1
198
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE IN. THE
FAR EAST.
7
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND a very prominent firm being mentioned in | connection with the scheme. But it is evident that the firm in question is not very anxious about the matter. Did Hongkong belong to aro her nation interested in the South China trade, doubtless the railway would have Ieen built by now, and probably by the Government itself. Of such an idea would not be in conserance with the history of Hongkong, built up by British merel ants in spite of the discouragement of the Government instead of them being aided by Government to the best of its ability. It is easy to point with complacency to what has been achieved here. We had no serious rivals in the past. We have now at least two, one commercial and the other political. Neither America nor France is likely to be half-hearted in carrying out its schemes.
THE RETURN OF H.E. THE
GOVERNOR.
The
was not
(Laily Press, 12th September.) That the United States of America are preparing to take full advantage of the changed conditions of foreign trade with China, resulting from the new commercial treaty, has been abundantly evidenced of. late. Within the last few days we have received striking proof of the efforts which the States are preparing to make in order to gain as large a share as possible of the increasing trade out here. At the beginning of this week we learnt that a steamship was being fitted out at Seattle to sail on the 15th November on a six months' cruise to Russia, China, Japan, the Philippines, the Straits Settlements, India, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, and Hawaii. On board the Oregon is to carry a party of American manufacturers and a collection of exhibits of articles suitable for trade in there countries. This scheme, like that which is to be carried out
His Excellency the Governor, Sir Henry A. shortly of an exhibition of American manu- Blake, G.C.M.G., 1eturned to the Col: y.on the factures at Shanghai, seems excellent, 9th inst., accompanied by Lady Blake and Miss and other commercial rations would do Blake, after a holiday spent in England. well to follow the example of the United party left Hongkong by the P. and O, ss. States. Our London correspondent, in the Valette on the 4th of Jarrary last. They ar rived here on board the s.s. Empress of Japan, telegram which appears in our issue of having made the return journey by way of to-day, announces an even more siguificant Canada. The Empress was signalled at 7.50 sign of American enterprise. A combina- a.m. and steamed into the Harbour shortly be tion has been formed by the great films of fore 9 o'clock, Blying the Governor's flag. Salutes Messrs KOUNTZE Brothers, Messrs. Ver- were exchanged between the Empress and MILYE & Co., Messrs. BROWN Brothers & H.M.S. Amphitrite. By this time a great num- Co., Messrs. A. BELMONT & Co. and ber of people had congregated at Blake Pier to CORNELIUS VANDERBILT to run a new line welcome His Excellency. A guard of honour of 100 men from the Hongkong Regiment of steamships between New York and the under the command of Major Berger and ports of Asia. For the present the com-
he. ded by the band marched from the Barracks pany, which will go by the name of the and lined up in front of the Pier; musical American Asiatic Steamship Company and selections being layed at intervals until
party came ashore. which will be represented in the Far East by the the
until 9.45. A body of poli e was on parade well known firm of SHEWAN, TOMES & Co.,
at the Pier and along the route thence will of necessity charter steamers for its
to Government House, a constable. being use, but in time will either buy vessels or
stationed every twenty paces apart. In all (as our correspondent reports, but this is
there were alcut 170 police turned out. Mr. doubted by those who should know best in F. J. Badeley, Captain Superintendent, was in Hongkong) build special boats for the new command, assisted by Mr. P. P. J.. Wodehouse, line. The importance of such a venture Deputy Captain_ Superintendent, Inspector cannot be overestimated, and
H. when, as must one day happen, in spite of all the opposition now offered, the Isthmian Canal is actually constructed, tlic service will be of even greater significance. A point which is not alluded to in our telegram, but which most certainly must be taken into account, is that the firms who make up the new com- bination are the same as those wh ch are interested in the Canton-Haukow Railway, now actually on its way to becoming a fact. The American Asiatic Company, we learn, in view of the present high rate of freight age, intends to carry out its own material for the construction of the ailway, the building of which, we cannot doubt, had some weight at least in determining the various films interested in starting their new schome. It will eadily be seen how immensely the new project affects Hong- kong. If it succeeds we have a most serious competitor for the trade of Canton and the country beyond, but on the other hand the fresh impetus given to that trade should be such that Hongkong and British mer- chants must benefit materially from the share which they take in it, unless they are to prove utterly lacking in enter prise. In this connection we should like to ask once mere, What of the Kowloon-Canton Railway? Is it ever to become a icality, and if so are the promoters going to wait until Canton trade has been, as far as cssible, tempted to go in other directions? It is many years Low since we have heard talk in this Colony about a line between Kowloon and Cauten, the name of
|
G. Baker, Inspector Williamson, and Inspector Withers. Chairs from Government House, each carried by four coolies in livery. were in readiness at the Pier to convey the party home.
(September 13, 1902.
Mr. Lau Cha Pak, Mr. Ho Feok and other leading members of the Chinese community. and party left the Emprees on the steam At a quarter to ten o'clock the Governor launch Victoria under the escort of Police Launch No. 1, Inspector hiley in command and a few minutes afterwards drew up along. side Blake Pier, their arrival being signalised by a salute from the shore battery. His Excel- lency wore a stel-grey morning coat and silk hat and locked very well after his holiday, રી remark which also applies to Lady Blake and Miss Clake. Accompanying them in the launch were the Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G., who wore the resplendent uniform of Colonial Secretary; Mr. R. F.
Johnston, Private Secretary; and Captain Basil R. H. Taylor, Assistant Harbour Master. His Excellency shook hands all round, as did also Lady and Miss Blake. One of the first to welcome the ladies was Mrs. Volpicelli, wife of the Italian Consul, who presented to each a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Greetings over and a few bars of the National Anthem having been played, the Governor made a formal inspection of the guard of boncur, Thon the party took chairs and went off to Government House
under an escort of eight Sikh constables in charge of Sergeant Garrod, who bas escorted forty-seven Government parties during the past four-and-a-half years. The route followed was Connaught Read to Murray Road, thence by Gaiden Road to Upper Albert Road, and so Lome. As before mentioned, the route was lined with police. Only Mr. May and Mr. Johnston accompanied the party to Govern-
ment House.
In view of the Governor's return, Govern- ment House and grounds had been thoroughly overhauled under the direction of Sergeant W. G. Gerrard. For a time, however, His Excellency will live at the new Peak Residence. which is now redy for cccupancy.
PRESENTATION TO MAJOR- GENERAL GASCOIGNE.
SOUVENIR
OF THE KING'S PARK. The members of the Coronation Committee met in the Legislative Council Chamber at noou in Saturday, the 6th inst., for the purpose of presenting H.E. Major-General memento ef Gascoigne, K.C.M.G.. with a the occasion : L's iuining the first scd of the King's Park at Kowloon on Wednes day, 6th August last. Besides His Excellency, there were present-Lady Casco gne, Hon. Mrs. Bertie, His Honour W. Meigh Goodman, Mis. Goodmam, and Mis Goodman, Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G.. Hen. Sir H. S. Berkeley, Hon. Dr. Ho: Kai. C M.G, Capt, the Hon. H. W. Trefusis, Hon. W. (hatham, Hon. Dr. Clark, Hon. C. S. Sharp, Hon. R. i hewan, Hou, C. W. Dickson, Hon, G. W. }. Playfair, and Messrs. F. J. Badeley, E. A. Hewett, D. F. Brown, R. C. Wilcox, H. N. Mody, E. H.
harp, W. Poate, W. Tanby, A. J. Kaymond, A. H. Skelton, T. H. Reid, Fung Wa Chuo, and R. F. Johnston.
Ab. ut half-past nine H. E, Major-General Sir W. J. Gascoigne. K.M.G., and suite arrived in rickshas and were received with the general salute. His Excellency inspected the guard and afterwards made his way ou to the Pier where there Was DOW 1 large number of military officers, members of Council and Government officials assembled, Blake Pier, it should be mentioned, was prettily decked for the recesion with paln'sf the Commitice, in presenting His Excellency and evergreens, ai ranged under the direction of Mr. W. J. Tutcher of the Botanical and Afforestation Department; while along the centre of the Pier was laid a bread strip of
red cloth. Among those present were His Honour W. Meigh Goodman. Chief Justice; His Boueur A. G. Wire, Puisre Judge; Bon. Sir Henry S. Berkeley, Attorney-General; Commodore Robinson; Colonel the Hcu. R H Bertie, RW F.; Major Denny, F.A.A.G.B.; Captain the Hon. H. W. Trefusis, A.1.C.; Right Rev. Bishop Piazzoli; Hon. W. Cha ham,
His Honour the CHIEF JU: TICE, chairman
with a massive silver bowl, beautifully chased and standing on a blackwood pelestal, said:--- Your Excellency, I believe it is the usual custom at such functions as the laying of a
foundaticu sto e to present the gentleman who lays that stone with a silver trowel or some such memento of the occasion. When your Excel- lency was good enough to turn the first sod of the King's Park at Kowloon, the only imple. ments you used were a pade and a wheelbarrow. Now, a spade is not a Ling one would specially select for pre eutation. The proverb "Call a de a spe de ratl er suggests that there is no
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Director of Public Works; Hon. A. M. *pi Thomson, Colonial Treasurer; Hon. Dr. Clark, romance. Aid, indeed, at first sight it might Medical Officer of Health; Hon. Dr Ho Kai, seem that a barrow was not an object easily lend- C.M.G., Heu. Wei A Yak. Hon. K. Shewan, ing itself to artist e treatment by a silversmith, Hon G. W. F. P.ayfair, Hon. C. S. Sharp. But we consulted Mr. Turner, ard in the eveut Ir. J. W. Atkinson, P.C.M.O.; Mr. C. Mcl. Mr. Bird was kind enough to prepare a Meiser, Acting Registar-General; Mr. E. A. charming sketch of an cruamentul barrow, which we put into the hands of a local British firm Hewett: Mr. H P. Tooker; Mr. J. W. Norton Kysbe, Registrar; Mr. F. A. Hazeland, Police to reproduce as a silver t ble-cament. Un Magistrate. Mr. J. H. Kemp, Acting Police fortunately, that firm was dependent on Chinese General; Dr. J. C. Thomson, Mr. W. Poate, ingenious and clever in the production of silver Magistrate; Mr. E. C. Lewis, Acting Postmaster-workmen, and although the Chinese are most Mr. F. Maitland, Mr. H. H. Gompertz, ornaments of a class with which they are Sr. Conselheiro A. G. Romano, Sr. J. J. familiar, on this cecasion the result was most Leiria, Chev. Z. Volpicelli, Mr. Fung Wa Chun, unsatisfactory. Your Excellency will remem-