and papers to enable me to at e new valuation.
"been no change in the staff, Fui, olerk, and Mr. Ip Yak, Pai, having continued to perform their satisfactory manner. The former is tacting for Mr. Mok Man Cheung as alator at the Supreme Court. I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
ARTHUR CHAPMAN,
Assessor.
The Honourable A. M. Thomson,
Acting Colonial Treasurer,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
HONGKONG VOLUNTEER COKPS
+4
really
to get down thes
his officers
the
would join the Corps in case of emer
would have two separate
Suppose
The following correspondence has been for warded to us by the Secretary to the Chamber and the officers of the regiment and played than that join, why they will always be usful to
of Commerce :--
*Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 6th August, 1896. Dear Sir,-After the reduction in the rates charged for telegrams hence to the Straits Settlements and other countries to the south, the advertisement of the 31st July announcing a further revision of rates, came as a great surprise, and the extreme brevity of the notice before enforcement of the new tariff seems to my Committee to argue a want of considera- tion for the public.
The reason put forward by the Telegraph Companies for the advance in their charges is one that assuredly will not stand examination, being clearly opposed to facts as at present known. The price of silver, so far from having declined, has advanced from 1/111 TT in February, 1895, to 28. 2 at the pre- sent moment, a rise of some 14 per cent. The depreciation of silver in 1895 did not prevent your directors from reducing the telegraphic rate to Europe from $2.30 to $2.00 per word.
The extent of the present increase in the rate to Europe, from $2 to $2.75, or 371 per cent., supposing that good reasons existed for an increase, is surely most excessive, and quite out of all proportion to any reductions ever made.
Bro
future. These last remarks of mine I think i
really sensible and ought to receive your con- sideration, but being sensible they are not ap propriate to this evening. (Laughter.) You are to have a large number of songs during the evening. After my few remarks, I shall begin to give the prizes, after which: we will go on with the programme and spend the pleasant evening we anticipate. (Applause))
The prizes were then distributed, the Major- General addressing a witty remark respecting either the nature of the prise or the recipient as each man stepped forward to receive his tro- phy. The prizes were very handsome.
The following is the prize list :--- 1.-200 yds. (H'cap) Gunner W. Stewart,
Field Battery,
2.-400 yds (H'cap) Q.-M. Sergt. G. Wat-
ling, Vol. Staff.
3.—500 yds. (H’cap) Bombr. T. Meek, Field
Battery.
4.-Aggregate (Net) 200, 400, and 500 yds lat prize, Gunner G. P. Lammert, Ma- chine Gun Go.
Aggregate (Net) 200, 400, and 500 yds. 2nd Prize, Gunner W. Stewart, Field Battery.
ANNUAL PRIZE DISTRIBUTION. On Friday evening the presentation of prizes won at the annual carbine competition of the Hongkong Volunteers took place at the head- quarters of the Corps. There was a large at Battery and the other for the Maxim tendance of volunteers in uniform and their Company--and see all the elig friends. The proceedings took place on the morrow or immediately and parade ground and for the occasion, a stage had join us, will you join the res been erected and the grounds illuminated with have them put their nam fairy lamps and Chinese lanterns, the whole best thing to doubling, and having a very pleasing effect. The stage will be to have their nanies
"a sensible plan, I commen was especially effective; ferns were artistically
these men down on paper that th THE INCREASE IN TELEGRAPHIC | displayed at the foot, intermingled with
RATES.
he machine and field guns of the Battery. ing to come forward in emerge The band of the Hongkong Regiment was you get more men we can get present by kind permission of Major Retallick will not be let off with that. But if more men
several selections of music during the evening.
the Gun detachment. You cannot send gans The presentation of the prizes was made by away without infantry, and they will be largely Major-General Black, who, in a very witty needed; if you ever have an opportunitylin speech, said-Ladies and gentlemen, we assembled here to-night I hope for a pleasant evening and also to honour the brave, to honour the victors in the competitions. (Applause.) Coming down in the car this morning I asked the officer in command: "Do you expect me to say anything ? " and he said "Yes, & few words." I understand, the fewer words the better. (Laughter.) I said, "All right; give me some points." He said, "All right, Sergeant Wylie will give you some points." Well, by Jove, all I can say is this, that if the men who won these prizes had as few points as I got they would be ducks' eggs and would have gained nothing. Talking of shooting, there is always one point you can make chaff of against the English volunteers, and that is by saying, "Who shot the dog?" (Laughter.) I do not now why this should rile them, but it always did. I think to shoot a dog is not an easy thing, as those who try it know~(laughter) -and every man who can shoot a dog can shoot a man (laughter and applause)—and is there- fore a very good soldier. That leads me to say this, that unless a soldier or a volunteer can shoot he is not much use, and shooting is after all the main point. You may be able to do anything else, but if you cannot shoot it is not much use. There is another point rather a Napoleonic anecdote that occurred to me when coming down the hill. You remember Napoleon, when he saw the Scots Greys at the battle of Waterloo,
"What are these?"
"Oh, asked of an officer, your Majesty," said the officer, "them's the Scots Grey's," and shortly afterwards when the 42nd Highlanders came marching along he says "Who are these ?" Oh, these are the wives of the Scots Greys," said the officer. (Laugh. ter.) I do not know if that ancedote is true, but I believe it is quite true that Napoleon said of the Scots Greys, "Thank God," there are so few of them." Now when our enemies 300 the Hongkong Volunteers they might say the same; they might say they could easily beat them; there are so few of them. (Laughter). Of course, in reality one comes here and stands and says a few things before you and there is not much value in what one says at all, but it occurred to me that I might say a little about that. There are too few of you, but I do say of the few men who have done this volunteer work that you have done very well. (Applause.) The next question that comes before me is the reserve; I spoke of it in my report. There is no doubt a reserve would be an excellent thing. Not only a reserve for officers and non-commis- sioned officers who would wear the uniform after they leave the corps, but you want some good from the reserve. The reserve must com- prise both officers and non-commissioned officers and many men. I quite realise there may be very many men who might be volunteer, but who say. "Our business really takes up too much of our time; we cannot attend to volunteering, but if occasion ever demands it we will join." (Applause.) Thinking of that, I might say this, that if the occasion should ever arise in this colony that occasion will come like a thief in the night, because old things have changed; you do not now hear about long wars, and it will come before you know of Beneath the Skies it. It would be a very good thing indeed if
Mr D.W MAITLA the commanding gentlemen of the Corps Song...“ MaoGregor's Gath not so much the officer who is in command get bed Sergt. WKV the whole Corps, but I am talking more of the Quadrille sju On Indian
Judic?
My Committee cannot too strongly protest against action which they consider not only arbi- trary, but as verging on an abuse of the monopoly secured by your companies. The rights conferred upon the Telegraph Companies carry with them responsibilities which the pursuit of profit should at no time obscure. Now that the successful conduct of business depends so much on cheap and speedy means of communication, it would seem the interest as well as the privilege of Telegraph Administrations to afford every rom- sonable encouragement for the promotion of commerce, instead of attempting to handicap it by heavy and to some persons prohibitive rates. Sincerely trusting your directors will recon- sider their action and revert to the old tariff.- I am, dear sir, yours faithfully,
(Signed) R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary. To J. M. Beck, Esq., Acting Manager in China, E. E. A. &c. Telegraph Co. and Great Nor- thern Telegraph Co.“
The Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company Limited
The Great Northern Telegraph Company of Copenhagen
Hongkong Station,
7th August, 1896.
Chatterton Wilcox, Esq.
Secretary, Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce. Dear Sir, I am in receipt of your letter of: yesterday's date regarding the recent increase in the Companies' Tariffs to Europe andelse where-and setting forth your Committee's views regarding the same.
Ishall take the earliest opportunity to forward this communication to my superiors.-I am, dear sir, yours faithfully,
(Signed) J. M. BECK, Acting Manager.
The American barque St. Hatherine, which left Shanghai on the 15th July for Vancouver, returned to Woosung on the 28th with her ballast shifted, having encountered the typhoon be
there and Japan.
|
Aggregate (H'cap) 200, 400, and 500 yds. 1st Prize, Quarter-Master Sergeant G. Watling, Vol. Staff.
Aggregate (H'cap) 200, 400 and 500 yds. 2nd Prize, Signaller J. Hance, Field Bat- tery
5.-Field Battery Championship, Sergeant J.
Lowrie, Field Battery. 6.-Machine Gun Co. Championship; Corporal
F. Smyth, Machine Gun Co. 7-Officer's Cup (Han'cap), Lieut. D. Mac-
donald, Field Battery.
11.-Carton Prize (Highest Total of Bulls-
eyes) Gunner W. Stewart, Field Battery. 13.-Corps Championship, 1896, Sergeant
J. Lowrie, Field Battery.
Corps Championship, 1895, Gunner G. P.
Lammert, Machine Gun Co. 14.-Recruits (Han'cap), Gunner H. A.
Lammert, Field Battery. 15.-Signaller's Prize, Signaller B. E.
Belilios, Field Battery.
7
16.—Instructor's Prize. 1st Prize, Serg.
Major Spencer, R.A.
Instructor's Prize, 2nd Prize, Master
Gunner Duggan, R.A.
17.-Consolation Prize, Sergeant. A.
Phail, Field Battery. 18-Volley Firing (by Sections), No... Section, Field Battery-Bergte W. K. Wylie (Section Commander.) Sergt. G C. Hayward, Gunners J. Barry. A. Brown R. G.. Hopkins, Corpl. S. W. Hayward, Gunnar Ronald sty
The promenade concert which followed prise distribution was in every Each item was well executed and the per were received with approbation. The bu songs of Lient Grayson were an ing.item. The following is the pro
Sharpshoote March ...
BAND.
Song...
W. Scott.