September 22, 1900.]
The report and accounts were then adopted, on the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by Mr. T. SERCOMBE SMITH,
On the motion of Mr. MACKIE, seconded by Mr. THOMSON, it was decided that the incoming committee should consider the cost of the tiffens and refreshments and see if it could not be re- duced.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing Mr. E. W. Mitchell as president, observed that none of the non-playing members, except perhaps Mr. Wise, took a greater interest in cricket than Mr. Mitchell, and if they elected him he believed it would be to the benefit of the club.
Mr. THOMSON seconded and the motion was carried.
Mr. MITCHELL returned thanks, saying that he should endeavour to the best of his ability to promote the interests of the club and of Hong- kong cricket generally.
Mr. SERCOMBE SMITH was elected hon. se- cretary on the motion of Mr. P. A. Cox, se- conded by Captain LANGHORNE.
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by Captain LANGHORNE, Mr. E. Hinds was elec- ted hon. treasurer.
од
The following were appointed
the committee:-Mr. F. Maitland, Mr. P. A. Cox, Capt. Langhorne, R.A., Mr. H. Pinckney, Lt. Strong, R.M.L.I., and Mr. E. A. Ram.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
the energy of the foreign merchants who have sought in many directions to encourage an ex- port trade in articles which before the opening of the port to foreign trade were of little ac- count; the enlightened policy pursued by Li Hung-chang, during his long tenure of office as viceroy of the province, towards the develop-| mont of trade; the proximity of the foreign legations, and the attention thus givon to the prevention of the curtailment of treaty privi leges, and more recently the establishment of foreign banks, and finally the construction of railroads."
44
He goes on to say: At a time when so much criticism is devoted to the methods of of British trade, it is consoling to know that here at any rate in the development of export | trade, in the establishment of banks and in the construction of railroads, Britishers have been the first on the field and afterwards have carried on their work successfully."
Tientsin is already a very important com- mercial centre, but railway construction is bound to make vast changes. At present, says Mr. Carles, the difficulties encountered in traversing Shansi lead to a large part of the trade with the north-west, instead of following the directed route through Shansi, passing northwards via Kalgan and Kueihua-chang over the level plains of the Mongolian plateau to Pao-ton on the Yellow River, where it meets the other trade route through Shansi. This is more especially the case with goods carried west. brought from the west sometimes follows the
Produce
HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS. leveller route through Mongolia, but not unfre-
64
*
D INFANTRY COMPANY.
The Infantry branch of the local Volunteer Corps has been steadily going ahead since its "recruit" stage of a year ago, and it was en- couraging to see 27 members turn up on Sun- day morning last to compete for a very hand- some cup presented by the Hon. J. J. Keswick. Owing to its being the first shoot of the season, most of the competitors were firing over the range for the first time, and, with an extremely tricky wind, the result was poor scoring. This will, no doubt, be much improved as the season progresses. The following were the best scores:-—-—---
200 500 600 H'cap To- yds. yds. yds. points. tal. † Pte. J. Andrew 25 26 30 12 93 *Pte. A. Mackenzie 28 29 26 3 86 +Capt. J. M. G. Forbes 23 24 21 12
80
t. Lieut. T. Skinner... 24 25 18
12
79
Pte. H. Horley 26 10 Pte. R. J. Gillings 24 25 11 14
25
15
76
74
† Pte. D. M. Graham 22 21 10 21 + Winners of spoons.
74
* Fired on Saturday last.
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CONSULAR REPORT.
TIENTSIN.
Mr. Consul Carles in his report for 1899 says: "The trade of Tientsin shows a very satisfac- tory advance in every direction. The advance is not of modern date, but has continued steadi- ly for years, and has been more especially pro- nounced since 1888. Since 1888 there has been only one year, 1892, in which the net total of trade has not shown an increase: there has not been one year in which there has not been advance in either foreign or native imports, or else in exports, and in several years, such as 1895, 1898, and 1899, each of these three branches has shown a large advance. The trade of 1895-96 was al. most double the totals of the years 1885-86, that of 1897 was more than double that of 1887: in
quently descends through Central Shansi. The choice of route apparently depends largely on the weather.
..
f
An increase of shipping has naturally accom panied the increase of trade. The reports says: The total tonnage for 1899 is 250,000 tons over that for 1898. The tendency to increase the size of vessels has been evident here as else- where, and, despite the fact that only one steamer has reached Tientsin in each of the
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last two years, the average tonnage of steamers is now larger than in 1890, namely, 891 in 1890, 931 in 1898, and 936 in 1899. The proportion of British shipping to the total has somewhat diminished of late years. In 1890 it was over 47 per cent. of the whole (including Chinese shipping of foreign build), in 1898 it was 45 per cent., and in 1899 38 per cent. The total British tonnage, entered and cleared, has, however, advanced from 406,612 tons in 1890 to 571,486 tons in 1898, and 613,306 in 1899. There may be, perhaps a decrease in the present year, as the detention to which steamers are exposed on the bar is of such serious moment that some English companies are putting their steamers, for a time, on more profitable lines than that from Shanghai to Tientsin. Chinese tonnage is steadily increasing, and in 1899 amounted to 46 per cent. of the total shipping of foreign build."
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Of course Mr. Carles has something to say of the "Boxers. The precise object which they have in view (he writes early in this year) is difficult to understand. They certainly are considered to be actuated by patriotic motives and in some way to be opposing foreign encroach ments on their country. But they are not armed with firearms and do not seem to be making any effort to procure arins. [Was this the fact, even when Mr. Carles wrote?]
4
Considerable sympathy is felt for them by a powerful section of the official class and though the sect was prohibited by name in 1808 by Imperial Ediot
до serious effort
231
acre) to Tls. 7,500. Public gardens and recrea- tion grounds have been laid out. Gas and waterworks have been constructed, and in addition to the substantial buildings now erected in Tientsin, a town has sprung up at the sea- side, 160 miles away, at which there are already about 100 residences."
INDIÁN CAVALRY FOR THE EAST
The good work by the 1st Bengal Lancers in the action which cleared the way to Peking only goes to show that the "pointed sticks," at which Mr. Winston Churchill girds in his usual im pulsive way, are still effective weapons in the hands of trained men who know how to use them. The lance really is an ideal arm for cavalry charging a mob of undisciplined men; its value was proved beyond question in the Swat Valley and at Shabkadr in 1897. The only regret now must be that a full Cavalry Brigade was not sent from India when the de- mand for troops for China was originally made. The march from Tientsin would probably have been a much simpler business, while the losses inflicted upon the Chinese would have been far heavier. It should be noted, too, that the 1st Bengal Laucers had only a few trifling casualties, while the Tartars opposed to them were severely punished. There may yet be a chance for the other regiments that are on their way to China, and we are convinced that if the war lasts for any length of time the Indian Cavalry will play a prominent part in the opera- tions. As to the question of arms, it is to be hoped that the military authorities in India will not listen to the absurd cry to turn good cavalry into inferior mounted infantry; to take away the sword, lance and carbine and substitute the rifle and bayonet. The reform that is needed is to lighten the weight on the horse, and this can best be done by discarding some of the equip- ment and not by changing the arms. Indian cavalry are never likely to meet again an enemy like the Boer. Our troops in South Africa have really been fighting against an Army composed of mounted infantry, plus a certain amount of artillery, and our cavalry have been handicapped in consequence. But simply because the orthodox shock-tactics have been discredited, and because scouting has had to be done nuder very trying conditions, there is no adequate reason for abolishing cavalry as cavalry. Let us have mounted infantry, by all means, and let the men be picked shots, fair riders, and of good physique, led by specially selected officers; but, at the same time, let us guard against the danger of demoralising our cavalry by teaching them that they must rely upon the rifle and not upon the sword or lance. The pendulum may easily swing too far back in this instance as in many others: the East has always been and still probably will be the land of cavalry par excellence, from the time that the Parthian horse annihilated the Roman legions on the Euphrates. It would be a serious matter to go against the bent of the soldiery and the character of the country simply because of sudden and hysterical de mands for sweeping changes. Simplify the equipment; give more transport if necessary to carry the impedimenta; in short "take the weight off the horse," and the result will show that in India cavalry can last out a campaign and render excellent service in their own way.
-Pioneer.
From Wuhu comes the report of a serious has been made to enforce the provisions of this row between the local soldiers and the provin Edict against them in the present day." Mr. cial Tigers" (soldiers) on the 9th inst. Accord Carles admits the spread of the sect among the ing to a report of the disturbance furnished to country people, but "hopes that the fall of rain the Shanghai Mercury it appears that some half may send the people to their farms and prevent | dozen Tigers were maltreated in a teashop or the movement assuming any serious propor-gambling house by a crowd of local soldiers, and
tions"!
1898 the advance on 1888 was still more consid- erable, and in 1899 the improvement on 1889 was more than 150 per cent. The improvement has been least marked in native imports, which showed no improvement on the returns of 1877
a whole lot of Tigers came down, hunted the until 1894, but foreign imports have improved The reports concludes: -" To sum up. it ap-
locals all over the town, and captured several of every year except in 1892 since 1888, and ex- pears probable that the expansion in the trade them, and strung them up to the masthead (the ports have grown still more rapidly though not of this port will continue. The total of its Tigers live in junks) by their tails for about quite so constantly, 1893 and 1896 being excep- trade is already second only to that of Shang-15 minutes and slashed them about with swords. tions to the rule.” As Mr. Carles points out, hai, and the net total of foreign imports is One of the locals came down with a run through when it is remembered that Peking, of which larger than even that of Shanghai. The devel his scalp parting company with his head, but the Tientsin is the port, is the only city in the Em-opment of foreign trade has entailed that of the Tivers would not let him off with that, lash- pire of China closed to foreign trade and that foreign community. There are now four fored his arms behind him, drove a bamboo through Chihli is a poor province, the growth of Tient-eign banks, eighty-one commercial houses, and a them, and triced him up again. It was not sin trade is remarkable,
population of about 1,400 foreigners. In the known whether the captives died or not. The The factors," he says,
last twelve years the price of land in some in- row had nothing whatever to do with for greatest influence in its prosperity are chiefly stances has advanced from Tls. 500 per mow (1/6 'eigners.
+4
which have had the