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absolutely unable to get away in time. He him- self thought it would be a good thing for the Club races to be held on saturday aftercoons for the simple reason that that would deave the whole of Sunday free. The racing on Sunday as at present carried on occupied only a few hours, but practically cut up the whole day, and left no time for anything else. If the Chairman would amend his motion to read that the races start ut 2.0 p.m, he would have much pleasure in seconding.
The CHAIRMAN agree,
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Mr. SLADE said he was most strongly opposed to this motion. If they were not to start till 2.3), only 3 hours would by left for the races, as they had to finish at 5.45. For a 10, 11, or 12 mile course ou a light day 31 | hours was an impossible time. They wanted a good 4 hours at the very least for boats to finish. If these races were sailed on Saturday, there would be innumerable racas requiring to be resailed and there was no saying when the racing would be finished if they had light wea- ther such as they had last season. But there was a more serious objection than this even: he believed a considerable number of boat-owners here would be unable to sail regularly on Saturday afternoons. He knew one owner who would be able never or only very rarely to sail on Saturday afternoons. Personally he prevented on two occasions last year by work which he could not delay. Many others, too, would necessarily have s me press of work on Saturday afternoons which would provent them getting away. Let them have the Cup races on Saturdays and the Club races at time when every man could be sure of getting away. With regard to the objection that these newer boats sailed so much quicker that the whole day was cut up for a few hours' race, let the Club race start at 1.30; and he did not think anybody would be able to claim that the whole day was cut up. People could have their mornings to themselves before going out. On th, Sabbatarian aspect of the question that it offended people to have racing going on. on Sundays, he personally could not see the difference between going out and competing with other boats and going out sailing in com- pany with other boats. He did not see how anybody could be gravely offended by the Club having races on Sunday afternoons.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
| church. They went away up or down the Harbour, and people could not s e them unless they looked ont of their windows, and then all they could sce was a few boats, nobody knew whose, sailing some miles off. He really did not see how that could hurt anybody or anybody's feelings.
The CHAIRMAN said that with regard to the statement that there was no opportunity for some members to sail on Saturdays, the facts were all in his favour. It was a fact that in the past three scasons he had deliberately made it a condition of his Commodore's Cup races that they must be sailed on Saturday afternoor, and that with the object of getting some day or other all races sailed on Saturday afternoons. It was a fact which the Club records would bear out that në siagle owner, so far as his memory served him, had ever been prevented sailing on these days.
Mr. SLADE said that last year first Com- modore's Cup race bad to be resailed. Person- ally he was not able to go out at that time.
The CHAIRMAN went on 10 state his belief that if Club races were fixed on Satur- days members would find time to race,
On a show of hands being called for, the Chairman's motion was defeated by a large majority, only four voting for it.
The CHAIRMAN then moved that Club races on Sundays commence at 1.30 pm. This would be a geat convenience to members resident at the Peak His principal reason for making this motion was that it would enable any persou to aftend morning service at the Cathedral and go out sailing afterwards. If he were now, as Commodore of the Yacht Club, asked why Sunday sailing was persisted in, he could certainly demonstrate that it did not interf re with church-going. He was sura ths half-hour extra could not make any difference to th ir sailing. There was plenty of time still to sail any reasonable course-12 or 15 miles. He would also pro- pos that they extend the finish to 5.45 in December and January and 6.15 in the other months.
Lieut. G. BADHAM THORNHILL, R,A,, seconded the motion.
Mr. SLADE heartily supported the proposal. It was a good answer, he said, to those who falked about the racing as preventing people from attending church, and would be a cou venience to Peak residents.
The motion was agreed to.
The prizes were afterwards fixed at $100 and $60 as first and second respectively in the first championship class; 850 and $40 in the second if four boats raced, if les than four, oue prize of $50; the remaining $10 to be given to oue- design cl ss, the first prize in which to b: $70.
would be sailed.
This was all the business, a vote of thanks to the Chairman coucluding the proceelings.
HIGHLAND GATHERING FOR HONGKONG.
A SUGGESTION,
A Scotish correspond nt writes : —
[October 20, 1902.
on Highland games lines, but unfortunately these annual meetings had to be discontinued through some cause approximate to inspition— that was about ten years ago But during the intervening period the community has grown with great strides and is more able to make an athletic meeting a success. Besides, the exola. siveness which attended the Police Sports would be non-existent. In a tentative way the follow- ing events might be proposel, to make up the programme:--
Five-a-side football competition. Putting the ball, Bicyclo-racing.
Flat, hurdle and obstacle-racing. Highlaud piping and dancing. Tug-of-war.
Jumping and pole vaulting. Best-dressed Highlander. Wrestling championship, Tossing the caber. Throwing the bammer. Ladies' Bace.
One might go on to suggest a commites and judges, but that might appear presumptuous. Suffice it to say that there is no lack of good sportsmen and enthusiastic Scots in Hongkong to act in either capacity. As to the time and place, these could be afterwards arranged, but, with regard to the former, a suitable date might be found about the Chinese New Year, which falls upon Thursday, 29th January; that date, too, would not clash with the Taikoo Sports or the Races. The above suggestions are thrown out with diffidence, but exchange of opinio i through the Press or otherwise might lead to the successful inauguration of an annual event which would be a welcome filip to the social life of the Colony.
WATER RETURN.
LEVEL AND Stokage of WATER IN RESER- VOIRS ON THE 1ST (CTOBER.
Tytam Pokfulam
LEVEL. 1901.
1902.
Below overflow. Below overflow. 11 ft. 9 in. 3 ft. 1 in. 4 ft. 5 in. 2 ft. 9 in. Wongn icheong 43 ft. 2 in. 7 ft. 9 in. STORAGE GALLONS.
1901.
292,300,000
56,400,000
Tytam Pokfulam Wongneicheong 253,000
1902. 359,010,000
59,980,000
20,991,000
Total 318,95,000 439,981,000 CONSUMPTION OF WATER IN THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND HILL District DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
1901.
1902. Consumption 127,291,000 118,318,000 gallons Estimated popu-
215,600 213,0 0
18.3 gallons CONSUMPTION OF WATER IN KOWLOON PEN- INSULA DURING THE MONTH OF
Consumption per head per day
19.9
SEPTEMBER.
1901.
1902.
Consumption 11,878,000 17,360,000 gallons Estimated popu.
lation
Mr. F. B. DEACON was of opinion that what they must look at was, what was best for the best interests of the Club. That was the thing He that ought to weigh with them most, thought, and thought strongly, that there was no doubt whatever that the best interests of the Club would be best servel by sailing as they heretofore had done, for it was perfectly clear to his mind, speaking from his ex-
The CHAIRMAN stated that the first of perience, that on Saturdays you id not, nine times out of ten, get all the boats racing that the Cup races would be run on 1st Novem- had entered. Something was sure to come in ber, with the usual Ladies' Rice, and they
lation When it came to Club trusted the ladies would turn out in great the way of someone. racing, which governed the whole season's sail- force. On 2nd November the first Club race ing, a man would naturally feel annoyed if Le were unable to race, and he (Mr. Deacon) had no doubt if they had the Club races on Saturdays they would find that almost every boatowner would be in the position of being unable to start once or twice (if not more) during the season; and in such a case a man might readily lose all further interest in racing for the balance of the season. That could not be good for the Club. The Chairman had pointed out that the boats they had would be able to finish the races easily on Saturday afternoons. That was all very good at the beginning of the season when there were good breezes. But at the end of the season, when the winds were light, they seldom found themselves with very much margin starting at 1 o'clock, and very often had to margin at all and could not finish. Besides that it was to be remember.d that the boats in No. 2 Championship class did not sail so fast as those in No. 1 class, and the speed of the slowest boat must be regarded as the speed of the fleet. He did not think that the second-class boats could run the course in 3 hours. The Hon. Secretary had suggested that they should start on Sundays at 1.30. If they sailed on Sundays they should stick to the time they had always adhered to. He did not think that most of them, looking at the question seriously, felt that there was very much in sailing on Sunday. They were not parading in front of people coming out of
The
Is it not possible for the Scotch community of the Colony to promote a Highland gathering this winter? It is quite true that any such meeting must necessarily lack the almost ex- clasively national character of the great provincial Games of Scotland; but it could be made sufficiently open to attract all comers while yet retaining a smack of the time-hou- oured and picturesque Highland sports. well filled membership of the S. Andrew's Society and the eminent position it holds in the Colouy go to show, surely, that there is 100m for the suggested venture. There is no dearth here of athletes as well as adepts at the game and other competitive trials of skill dear to the hearts of "Highlanders; nor is there much doubt that many a lovingly preserved philabeg would be brought from its obscurity to grace the scene, and as for piping, well, those that should know best give the assurance that the display would not be disappointing. Then there is the Pipe Band of the 33rd Burma.
The Police Sports used to be run pretty much
37,100
58,000
Consumption per
16.7 head per day
9.9 gallons The Government Analyst reports that the water is of excellent quality,
W. CHATHAM,
Water Authority.
Mr. J. Stewart Black has resigned the British Vice-Cousulship at Bangkok. Mr. Black, how. ever, is returning to Siam shortly to become a Judge of the Siamese Appeal Court.
General J cǝb Smith addressed the Grand Army Campfire in Washington on the night of the 7th inst. In the course of his remarks ho said he preferred a civilised enemy, as in the civil war, rather than the uncivilised enemy in the Philippines. Six thousand veterans extend- ed to General Sn ith a great ovation. A person called Corporal Tanner eulogised General Smith, and said we will civilise the Filipino savages if we have to shoot Christianity into them." This kind of fanatic should make the American task in the Philippines indeed a labour of love.
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