December 8, 1897.]
railways in Shantung and the working of mines in the province. The railway question was mentioned by Reuter, but no reference was made by that authority to the working of mines.
A telegram is said to have been received in Tokyo, stating that the Chinese Government has asked Great Britain to intervene in the matter of the occupation of Kiaochau Bay, but Great Britain has declined to do so.
THE GOVERNORSHIP OF,
HONGKONG,
SIR WILLIAM ROBINSON'S SUCCESSÓR.
His Excellency the Governor, Sir William Robinson, G.C.M.G., received a telegram from the Secretary of State on the 30th Nov. stating thatSir Henry Arthur Blake, K.C.M.G., who is at present Governor of Jamaica, has been ap- pointed Governor of Hongkong in succession to His Excellency.
The date of the Sir William Robinson's de- parture has been definitely fixed for the 1st February, which our readers will regret to note is a month earlier than had been anticipated. The community will consequently not have the
pleasure of His Excellency's company at the
Races,
ST, ANDREW'S BALL.
The annual convivial gathering of Scotsmen in Hongkong on Tuesday night, 30th Nov., will be remembered for three important reasons. The first is that this year's ball is the jubilee of Scottish celebrations in this colony, it being exactly fifty years since Scotsmen as a body assembled in all their glory to maintain their national prestige and perpetuate the memory of Saint Andrew. The second and third significant points were that the Hongkong St. Andrew's Society bade farewell to His Excellency the Governor, Sir William Robinson, who shortly goes home, and to the West Yorkshire Regiment, whose band is admittedly the best ever heard in the colony. The first reason was of a highly congratulatory nature; the second and third evoked much regret. To part with our warmest friends is always painful, but when the parting is so well and impressively done as it
was
on Tuesday night pain is turned into pleasure, and we rejoice in the fact that Burns has bequeathed to us such homely, sympathetic, and touching words with which to express our. true feelings. At the conclusion of the ball the band played "Auld Lang Syne" with varia- tions consisting of Scottish song, first as a waltz and then as a gallop, and the dance wound up with the whole company joining hands and singing Auld Lang Syne." The scene was indeed a memorable one and it will remain fixed in the thoughts of everyone who witnessed it. His Excellency the Governor, who was present at the time, must have been deeply impressed with the remarkable scene. In honour of this occasion it was decided to make as many special features in the matter of decorations as possible, and in striking out in many new ways the Committee in charge of this important work succeeded in introducing many pleasing effects which were absent in former years. In ascend ing the artistically decorated grand staircase one gazed into a large mirror which
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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447
(President) and Mrs. Black, Captain G. C. An- |A. C. J. Campbell, H. F. Carmichael, Capt. derson (Vice President) and Lady Carrington, Crawford, R.A., H. Crombie, J. B. Cousins, H.E. Major General Black and Mrs. Holland, A. Contts, D. R. Crawford, A. Cumming, A. Sir John Carrington (Chief Justice) and Mrs. Donald, W. A. Duff, J. McG. Forbes, G. C. Murray Bain,. Commodore Holland and Mrs. Fullerton, J. Gilchrist, David Gillies, A. G. McGregor Forbes, Hon. W. M. Goodman Gordon, Capt. L. A. C. Gordon, R.A., W. (Attorney-General) and Mrs. F. H. May, Mr. Douglas Graham, Commander Arnot Henderson, D..Gillies and Mrs. Goodman.
F. Henderson, T. F. Hough, Hon. J. J. Bell- Irving, David Landale, Hon, J. H. Stewart- Lockhart, W. K. Low, D. MacDonald, A. P. MacEwen, E. F. Mackay, F. D. Maclean, Dep. Insp. General Maclean, Mr. F. Maitland, Camp. bell A. MoAllum, H. McCallum, James McKie, E. J. Main, R. Mitchell, A. C. More, J. R. Mudie, W. Nicholson, James Rankin, Archibald Reid, Arthur M. Reid, Dr. Rennie, R. L. Richardson, H. A. Ritchie, A. Rodger, John Rodger, C. S. Sharp, A. Sinclair, A. Findlay Smith, Gershom Stewart, M. Stewart, J. D. Smart, W. Taylor, A. M. Thomson, Dr. J. C. Thomson, D. D. Thomson, J. Thurburn, Hón. T. H. Whitehead, James Walker, Malcolm Watson, David Wood.
As usual at this social function the attend- ance was very large indeed and both ball rooms were always crowded, but fortunately the night was comparatively cool for dancing and everyone derived considerable pleasure thereby. A particularly gratifying feature of the dancing this year was the increased popu- larity shown in the national dances. This was no doubt brought about by the thoughtful act of the Society in inviting all its guests to the practice dances, and so enabling Scotsmen and Englishmen to improve their knowledge of the intricacies of the eightsome reel, the strathspey, Caledonians, and the Highland Schottische. The band of the West Yorkshire Regiment supplied the music, which, it is needless to say, was first class. We might here mention that owing to a family bereavement the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, who is one of the most active
members of the Society, was unable to be present.
The following was the dance programme:- Lancers
Cuidchan Righ Waltz
Roacam Racum Caledonians
.An Comunn Gaelach Strathspey & Reel Failte Sheamus More Uilleam's Calum's Morag
Am Braman air
Waltz
+
Eightsome Reel......
Waltz.. Caledonians
Strathspey & Reel Polka..
Eightsome Reel... Washington Post
reang nan Teilear
Ben Cruachan Glen Albyn Cabar Féidh Fraoch Eilean
Port More McEwen Birlinn nan tonn
Waltz........Bhratach Bhan Chlann Avidh Barn Dance
Bodaich nam briqisean Waltz
Tha mi gu Tinn Tulach Ard Fear a Chinn Mhoir Ardmore
Highland Schottische Waltz Caledonians. Polks Waltz Barn Dance
Cead mille failthe Buachill nan Caorach Geal'us Gorm a Suas Waltz & Galop...
Auld Lang Syne Supper was served in the circle and pit of the theatre, and the party at the President's table was the same as in the first set with the excep- tion that Mr. T. Jackson escorted Mrs. May and Mr. David Gillies Mrs. Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Goodman had to leave early in the evening and were not present at supper. The toothsome haggis was made by Miss Anderson and it was declared by those whose opinion was worth having to be exceedingly delectable. Mrs. Aitken made eight shortbread cakes, two of which were placed on the President's table. The one in front of the President was labelled
St. Andrew" and the one in front of His Ex- cellency the Governor "St. George," and the figures "1847" and " 1897" were tastefully worked on each cake. The haggis was brought in amid the stirring music of the pipes, and accompanying the bearers of the delicacy were two kilted Scots, each carrying a bottle of whisky for the President's table. The Pre sident, H.E. the Governor, and the two wearers of the kilt each took a glass and drank a full bumper of the neat liquor - soda was scorned on this occasion-and heart-
reflected the arms of Scotland on
a back. ground of tartan, these being placed at the head of the landing, and on reaching the ball room visitors were pleasantly surprisedily drank to the Society's prosperity. The to see how effectively the introduction of white and dark curtains set off the excellent arange- ment of the flags. The electric light, too, was unsparingly but judiciously used about the building, the large thistle over the mirror being strikingly beautiful. The Decoration Com- mittee must certainly be congratulated on the immense success of their labours.
Punctually at nine o'clock His Excellency the Governor, who was accompanied by Captain Phillips, A.D.C., arrived at the hall, and he was met by the President of the Society, Hon. J. J. Bell Irving, the members of the Committee, and Mr. David Wood, hon. Secretary. Preceded by two pipers the President, the distinguished guest, and their retinne, ascended to the ball room and dancing was at once commenced, the first set being composed as follows-H.E. the Governor and Miss Anderson, Hon. J. J. Bell Irving
supper was excellently served by Messrs. Madar and Farmer and the wines were the best that could be obtained. Of course the supper room was prettily decorated and the stage received very careful treatment, the whole view-being very fine indeed and much admired,
The card room received the overflow of visitors and they were most hospitably entertained.
In concluding this notice we should like to add a word of praise for Mr. David Wood, the hon. Secretary. Mr. Wood is a Scotsman to the teeth, and he works for the Society with such a good heart and with so much thorough- ness that success must crown any effort he makes.
The following were the stewards:-A. G. Aitken, R. Adam, J. Alston, G. C. Anderson. J. Andrew, A. S. Anton. G. Murray Bain, H. E. Major-General Black, C.B., John Blake, J, F. Boulton, W. D. Braidwood, D. E. Brown,
The various Committees were constituted as follows:-
Invitation Committee--Hoa. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Hon. W. Chatham, Messrs. D.
Gillies, A. P. MacEwen, E. J. Main, Gershom Stewart, A. Coutts. Dr. Rennie, and D. Wood. (convener).
Card room Committee Messrs. G.. Murray Bain (convener), A. M. Marshall, Hon. A. M. Thomson, Mr. T. F. Hongh, and the Honorary Secretary,
Dancing and Music Committee-His Ex- cellency Major-General Black, Messrs. G. C. Anderson (conveher), O. D. Thomson, H. A. Ritchie, D. Landale, E. F. Mackay, A. Sinclair, and the Honorary Secretary.
Supper and Wines Committee-Hon. T. H. Whitebead, Messrs. H. F. Carmichael, G. L. Duncan, A. Cumming, A. Donald, James McKie, W. Nicholson, R. L. Richardson, C. ‚8. Sharp, A. Rodger, J. Waddell, J. McGregor Forbes (convener), J. F. Boulton, W. D. Braid- wood, G. C. Fullerton, A. G. Gordon, and the Honorary Secretary,
Decorations-His Excellency Major General Black, Captain Crawford, R.A., Messsrs. J. B. Cousins, J. Gilchrist, A. G. Gordon, D. Gillies, Malcolm Watson, D. MacDonald (convener), E. J. Main, J. R. Mudie, A. P. MacEwen, Dr. Rennie, and the Honorary Secretary.
Ladies' Room-Messrs. D. R. Crawford
(convener), A. Findlay Smith, and Dr. J. C. Thomson.
TELEGRAPHIC GREETINGS. The following telegraphic greeting was sent by the Hon. Secretary to Singapore, Yokohama, Shanghai, and Kobe:-
£6
Chief Bell-Irving and Hongkong Scots greet brother Scots-WooD Secretary." The following were the replies:-
Singapore." Your Scottish fellow-country- men in Singapore return hearty greetings wi a’ the honours three.-TAYLOR.
Yokohama. Chief Ross and your brither Scots of Yokohama return hearty greetings.-. FRASER."
Kobe.-"Chief A. Bell and brither Scots thank Hongkong Scots and reciprocate.-HUT- TON, Secretary.'
Shanghai."Brither Scots, Shanghai, return hearty greeting-GARDʼN ER.'
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD. A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held at the offices on 2nd December. Dr. J. M. Atkinson (Principal Civil Medical Officer) pre- sided, and there were also present Hon. F. H. May (Captain Superintendent of Police), Hon. R. D. Ormsby (Director of Public Works), Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), Mr. N. J. Ede, and Mr. H. McCallum (Secretary).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
PLAGUE IN BOMBAY.
The number of cases of bubonic plague in Bombay from Oct. 20th to Nov. 3rd was 141, and the number of deaths, 91.
THE SANITARY SURVEYOR'S REPORT. The report of the Sanitary Surveyor, Mr. J. R. Crook, for the quarter ending 30th September last, showed that during the quar ter plans had been deposited and passed as being in accordance with the provisions