298
discount of one candareen to a dollar in the case of the sub-contractors, and in some cash tzins.c- tions a discount of one candareen per tael was made. That repres uted the only profit witness expected to make out of the contract.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[October 20, 1902.
Rev. C. H. Hickling, minister of the besides other notabilities of the Colony, and in Union Church, came over in the morning | honour of the occasion two long rows of and officiated at church parade, which showed Japanese lanterns, nodding and swinging in a strong muster. After breakfast lectures on, the breeze, illuminated the way from the pier matters relevaut to the playing of the grim to the officers' mess, where the distinguished By Mr. Wilkinson-Witness had always em. game of war were given by two of the visitors were to be fêted. Flags fluttered here ployed sub-contractors, and every other con. sergeant instructors attached to the Corps, and there, a yellow one over the sergeants' mess tractor in Hongkong did the same. He had Major Pritchard, the Commandant, also parti- being prominent amongst the display. The previously done a good deal of work for Mr. cipating. On Saturday afternoon Major W.
reason for its selection was not quite apparent Leigh, who was aware that sub-contractors Baker Brown explained the operation and use to the ordinary mind, and the unobaritable were employed then. No architect had ever of the search-light, etc, in its comparative amongst the others of the rank and file put it raise objections to the employment of sub-relationship to Garrison artillery and a hostile down as a quite unnecessary precaution to contractors by witness.
ressel entering a harbon". All of these lectures ensure the mess in question against invasion were interesting because instructive, and were by those Volunteers who have not yet attained listened to attentively by the Volunteers. to the diguity of a trio of stripes.
By the Court-In every contract he had had since he started business in the Colo y eight or nine years ago, there had been sub-letting.
By Mr. Dennys-The contract price of $145,000 for the fifty houses in luded $60 per month each for witness and his partner, over a period extending to fifteen to sixteen months. The item amounted to $500 in respect of the houses on Lot 1,107, to $500 for those on Lot 1,108, and to $1,000 for the houses on Let 1,118. These three items, representing a total of $2,000, included also the wages of sweeping coolies, à cook, and a watchman; the amount, witness explained, was for what was called Sheds expenses," and was not reckoned as profit.
The enquiry was adjourned.
THE VOLUNTEER CAMP.
on
Monday. Fine weather favoured the opening of the annual camp of instruction of the Hongkong Volunteer corps at Stonecutters' Island the 10th inst. We have already explained that the ordinary arrangements in confection with the camp differ in no material way from those of last year, but in the matter of training one important departure is to be noted, namely, that of the drilling of the members of the corps as Garrison artillerymen. The change in the constitution of the Volunteers is a judicious one, of that there can be no doubt, and this fact has been recognised by those mainly concerned, the Volunteers themselves, who are entering upon their new instruction courses with a zeal that promises well for their efficiency.
{
Not many were present in camp on Friday night; there seldom is on the first day, which is regarded rather in the light of an experi- mental one than as partaking of the serious business of the days that are to follow. A very pleasant evening, however, was spent by those who were in camp, although there was no attempt at any organised ulertainment- that comes along in due course, when the camp is in full swing. Corporal Ds, as usua!, was the leading spirit in what fun took place; a camp that lacked the presence of this versatile raconteur of bonmots would be a desolate affair indeed. He has a complaint this year, though the sergeants' mess is to be held sacred to the use of the gentlemen of the three stripes only, not even such an important personage as a corporal being admitted. Under these circum- stances, Corporal D-s, who was detected is au attempt to explore the mess in question and was ingloriously bundled out, does not quite see why a sergeant should be allowed to partake of refreshment at the canteen allotted to the corporals, lance-corporals and men of the Corps. unless he be willing to " pay for his footing. This latter consideration is recomended to the notice of sergeants.
It is unfortunate-and annoying-that a colony of ants should have determined to hold a camp at the same time and in the same place as that of the Volunteers. These little models of misplaced industry dispute the possession of many tents, and the vigour they display in the prosecution of their hosti:e tacties is responsible for a surprising amount of language."
64
Many visitors came over on Saturday night, when an enjoyable sing-soug was given. There was also a large influx of Volunteers. Church parade was held yesterday morning.
Tuesday.
On Sunday at noon Major Pritchard made an inspection of the tents, which had previously been carefully set in order. This over, the rest of the day was left for its occupation to the inclinations of the Volunteers, who wore free from duty, excepting, of course, the gua ds. Some had a shoot over the range, and others smartened themselves up in auticipation of the visits of friends to see them in their war-paint. The opportunity, too, was a fine one for those who were home at the Coronation, and they made some of their less fortunate fellows envions by recitals of their experiences and adventures on the trip to the tight little island over the seas. In the afternoon, when the visitors put in an appearance, kodaks, were produced, and amateur Tommy Atkinses posed in appropriate attitudes in front of their little canvas houses for the suap-shots that should afterwards be held as interesting suvenirs of another camp in the history of the Ilongkong Volunteer Corps.
Ou Sunday evening the band of the rogiment obliged with a few selections, interspersed with the musical programme contributions t, by. Volunteers and a trio from the regular army, who proved a good combination of instrumentalists. There is talk of an organised concert for to-morrow night, and a good in. dication of its eventuating is to be found in the small platform already erected for the accom- modation of the entertainers.
Yesterday morning and again in the after- noon the mysteri s of big-gua drill were again delved into. Everything is being done in this direction to bring the newly-embodied Garrison artillerymen "up to scratch," and for useful instruction the present camp should close with a high record indeed.
Sunday was a dullday. Comparatively few Volunteers were in camp, and those who were found it hard to kill time after the morning's work was finished. Sleep was practically out of the question, for a host of flies had joined forces with the ants and made the wooing of, Morpheus a vain thing.
Wednesday.
The camp has long since settled down to a steady pursuit of routine duties, and to our earlier accounts of these practically nothing remains to be added. One day is just like another--reveillé at 5 a.m., parade an hour later, a march down to the pier, and a launch trip to one of the three batteries on Stonecutters, where tunics are doffed and quick-firers and six and ten-iuch breech-loader's handled by detach ments told off for each. The instructors are painstaking meu, and already their tutoring is marked by a certain amount of proficiency on the part of the Volunteer soldiers. These are displaying much enthusiasm for their new duties, fo, besides the personal satisfaction afforded by the knowledge that one can get through one's own part creditably; there is looming ahead the probability of a compe- tition, and this in itself provides a strong centive for the expenditure of one's best efforts. When the competition does take plac, woe betide the laggard in a gun's crew! ceives consideration from no one of his com. rad: s, and even his best friend turns from him. Speech is forbidden, but the looks that occasion ally are cast in the direction of the unhappy mortal are sufficient in the depths of their reproach to induce thoughts of suicide and a longing for a friendly kuock from one of the great shells screaming out to the target in the water. With all this in his mind, then little wonder that the embryo soldier buckles to with a resolve to be as good as the next man anyway, and better if possible.
On landing, H.E. the Governor was received by a guard of honour of fifty men, who escorted him and his party to the mess of the officers of the Corps. Amongst the guests, who included a few prominent civilians, were the Hon. F. H, May, Colonel Brown, R.E., Colonel Johnson, R.A., Rear-Admiral Grenfell, Commodore Robinson, and Mr. F. J. Badeley.
After dinner, Commandant Pritchard, H K.- V.C., conducted His Excellency and the others to the place where a platform, decorated with flowers and bunting, had been erected for the The band of the purposes of the concert. Corps, which played selections during dinner, opened with the National Anthem, and after- wards the varions items of a capital programme were gone through. Amongst those who con- tributed were Lts. Lammert and Northcote and Gunners Hays, Hay, Whittick, Stevenson, and Hainsworth, Gunner Sheffield accompanied on the piano, and a member of the Regular army made a good appearance in a cornet solo.
His Excellency did not stay very long, but the concert continued for some little time after his departure, an extension of time in the matter of retiring to their tents being granted Altogether an exceedingly the Volunteers. enjoyable evening was spent, and if helmets fitted a little tight in the morning, what mattered?
THE
K
The
YOSHINO MARU" DISASTER.
Asaunounc din our Shanghai correspondent's telegram on the 13th inst, the Hongkong-owned steamer Yoshino Maru has been burned wh le on a voyage from Shanghai to Kobe. From furthe. messages received by the agents here, it appears that the disister happened while the ressel was near Sato-misaki, the southernmost promontory on the island of Kinshin, Japan, at the end of the Van Diemen Strait.
Yoshino Maru, presumably, was passing through the Strait on her way to Kob when she caught fire. The first telegraphic com- munication received in Hongkong concerning the disaster came from Yokohama and was to the effect that it had been reported from Moji that the Yoshino Maru had apparently been abandoned by the crew at the point indicated. and it was supposed that the crew had been picked up by a steamer and taken to Nagasaki. Another telegram received on Sunday stated definitely that the Yoshino Maru had been barued at se a and that the transport Brooke had picked up the crew off Sato-misaki and landed them at Nagasaki.
can
It is not known here what cargo the steamer was carrying. The general opinion among shippers is that it was in all probability casa there cotton. and if such is the
doubt be little
the that
ship is He re- 21 total loss. Her registered owner is Mr. G. H Medhurst, of Messrs. Dodwell & She is an iron screw Co., Ld, Hongkong. steamer of 2,049 t ns register and was built in 1883 by Messrs. Campbell, Macintosh & Bows- head, Newcastle-on-Tyne; dimensions-277 ft. long, 37.6 broad an 24.2 deep. The Yoshin Maru was in Hongkong some months ago.
It is believed that there are no local men among the European orew.
Friday.
There was unusual bustle in the camp on on the 15th inst, and for the nonce things military were set aside and merry-making indulged in. It was guest night, and for the entertainment of the visitors a concert was to be given.
The Governor, too, was coming,
The King has been pleased to grant to Mr. Johu Penniall, Chief Instructor of the Nanking Naval College, His Majesty's Royal licence and authority that he may accept and wear the Insignia of the Second Class, Third Division, of the Imperial Order of the Double Dragon, conferred upon him by his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China, in recognition of valuable service rendered to his Imperial Majesty.
L.
!