18
unimpeachable officials offers the suggestion that this should be-interleaved with pen-and- ink sketches of the Sanitary Board and their paraphernalia.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
ROAD-MAKING IN HONGKONG.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS. SIR, May I take the liberty to use your valuable columns to draw the attention of the powers that be to the disgracefully slow way they have in this colony of repairing roads ?
Queon's Road East has been under repair for some time, and in the last ten days not more than 50 ) yards were finished, and that was very poorly done. Lid this road-repairing not inter- fere with the traffic and the comfort of the colony's taxpayers, it would matter little, but the mode of work in vogue here seriously interferes with the traffic. Anyone wishing to go East beyond Arsenal Street has to make a detour along the Praya, as it is impossible for either horse or man, without cruelty to either. to pull a vehicle over the 300 yards of rocks and gravel put down by the coolies, but not crushed into the ground and levelled by the steam-roller. Apparently the coolies put down more stones than the steam-roller is able to crush down during the day, and hence the portion of road impassable becomes longer daily.
On returning home last evening in company with a friend we forced our way through crowds of excited Chinese, and as we speak the the lingo as fluently as a Court interpreter, we learned that circulars had been sent to the Chinese in Sanitary District No. 5 that their | houses were to be fumigated and cleansed at an early hour on Friday morning. No sooner had -the news became general than the occupants of houses in Peel, Staunton, and Elgin Streets began to busy themselves in transferring their penates temporarily to localities not under the Board. Having nothing to do we spent a good deal of time in hasty sketches and in moralising on the apathy and placid indifference of our splendid lot of wooden police in allowing such removals without a protest. With any knowledge of Chinese character, no one but a Government offici 1 would dream of advertising their inten- tion to fumigate and cleanse. but would have adapted the more rational measure of a surprise with guards stationed at the street corners. As there was no theatre on, we came down from Why should this be so? Either the officials our perch on the high level in search of diver- in charge of the work are incompetent, or sion, and had we not known the cause we criminally neglectful of the public's comfort and should certainly have surmised that the whole money. In either case they ought to be dismiss- Chinese coqumunity were securing at leasted, and the right men put in their place. Roads standing room on one of the river steamers, repaired at the rate of speed that Queen's Road and accommodation for bedding, hats, and East is being paired at, and even then poorly bundles. We learn from good authority that done, must certainly cost an enormous amount this exodus contiuued pretty well all night, and of money, far more than any taxpayer in all was resumed at a very early hour this honesty can be asked to pay. morning. On going to business this mor- ning we diverted our usual route and visited the sceen of the night previous. There was not much to be observed then except an occasional bundle under the gas-lamp that was burning on the corner of Peel and Staunton Street. The friend who pointed this ont assured us that a resident in Elgin Street had declared that the gas had not been completely shut off for several days. Of course a police- man could not see this, and perhaps it was not his pidgion.
EXEUNT OMNES.
BARKER ROAD.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
25th June,
SI-Who has charge of the not important duty of naming our roads and streets? This official, whoever he be, humble or exalted, would earn the lasting and genuine gratitude of many an erring exasperated pedestrian, if he would cause a name-plate to be put up at each end of Barker Road. Other turnings, on and off the various roads at the Peak. have conspicuons sign-plates erected at suitable points. Barker Road, alone in this respect, seems to be left out in the official cold, neglected and uncared for. Visitors, temporarily staying at either of the Peak caravansaries, go out for a walk in the refreshing coolness of the late afternoon, pass the Jelly Mould" and descend towards Magazine Gap, intending to turn in on Barker Road, to ascend to Victoria Gap by tram from Plantation Road Station. No friendly finger- post guides or directs them, and they un- suspectingly turn through Magazine Gap, or even wander on as far as Wanchai Gap, before it dawns on them that they have gone astray.
The number of people who, coming up to tiffin or dinner, have got off at Plantation Road Station, and climbed up to Red Hill, instead of turning on to the lower level of Barker Road, when their ultimate destination
If the Government does not possess men competent to repair te roads well and quickly, with the least possible expenditure of time and mouey, let them send some of their amateur road builders to Shanghai, the Model Settlement and learn there how it is done.
Thanking you in anticipation.-Yours, etc.,
A FRIEND OF THE TAXPAYER.
A PUBLIC NUISANCE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS. SIR-Permit me to use your columns to draw the authorities attention to a great unisance and a danger to public peace. I refer to the great number of Japanese loafers who seem to have made Hongkong the field for their rowdy and indecent behaviour.
Within the past week I have noticed two cases in the Police Court reports, one for dis orderly conduct and resisting arrest, the second a little girl, only two-and-a-half of assault on years of age, and on two nmahs.
I myself have noticed night after night a score of these loafers perambulating Welling-
ton
Street and adjacent roads, knocking against peaceably disposed Chinese, insulting their women, and even walking up and staring insolently into the faces of European lady pedestrians.
These men are ostensibly employed (so they claim) by various Japanese firms. while in fact they are nothing but Ship Street runners, tha scum of Japan, living on the earnings of their unfortunate countrywomen residing in that locality, and between times making themselves as obnoxious as they possibly can to the respectable classes of the colony.
This thing ought to be stopped, for the Government has the power. and ought to exercise it, of deporting such undesirable sojour. from the colony. Instead of fining ners
vagrants when arrested on some these
the misdemeanour. magistrates ought to be instructed to deport them. since
[July 1, 1901.
power in Shanghai, or any other Chinese port, where he has the extraterritorial jurisdiction.- Yours, etc.,
M. KATO,
Consul for Japan.
SHOOTING MATCHES.
MATCH AT NEW RANGE.
"D CO., H. K. V. C. v. SERGts. 2nd.r. W. F. Teams representing the above met on the New Volunteer Range at Tai Hang on Thursday afternoon. Strong equalls and a very uncertain light tended to make the day anything but a good one for accurate shooting
Each team was composed of eight men; the distances being 200 yds. 500 yds. and 600yds. : seven shots and two sighters at each Range,
and the best six scores to count. The result was a win for the volunteers by 23 points. The following are the best six on either sides:-
"D" CO.
Private Horley
Watson
31
200 500 600 Total.
គគគគគគ | P
ZZZ 882 |
28
88
Y
30
84
Mackenzie 30 23
84
Andrew
26
83
11
Clark Bowley
29
83
18
55
179
154 144 477
Grand Total.
SERGTS R. W. F.
200 500
600 Total.
28
82
25
SU
24
80
26
76
31
7+
24
Sergt. Dr. Mackie 33 Sergt. Doo'an Sergt. Major Hick-
man
23 £ 28 3 |
BandSergt. Adams 29 Sergt. More Armr. Sergt. Wil-
liams
teams
3 22 21
ERE21853 8 a± 2 |
62
180
158 116 454
Grand Total.
non-
VOLUNTEERS . NON-VOLUNTEERS, A rifle match came off at Tai Hong Range, Causeway Bay, on Saturday afternoon, between
representing Volunteer and Volunteer members of the Hongkong Rife Association. The conditions to the match were similar to those of the Interport match - ten men seven aside, seven shots at each range (200, 500, and 600 yards), with two sighting shots. The result was a win for the non- Volunteers by 50 points. Appended are the
scores: -
NON-VOLUNTEERS.
Ar-Ser. Blair Ser.-Ins. Wake, R.N. Ins. D. McLennan
Mr. W. G. Stackwood...
M.-Ser. Wallace, R.E. M. Ser. West, R.E. Sergt. Bowery, R.E..
R.N.. Mr. J. (ramer, Sergt. Mackie, R.W.F., Capt. Carlyle
VOLUNEERS.
Sergt. Alarshall, “ B. Co., Gun. Baldwin, F.B.
-
200, 500, 600. TI. 33 33 30 96 32 32 31 95 32 28 33 93
32 30 28 90 31 30 89 31 30 27 87
20 32 26 87
25 31 29 85
28
33 30 22 85 29 29 25 83
303 306 281 890
200, 500. 600. TL 31 33 28 02 33 29 29 91
Ser. Maj. Lammert, "A" Co., 29 29 31 89
:
31 31 27 89 32 31 28 80
has been some part of Magazine Gap, is by the Japanese Consul seems unaware of their | Priv. C. Mackenzie, "D" Co., 28 34 23 87
no means inconsiderable. It is not necessary to dilate on the annoyance inflicted on waiting hostess and hungry guests by such unwitting belatedness.
All this worry and inconvenience would be completely obviated if an inexpensive name- plate stood at each end of this much-used thoroughfare and promenade.
Will it be eventually incumbent on the residents of Magazine Gap and the immediate neighbourhood to take the matter in hand, unofficially, send round a subscription-sheet, and put up name-plates, on their own account? It looks suspiciously like it. The expense would be trifling.—Yours, etc.,
HEIGHTS.
existence. In Shanghai the Japanese Consul will not even allow his countrywomen of light
character to settle there. Here we have not
only them, but their agents. I think this matter ought to be looked into by the authori- ties.-- Yours, etc.,
REX.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DALY PEE68.
25th June SIR.-It will be very kind if you allow me to inform your correspondent Rex," through your valuable columns, that I am not invested with the power of expelling my countrymen from this colony, while my colleague has such
Ser. Stewart, F.B.. Priv. B. Clarke, “D" Co..
Priv. Watson, "D" Co., Lient. Mossop. F B., Priv. Horley, "D" Co., Gun. Lapsley, F. B.,
29 29 23 86 29 31 25 85 27 27 16 70 24 21 17 82
293 295 252 849
L'Echo de Chine, discussing the proposed remedies for missionary troubles in Chins, repudiates the idea that France can ever give up her role of protectress of Roman Catholic missions. As for the suggested “mixed courts" to settle disputes, our contemporary says: "Wo hope never to see a (Roman) Catholic missionary sitting in any mixed court whatever."