158
for the funeral of Her late most Gracious Majesty the Queen, all business should be suspended, a letter was, on the 28th January, addressed to the Government suggesting that the day be observed as one of national mourn- ing, the Public Offices closed, and all business suspended in token of respect for the of the deceased Sovereign.
memory
A reply was received on the 30th idem, stating that HE the Governor had directed that the
2nd February should be observed as a day of públic mourning and that all Public Offices be closed.
A wreath was, on the 2nd February, placed at the base of the Queen's Statue as a tribute from
the Chamber.
:.
PROPOSED BILL FOR REGISTRATION OF
SERVANTS.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
After a short discussion, on the suggestion of the Chairman,
Mr. Law agreed to write a letter to the Sec- retary on the subject.
ARMED ROBBERIES IN HONGKONG.
No less than three armed robberies were re-
ported to the police on Saturday, the 16th inst. two at Tai Po and one in this side of the Har- bour. At the former place, at ten o'clock on the evening of Friday, 15th inst., six men, three armed with revolvers and two with daggers, entered a dwelling-house, and whilst several of the number" held up the inmates, the others plun- dered the premises and secured money, jewel- Read letter dated 6th February from Coloniallery, and clothing to the total value of $26, with which the robbers decamped. The wife of Secretary transmitting Copy of one from the the occupant of the house was cut on the arm Captain Superintendent of Police recommend with a dagger. Half-an-hour later what was ing that the provisions of Ordinance No. 7 of presumally the same gang forcibly entered an- 1866 relating to the registration of servants be other house in the village and secured booty re-enacted with the addition of a provision to amounting in value to $40. They then made the effect that servants must, when applying for off firing their revolvers. registration, supply two photographs of them. selves, one to be filed in the register and the other to be attached to the certificate of regis- tration. The opinion of the Committee as to whether it would re-enact the above law, with certain penalties for non-observance, was re- quested by the Government.
After considerable discussion on the subject, It was decided unanimously to reply to the effect that the Committee considered the pro- posed legislation inadvisable and probably im- practicable.
#
•
THE DISINFECTING BUREAU AND CHINESE EMIGRATION.
Read letter dated 8th February signed by all the Shipping Firms in the Colony interested in emigration to the Straits Settlements calling attention to the fact that to meet the require- ments of the U.S. Government for the disin fection and fumigation of native crews and emigrants from this port, a Fumigating and Disinfecting Bureau has been established here, under European supervision, and requesting the Chamber to bring the circumstance to the notice of the Hongkong Government, to the end that the Government of the Straits Settlements be asked to open their ports, at least to a limited extent, to Chinese emigration from this port during the summer, provided that all such emigrants are properly disinfected and their baggage fumigated to the
satisfaction of the local Health Officer.
Draft letter to the Government on the subject considered and adopted.
A
ELVISED FRENCH CUSTOM TARIFF AND
COLONIAL PRODUCTS: ---
Read letter from Colonial Secretary, dated 9th February, transmitting, for the informa- tion of the Chamber, copy of circular despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonial Office to the Foreign Office, in which it is sug- gested to Lord Lansdowne that as the ports of the Straits Settlements and Hongkong are free to French products, it might be represented to the French Government that exceptionally favourable treatment should be accorded to all exports from the Colonies above named, both in France and French Indo-China.
A draft letter to the local Government in acknowledgment of above thanking the Secretary of State for his efforts on behalf of the Colony was considered and adopted.
CHINESE NEW YEAR-HOLIDAYS.
Read letter from the Government, dated 12th February, stating that a proposal had been received from the Banks that Wednesday, the 20th inst., in addition to Tuesday, the 19th (Chinese New Year Day) shall be observed as holiday, and asking whether the Chamber saw any objection to the proposal.
Decided to write, in reply, that the Com mittee could see no objection to the proposed holiday
NATIVE CRAFT AND STEAMERS ABRIVING
Mr. Law called attention to the manner in which the native craft got into the way of vessels entering port. Hə said there was a rule in the Singapore Port Regulations which dealt with this question, and by which native craft were compelled to keep ont of the way of in- coming steamers. He thought a similar rule might be introduced here,
Shortly after seven o'clock on Saturday even- ing seven men, one of whom carried a revolver, entered the house of one Sa Fak Ming, shop keeper, 21, Third Street, saying they had come to search for opium. The man with the revolver levelled the weapon at the shopkeeper's head, and two held his wife by the throat, threatening that if she shouted they would shoot her dead. The other four plundered the honse, and jewellery and clothing were stolen to the value of about $150. No arrests have so far been made in either caso.
BURGLARY IN QUEEN'S ROAD.
Messrs. Droz & Company, watchmakers, Queen's Road Central, have been made the vic- tims of a rather daring burglary. In common with other shops in the city, they observed Tues- day, 19th inst., (Chinese New Year) as a half-holi- day, closing at one o'clock. 'I he shutters were pnt up and everything left snug and safe. When the shop was re-opened on the 20th inst. it was found that the window had been broken and a number of watches stolen. The means adopted by the burglar or burglars were very simple. Probably choosing a time when the street was deserted, a stick or some other instrument had been driven through the watchman's hole in the shutter into the pane of glass, shattering it. The burglar had then inserted his hand, and, porsessing him self of every watch within reach, clea ed off in safety. Fortunately the watches stolen are not valuable, costing only from three to five or six dollars each. The number stolen, however, brings the loss up to about $150, probably more. The police were immediately informed, and every effort is now being made to trace the cul- prit.
Doubt has since been cast on the theory of robbery from outside, owing to the smallness of the opening broken in the window.
There
HARMSTON'S CIRCUS.
THE TUG-OF-WAR.
was considerable excitement at the Circus on Saturday, the 16th inst., when the 22nd Bombay Infantry and 15th Co. Siege Train met for the semi-final pull in the International Tng of War. In the first round the Infantry seem- ed very much disappointed when they were told they had lost the pull. The second was the most exciting and gave the greatest credit to both teams for their stubborn resistance to each other's efforts. The Siege Train contest- ants late in the struggle seemed to roll a great deal, and the oscillation being noticed by the coach that worthy left his post, and rallied his men. It was a fortunate stimulus, for it had the much desired effect of a resuscitated bend- to, which eventually brought the victory. Un- doubtedly the teams who entered the ring on Saturday night were the best yet represented, and the vanquished deserve as much credit as their conquerors.
There was a large attendance at the Cirons on Wednesday night, 20th inst., to witness the final struggle in the great tug-of-war competition between the 15th Company (Biege Train) S.D.
|
[February 23, 1901,
R.G.A., and the Stokers Team of H.M.S. Centurion, Loud applause greeted the teams as they entered the ring. The stokers were shorter in stature, but this was the only noticeable · difference. The Siege Train won the toss, and had the choice sides. Captain Cadogan, R.W.F., again offl- ciated as refores, and just before the commence- ment of the struggle Colonel Hicks, the
was to be absolutely fiual. * ́ Cirous, intimated that the referee's decision
of
First pull-Both teams dropped smartly on the word. Neither pulled for perhaps fully a minute, and the centre-mark on the rope remained suspended almost exactly over that on the ground. The teams were evidently feeling each other's strength. The Siege Train were the first to change tactics, and pulled. The stokers hung on, but lost ground inch by inch. On a signal from their coach, Sergeant Mo- Cartney, the soldiers got the rope over their shoulders-a movo by which they gained only slightly. The stokers were now heaving at the rope in travlor fashion, and regaining their lost gronu. he soldiers attempted to return to their first position on the rope, but as the change was made simultaneously with a strong pull from the stokes, or two of the Siege Train were momentary auocked off their balance. Before they could regain themselves the rope was pulled over the mark by the sailors. The pull was positively the finest, from the point of endurance, that has been seen since the competition started. It also was the longest, lasting 3mina, 42secs, t
Second pull:-Changing sides, both teams went to work warily. The stokers again played the hanging-on game, but the soldiers, now of: paying closer attention to the directions
and their captain, were working like one man, hauling in by a strong hand-over-hand pull. The stoke. left off hanging and started heaving, but they had given their opponents. too much ground and were easily pulled over in 2mins. 33secs.
Third pull:-Amid intense excitement, the final pull started. The Siege Train appeared to be slightly the fresher, but both teams looked winded. The soldiers got to work right away; the stokers, however, held their own pluckily. Gradually the Siege Train gathered way, but with a sudden, irresistible heave the stokers brought them back, and, by a succession of heaves, themselves gained ground before the Siege Train had fully recovered from the f set back. It now looked almost a certainty for the sailors, but, once more settling back to it, the Siege Train got the rope across their shoulders and finally won the pull, which lasted Imin. 35secs.
first
The Siege Train were declared the winners and awarded first prize $250. H.M.S. Cen- turion (second) got $100, and the Bombay Infantry (third) $70. A. table giving the exact and average weight of each unit of the Siege Train team may prove interesting :---
Namo Bom. Berrett Gun. Brunning
12
Alexander Hayes... Lonergan
29
19
Player Casey Caldwell
Troy Pickering
lbs. st. lbs. 187 13 25 185 13
170 12
172 12
181 12
185 13 13
1871- 1954
174
-12n6
210 150 171 12 8
Total, 1823 180
Average,
19′03
Ser. McCartney (captain), 166 11 12 Colonel Hicks, on behalf of Mrs. Harmston Love, presented Captain Cadogan with a small souvenir as a slight return for his invaluable
services as referes. The souvenir took the form of chatelaine composed of Siamese coins, ancient and modern, and looked exceedingly
tasteful.
The rinderpest outbreak continues at Naga saki. A local paper lear that the official
penses in connection with the cattle disease from outbreak on the 15th January to the 6th inst. amounted to 31,059 yen, exclusive of
nted to the owners. It is stated sation to be gr that the compensation will amount to 25,000 yen.