May 29, 1897.]
The events during the week have taken place for the most part in the law courts. A writ of habeas corpus, a charge of arson, a court-martial, and a granite chipping case have furnished most interesting reading. The court-martial was held on a soldier who, according to an old cus- tom, received a fee for looking after the beer supplied to the garrison, but as the acceptance of fees is contrary to regulations issued in 1896 the prisoner was found guilty, although the regulations do not appear to have been put in force before, or at any rate made known to the men. The Queen's birthday parade at the Happy Valley on Monday provided a fairly interesting sight to hundreds of spectators who journeyed down there very early in the morning. H.E. Sir William Robinson gave an "at home" at Government House on Monday even- ing in honour of Her Majesty's birthday.
Au extraordinary general meeting of the Green Island Cement Co., Limited, is convened for the 5th June, when special resolutions will be submitted providing for an increase of the capital of the Company.
The Secretary of the Punjom Mining Co., Limited, advises us that the specimen of gold bearing quartz mentioned in the Manager's progress report for April has arrived and is now on view at the office of the Company.
Dr. Clarke, Medical Officer of Health, who went to Macao to make inquiries concerning the plague in that colony, is of opinion that there are only a few sporadic cases of plague each day; eight to tên daily is an outside figure.
The M. M. steamer Sydney having had to put back to Shanghai in consequence of an accident to her machinery her place has been taken by the Yarra, which conveys this week's homeward mail. The mail in consequence leaves on Sunday instead of Wednesday.
From telegrams published in Indian papers it appears that plague has broken out in Tonkin. Nothing has appeared in reference to this in the Tonkin papers. The news has no doubt reached London through Paris. and is presumably, based on official reports.
Senhor Barbosa, formerly director of the Revenue Department of Macao, returned on Saturday, having been appointed Secretary General, and was given an enthusiastic recep- tion. A triumphal arch was erected on the wharf, which was decorated with flags, and the Chinese welcomed him with abundance of crackers.
The Queen's Birthday parade of troops at the Happy Valley on Monday morning was witnessed by a very large portion of the public, notwithstanding the early hour at which it was held. The troops commenced to arrive on the ground just before six o'clock, but owing to some uncertainty that existed as to the exact positions the men should, occupy there was considerable delay, the Royal salute and the feu de joi not being fired until about 7.30, just about the time when Big Ben was boom- ing the advent of the auspicious day in London; so the delay was not altogether inappropriate. After the salute the whole troops marched past twice, Colonel Elsdale, R.E., receiving the salute in the absence, through indisposition, of His Excellency Major-General Black. There were altogether 1,689 regulars on the field, and they were composed of Royal Artillery, 401; Royal Engineers, 169; West Yorkshire Regiment, 703; Hongkong Regiment, 416. The Hongkong Volunteer Corps also took a prominent part in the parade, there being suffi- of the Field Battery present to man cient men six guns. The Volunteers assembled at head- quarters at 5.30 and did not return until 9.30. when their uniforms were heavily soaked with perspiration. They worked exceptionally hard and well and it will doubtless be a source of gra. tification to them to know that one of the highest officers in the colony expressed unbounded praise of the appearance they made and of the gallant manner in which they stuck to their most trying duties. It is no small work to pull the guns down to the Happy Valley, then to take them six times up and down the field, and bring them back to headquarters before breakfast. Uni- fortunately only one member-a gunner-of the Maxim Gun Company, turned up at head- quarters. We may say that on Jubilee Day there will be from six to eight hundred sailors on parade as well as an additional two hundred men of the Hongkong Regiment.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Lady Buller leaves Yokohama by the Empress of Japan for London via Canada.
The death rate last month was, for the British and Foreign community, civil population, 19.5, and for the Chinese community 14.8.
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It is notified in the Gazette that Mr. J. G. T. Buckle has been appointed Assistant Colonial Secretary and Clerk of Councils, with effect from the 1st January last.
Signor Ugo Nervegna has been recognised, provisionally and pending the arrival of the Queen's exequatur, as in charge of the Italian Consulate in this colony.
The Hon. Treasurer of the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals begs to acknowledge with thanks the following donations to the funds of the Hospitals
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$25
Sir J. W. Carrington, C.M.G. The Governor has given bis assent, in the name and on behalf of the Queen, to the Medi- cal Registration Amendment Ordinance, the Law of Partnership Ordinance, and the Probate Ordinance.
The Colonial Secretary has informed the Chamber of Commerce that he has received the following telegram from H.B.M. Consul at Bangkok:-"20th May, 1897, Ships from Hongkong must stop at Kophia and Paknam for medical inspection."
The four Chinamen who created such an ado about being "compelled" to go to Canton under a banishment order issued by the Governor in Council voluntarily elected to go there after the Chief Justice dismissed the motion for their discharge. They were taken on board the Canton stearer the same evening.
After returning from the parade at the Happey Valley on Monday Major Sir John Carrington complimented the Volunteers upon their morning's work and then referred to the early departure of Sergeant Lowrie, who has received the appointment of drill instructor to the Shanghai Volunteers. The Major said that he was sure that every member of the corps would wish Sergeant Towrie every success in his new appointment,
Among the passengers by the German mail steamer Prinz Henrich on the 25th May was Mr. John Wilkie, chief clerk at the Kowloon Dock. Mr. Wilkie, who has been for the past eleven years in the Dock Company's employ at their different establishments, now goes home accompanied by his wife and children for a well earned holiday. Mr. Wilkie was accompanied for a short distance down the harbour by several members of the Kowloon staff, who Auld Lang enlivened his departure with Syne.".
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We hear that a special meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on Wednesday afternoon, The meeting was not publicly notified in any way and was therefore to all intents and purposes private. This method of securing secrecy amounts to a public scandal. If it is deemed necessary to consider any subject in private a formal resolution to that effect can be passed. but only when the Board has met, whereas at present the matter is virtually decided by the officials on their own responsibility before the Board meets.
Amongst the passengers arrived by the Heungshan from Macao on the 25th May was General Fernando de Magalhaes, who has for several years been in command of the Artillery in that city, Senhor A. A. Branco, ex Harbour Master of Macao, and Lient. Colonel Costa Campos and his wife, who are all proceeding to their native country by the French Mail. Mrs. A. A. Arez, wife of the late Attorney. General of the neighbouring colony, is also proceeding to join her husband, who has been appointed Governor of Cape Verde Islands.
A gunner in the Royal Artillery named Troak has been reported to the police as miss ing from the colony. It is probable that he has left Hongkong for good. He was wanted by the police on a charge of assaulting Richard Hill, an assistant in the employ of Mr. David Kennedy, at Causeway Bay on the 23rd inst. The assault was an unusually savage one, the victim being kicked on the head and sustaining such severe injuries that he is now detained in the hospital. As an instance of the terrible force of the kicks it may be mentioned that on one occasion the soldier missed Hill's head and kicked a plaster wall, making a hole half to three quarters of an inch in depth,
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The maximum temperature last month was 83.2, on the 25th, and the minimum 57.5, on the 19th, the mean for the month being 68.4. - The rainfall amounted to 3.24 inches.
Commander Gore-Brown, of H.M.S. Nar- cissus, who has been invalided, left for home on the 19th May by the C. P. steamer Empress of Japan, As the latter passed the Narcissus the rigging of the man-of-war was manned and hearty cheers were given for the departing Commander, the band playing appropriate airs.
There is in Hongkong a washermen's benefit society. Its objects are most landable and it is maintained by master washermen and work- ing washermen, who, by means of annual subscriptions, ensure a certain allowance to any of their number in case of sickness or want of employment, a dividend in case of death, and the provision of a coffin if necessary. Every year the members have a dinner and so large is the attendance that two of the leading re staurants in Queen's Road have to be engaged. It is on this occasion that the accounts are passed and all settlements finally adjusted and the manager for the year ballotted for. The manager has control of all the subscriptions and the general financial working of the society. This year's manager succeeded in getting about $300 in hand and at the beginning of November he. absconded with this sum to his native village, The police were informed of the heartless con- duct of the manager and they communicated with the Consul at Canton, requesting him to. make an application to the Chinese authorities for the arrest of the criminal. The result was he was apprehended and on the 18th inst, he was sent under escort to Hongkong. On the 21st May he was taken before Mr. H. E. Wodehouse and sent to gaol for six months with hard labour.
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The Boat-house Sub-Committee of the Victoria Recreation Club, in presenting the report for the past year, "regret to draw attention to the lack of interest taken in rowing, except during the two months' immediately preceding the Regatta. It is during the summer and autumn that experience should be gained for the coming that members may have become winter, so efficient before the training commences. The form shewn in the last Regatta was scarcely a credit to the Club, and the result was that near- ly every race was won by practically the same The Bath-house Sub-committee "have crew." decided to add 12 new temporary bunks, on bam. boo piles, to the remaining portion of the bath. house, making in all 21 bunks for the accom- modation of bathers, for the coming season. This provision, it is hoped, will prove sufficient until more suitable accommodation can be pro- vided." The Gymnasium Sub-Committee says:
"There is little of interest to report this year. The classes for gymnastics, boxing, and fencing, under the direction of Staff-Instructor Sergeant Cusack, have not been well attended The annual gymnastic throughout the season. competition was held on the 30th and 31st January, 1896, and proved a great success, the form shewn being superior to that of previous years." The members of the Club number 409.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In reference to the proposed improvement of the Pelho a private letter of the 11th inst. from Tientsin says:-"I am glad to say that the steamer companies, landrenters, etc., have given now pretty certain that we shall have the Peiho up their standpoint of non possumus, and it is put in order."-N. C. Daily News.
A collision, fortunately unattended with very serious consequences, occurred at Shanghai on the 18th May. The French gunboat Comète had got under way from her moorings off Pootung Point and proceeded up river for the purpose of turning round, and having passed between the French and English mail steamers was trying to square up to head down stream, when she ran into the receiving hulk Wellington. The Comète's jibboom and head gear were carried When the Comète fell clear she away, and a large hole knocked in the Welling- ton's side. drifted for some distance down stream before she could be got under command, and finally proceeded to her former anchorage and re-moored to repair damages.-N. G. Daily News: