THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Says "The Moralist" in the Straits Times :-- The Hongkong Volunteers are going ahead. The latest addition to the corps is an engineer unit, who are to be trained in the duty of helping to work the search lights at the forts. Perhaps Singapore will get as far one of these days, There is no doubt if ever we were attacked by sea that attack would be made by night and the search light would have to play a prominent part in discovering the whereabouts of the attackers. The employment of Volunteers in this duty would rendor available so many more of the Regulars for other important work,
The reported attack on juuks at Mira Bayment on Tuesday everal lots of Crown land were turus out to have been a fraud. On the report being made to him Captain Superintendent May ordered a party of police to proceed from Taipohu in the police pinnace for the purpose of setting free the junk people who, it was said. | were being held up to ransome by pirates. The Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart joined the party. It was late at night when the spot where the junks were lying at anchor was reached. On boarding the junks the police found the crews asleep and uninjured, the re- ported attack on them being without founda- tion.
At the Magistracy on Thursday Edwin Ryder, coxswain of the military launch Solent, was charged at the instance of Lieutenant Randall, K.E., with stealing one deck chair, two deck stools, two mats, one pillow, two soldiers' kit bags, one zine bucket, one copper lamp, one tiu | of varnish, three fish kettles, two stew pans, seven pieces of soap, and five hundredweight of coal, the property of the Crown, between the 17th April and the 27th June. Evidence of arrest having been given the hearing was ad. journed until to-day, bail being allowed.
With reference to the Rev. R. F. Cobhold's ' letter published in another column, would it be too much to ask Sir Henry Blake to convey to Dr. Doberck, semi-officially or otherwise, an intimation that His Excellency would approve of his communicating to the local papers in timations of forthcoming astronomical events of special interest? The Shanghai and Manila' Observatories supply such information and it is, we believe, much appreciated. A community that maintains an astronomer of its own might reasonably consider itself entitled to receive notice of approaching eclipses. etc.
We are not aware whether the Governor takes any special interest in astronomical science, but he will, we think, recognise that those who do are entitled to some assistance from the Obser- vatory.
At the Magistracy on 3rd June[Mr, T. Ser. combe Smith gave an important ruling under the Arms Ordinance in a case in which a coolie was charged with being in p ssession of arms contra. ry to the Ordinance. is Worship said There was a man charged before me with being in pos session of arms contrary to the Ordinance. It has since been proved to me that this man was moving arms for another man who had a license to import and deal in armus, It seems to me that if a man has got a license to import and deal in arms it is only reasonable that he should be allowed to carry arms, either by him-elf or by a duly appointed servant (anybody whom he hires), from the place where the arms are im ported into the Colony into his own place of business. These facts were proved in the pre- sent case. I think, therefore, it is quite reason- able to hold that the man did not commit an offence against the intention of the Ordin-
ance.
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FOL
We hear that another highway robbery was attempted the other day. On this occasion, the assailants, emboldened by the success of pre- vious attempts, attacked a gentleman in business in Hongkong, though, as will be seen, they got more than they bargained for. The gentleman in question had gone over to the docks to collect an account from one of the captains whose ship was laid up. When he came out it was getting dark, and his own ricksha having left he got into that of a coolie who came running up to him. When near the bridge at Hungbom village the coolie suddenly dropped the shafts, and at the same time three men he was evidently in league with rushed from the side of the road and all four attacked the European. The latter fortunately had not been thrown out, and as he had a stick ith him he was able to defend himself vigorously for some time. His inside pocket containing the money he had col- legted was, however, torn opon, but before the Would-be thieves could get their booty three blue-jackets hove in sight. They seized the Chinamen, and after having basted them sonndly, bound them, and threw them and the ricksha on to the beach, where they left them, As they thought they had puuished them enough they did not take the trouble to inform the police, unfortunately,nd the Chinamen sub- sequently managing free themselves made good their escape.
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At the offices of the Public Works Depart
disposed of by Mr. G. W. Hing. Fourteen lots at Tai Kok Tsui measuring 36,300 square feet, and the annual rent of which is $2,977. were bought by Mr. Ho Tang for $21,800, (the apsot price being $21,800) or six cents. per foot. Three lots at Wanchai were also disposed of. Lot 1.551 (1,399 square feet; annual rent $18) realised $1,36 (upset price 3588), or a dollar a foot Mr. I'. H. Murray was the purchaser Lot 1.552 (4,515 aquira fest, sonual rent 857) was bought by Mr. Mak Chinen Kee for $2,500, the apset price being $1,900. There was no offer for lot 1,553.
The increase in the passenger traffic between Canton and Wuchow has induced Messrs. Banker and Co. to put a second steamer on the rub-the Who Foo, which has been specially built for the service by Mr. Ngai un The trial trip, which took place on Thursday, proved her to be everything that could be desired as regards speed, whilst an examination of her internal arrangements and fittings made it clear that every effort had been made to secure the comfort of the passengers. The first-class cabins, which are nine in number, exc edingly comfortable and the accom- modation for the second and third class passengers, of whom over 200 cau be carried, is excellent. The Who Foo is a twin screw steamer aud is illuminated throughout with electric light, in which respect she is unique Among the boats going to Wuchow. Captain Marsh has charge of her.
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Atthe Magistracy on Saturday E. L. Stainfield was summoned by Elizabeth Stainfield,;of No. 7, Granville Terrace, for assault. Complainant said she had lived with defendant for six years, but they were not married. About six months ago he accused her of having relations with his brother, and said he would not live with her again. He allowed her $90 a month for herself and children, but on the 19th instant he wrote saying he was only going to allow her $60 a mouth, and that if that was not enough he would take the children and she could go back to business. On the 22nd he came to the house. they had some words, after which he took hold of her shoulders and pulled her round the house to put her out, afterwards taking up the poker and smashing the furniture. Defendant's sister (Mrs. Pearne) and her husband who lived next door came in and interfered. They gave eri- dence, after which defeudant made a statement containing some unsavoury details with reard to complainant and his brother, and also accus- ing complainant of drunken habits. Defendant was bound over for 18 months, bitself in $150 and two sureties of $75 each.
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July 1, 1899.
following were selected as office bearers during next mouth :-S.P., Primo J. Oxberry; C.T., Bro. Course; C. Cham., Bro. Wolfe; C.A. of Bro., Primo Croft; C. Treas., Bro. Roberts; C.W. Bro. Parkinson; C. Phy., Bro. Shute; C.M., Bro. H. Ward; C. Con., Bro. Keeper;
C. Reg. Bro. W. Manners; C. Min., Primo Barrell; C. Seoty, Primo G. Watling; C.P., Bro. Rose, Harmony was contributed during the evening by Primos Burrell and Ozberry and Bros. Ward, Robinson, Marsden, and Roberts.
On the 23rd June Mr: T. Sercombe Smith beld an enquiry at the Magistracy in regard to the recent fire at the Wộ On Godowns, Kon- nedytown. It was stated that the cause of the fire was unknown, but that it appeared to have originated among some cotton in the front part of the building on the ground floor. Six of the firms which had goods there were insured to the amount of $230,000, but several parties. had goods there amounting to about $30,000 which were not insured. The amount of dam- age to goods and buildings would amount to about $150,000. The premises were released.
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The following general order in connection with the Hongkong Volunteer Corps has been issued :—“ The time that Colonel Mainwaring has had the pleasure of commanding the Hong- kong Volunteer Corps has been short, but not uneventful. During it," B,” “C," "D" and E" Companies have been formed and the strength of the Corps raised to over 300, whilst on two separate occasions he has had the honour of commanding the Corps whilst employed on service with the Regular Troops. In bidding the Hongkong Volunteer Corps farewell, Col. onel Mainwaring hopes that it may have further opportunities of showing its loyalty and its excellent discipline and drill, and he is sure that it will ever acquit itself with honour and con- tinue to be looked upon by the Calooy with pride and affection."
CANTON NOTÈS. ·
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[FROM THE CHUNG NGOL SAN Po."] Owing to the late heavy rain Sheang Yan and Lo Kong were flooded on the 4th inst. to the depth of ten feet, resulting in the rice crops being destroyed. Some houses collapsed and serveral children were washed away, The flood did not subside for three days.
News has reached Canton that the late rebel- lion in Lukfung district is all over, the rebels being scattered and not daring to make their appearance again. Some of the soldiers who were sent to cope with the rebels have returned to Canton.
On the 15th instant heavy rain accompanied by thauder and squalls was experienced in Can- ton and the surrounding districts, resulting in several junks being wrecked. The most terrible accident was that which happened to a junk on its return voyage from Canton to Fanba. The vessel foundered in a sudden squall, near Lo- alkong. There were over eighty passengers, men, women, and children on board, and about sixty persons, mostly women and children, were drowned. The charitable institutions in Canton at once sent boats to pick up the corpses and abcut forty have been recovered. The Empress of India brings advices of the The great loss of life was probably due to the inauguration on the 18th June by the Cana- passengers' accomodation being nailed up by the dian Pacific Railway Company of a much master of the junk after she left Canton, for accelerated overland train service between fear that there might be robbers amongst the Vancouver and Moutreal. This fast train, passengers, as has been very common of late. known as the "Imperial Limited," leaves Van-For protection against such robbers passenger couver daily at 1.15 p.m. and runs through to junks ire now taking to coufining the passen. Montreal without change in 100 hours, thereby gers on board and not allowing them to circulate shortening the time crossing the Continent by freely over the whole vessel. twenty-four hours. Specially luxurious and newly designed dining and slee,ing cars are run through on the "Imperial Limited," which makes close connection at Fort William with the Company's Lake steamers for passengers wishing to break the journey and enjoy the Lake scenery between Fort William and Ower Sound without additional charge. Thoughn passengers have also the option of leaving the main line at Revelstoke and proceeding through the famous Kootenay mining country in British Columbia and out again over the new Crow's Nest Pass Line to Dunmore Junction. alang all of which excellent fishing and shooting is found, and by which route through sleeping oar accommodation has also been provided.
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All the shops in Takougbu, a market town in Namhoi district, have been olosed and business brought to a standstill, owing to the depredations of a gang of robbers whose leaders are Foo Tsau-hoi and Pun Pong. This gang has forced all the shops to pay them a certain sum of money monthly, under threat of being plaudered and burned or their owners seized and held for ransom. They marched along the streets in a large band in broad daylight. The case has been reported to the Governor, who has promptly sent a number of soldiers under the command of Colonel Cheng Wai-lum with strict orders to root,outall the robbers.
A serious outbreak of plague has occurred in some of the villages in Heungshan district.
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