76
cn by the Hongkong Government, for the very obvious reason that, without it, there would be little or no work for it to do. And that position of things is enough to account for endless urban mismanagement, and the present unfortunate condition of public health in Hongkong.-Singapore Free Press.
BRITISH NORTH BORNEO. The trade returns of British North Borneo give the following results
Exports. $3,336,621.39 3,439,560.33
1900 1899
Imports. $3,178,929.29 2,456,998.96
Increase, $721,930.33 Decrease, $102,938.94
The improvements going on in the territory resulted in a large increase in the importation of materials for telegraphs and railways. In exports there were heavy increases under the heads of gutta percha and timber. Several important export staples show a falling off thus noted in the official customs report : The decrease in cutch is regrettable owing no doubt to the fluctuation of "home" prices.
The decrease in camphor is also regrettable, but it cannot mean that this product is in any way worked out as all other jungle products have substantial increases. Coffee, as in many other adjacent countries, seems to have seen its days. It is to be hoped for the sake of those now engaged in this production that good times may again come round. The collec- tion of seed pearls seems to have fallen off considerably. Treating the exports generally, it may be said that the decrease is mainly due to an agricultural product (cutch) that is most
liable to fluctuation.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
GUNNERY ON THE "TERRIBLE." The cruiser Terrible completed her prize. firing on Thursday last, having made 104 hits in 128 rounds with her 6-inch quick-firing guns, or a score of 81.25 per cent., which is a record for this calibre of gun, says the Naval and Military Record. When in command of the cruiser Scylla Captain Percy Scott astonished the gunnery world with a score of 86 per cent., but the Scylla has six 4.7-inch guns, the best hitting weapon, and only two 6-inch guns. Later, when he went to China in the Terrible, that ship made the best target practice on the station, and now she has beaten her own per- formance of last year. Indifferent gunnery has invariably been ascribed to want of sufficient practice by the gunners, but the experience of the Scylla and the Terrible does not support this suggestion. These two ships stand ont prominently because they have produced phenomenal results. Why? The answer is an open secret. The Terrible is not the best shooting ship in the service because she has the best guns or the steadiest platform, nor because her guns' crews were specially selected. The explanation is to be found in the recognition of the fact that if the guns cannot hit the target both ship and guns are tinkling cymbals, signifying nothing.
*[July 20,
1901.
Later on Lieut. Drummond was the only We learn that, subject to audit," the Direc- officer who took guns of this calibre to Peking. tors of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Commander Drummond, to give him his Corporation will recommend at the forthcom- present title, has added greatly to his reputationing meeting a dividend of £1.10s. per share; in brilliant war services by raising the gunnery the addition of $750,000 to Reserve Fund; and of the Terrible to its present high state of the carrying forward of about $1,475,000. efficiency, and there is reason to believe that even if he had not served in the field with such
year
conspicuous gallantry, the devotion he has shown to his special branch of the service in producing the best shooting results of the world would have won for him his promotion. Only 27 years of age. Commander Drummond has the unique distinction of having within one taken naval guns to Ladysmith and Peking, and having on both occasions played a leading these achievements must be added the formation part in the solution of difficult problems. To
easily be beaten. He has used his opportunities of a corps d'elite of navul gunners, who cannot wisely and well, and he has only now to live to become eventually an admiral of the fleet.
HONGKONG.
It is rumoured that the Hon. F. H. May, returning to England in September uoxt, and C.M.G., Captain Superintendent of Police, is that Commander W. C. H. Hastings, Post- master-General, who Captain Superintendent of Police, is to be in 1895 Acting appointed Captain Superintendent.
was
no official confirmation of the rumour.
There is
During the hearing of a summary caso at the Supreme Court on the 13th inst.. Chan Shau Nam. broker, plaintiff in an action for broker age, was found to be committing perjury, and was sentenced by His Honour T. Sercombe Smith to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. It will be remembered that the defendant in another action was recently sent
to prison for two months, with hard labour, by His Honour A. G. Wige, for a similar offence. It is to be hoped that such exemplary lessons will have a salutary effect in inducing Chinese witnesses to speak the truth.
We
The fixtures in connection with the Hongkong Water Polo Challenge Shield have just been published, and are as follows:-First round→→ 25th July: R.W.F. (Right) v. V.R.C. "B" team; others drew byes. Second round-26th July: V.R.C. "A" team v. H.M.S. Janus; 8th August: R.W.F. (Left) v R.A. 25th Co., E.D.; 9th August: V.R.C. “C” team v. R.A. 25th Co., 8.D.; 10th August: R.A. 38th Co., S.D., v. winners of the first round. All matches will commence on each day at 5.45 p.m., sharp. must be played at the V.R.C., Kowloon, and
house No. 15c, Wellington Street, which is A Chinese thief took a particular fancy to undergoing repairs, and for several evenings paid the inmates visits while they were down. stairs at their meal, walking away with various articles such as bedding, etc., and even some of the bamboos comprising the scaffolding around the house. But on the 15th inst. he was detected by the owner of the house in the act of carrying off some other things. The owner gave the alarm, and the thief in his haste to escape fell and severely hurt his ankle. He had stable. to be carried to the hospital, attended by a con.
His Excellency Major-General Gascoigne, for a short holiday in Canada by the 8.8. Empress C.M G., and Mrs. Gascoigne, left on the 18th inst. of Japan. H.E. arriving at Murray Pier about stationed in Hongkong, as well as by Mr. R. F. Johnston, Private Secretary to H.E. the Gor- Trefusis, A.D C. (who himself was leaving on a ernor, Consul Volpicelli, Capt. the Hon. H. W.
F. H. May, C.M.G., and several others. After visit to Shanghai), Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving, Hon. exchanging a hearty farewell and good wishes all round, His Excellency and Mrs. Gascoigne boarded the launch Alexandra and proceeded to the Empress of Japan, which left the harbour a little before 1 p.m.
11 a.m., was met there by officers of the troops
Among those who arrived from San Francisco by the Gaelic was Mrs. Wu Ting-fang, wife of the Chinese Minister to Washington.
The Hongkong Police officials are certainly understand that H.E. Wu himself is to follow coming well to the fore. On the 13th inst. they shortly, as he is returning to settle some family arranged for a billiard match, six of the police affairs-if indeed he is not actually to
to play against an equal number of the Civilian retire from his present post. According to Club. The game started at 2.30 p.m. Though Peking reports the official selected to take
some pretty strokes were made, the match was the place Wu Ting-fang, whose term of office
more remarkable for the genuine good humour as Chinese Minister to the United States, prevailing among the opponents than for any Spain, and Peru has already expired, is Librilliancy of play. Refreshments were served Chin-fang, the adopted son of H.E. Li Hung-od libitum by the genial hosts, and the match chang. It is, however, rumoured the Minister Elect intends to refuse the post.
During the 48 hours ending at noon on the luth inst. there were reported 4 fresh cases of plague and 7 deaths (all Chinese). Last week's figures were 26 cases and 21 deaths, against the previous week's 47 cases and 46 deaths. Of the 26 cases, 15 were in the City of Victoria itself. Since noon on Monday to noon yesterday there have been reported 5 cases and 5 deaths. Mr. J. Meek, manager, Messrs. G. Falconer & Co., who was admitted to Kennedy Town Hospital about nine weeks ago suffering from plague, has now completely recovered, and will, we hear, be discharged to-day. Mr. Moek's attack was an exceptionally severe one, and left him very weak. It is only within the past week or so that he has been able to walk.
By a coincidence the day after the news of the Terrible's successful performance reached England, Commander J. E. Drummond, the gunnery lieutenant of the ship, promoted out of the ship for services in South Africa and China, arrived in this country. It will be It will be learned with mingled feelings of remembered that in the final attack on Pieter's pleasure and regret that Mr. H. A. Ritchie, Hill, which opened the way to Ladysmith, the able and popular superintendent of the General Buller asked for heavier artillery and P. & O. Company here, will shortly be trans- a 6-inch 7-ton quick-firing gun was landed from ferred to London. Mr. Ritchie is well known the Terrible, and, on a Scott mounting, was in the Far East generally, baving taken a sent to the front under Lieut. Drummond. This prominent and an active interest in the welfare was the heaviest piece of ordnance used in of the ports he has been stationed at; and whilst South Africa, and the way in which Lieut. all will wish him every success and pleasure in Drummond and his men handled it evoked his new sphere, yet many will regret his special mention of the officer, who has since departure from our midst. The directors been promoted, in General Duller's despatches, of the company have offered him the position for the heavy lyddite shell it poured into the of manager of the West End branch of enemy's camp was an important factor in the the company's business in London, which attack. When news of the disturbance in he has accepted. He will probably leave to North China reached Hongkong steps were take up the appointment in November, his taken on board the Terrible to mount 12-local successor not having yet been nominated pounder guns, and on the arrival of the ship at Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie will be much missed Taku these guns were at once taken by Lieut. in local circles; and we are sure the Shanghai Drummond to Tientsin, where there is no doubt community will unite with Hongkong in its they materially assisted in saving the garrison.'good wishes.
concluded at 8.30 p.m., the police winning by sixty points, 799 to 739. Preparations were then made for an impromptu “smoker” to wind ap the day, and a really excellent programme was got together in a few minutes. The orchestra (R.W.F. bandsmen), consisting of 'cello, flute, concertina, banjo and cornet, was all that could be desired. Song followed song, interspersed by selections from the orchestra, and the performers certainly came off very creditably. Where everybody did his best, it would be invidious to particularise. The entertainment closed with speeches by the chairman, Sergt. Withers, advocating that such gatherings might be of more frequent occurrence, and, on behalf of the Civilian Club. by Mr. Haggart, who thanked the hosts heartily for the pleasant afternoon and evening provided.
On the 13th inst, the British transport Multra arrived from Taku and the U.S. transport Solace from Manila, while the British transport Itrea and Nerasa left for Calcutta and Taku respectively.
Taku, and the British transport Multra left for The British_transport Rajah arrived from Calcutta on the 15th inst.
for practice and H.M.8. Firebrand left for On the 15th inst. H.M.8. Daphne went ont
Canton.
The chartered transport Rajah with Indian troops left for India on the 17th inst. the British transport Clavering arrived from Taku, and the U.S. transport Solace left for Manila.
On the 18th the British transport Itinda, the hospital ship Carthage, and the German gun. bost Iltis arrived from Taku, Calcutta and Tsingtan respectively. The British transports Clavering and Rajak left for Calcutta.