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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
overdoes the training, it is hard to pick up in the hot weather. Personally I should prefer to see the sports held (say) about the end of November, as the evenings in that month and also October are quite cool enough for training and there is little in the way of exercise to be got at that time unless one can leave the office at 4 o'clock, which is as a rule impossible for most of us.
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September 14, 1901.]
SPORTING AND OTHER NOTES.
Referring to the Governor's remarks at the Bowling Club the other day anent a Public Park in Kowloon, every one must be very glad to see that H.E. is so much in favour of acquiring open spaces for recreation and for the use of the public generally. There are plenty of us on the Hongkong side who would like to get a change by going over to Kowloon occa- sionally, if there was any decent place to go to I see that the ponies which are coming where we could stroll about, play, or look on at from Australia will be here before the end games or otherwise amuse ourselves, and, as
of September, and you state that over H.E. appears to be very willing to assist the seventy are expected. I suppose there must public in acquiring the ground, now is the time be at least thirty or forty ponies of one to move in the matter. Will not some public-sort and another in the Colony at the pre- spirited Kowloonite take the matter up and sent time. Would it not be possible to hold through the medium of your paper, Mr. Editors horse-show, or rather a pony-show, some- inform the public what ground is available and where about Christmas time, that is, after the how it may be best laid out? If some good penies which are expected shortly have been scheme is put before the public they will sub- here for three months? Would not a show be an scribe the necessary funds fast enough.
incentive to owners and to grooms alike to turn out the ponies a little better than they otherwise might! There might be a class for all-comers and a class exclusively for the ponies coming into the Colony after a certain date, and a class for polo-ponies and hacks; and there might also be a driving class. Of course the popies shortly coming would not he really fit by Christmas time, but you can't help that. There is no doubt, however, that some of them will look a lot better than others, and that to a large extent will depend on the way they are "done" in the mean- time If I were a judge, I should give more points for condition and whether the pony looks The polo-players have now given up the well in himself than for anything else perhaps. ground at Happy Valley and have apparently Of course soundness would have to be taken into not done so much damage as some people anti-consideration to some extent, but then we hope all cipated. There are a good many bare patches the ponies will be sound when they arrive. By on the Naval Football ground, but all these were Christmas time, too, some of the owners might probably there before polo was started; some have found out their ponies could jump a little. places, however, have had to be returfed, and for and it might be possible to carry out the sugges- this reason, i.c. to give such places time to tion I made two weeks ago in connection with recover, polo should have been stopped a month the show-it would all help to make the thing ago. It takes at least seven or eight weeks go. My great point is, however, that if it were for turf to set at all, and I fancy a good known that such a show was likely to come off, many blue-jackets do not care to wait it would add an increased interest in the horse- even until the end of the month to start flesh in the Colony, and in this way we should football, but would like to start at once. have a better race meeting. The show need not The chief objection to the Polo Club using be confined to horses; we might have cats and this ground is that if either the Naval or dogs as well.
A certain piece of land was set aside by the Government for a Public Recreation Ground and the Afforestation Department was granted $2,000 for the purpose of laying it out. This money, though, has apparently not been spent I understand the ground (swamp) set aside by the Government (of which the Bowling Club have taken a part) is not large enough to provide places of recreation for all Kowloon and part of Hongkong. I don't know what the area is, but I dare say other land is available near the present ground.
Military Football Clubs or the Hockey Club
VETERAN.
VICTORIA RECREATION ('LUB AQUATIC SPORTS,
wish to improve their ground by cutting, level. There are plenty of snipe down now; and I ling, and rolling it, they cannot do so. The hear of several bags of about twenty couple the polo-ground at Causeway Bay has been allowed last two or three days. The best of the shooting to run to grass through the hot weather, will be over in another week or ten days. and this is not the way to get anything ap. proaching turf on the ground: the longer the grass is allowed to grow the coarser and weaker it will get; the shorter and oftener it is cut, on the other hand, the finer and stronger it will grow and consequently the more wear and tear it will stand. Some people have a theory that if the grass is cut close the sun dries up the roots, but this theory will not hold, as any one can see for himself by looking at the Military and Naval cricket-ground at Happy Valley, and also the golf greens, which are cut very short through the summer and show much finer and more wearable turf than other grounds in
consequence.
Some steps should be taken to revive the Athletic Sports, and I think it is a matter the Hongkong Football Club might take up, as they are certainly in a better position than any other club to run a meeting successfully They have the necessary building for specta- tors and also a dressing-room, and they could with very little trouble find a place to store the necessary gear. All that remains to be done is to obtain H. E.'s consent to make a cinder track, and collect subscriptious for the purpose.
200
tation of prizes won at the sports just finished will take place.
The following are the results of Saturday's
events:-
1. 4 p.m. FINAL 2 Lengths (Handicap),
1. N. H. Alves.
2. H. A. Lammert.
Time, 47 secD.
There were four in the race-C,M.S. Alves (owes 10 seca.), H. A. Lammert (owes il se08.), N. H. Alves (owes 12 sec8.), and A. E. B. Alves (owes 15 secs.). It was a most interesting strug- gle throughout, all four keeping close together and finishing in a bunch. N. H. Alves won by about a foot only.
These sports came to most successful conclusion on the 7th inst.-a conclusion whose undoubted success must be gratifying to all couuected with the Victoria Recreation Club. | The first and second days saw some excellent sport, with good crowds attending, but Satur- day easily eclipsed all that. The weather was glorious, with not a cloud in the sky to raise apprehension in the minds of those whose umbrellas had been left at home. The day being an off one so far as business was con- cerned, the community seemed to have turned out en masse to witness the struggles in the final and other events. The ladies, of course, were easily in the majority; in fact, they were present in such force that a large barge had to be moored in the pond, opposite the grand stand, to accommodate those of the other sex who were unseated by this unexpected but neverthe- less welcome invasion. The grand stand was one great patch of white, dotted here and there by bits of colour, large and small, where parasols and hats, presenting every colour It is distressing to find a place the size known to science and the dressmaker, enhanced of Hongkong, with its many schools, regiments the effect. As has been said, a barge was etc., holding athletic meetings every year, requisitioned for the accommodation of specta. without any running or bicycling track. There tors, but even this could not meet the require could be no better place to make it than men's of the case, and spectators were lined all round the Hongkong Football ground, and I am | round the pond. Altogether, there must have sure the necessary money for the purpose could beon somewhere about seven or eight hundred be easily obtained from the Hongkong public. prut. Under such happy circumstances, The meeting has always been held in March then, is it be wondered at that the Committee when there are a good many things on, such as of the Club have decided to hold another water the races, football-competitions, etc., to inter- fete shortly? This fête will take the popular fere with training. It is also often very hot form of a water caruival, and will be held on about that time, and if a competitor slightly Saturday, 21st inst. At this meeting the presen -
2. 4.15 p.m. RUNNING HEADER from SPRING BOARD. Two prizes.
M. A. Rasack,
A. J. Mackie, F. K. Tata, F. D. Baio, (). Wagner, A. Humphreys,
N. H. Alves,
1
A. E. 8. Alves,
A. A. Alves, Frank Jorge,
J. M. Rosa Pereira,
A. A. Alves was first and F. Jorge second. The diving was exceedingly good--much better
than in former years,
3. 4.45 FINAL Four Lengths (Handicap). N. H. Alves and 8. R. Moore (dead-host). As the result shows, this race was the best of the entire sports. The four who contested it were-F. R. Bain (owes 3 secs ), 8. R. Moore (owes 8 secs.), N. H. Alves (owes 18 secs.) and A. A. Alves (owes 23 secs.). The excitement throughout on the part of the spectators wAN intense, and they shouted encouraging cries to their respective favourites, who, indeed, needed no encouragement, for each strained his utmost. The dead-beat will be swum off at a date not yet 4.5 p.m. Hiou Dive. 1st and 2nd prizes presented.
1. A. A. Alres
fixed.
2. Frank Jorge 3. O. Wagner
The diving in this competition was very
good indeed, the entrants, with one or two exceptions, taking the water neatly. With a little more training, Wagner would have made a much better show.
5. 5.20 p.m. LADIES" NOMINATION. 2 prizes presented.
CONDITIONS,
Start in Tub in full dress, (socks, boots trou- sers, shirt, and coat) paddle up the bath, touch push-off board with both hands and swim back with the Tab. First in each heat to compete in the final.
A. E. S. Alres.
A. A. Alves.
First Heat.
Nominated by
Mrs. J. T. D'Almada o
Castro.
Mrs. J. J. Leiria.
I. E. Lammert.
Miss F. Clieve.
Miss E. Jorge. Miss Loureiro
Frank Jorge. A. Loureire. Lammert was rather long, and could not tuck himself so comfortably in the tub as did his shorter companions. When he did finally get inside, the tub sank ander his weight, and he found it impossible to compete in the heat. The competitors in all three heats were variously disguised, but the majority had a predilection for the garb of the coloured
Mister Johnson " of minstrel fame. The heats, as can easily be imagined, were very funny, and provided an excellent change. A. A. Alves won the first heat.
Second Heat.
A. J. Mackie Henry W. Sayer F. K. Tata F. D. Bain A. Humphreys
Nominated by Mrs. A. Mackie Miss Sayer Mrs. J. M. Sethus Miss M. Parker Miss Alice White
A. J. Mackie won. Third Heat,
J. M. Roza Pereira 8. A. Beth
M. A. Basach C. M. 8. Alves
N. H. Alves
Mi M. Hoa Parin Miss M. Loureiro Miss Buttonjee Mrs. L. G.D'Almada e
Castro Mim Barros N. H. Alves won.
Final.
1. A. A. Alves 2. A. J. Mackie 3. N. H. Alvas