July 15, 1901.]
that
That was the first impulse, and from that time to the present moment, greatly through the fostering care of Major General Gascoigne and Sir John Carrington, Commandant, the Corps had gone on increasing in numbers and in eficiency. Speaking of the neces sity for straight shooting, His Excellency said it behoved every man to be in a position to take his place, if necessary, in the lines for the defence of the colony and of his home. It was with a view of stimulating interest in their shooting that he had decided to present the Shield to the members of the Corps. The Volunteers now numbered 300 men, and His Excellency could assure them that they were now taken very seriously as aO important addition to the defensive force of the colony. That was a fact on which they were to be congratulated, but the greatest satisfac. tion would be the consciousness they had come forward and given a portion of their time to the first duty of every good citizen-the duty of falling into line for the defence of country and home. Excellency concluded by congratulating their Captain Forbes and his team on success, and trusted that the memento each man would carry away would be a pleasant ons in years to come, and that the result of the competition this year would prove in future an incentive to the other units of the Corps.
Has EXCELLENCY then presented the Shield and its replicas to the members of "D" Com- pany's team, congratulating each in turn.
Captain FORBES returned thanks on behalf of the team, and said that in future years, when His Excellency, perchance, had left the colony, the Shield would be regarded as an earnest of His Excellency's good wishes for the welfare of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps.
His
Cheers were then given for the winning team, and for His Excellency and Lady Blake.
A pleasing little ceremony followed. Captain Saunders, laying a silver tea service on the table which had been occupied by the Shield, addressed Captain Pritchard, the Adjutant, and, alluding to the latter's approaching marriage, asked him, on behalf of the officers of the Corps, to accept the tea service as a small token of appreciation of his services as Adjutant to the Corps. Mrs. Pritchard, Captain Saunders remarked, would doubtless find it extremely useful. When Captain Pritchard returned to the colony with Mrs. Pritchard, the members of the Volunteer Corps would heartily receive him.
On the call of Captain SAUNDERS, three cheers were given for Captain Pritchard,
•
In replying, Captain PRITCHard thanked Captain Saunders and the other officers of the Corps for their very handsome present, and said it was hard for him, in looking back, to realise that he had been connected with the Corps only for the past six months. He was leaving the colony on some important matters requiring his presence at home, but he hoped it would be au revoir only-not good-bye. How ever, as that would be his last parade for six months, he would take the opportunity of thanking all for the support and help he had received in his duties as Adjutant. It had not been all joy and happiness, and he had been disappointed on many occasions to see only six or seven men on parade. The present turn-out, for instance, was not nearly so good as it might have been, but its paucity, Captain Pritchard added, might be accounted for by the concert of the previous night having proved too much for some of the members. He trusted, however, that the attendance at parades would in future be better. Captain Pritchard concluded by again expressing his thanks for the honour accorded him.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
PRIZE-FIRING ON THE CHINA.
STATION.
Our Weihaiwel correspondent writes to us that the Seymour Challenge Shield prise- firing competition for H.M. deet is proceeding very keenly there. H.M.S. Barfleur, though unable to catch up the Terrible's world record, has nevertheless made a splendid score, entirely outclassing all other records in the past, includ- ing that of H.M.S. Scylla, which for two years headed the list. The following is the Barfleur's
Boore :-
The parade shortly afterwards dismissed. The inscription on the Governor's Shield is follows: His Excellency the Governor's Shield. · 9th June, 1901. Won by "D" Com- pany." Then follow the names of the officers and men composing the team:-Capt. J. McG. Forbes, Lieut. T. Skinner, Lieut. A. R. Grieve, Corporal A. Ritchie, Private J. I. Andrew, Private B. Clark, Private H. Horley, Private A. Mackenzie, and Private A. Watson.
M. Delcassé has declared that the French troops will not leave the road to Peking before the troops of other nations do so.
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Name'
J. Drew 8. Bedford G. Massenbird P. Butt C. Thurger J. Barrett M. Pyne C. Carter... H. Whiteway C. Palmer T. Cloke E. Cobb
...
W. Martin M. Collins H. Newcome A. Winter F. Garrod G. Marshall J. Bell E. Johns...
4.7IN. Q.F. GUNE. -
Rating
...P.O. 1 1
L.8. 2
Hits Hisses
No.
Rounds at Fired
Gun
9
8 1
8
7
1
8
7 7
1
8
Gunner 1
Sgt. R.M.A.1
..Cpl. R.M.A.1
P.0 1 1
P.0.1 1
Gunner 2
P.O. 2 2
... A.B.
6
7.
(NNNNNNOOOOO KO KO KO KO " ***
** 00 00 00 00 00 en 10 00 00 00 6 x as a ∞ x0°CO ET O
P.O.2 1 9
Gunner 2
Gunner 2
P.0.2 1
P.0.1 1
A.B. 2 Gunner 1
P.0.2 2
Gunner 2
9
8
7
A.B. 2 9
4
The 10 4.7in. guns fired 159 rounds and made 114 hits. This gives an average of 5,7 hits per gun per minute, which is a record for 4.7in. guns.
the line, but as the place of honour is competition we cannot see that any hard incurred, for it will be the duty of the Hagship the to endeavour, by merit alone, to reta position which it has until now held by courtesy.
THE HARBOUR DEPARTMENT IN 1900.
The report of the Acting Harbour Master for 1900 is published in the Gasette. | We make the following extracts :----
SHIPPING.
The total tonnage entering and clearing during the year
tons, being a makini ounted to 18,445,184
343,825 tons.
compared with 1899, of
There were 41,223 arrivals of 9,228,762 tons, and 41,233 departures of 9,216,372 tons.
Of British ocean-going tonnage, 2,841,936 tons entered, 2,821,410 tons cleared.
Of river steamers (British) 1,746,674 tons entered, and 1,745,178 tons cleared, making a a grand total of British tonnage of 9,155,198 tons entering and olearing.
Of Foreign ocean-going tonnage, 2,425,086 tons entered, and 2,425,311 tons cleared.
Of Foreign river steamers, 8,286 tonsentered, and 8,286 tons cleared; making a grand total of Foreign tonnage of 4,866,969 tons entering and clearing.
Of junks in Foreign trade, 1,604,692 tons entered, and 1,620,224 tons cleared.
Of junks in local trade, 602,148 tons entered, and 595,963 tons cleared.
Thus-
Per cent.
British ocean-going tonnage represented 90.7
river Foreign ocean-going
river
Junk (Foreign trade)
(local trade)
··19.0
26.3
0.1:
17.4
6,5
The following table of results shows the great improvement in shooting the ship has made by using telescopic sights and by practis- ing with Captain Scott's "Dotter" and "Morris
Five thousand three hundred and ninety-five tube aiming rifle," and also in loading by practising at a loading tray on the same prin- (5,395) steamers, 78 sailing vessels and 17,732 The junks in Foreign trade entered during the year, ciple as adopted in H.M.8. Terrible. "Dotter" has been in use on board since giving a daily average of 63.6 as against 76.9 December, 1900 (when telescopic sight were made by and fitted by ship's artificers), and the aiming rifle and loading tray only a fortnight before the present prize firing took place. It is, we understand, an electrical contrivance in- vented by Capt. Scott for teaching men to shoot, the details of it being kept secret.
Ronnds Fired
Year
Hits
1899
111
34
1900
111
47
1901
159
114
Average Hits per gun per minute.
1.7 2.35
5.7
10IN, BREACHLOADING GUNS.
H. Pelham... B. Heald
6
*
1
6
19
5
13
"
P.O.1 C.T. 13 10 3 3 3 3:3 G. Freeme...
3 3 S. Brett
C.T. 12 3 9 H. Harper
1. 5 14 H. Caley
The 4 10in. gans fired 47 rounds and made 23 hits. This gives an average of 48 hits per gan per minute.
Rounds Fired
Year
1899
Hits
24
1900
33 47
18 23
Average Hits per gun per minute.
.08
.375 48
19J1 The following umpires were present on board to check time and marking:-Commander Ogilvy, B.N. (H.M.8. Terrible), Lieut Pren- dergast, B.N. (H.M.8. Centurion), Lieut Litch filed, R.N. (H.M.S. Terrible).
|
in 1899.
For European-constructed vessels the daily average entry would be 14.99 against 14.91 in 1899, and of the vessels entering 69.77 were British.
For vessels under the British flag a compara- tive table for 1899 and 1900 shows an increase of 103 ships measuring 431,182 tons, but when taking into account the decrease in river trade under this flag, vis., 111 vessels of 58,817. tons, the actual increase in ocean-going trade would be 214 ships of 488,499 tona. The falling off in river trade" may be wholly ascribed to the steamers Samshui, Wuchiw, Hoi Tong and Kwai Lum being sold and off the run.
Of the increase mentioned above the chief factors are: -(1) The turning over of many of the China Merchant Steamers to British colours; (ii) the fact of a greater percentage of tramp steamers calling than heretofore (principally carrying coal); (ii) the Increased sise of the liners on home routes; and (iv) the fact of some of the coasters calling at the port more frequently than they did last year.
For vessels under Foreign flags there is numerical decrease of 68 shown, but with an increased tonnage of 151,888 tons, the falling off in vessels is ascribed to the turning over of a portion of the China Merchants" fleet to the British flag, also further augmented by falling off in vessels under the United States, Japanese, and Norwegian colours. The increase The Naval and Military Record in the last in tonnage as explained by the greatly increased number to hand says:-Hitherto it has been the size of many of the German steamers, also to universal rule of the service that when a naval the Scottish Oriental Steamship Company brigade is landed the flagship's detachment turning over to German colours, which has takes the right of the line in virtue of being the considerably augmented the tonnage under this senior officer's ship. In future that place of flag. Vessels under French colours have also
the helped to enhance the increase, which honour will fall to the ship that has won
On explained by their making more trips than were Seymour Cup during the musketry course
The actual number of ships the China station it is assumed that the new made last year.
river departures are due to what the admiral saw at the Taku Forts and Tientsin; but whatever may construction (exclusive have been the motive it is gratifying to know entering the port during the that on at least one of the principal stations | 709-being 363 British strong inducements are now held out to qualify for first place, both in rifle practios rud in heavy gun firing. The crew of a flagship may regard it as a stigms to be displaced from the right of garo
346
of