292
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND The Chevalier d'Auriac. BY S. LEVETT YEATS, | the launch at Murray. Pier the band played
London and Bombay: Longmans, Green & Co. 1897. THE latest addition to Longmans' Colonial Library, which we have received through Messrs. Kelly and Walsh, Limited, is a stirring tale of history and romance, the scene of which is laid in France in the reign of Henry of Navarre. The Chevalier d'Auriac is the hero and narrates his adventures in the first person There is an abundance of stirring incident and the excitement grows more intense as the tale progresses. The reader will find it difficult to lay the book down until he has finished the last page.
Swanee River," and everyone thought this popular air was played with great success con- sidering that the band has only recently been started. Major Sir John Carrington (Com- mandant) and the whole of the officers of the Field Battery accompanied the men, and quite a large crowd of people assembled in Queen's Road and on the cricket ground to watch the Volunteers march by. The men were halted on Murray Pier, where quite a large number of interested residents assembled. The specially chartered launch, Prudence was in waiting and the men embarked with great eagerness, most of them doubtless proudly thinking to themselves that they would help to fix the Big Bolt on the Back Door,
The launch looked quite spruce. The Corps flag with the crest was flying forward, the British flag aft, and the Corps colours were painted on the funnel. Eren the launchmen were in special attire. Each man wore a uniform which was perhaps intended to resemble khaki, but owing to the peculiarity of the process of dyeing or washing or drying or some other stage of the transformation, the uniform of these men really looked as if it had been soaked in a strong solution of Turkey Rhubarb. Going across to Stonecutters' the band played two
Cassell's Publications for September. THE Magazine of Art contains an account by M. H. Spielmann of the National Gallery of British Art, which was consecrated to the pub- lic use on the 21st July by the Prince of Wales and which now shelters not only the collection of Mr. Tate, who has presented the gallery and collection to the uation, but also the pictures of the Chantrey Bequest, those included in Mr. Watts's gift to his fellow-countrymen, and, finally, ninety-seven works removed from the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. In the series of articles on the Royal Collections the subject this month is Boulle Work. There are various other interesting articles on art sub-lively selections. jects and the number is an excellent one.
Cassell's Magazine has a very attractive bill of fare consisting of fiction and miscellaneous articles. Amongst the latter is one on gedies of the Sea," by Alfred T. Story. The article opens with the statement that one does not hear much of piratical deeds nowadays except occasionally in the China seas, and from time to time the Riff coast;
on
" Tra-
Stonecutter's Island was reached in very good time, and the men were drawn up on the pier and marched into camp to the tune of the British Grenadiers." After being dismissed they hastened to their respective tents, arranged everything in good order, dug trenches, and prepared for the night. A company drill was put in before dinner, but owing to a shower of rain it-the drill not the dinner had to be ent
short. The night was rather tempestnons but nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Yesterday a church parade service was held by the Rev. W. Bannister, who preached an earnestly eloquent sermon, which was most appropriate to the occasion,
but it is not 90 many years since the voyage to India was not unattended with risk from pirate hordes." A number of sea tragedies are narrated, but none of those which have taken place on the China coast find a place in the collection, though it is mentioned that the captain of one of the P, and O. boats told the writer that he was once rendered very
At noon the Corps flag was hoisted, this ceremony being the signal for a great display uneasy by the number of low-looking Celestials of enthusiasm. The first attempt was not suc- who took short passage at Canton" the cap-cessful as the unfurling rope broke, but thanks tain states the precautions he took and con- to the assistance rendered by two captains, a cludes by saying that a few months after-lieutenant, two quartermaster-sergeants, and a wards a ship was taken in the Canton river exactly in the manner he described. There must be some mistake, we think, in putting this into the mouth of a P. & O. captain, as that line has never made Canton one of its ports,
In the Quiver General Booth tells the story of the Salvation Army.
THE HONGKONG
CORPS.
VOLUNTEER
gunner, and the sound advice kindly proffered by a few of the bystanders, the broken ends of the rope were soon tied and the flag was unfurled amidst loud cheers and the playing by the band of "British Grenadiers."
During this week some very useful work will be accomplished, and it is to be sincerely hoped that the weather will be more propitious than during the first two days.
12th October.
The Volunteer camp at Stonecutters' Island ANNUAL CAMP OF INSTRUCTION.
on Sunday night was anything but a pleasant 11th October.
spot. It rained so long and with such heavy The Hongkong Volunteer Corps went into force that it is almost a wonder the whole island, camp at Stonecutters Island on Saturday after- fortifications and all, was not washed out of noon. The many Volunteers who were up early existence. Not only did rain fall in torrents enough on Saturday morning anxiously scanned but the wind howled and shrieked as if in the eastern horizon for visible evidence of the terrible agony, and the bell tents were put to a rising of the sun, but they were sadly disap-most severe test. The marquee used by the rank pointed with what they saw. As far as sunshine and file for singing and whist playing, when it is was concerned the hour might have been mid- not engaged for meals, was blown down abont night. Nothing but dense masses of heavy five o'clock in the morning, and some of the bell eloads could be seen and those clouds looked as
tents were knocked out of shape on the weather if they would not budge for all the armies in side. A piano was stationed in the marquee. the world. And they did not budge. They This was a very fine instrument. It was stuck like unwelcome visitors, the consequence gentle and obliging and was always willing to being that rain fell during most of the morning either submit to an expert in the one finger and afternoon. The Field Battery were ordered exercise or to be touched by players of the to parade at Headquarters at 2.30, and by that Lizst or Paderewski type. It was time there was a very good muster of men, not- amenable to the wind and rain. After the withstanding the inclemency of the weather. welcome réveille had been sounded and The members of the Maxim Gun Company were the men had cleared away the cobwebs not ordered to parade, much, we understand, to which, thanks to a restless evening, en- the disappointment of several men who preferred circled their eyes, they set to work to march in a body into camp to dribbling in in extricate the piano from underneath the soaked a go-as-you-please style. One sergeant of the canvas. After a good deal of scientific tugging Maxims, however, decided to turn up at head at the ropes the instrument was found. Ser- quarters and we think he was the only member geant-Major Duncan, without consulting a of the "A" Company who did so.
single member of the ambulance corps, ordered Owing to the rain the men did not fall in the instant removal of the piano to the hos until about three o'clock.
For the first time pital. The order was promptly obeyed and a since it was organized the Corps drum and dozen willing hands heaved up the piano and fife band made its official public appearance, bore it gently and safely into one of the wards. and it goes without saying that the musicians' Surgeon Lientenant Stedman was not in camp efforts were highly appreciated. On the way to 'at the time, but somebody else who knew
even
to
[October 13, 1897.
all about such matters undertook the treatment of the case, the result being that the piano was pronounced to be absolutely free from fracture and it was allowed to leave the hospital. The piano had a fine game to itself at night. The marquee was quickly re-instated by a large fatigue party and then all the men tackled a hearty breakfast, which was followed by an exodus from camp by a good number of men, the remainder stopping behind waiting for the sun. Last night the weather was calm and ap- pearances indicated the break np of the bad weather. We sincerely trust the rest of the week will be fine. This afternoon the Camp Gazette will be on sale at the camp and also at Messrs. Kelly and Walsh.
HONGKONG CRICKET CLUB.
FIRST XI. V. THE TWENTY-TWO.
The opening match of the season was brought off on Saturday on the Cricket Ground under atmospheric conditions that were unfortunately far from favourable. The eleven was con- stituted, according to " olo custom," entirely of old choices, and but for the absence of two of their number when the side was batting would probably have been just strong enough to score a win. The twenty-two was not so rich in new talent as upon some previous occasions, but Noble and Moberley appear to be likely acquisitions, the former scoring 21
36.
runs
and capturing four wickets for Isacke, too, made a good show with the ball, taking five wickets for 54 runs. He had three chances missed off him in his first two
overs, and thereafter in proportion. The field- ing was far from satisfactory throughout, for which the bad light and the slippery condition of the ball may perphaps be held to offer some excuse, and omitting all mention of the chances that were not accepted, the general ground field- ing, the returns to the wicket, and the general routine of scouting out were very deficient in smartness and precision. Some exceptions proved the rule, however. Head and Berger were both responsible for good catches, whilst Platt snapped up Johnston at the wicket in a remains to mention that Johnston, Gordon, very smart and workmanlike manner. It only and Mounsey contributed 90 out of the 117 runs put together by the eleven, each in his own style making a creditable and successful first appearance for the season. One fact remains pavilion, a fact for which the general body of to be chronicled: there was only one dog in the
members have reason to express much gratitude to the half-dozen members of the Club who commonly choose a Saturday afternoon cricket match as a suitable occasion to give their half- bred canine friends a weekly airing.
The following is the score :—
ALL COMERS.
P. Wodehouse, b. Gordon
J. F. Noble, e. Gillingham, b. Smith, H. S. Moberley, H.K.R., b. Gordon C. C. Inchbald, b. Gordon
F. H. Kew, at. Arthur, b. Smith Dr. Atkinson, b. Gordon
A. G. Stokes, c. Ward, b. Mackenzie. R. L. Richardson, b. Smith
0
21
13
0
0
6
10
4
Capt. Phillips, A.D.C., b. Smith
2
H. Carey, R.A, e Smith, b. Davies..
11
H Grant-Smith, run out....
0
R. Laacke, b Smith
Hon. H. E Wodehouse, C.M G., c. Ward, b.
Mackenzie...
3
C. C. Platt, c Mounsey, b Smith
8
Lient Head, R.A., b Smith
4
Capt. Rumsey, R.N., c. sub., b. Smith. Lieut. Buzzard, R.A, b. Mast
0
9
DE. Brown, b. Smith
0
8 Jacob, o. Ward. b. Mast.:
7
Capt. Berger, H.K R., b. Gillingham
3
Lieut. Ingpen, WYR, b Gillingham J. Grant-Smith, o. Mast, b. Ward... A. Ellis, not out
4
5
2
Extras
13
125
C. Gordon Gillingham
BOWLING ANALYSIS.
Overs, Maid. Runs. Wides. N.B. Wickets.
Sercombe Smith 18
4
2
14. 5 26
8 4 10
***
1
45
2
2
18
2
8
4
8
2
1.3
1
...
P. G. Davis 6 C. Mackenzie... 8
E. Mast
A. G. Ward
I