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September 13, 1902.]
COREA.
Chemulpo, 25th August.
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS.
As it is now some considerable time sinc, I last wrote to you, I think I had better delay no 1 nger in doing so, although there is really nothing special at present to address you about. Matters here have been very tame indeed, and the most interesting item of uews that occurs to me at the moment, is that in the latter part of July we were honoured by certain visits from distinguished naval callers. First came the French Admiral, escorted by a smart-looking, flying squadrou of cruisers, and then followed the British Admiral with at least an equally good-looking lot of ships. Neither of these distinguished officers made a long stay at our little port, however, but having looked in asually, as it were, hurried on, per railway express to Seoul, where they were received in audience by the Emperor. On their return to Chemulpo they at cnce re-embarked on board their respective flag-ships and proceeded on their cruise.
Scarcely had they taken their departure when we were visited by the American Adiral, an I officer, I believe, of Caban
renown, His
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squadron consisted of four splendid looking vessels, specimens of marine architecture in all respects worthy of the flag they flew. What made their visit the more
acceptable was the fact that they made quite a considerable stay, remaining here for The Coronation festivities and winning golden encomiums from their British friends by the courtesy of the Admiral in allowing the splendid band of his flagship to supply the music incidental to that celebration. It really seemed to us as if the gallant officer had re- mained for the sole purpose of paying this compliment to his Critish brethren, because he and his ships left the port next morning.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. become distasteful in St. Petersburg. My own argument or proposition, however fair or reason. belief is that, notwithstanding the persistentable, is likely to receive any consideration if it
'bluffing" tactics which have been followed in the Russian Legation since 1897, the interests of that coun ry in this have remained at a standstill and not advanced one inch.
WEATHER.
introduces any element of a progressive nature. One of the subscribers who added Lis signa- ture in support of my first letter to the Stewards also added a note to the effect that in Penang discarded ponis were not eligible to ̈ The two railway is are doing very lit.leace and although this raises another point (and business, owing probably to the wretched if it were the case in Hongkong it would in no weather we have been having. The condition way affect subscriber's right to exchange as of agriculture is good, and the rice crop in proposed by me, since in that case the pony ex- particular looks well. The highest tempera changed would ipso fac o become the discarded ture we have had is 396 deg. Fahrenheit in pony) yet I think that it is quite open to the shade, and the minimum during the past question whether it is fair on subscribers that couple of months 61 deg. We have been fairly discarded ponies sold at public anction and exempt from siskness during the summer-a fetching prices far less than the cost of the very remarkable fact considering the primitive subscribers' ponies should be eligible to race at nature ot our Sanita y arrangements-and all, at all events as other conditions have been equally satisfactory; Apólogis ug for troubling you.-Yours, etc,
subscription griffins. 80 that, taking one thing with another, I fancy
EDMUND C. PONTIFEX. we can begin to congratulate ourselves apon baving spent a thoroughly mild and enjoyable ummer. -Mercury-
CORRESPONDENCE.
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE JOCKEY CLUB AND DISCARDED GRIFFINS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
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Hongkong, 10th September. SIR-If you consider that the correspondence (which I enclose) between myself and the Stew- ards of the Hongkong Jockey Club of sufficient iuterest to warrant its publication I should be much obliged if will publish it in your
you columns. There are two reasons why I should be glad to have the correspondence made public, the first reason bing a personal one and the THE CORONATION FESTIVIT ES,
second what I may call for the purpose of dis- Of the Coronation Festival itself it is now tinction a public one. The personal reason is time to speak more particularly. It must be that I know that my initial letter of the corres- remembered that the British community of pondence, dated the 6th inst. has been the sub- Chemulpo numbers at most a score including, ject of some discussion and I also know that perhaps, half a dozen ladies, and this little body there are some persons, who, probably on account of patriotic citizens of a great Empire merits of Lot being in possession of all the facts, are the highest laudation for celebrating an event under the impression that I wished to be given of national and historic interest in a befitting some advantage over my fellow subscriber and generous manner. To two of the ladies who undertook and carried out iu a very perfect way
for subscription griffins, which impression on a perusal of the letter I feel sure will all the arrangements for the banquet, praise is te instantly dispelled. The second and more due in an especial degree. The programme important reason, which I designated above opened with a Coronation Service in the
88 a public rea ou, is my excuse for pre- British Chapel, which lasted from 10 to 11 suming to trouble you in the matter. It is of o'clock. Then came a reception of the whole course only a public reason inasmuch as, and in foreign community and a large section of the
so far as, it affects indirectly the best interests native population as well at the British Con- of racing and also the rights of subscribers to sulate, where the genial Vice-Consul discharged decide to what extent, tley, as a body, should be the duties of host in the most graceful and allowed to deal with their own property, riz :-- hospitable manner. A garden party was held the subscription griffins. It will be area from in the Consulate grounds at 5 o'clock in the my last letter in the correspondence of the 8th afternoon, when a splendid selection of music, ust. that very nearly all the subscribers agreed beginning with the British National Anthem.
with the proposal I had made to the Stewards, as already mentioned, was rendered by the fiue
and
some of them besides subscribing their band of the American flagship; and theu came signatures added notes giving their r asons for the evening's banquet, when the same accom- so doing. In spite of this, however, I was sur- plished and liberal-minded musicians again prised to receive the reply signed by the Acting delight d the senses of the residents with their Clerk of the Course given below, and I was ravishing strains. As I do not wish to blame still more surprised for the reason he was anybody or anything in connection with au instructed to give for the refusal of the Et wards occasion so interesting and enjoyable, I will say to accede to my request. The reason given nothing about the way in which the Clerk of is that under the conditions officially the Weather behaved. I shall only mention announced before the drawing the discarded that the morning opened foggy, but was gra- pouies have to be separately dealt with, viz.:— ciously pleased to clear up for a short while hy public auction and any objections to those later on, disclosing a fiue view of the harbour, conditions should have been made before the with the U. S. squadron and the solitary but drawing took placo." I suppose that I may gallant looking Japanese warship decked out infer from this that bad I or any other subscri- with bunting from stem to stern and making a ber raised the question before the draw the brave show. There was also a considerable decision of the Stewards would have, or might have display of flags and steamers ashore and, alto-been, otherwise. If this is a fair inference, and gether, our queer little town has seldom appeared to better advantage. It was a notable celebration and one that will be long remembered here.
RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC FAILUFF.
The Russian Minister, His Excellency Mr. Pavloff, left here on board the Russian gunboat Sivoutch in the latter part of July, on a short leare so it was slated. But it is freely whispered that he will really remain on a long leave not to return-and if this is true it would indicate that bis diplomatic career in Seoul, though vigorous enough, has lately
the rason given is the only reason why the Stewards could not accede to my request, then I think that, in view of the knowledge that the sub- scribers were practically unanimous as to the fair- ness of my proposition, the fact of an official announcement having been made as to how the discarded ponies should te dealt with (which it is quite doubtful whether the Stewards had any right to make at all) was practically no reason, and it convinces me that persons who are inte- rested in racing and are willing to support it can expect no consideration at the hands of the Stewards as at present constituted and that no
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(Enclosures.)
6th September, 1902.
THE HO: GKONG
TO THE STEWARDS OF
JOCKEY CLUB. Gentlemen,--1 write to ask whether you will consent to allow me to exchange the Subscrip- tion Waler Griffin which I have drawn for one of the 5 discarded ponies which I understand are to be sold by public auction on Monday next, and to allow the pony I have drawn to be put up for sale in the place of the one I select. In support of my request I submit that I, in common with any other subscriber who may wish to discard the pony or ponies he may have drawn, have a right to exchange such pony or pnie for the ponies which have been dis- carded before they are offered for sale to the public. If there should happen to be more applicants than there are discarded ponies, or more than one applicant, then I think that the first choice should be bal- loted for between such applicants and that the choice should be accordingly. Ent that a subscriber for a griffin should not be entitled to exchange the pony or ponies he has drawn for the discarded ponies, if in his opinion he will make a good bargain for himself, seems to be most unfair, since the subscribers are the persons who should be primarily considered and but for whom there would be no ponies at all. I may add for your consideration that the proposal I make is by no means a novel one but that the practice is allowed in Singapore and in Shanghai also. If you, gentlemen, are unwilling to allow me to exchange the pouy I have drawn and to allow me to race the pony I choose in its stead, then I confidently ask that you will allow me to exchange on the understanding that such pony taken in exchange is not eligible to race 112 this Colony. I do not sak to have any advantage which any other subscriber has not, and I submit with confidence that it is only fair that before any po. ies which have been imported into this Colony as subscription griffi us are offered to the public the sub- scribers should first of all be given the chance. of taking them in lieu of the ponies which have been drawn by them. I presume it is your wish. to give every subscriber a chance of getting as good a pony as possible, and to offer the public any of the ponies that form ous of the lot of subscription griffins when one or more sub- scribers may elect to take a discarded pony instead of the one he has drawn seems to me. most unfair and against the interest of sport. 1 he only possible objection that I can think of and the only person who might possibly b prejudiced by your consenting to allow me to exchange my pony for one of the discarded oues is Mr. Kiss, and therefore 1 undertake (if you think it necessary) to make good anything which Mr. Kiss may lose by taking the pony I have drawn. I hope in the course of the day to be able to send yon a few signatures by some subscribers who agree with me that my request should be allowed.-Yours faithfully,
To
IDMUND C. PANTIFEX.
Hongkong, 8th September, 1902. TH STEWARDS OF THE HONGKONG JOCKEY CLUB. Gentlemen,-In reference to my letter of the 6th inst. I shall be in a position to hand to the clerk of the course a duplicate of that letter signed by a number of subscribers who support me in the matter before 1.30 p.m. to-day. I therefore ask you, should you contemplate sond-
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