished any useful service whatever Had the larger than it was.
we think, that the volume, of business is for every residout of the colony sagme Paiyang Squadron gone out to give battle ago there was a good deal of talk about the binson) was unable, owing to his recent sad to count it his duty to be present on the course. Three or four years Unfortunately the Governor (Sir William Ro to the Japanese at the beginning it could not falling off in business, we had the sad fate bereavement, to attend. We suppose that there have suffered more disaster than it has done, that befell the Island of St. Thomas held is no place in the world where a more repre- and it could not have been destroyed with up before us with wearisome persistence, sentative and cosmopolitan crowd can be seen than out inflicting serious injury on the enemy, and when the Harbour Master's returns on the Hongkong Race course; en aud women But was Admiral TING personally responsible showed a continuance of the increase in the of almost every nationality assemble here on this for the inactivity of the flect? If so it tonnage entering the port we were asked to
most festive occasion, and it cannot be doubted would be impossible to acquit him of the believe that increased shipping, if not day's spectacle, as seen from the handsome grand charge of cowardice, for his action could actually indicative of a declining trade, was stand, was an extraordinary one.
that they thoroughly enjoy themselves. Yester. only be explained by supposing that he was at all events compatible with it, and that wore the prettiest of costumes; they looked, The ladies afraid to risk a fight. It is only fair, we were approaching the time when our if we may be permitted to say so, quite however, to take note of anything that may magnificent harbour would be crowded with charming, and in no small way contributed to be calculated to put a different complexion ships coming and gring without cargoes, the pleasing sight that was witnessed. The on the affair. The N. C. Daily News the All the talk of this kind had its origin green enclosure literally swarmed with Chinese, other day stated that it had it on undoubted in a semi-political quarrel and the course them from the heat of the sun, and plentifull authority that when the news of the arrival of events has sufficed to show its utter dotted about here and there were groups of mer
most of them holding up umbrellas to protect of the Japanese at Yungching was reported emptiness. The colony suffered for several bers of the Naval and Military services, whi to Admiral TING at Weihaiwei he tele- years, and is still suffering, from financial there was also a small army of Indian soldier graphed at once for permission to attack stringency, and the community generally who looked very attractive in their showy the enemy's fleet and transports, declaring has been afflicted with the gloomy feelings The sceae was, as it always is, a most that even if he should lose most of his ships that usually accompany a scarcity of ready one, and can never be effaced from oue's game in the engagement he would be able to cause | cash, but the foundations of the colony's
There can be only one opinion about the irreparable losses to the Japanese. The prosperity were
itself; Viceroy LI HUNG-CHANG, however, sent slightest degree, nor was there any material through without a single hitch of any kind,
it was highly successful, and the whole never affected in the
of the long and interesting programme
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carry
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