Page
March 26, 1898.
That the Straits Government should take proper precautions to safeguard Singapore from a visitation of the plague is only reasonable and right, and, provided the preventive mea- sures adopted were fully justified, it will be readily acknowledged that in the restrictions they are enforcing to protect the port a very laudable desire is manifested to minimise the inconveniences and loss caused to shipping and trade generally as much as possible.
We would, however, point out that the plague as it exists in this Colony at the present moment is merely sporadic and has certainly not reached a stage to justify the decision of the Straits Government in declaring Hongkong an infected port. In support of this contention we now beg to enclose an official return of the number of cases recorded from the commence. ment of the year to the 11th instant, the date on which the telegraphic notification was re- ceived. From this return it will be seen that the total number of cases to that date amounted to 107, say an average of 1.521 per diem. If this total is compared to the Chinese populu- tion of Hongkong, which according to the con- sus taken last year is, approximately, 240,000, the proportion is infinitesimal; in fact it is not until we analyse the Return that we can even hazard a conjecture as to the reason which decided the Straits Government to adopt such a strong measure as to impose quarantine on arrivals from this port.
According to the Return the total number of cases up to the 12th February amounted to only
: 16.
For the week ending 19th February 9 cases were recorded, then for the week ending 26th February_the total jumped to 46, and it may be assumed it was on account of this increase that the Straits Government became alarmed. The reason, however, for this sudden angments. tion is not far to seek. The Races occurred daring the week in question, when it will be remembered that unusually large numbers of Chinese poured to the colony from Canton. During the ensuing week the number of cases declined to 22; and since then there has been & further decrease.
There is, we feel assured, good reason for the hope, in view of the reforms which have been effected in the sanitary arrangements and re- gulations, that Hongkong for the future may have an immunity from plague in epidemic form, but it is to be feared that sporadic cases will continue to occur at this season of the year, for at least some time to come, and the question arises whether the infliction of quarantine on arrivals from the colony is to be of annual re- currence ?
Under these circumstances we would, there. fore, ask the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce to represent to His Excellency the Acting Governor the importance, as a matter of principle, of protesting vigorously against any quarantine restrictions being imposed at Singapore on arrivals from this Colony now and hereafter, unless, of course, there should be ample reason for it, and also to request the Chamber at Singapore to co-operate with them in urging
on the Governor of the Straits Settlements the desirability of removing the quarantine. '
However much consideration may be shown in formulating quarantine regulations, they must necessarily injure the interests of this Co- leny and interfere with shipping; the fact that passengers are debarred from taking native ser- vants with them is, in itself, a very serious in- convenience to families who are travelling, but the real mischief is in the fact that other ports, finding the nearest British colony considers it necessary to impose quarantine an arrivals from Hongkong, will naturally follow the example set them, and are not unlikely to enforce restric- tions far more onerons and detrimental to trade. In the face of the facts set forth above, we hardly see how the Straits Government can reasonably persist in this present action.
We are, dear Sir,
Yours faithfully,
H. A. RITCHIE
Superintendent, P. & O. 8. N. Co. G. de CHAMPAUX
Agent, M. M.
MELCHERS & Co.
Agents, Norddeutscher Lloyd. BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
BRADLEY & Co.
Agents, Shan Line SIEMSSEN & Co. HOLLIDAY, WISH & Co. ARNHOLD, KARBERG & Co. Y. SHIGAKI
Agents, Nippon Yusen Kaisba CARLOWITZ & Co. SANDER, WIELER & Co.
Agents, Austrian Lloyds GIBB, LIVINGston & Co.
Agents, Ben Line of Strs. DODWELL, CARLILL & Co.
General Agents, Northern Pacific S.
Co.
Agents, Mogul and Warrack Lines
Steamer
SHEWAN, TOMES & CO.,
288
1897. Twenty-two candidates presented them- selves, of whom three entered for the Senior, 9. for the Intermediate, and 10 for the Elemen- tary Sections. All were successful, except 2 of the candidates, who entered for the Senior Seotion.
The selected pieces were for the most part acourately played, though there appeared to be a curious difference of opinion with regard to the Tempo' of some of the pieces and a deter- mination, almost heroic on the part of some of the performers, to ignore the marks of expres- sion.
The Scale and Arpeggio playing was on the whole very creditable, and we were glad to notice that some regard had been paid to our advice of last year, and, as a consequence, there was much less of the "sorambling” that was SO
Agents, China and Manila S. S. Co., || apparent at the last examination.
Limited.
Shire Line
New York Lipe
JARDINE, MATHESON & Co. P.S.-Since the above letter was written a
telegram from Singapore has been published in the Hongkong Daily Press stating that the Chamber of Commerce there does not favour the removal of quarantine against arrivals from Hongkong. It is, however, probable that the Committee of the Chamber had not sufficient data to enable them to judge the position rightly, and it is to be hoped on receipt of the actual facts they will reconsider their decision.
HONGKONG CENTRE OF THE LONDON COLLÈGE OF MUSIC.
SPEECH BY SIR JOHN CARRINGTON,
The Reading at Sight (confined to the Senior and Intermediate Sections) was, again, with one or two exceptions, deplorably weak, and we must once more urge students to pay more attention to this most important branch of pianoforte playing.
The answers to the questions on the rudiments and theory of music were, on the other hand, much better than at the last examination, several of the candidates scoring nearly full marks in this subject. But here again we must offer a little advice:Always bear in mind the question that has been asked, and do not give more in- formation by your answer than is required. Do not give your answers as if you were repeating them from a book, but thoroughly grasp the mean- ing of every thing, and try to put your answers into your own words as clearly and concisely as possible. In spite of these shortcomings, how- ever, the results of the examination are, again, distinctly encouraging, and we trust that both the successful and the unsuccessful candidates may be stimulated to achieve greater proficiency
in the art.
(Signed) GEO. GRIMBLE.
A. G. WARD.
The second annual distribution of prizes and certificates in connection with the Hongkong Centre of the London College of Music took place in the City Hall on Monday afternoon. The chair was occupied by Sir John Carrington (Chief Justice), who was supported by the Hon. W. M. Goodman (Attorney-General), the Hon. After distributing the prizes, Sir JOHN CAE- E. R. Belilies, the Rev. R. F. Cobbold, and RINGTON, who was received with applause, said Mr. E. Ralphs, Secretary of the local branch. that on that occasion it was generally taken The medals kindly presented by the Hon. E. R. that an obligation was laid on the Chairman Belilios to the two students (boy and girl) who to make a few remarks. That was a very good in theory and practical music are exceedingly something of the matter in hand, He did not have obtained the highest aggregate of marks thing when the chairman happened to know
beautiful ones, and the designs are most appro-think it was quite so good a thing when the priate.
chairman happened to be totally ignorant of it. That was his unhappy position that night. Mr. Ralphs was good enough to ask him to come and take the chair, and he was weak enough to comply. He said weak enough be. cause they would quite understand that he In Piano playing the candidates were ex-regarded it as a great compliment to have been amined by Messrs. A. G. Ward and G. Grimble, asked to take the chair, but still one felt that Mr. G. P. Lammert being unable to attend.if one had had a firmer will one would have said, There were twenty-two candidates, and of these twenty passed, nine being placed in the First Class, one with Honours.
Mr. E. RALPHS, local secretary of the London College of Music, read the following report:
The second of the annual examinations held in
-
Hongkong by the London College of Music took place in November and December last.
The Theory papers were worked under the superintendence of the Rev. R. F. Cobbold, M.A., and were examined by Dr. Sangster and Dr. Karn.
In this branch there were fourteen candidates; of these eleven passed, five being placed in the First Class. The results in Theory show a con- siderable improvement upon those of last year, and in some cases very high marks were gained, one candidate in the Junior Honours section obtaining 99 marks out of a possible 100.
The Hon. E. R. Belilios, C.M.G., has very kindly offered to present at each examination two medals to the candidates who obtain the highest aggregate of marks in Theory and Practical Music. The medals have this year been awarded to Miss Ruby Ley Kum and Frank Crawford.
I am directed to convey the thanks of the Council of the College to the examiners, for the efficient manner in which they have conducted the examinations, and to the authorities of the City Hall for granting us, on several occasions, the use of this building.
Our thanks are also due to Mr. Belilios for the medals, and to Mr. D. R. Crawford and Professor Cattaneo for offering prizes.
EXAMINERS' REPORT.
The following report by the examiners was
Agents, O. 8. 8. Co., C. N. Co., S. O. | also read by Mr. RALPHS :-----
8. S. Co.
DAVID SASSOON, SONS & Co.
The Examinations in pianoforte playing were held on November 27th and December 4th,
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No, get someone who knows something about music to make the few remarks necessary. on this occasion.” He might confess to them, what they probably knew, that there were a great many subjects about which he knew little or nothing, but if there was one subject about which he knew less than another it was music. (Laughter.) His knowledge of the theory of music was nil, and his skill in the practice of music was also what somebody once called a "frightful minus quantity" (Laugh- ter.) He ventured to say he could clear that room in five seconds, and their eagerness to get out of the room would be such that they would seek the nearest means of exit, regardless whe- ther it was the door or window, and he could (Laughter.) do that by beginning to sing. That was at any rate what his wife would tell
them if she were there. However, while he had no knowledge of music and no skill in music he was proud to claim himself as a great admirer and lover of music. (Applause.) He would first of all touch on a few of the practical pointa which arose on that occasion. With regard to the London College of Music, he gathered from the Annual Register and Calendar which Mr. Ralphs was good enough to send him that it was a comparatively new musical organisation. It was established apparently only in the year 1887, and it was incorporated so late as the year 1892. It seemed to have an influential body of patrons and a very excellent body of ex- aminers. Their system was to hold examina- tions at the various centres in the United King- dom and in the colonies, and to award certificates