500
which the revenue was collected, we find the following results in Haikwan Taels :-
1900. 1899.
1901. Import duty 1,748,160 836.777 1,563,887 Export duty 2,651,783 2,498,151 3,343,346 Coast trade duty... 342,859 186,943 398,757 Opium duty 601,919 463.641 731.001 Tonnage dues
210,543 139,803 166,850 Transit dnes 227,464
128,899 243,64 Opium lekin
979,366 909,581 1,178,896
Total.. ...6,761,594 5,163,795 7,626,387 From this it may be seen than every head- ing in 1900 showed a marked decline, and in 1901 an equally marked recovery; while under "Import duty" the figures for 1901 were better even than those in 1899, and tonnage dues also manifested an im, provement. The figures on the whole are more satisfactory than was to be anticipated, and the recovery of trade encouragingly rapid.
has
THE ISTHMIAN CANAL.
been
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND DIOCESAN CHORAL FESTIVAL.
movers.
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Thus saith the Lord," a characteristic opens, rendition and used his powerful voice with marked effect, though giving the impression sometimes of uncertainty in the treatment of his intervals. Mr. Terill sang "And I heard the voice of harpers" in his accustomed accept- able manner. Several of the quartets were admirably given. In the unaccompanied quartet No partings yonder" Misses Loureiro and Leykum and Messrs G. W. Coster and L. Lammert saug splendidly together. The gem of the whole performance was perhaps the unaccompanied semi-chorus, The fining-pot is for silver," which was rendered with fine Another good expression and regard to modulation and with feature was the chorus "Let the heavens great accuracy as to time.
[December 21, 1901. which came out of great tribulation," Mrs. Anderson also gave an admirable rendering. Miss Loureiro, soprano, and Miss Leykum, The most sanguine hopes of the promoters of contralto, beth sang well in the quartets in the first annual Hongkong Diocesan Festival
which they appeared. Mrs. Dealy, contralto, which was held on the 17th inst. in St. John's though not possessed of a very strong voice, Cathedral, must have been amply gratified with
made Я faverable appearance in her solo the complete success which crowned their efforts;
numbers. Mr. G. P. Lammert in his open- and now that the Festival has become an established and an appreciated fact, it cannot bating tenor solo, "No weeping yonder," gave a roughness to his notes sometimes, which be the earnest wish of all who had the pleasure of his recent throat trouble no doubt accounted attending this first performance that such a
for. His rendering of the air "My soul is praiseworthy movement may be followed up athirst' was tasteful and sweet. The basses with zest and even increased ardour. The idea
were Messrs. C. H. P. Hay and W. J. Terrill. underlying the Festival is to increase the size Mr. Hay gave the air with which Part I of the choir and of course promote good music, For the actual crystallisation of that idea, too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the prime It has meant incessant and indefatig; able labour and anxiety for thein. As is usual in such case, most of the ex cative work has fallen upon only a few and upon no one perhaps more than Mr. Alfred Cunningham, the Hon. Secretary, to whose self-denying efforts, backed up by those of the Committee, much of the success of the Festival was undoubtedly due. Able assistance was rendered also by Mr. G. P. Lammert, Mr. G. Grimble, and Mr. J. H. Moir, who was generous enough to relinquish the baton in favour of Mr. Ward, and to assist in the chorus, It remains to be said of course that the scheme when first set afoot was very well received and responded to by the various Choirs who par- ticipated, and although there was a good deal of-shall we say -dilatoriness evinced on the part of some members of the chorus in the matter of attending the earlier practices in par- ticnlar, yet on the whole there was much in them to gladden the conductor's heart and certainly nothing left to be desired so far as the results of the two months' preparation were concerned. To that last statement the large audience which filled the Cathedral to the doors on Tuesday evening gase their distinct approbation. The Choirs which took part in the Festival were those of St. John's Cathedral, St. Peter's Church, and the Military Church, instrumental assistance being lent by the band of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. It may be mentioned that the initial practices were conducted by Mr. G. P. Lam- mert, previous to Mr. Ward's return from home.
$4
rejoice," the R. W. F. band taking part in it. The band played excellently in all their numbers and deserve every credit for their performance, as does Mr. J. H. Moir, the bandmaster, for his. Mr. G. Grimble, the organist, filled that capacity with his accustomed ability and acceptance. After the benediction, a further
Stabat Mater' selection of music from played by the band. In the interval between Parts I and II of "The Holy City' a colleo- tion was taken on behalf of the Choir Fund. The total amount realised was $414.02, which is the largest collection taken for eight years.
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55
was.
Appended are the names of the soloists, &c., members of chorus, and the Committee :-
SOLOISTS, &C.
(Daily Press, 19th December.) The anticipated opposition in the United States Senate to the Isthmian Canal Treaty has turned out to be less serious than was imagined. The most pessimistic pro- phets warned us to look for the possibility of the Anglophobes in the Upper House being able to wreck the Bill and thus delay the Canal negotiations indefinitely. Such expectations fortunately have proved to be By a majority of entirely unfounded. sixty-six votes the new HAY-PAUNCEFOTE As the full num- Treaty has been ratified. ber of the United States Senate is ninety, it appears that twelve members either abstained from voting or were not present; but a seven-ninths majority of the whole House has declared itself in favour of the new agreement, and thus the action of the Lower House and the declaration of the President have been most emphatically en- dorsed. No doubt some critics will be found at home to maintain that Great Britain has sacrificed certain interests to oblige the Republic. But, still lacking as we do the full terms of the Treaty, we do not find from the telegraphic summaries which have reached us that any unreasonable concessions have been made by the British Government. It is not to be denied that the States have a greater concern in the Canal than ourselves, even though we undubitably come second in our interest in such a scheme. The rapid signature of the Treaty and its unexpectedly quick passage through the two Houses of the United States Legislature can but be looked on as the happiest omen of the relations between President ROOSEVELT's administration and the British Government. To us in the Far efforts he had unsparingly made in bringing L. Le Breton, A. Moyhing, H. Jer, Yates.
East such a strengthening of the Anglo- American bond must be welcomed even more unreservedly than elsewhere. Hence the satisfactory close of negotiations and the speedy prospect of an inter-oceanic canal is a matter for deep rejoicing.
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.] SHANGHAI, 15th December, 7.46 p.m. An official telegram has been received stating that the Court started yesterday ou its return to Peking, crossing the Hoangho and resting at Heintion, eight miles out from Kaifengfu.
The debris of the Oriental Hotel was sold by auction at Yokohama on the 29th ult. The electric light plant brought 1,300 yen, the con- tents of the building 475 yen, and the rains 19
yen.
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Sopranos-Mrs. W. H Anderson and Miss Louriero; Contralto-Miss Leykum; Tenor- Mr. G. P. Lammert; Basses-Messrs. C. H. 1'. Hay and W. J. Terrill; Organist-Mr. G. Grimble; Conductors-Mr. J. H. Moir, R.W.F., and Mr. A G. Ward.
CHORUS.
FESTIVAL COMMITTEE.
The subject chosen for treatment on this occa- sion was A. R. Gaul's "The Holy City," a tuneful, bright work with some splendid choruses. As an overture, the R. W. F. band played a selection
Mesdames:-J. Mudie. A. Seth, F. H. Yeats, from Rossini's Stabat Mater,' which was
A. Cunningham, H. L. Stringer, G. A. followed by Sullivan's grand hymn, "Onward, Woodcock. Misses C. F. Clieve, M. Parker, Christian Soldiers," in which the congregation Seth, Loureiro, M. Loureiro. Chunynt, Leykum, Weatherston, E. Shaw, Hance. Messrs. F: joined. The service was conducted by the Rev.
The Holy City" was in: Jenkins, E. Warder, J. Auld, Nicholls, H. L. R. F. Cobbold, M.A. troduced by an appropriate organ selection, and Stringer, A. Cunningham, W. J. Terrill, the opening chorus "No shadows yonder" was
C. H. P. Hay, J. Hays, A. Eynott, C. Gregory, given with fine effect, showing the choir to be very L. Lammert, B. Lammert, Adams, F. G. well balanced and excellently under the control of Whittick, G. W. Custer, G. Benning, A. the conductor. As the performance proceeded, Rowley, N. Thompson, A. Bolstridge, S. R. the chorus made evident their thorough ac-Moore, C. Pearce, H. Sykes, H. Arthur, Ruby, quaintance with their work, rendering the Mirow, Hunt, Arbuthnot, J. Grant Smith. various pieces in a manner equally creditable Rev. J. Wright. Masters E. Hagen, W. Hagen, to themselves and to Mr. A. G. Ward, who Hendley, Jack, Lenfesty, Ford, Power, Sayers, had in this his reward for the strenuous P.E. Hastings, A. G. Melbye, H. H. Strangman, his chorus up to satisfactory pitch. "They that sow in tears was one of the most notable numbers, the light and shade being most artis- tically observed, and they were also heard to advantage in the quick-time "Thine is the Kingdom" with which Part I concludes. Another very effective chorus was the refrain to the bass air at the beginning of Part II, while "Great and marvellous are Thy works was most impressively sung and provided & splendid finale. In the chorus were several ladies who had kindly lent their assistance to the combined choirs. Mrs. Mudie, who has recovered from the recent indisposition which unhappily prevented her from taking a soloist's part in the Festival, magnanimously took her place in the chorus and rendered invaluable aid. As regards the soloists, there can be on the whole nothing but praise for them. This was the first occasion upon which Mrs. W. H. Anderson had appeared in the Cathedral. Her opening solo, "Eye hath not seen," brought, out the excellent quality and tone of her well- trained soprano voice in an eminent degree, and here also her declamatory style was heard to advantage. Of the air, "These are they
Rer. R. F. Cobbold, M. A., Mrs. Seth, Mrs. Lowson, Mr. W. Armstrong, Mr. G. P. Lammert, Mr. A. G. Ward, Mr. H. Sykes, Mr. J. H. Moir, and Mr. Alfred Cunningham, Hon. Secretary.
We understand that the choir purpose giving either Stainer's "Crucifixion" or "The Dangh- ter of Jairus" during Lent.
Sir James Mackay paid us but a flying visit last Saturday", says the Foochow Echo of the Arriving at the tiffin hour, he spent 7th inst.
with the Chairman of the the afternoon Chamber of Commerce and others, discussing matters connected with his Mission, dined at the British Consulate, witnessed the perform- ance of Liberty Hall at the thea're, and left at midnight for the Pagoda Anchorage. He was accompanied by bis two Secretaries, Mr. Cook- burn, Assistant Commissioner, and Mr. J. W. Jamieson, Commercial Attaché." Sir James Mackay started from Shanghai for Nanking and river ports on the 7th inst, and was ex pected to return before Christmas.