March 26, 1896.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
HIGH JUMP (three tries); prize presented by 440 YARDS FLAT RACE (CHALLENGE CCP)
Victoria Recreation Club.
P. Hyndman
1
W. Armstrong and C. M. Firth also competed. The winner cleared 4 ft. 8 in.
HALF MILE FLAT RACE; first prize presented
by Taikoo; second prize presented.
Entries. A. McKirdy, J. S. Bruce, W. Armstrong, H. W. Looker, R. F. Lammert. J. M. E. de Carvalho, R. Henderson, T. Meek, Fr. Silva Netto, H. Arthur, E. D. Sanders, A. S. Anton, W. M. Humphreys, C. M. Firth, and Lieut. F. A. Powlett, R.N.
R. F. Lammert C. M. Firth
4
1 2
Only two finished. Time-2 mins 193 secs. 120 YARDS HURDLE RACE, 10 flights; pre- vious winners at Hongkong or elsewhere to be penalised 2 yards; first prize, the Standard Cup, presented; second prize presented.
Lieut. James, R.N....
1 W. Armstrong...
2
P. Hyndman also competed, but fell. Time- 20 secs.
220 YARDS FLAT RACE (HANDICAP); first prize presented by T. Jackson, Esq.; second prize presented; first two in each heat to run in the final.
F. H. Kew, 4 yds.
C. T. Kew, 12 yds.
The two heats were run together. Eleven ran, F. H. Kew just beating his brother.
Time, 253 secs.
(to be won two years in succession before becoming the property of a competitor); first prize presented by H. N. Mody, Esq.; second prize presented. ·
F. H. Kew...
1
Four started and Kew came in alone. Time |--51 secs.
CONSOLATION RACE, 120 YARDS; post entries; open to all competitors (except those in open events) who have run but not won a prize; prize presented.
J. dos Remedios
1
L. d'Almada e Castro These two ran a dead beat and Remedios won the deciding heat in 133 secs.
At the conclusion of the sports the prizes were distributed by Mrs. Hastings, for whom cheers were heartily given.
THE MAXIM GUN CORPS CARBINE COMPETITION.
The usual monthly carbine compețition for the Maxim Gun Corps Challenge Cup was held on Sunday morning last, on which occasion Corporal Smyth won the coveted trophy out- right, having been the winner on the two pre- rious occasions. The cup, which is a very handsome one, has been competed for some twenty times in all and owing to the stringent conditions, i.e., of being the winner three times
BICYCLE RACE; one mile, start in saddle; first in succession, Corporal Smyth is to le congra-
prize presented.
A. McKirdy
C. G. Klinck
Three started. Time-3 mins. 523 secs. TUG-OF-WAR; trial beats; 8 men a side; open to non-commissioned officers and men of the army, navy, and police; each ship, regiment, or corps may enter one team only; to be pulled over 15 feet; no spikes or nails allowed; no sitting down; no holes to be dug in the ground before pulling; prize presented.
FIRST HEAT.
Hongkong Police beat Hongkong
Royal Artillery.
SECOND HEAT.
12th Company Royal Artillery beat
H.M.S. Immortaliti.
FINAL.
H. K. Police beat 12th Company Royal
Artillery.
HALF MILE FLAT RACE; open to soldiers, sailors, and police; entries to be given to the starter not later than 2.15 p.m.; first prize presented; second prize presented.
Corporal Hale, R.B.
Gunda Singh
22
Seven started. Time-2 mins. 17¦ secs. ONE MILE FLAT RACE (HANDICAP); first prize presented by J. D. Humphreys, Esq.; second prize presented.
Entries.-H. W. Looker, scratch.: A. Me- Kirdy, 20 yds.; R. F. Lammert. 20 yds.; J. M. E. de Carvalho, 20 yds.; C. M. Dammers, R.N.. 30 yds.; J. H. Logan, 40 yds., T. Meek, 40 yds.; E. D. Sanders, 40 yds.; A. S. Anton. 40 yds.; C. M. Firth, 50 yds. C. E. Hume. 50 yds.; Fr. Silva Netto. 50 yds.; J. S. Bruce, 10 yds.. W. Armstrong 60 yds.: Leo d'Almada e Castro. 60 yds., R. Henderson. 60 yds. J. A. Steel, R.N., 70 yds.; H. Grunt Smith. 80 yds; A. A. Alves, 80 yds.; J. D. Danby. 80 yds.; and A. E. Alves, 120 yds.
H. W. Looker, scratch C. M. Dammers, 30 yds... C. E. Hume, 50 yds. Fifteen ran and the finish was very exciting. Time--5 mins. 9 secs.
120 YARDS VETERANS' RACE (HANDICAP).—
Competitors to be over 35 years of age aud not less than ten years' residence in India, China, or the Tropics; 14 yards start to be given for each year over 35 years of age; first prize presented by Hon. C. P. Chater; second prize presented.
3
W. Machean, 9 yds.... C. H. Thompson, scratch W. A. Cruickshank, scratch..... BACK RACE'; prize presented by Hon. Capt.
W. C. H. Hastings, R.N.
C. T. Kew...·
W. Armstrong....
Bix started.
1
2
tulated in now having obtained the absolute possession of same. We need hardly add that he deserved his success, as he has won no less than twelve out of the twenty competitions held. The cup was bought by subscription raised in the Corps, but we are glad to state that owing to the kindness of one who has their interests at heart another handsome trophy has been promised, and the mouthly carpine com- petitions will continue to be held as before. With reference again to Sunday's com- petition we append a few of the best scores, and would add that accurate shooting was difficult, as the weather was hazy and the wind though light was very uncertain. These conditions doubtless accounted in sonțe measure for the breakdown of "shots" who under more favourable circumstances might have been expected to do better, particularly Gunner G. P. Lammert, who was leading by points at 200 yards :-
Total
58
200
yds.
500 yds.
Corporal Smyth...
BO
Gunner G. P. Lammert 31 Col-Sergt. F. Maitland
56
#1
G
Sergeant Sanders... Gunner Crombie
21
21.
CORRESPONDENCE.
17
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.}
THE DEFENCE OF THE COLONY AND THE EXTENSION OF ITS FRONTIER.
71
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "HAILY PRIss. SIR-In response to my letter of the 9th inst. "Another Britisher writes as follows :- → Be- fore dealing with the matter as an Imperial interest, it is natural to ask: What is Hong-
koug herself willing to do to remely this matter!" ie., the insufficient means of defence at the disposal of the colony. The answer is: Hongkong is a Crown colony, and is kept up as such, not for any intrinsic value in itself alone. hut for its value to the British Empide at large. first as a coaling station for lør vessels of war, and, secoudly, as a tactical base for the defence of British colonies and commerce. Therefore the Home Government as the head of the British Empire must be held responsible for the efti. ciency of its defences. The authorities here are not to be blamed in this matter, for I happen. to know that representations have been sent home as regards the insufficient means of defence of the colony. The distance of Hong- kong from the home country is so great, and there are so many other matters nearer home, that it is not very surprising if the home au
263
thorities should not be quite alive to the necessities of the colony. But the British re- sidents here ought to be, for it affects them personally, and in case of war breaking out they would be the greatest sufferers. There. fore it is their duty, not only to themselves but to their country, today this matter before the Home Government,, through the proper. channels. This can only be done by getting up an agitation.
Mr. Editor, I was in Hongkong for six weeks just before the commencement of the late China and Japan war. Since then. no material advance has been made in the de- fensive power of the colony, and yet the chances of war have increased a hundred fold. Certainly the British squadron out here has been considerably strengthened, but so have the squadrons of other Powers. Powers that eighteen months ago we had every reason to regard as friends have turned out to be any- thing but so. An addition of two or three more forts, mounting between them half-a- dozen to a dozen big guns,, would be sufficient to guarantee the safety of the colony. The safety of the colony once assured would give our Naval Authorities greater confidence and latitude in defending Imperial interests in the Pacific and Indian oceans, as also in the China seas. Now as to the suggestions made by Another Britisher." I am sorry to say that not one of them will hold water, for the simple reason that it would require an Act of Parlia- ment to be passed before any free-born Britain or any foreigner living under the protection of the British flag could be forced to join the Army or Navy. So no exemp- tion taxes can be collected. The sequence of the whole matter is that the colony is as you were.' However, Volunteering must be encouraged. There are plenty of young men living in Hongkong who would be doing a double duty by joining the Volunteers; first, to their country, and then to themselves, for a little drill would do them a lot of good, and a few field days would teach them something worth knowing.
**
14
ť
A Volunteer Fire Brigade might also be started on very much the same lines as that in Shanghai. Foreigners should be encouraged to join. No doubt many would be only too willing to do so. In doing so they would be not only giving some return to the colony for privileges they enjoy by living under the free trade flag of Great Britain, but they would be doing that which I fancy would fetch them more than anything else, and that is, they would he protecting their own properties. This Fire Brigade would not be only useful in times of peace, but also in time of war. for we may be perfectly sure incendiary fires would be started by evil disposed Chinese if they saw the colonial forces engaged with an enemy, Once allow these fires to get a hold, rioting, pillaging, and murdering of European women and children would be the next step.
2
In regard to "An Old Naval Reserve Man I can but say, get the colony to agitate for an extension of the Kowloon froutier; having got that extension, start waterworks, build quarters for the Chinese, and make them go over there. By doing so we relieve the colony from the dangers of over-population and all its accom. pauying horrors. No good has over yet been done without an agitation, and it is for the purpose of getting up an agitation that I write this. Surely Mr. Editor, you can help.
BRITISHER.
Hongkong, 23rd March, 1896.
The Tientsin local authorities have issued proclamations announcing the decision to allow private enterprise in the manufacture of fire- armis, swords, etc., in that city. Although," say the proclamations, "the private manufacture of such articles has hitherto been forbidden under pain of extreme peralties. still as it is general in Western countries and it is cur desire to emulate whatever is good in the West, this law has recently been abrogated by H.I.M. the Emperor for the benefit of the country and the encouragement of private enterprise," Four private companies aro. therefore to be allowed to trade in this line, but they must be registered at the local yamen-N. C. Daily News.
etc.