August 10, 1903,]
REVIEW.
GEORGE Two
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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introduction of the Central Factory System in | Reclamation a huge area was added in front of order to counteract the effects of the policy of an overcrowded city, at its wit's ends to find space bounty upon the export of sugar pursued in the in which to carry on its increasing trade. Of neighbouring French Colony and in other the latter undertaking, in itself a stupendous foreign countries. The enterprise was not work, Sir William writes: This enterprise, undertook i, owing to the rapid decline in it, and may claim some credit for securing financially a success to the Company which though I devoted much labour to furthering price produced by the spres of the system of general assent to it and tee approval of the bonsties on sxport over the whole Continent of Secretary of State, I should be doing injustice Europe and the United States, but the factory if I did not largely attribute to Mr. (now itself is still working and with others of the Sir Paul) Chater, who not only devised it, bat same kind has been of great benefit to the by his suggestions and his tactful dealing with Colony.
unanimous adherence of the owners interested." objectors had the chief part in obtaining the
and give further evidence of that characteristic The pages devoted to Fiji are full of interest sympathy of the author with native races, descriptions of Fijian ceremonial (which it is to The
been be hoped the author's successors in office have apparently Sir William Des Voeux) are most as punctilious in observing as was striking. Take for example the account of the funeral of the great Chief Thakomban :----
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In the old cannibal days the loloku ni mate, | for the dead, would in the case a term applied to anything done to show respect have included, among many other savage sach a chief doings, the strangling of his widows, the amputation of their his relations, etc. If there still lingered any own finger-joints by native propensities in this direction I was naturally unable to gratify them. But one of the old customs I was able to adopt and so caused much satisfaction. As we approached Bau the long strips of black cloth which would always have appeared on a chief's approaching mission, attached to the yard-arms of H.M.S. cinoo, were, by Captain Barges Watson's për-
My Colonial Service. By Sir
WILLIAM DES VOEUX, G.C.M.G Volumes. London: John Murray. THESE volumes have a rare charm of their OWD Written with the object of giving the reading public an idea of the duties and res pousibilities of a Colonial Governor, they tell the story of years of hard and earnest work in six different Crown Colonies and, for a short period, in Australia-a story full of interest, for It records low one of those zealous, urageous and justice-loving Englishmen who bave made the Empire what it is fought the good fight in the face of difficulty, danger, and discouragement. Bat, as the pages of his book betray, the author is also a sportsman, a naturalist, and a shrewd observer of men and things, endowed with a keen sense of humour The more serious record of his official work is thus interspersed with anecdotes of men-some of the most distinguished of our times-aud experiences by flood and field that lend to these volumes a peculiar fascination. Sir William Des Voeux began his official career in British Guiana as a Magistrate. His account of life in the forest is of absorbing interest and seems to have had a special attrac tion for the author, for we find him later in his life longing to renew his acquaintance with these haunts of his younger days. Deer- shooting from a canoe was the principal sport that the forest offered. "I usually took with me two woodskins," says Sir William, myself and an Indian in one and in the other two Indians and a dog. ¡Arriving at what seemed a likely place, one of the Indians went ashore with the dog. With him he carried a horn made out of a hollow gourd, which when blown in these solitudes was audible for miles. From time to time he would thus indicate his whereabouts and so enable us to keep as near him as possible on the river. After we had paddled an hour or two following the direction of the sound, the,horn, if we were to be lucky, would emit a different note,whole passage, including a very effective and Space does not admit of the quotation of the indicating that game had been found. Presently sympathetic funeral oration by the author. the barking of the dog would be heard, faintly at first, and becoming gradually louder it approached the water for which the hunted deer invariably maker Sometimes the sound would become suddenly very loud at a con- siderable distance up or down stream and then began a frantic paddling in order to reach the spot in time. The deer would then be seen entering the water, or sometimes only the splash would be heard and the animal would first become visible when actually swimming. The paddling would now become still more frantic until the deer was close to the other bank. A few seconds more and, unless stopped by a bullet, he would be safe in the forest, at all events for that day. Paddle is breathlessly exchanged for rifle and crack! crack! echoes over the water just as the quarry has topped the bank. Has the animal fallen or hus he escaped ?'
In his capacity of Magistrate the author was brought much into contdel with the question of the treatment of indentured coolies on the plantations. He earned great unpopularity owing to his insisting on even-handed justice being done to these immigrants, a very large number of whom were Chiness. Subs quently & rising of the coolies took place which, coupled with representations that the author had made of the manner in which they were treated, led to an enquiry by a Royal Commission, whose report fully justified the author's indictment of the system. Great improvements in the method of dealing with immigrants, including increased supervision by Government, resulted not only in Guiana, but indirectly in other Colonies, and for his services to humanity in this instance alone the author deserves well of his countrymen. In Saint Lucia Sir William had a difficult, laborious task in reducing to order an adminis- tration that was in a state of chaos. His early training for the Canadian Bar stood him in good stead in assisting a newly appointed Chief Justice in compiling a Civil Code, there being much uncertainty as to what the law of the Colony founded, as it was on French Law, really was Here too, with that far-seeing judgment which these volumes show. he possessed in a remarkable degree, the author devoted endless time and trouble to the
Miranda.
As soon as these were seen a whol neared us the black streamers were released fleet of boats put out from Bau, and as they from the yard-arina and went floating away on the wind followed by an eager yelling and splashing crowd of swimmers, each of them memento of so great an occasion." anxious to secure for himself a much prized
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for the Western Pacific, visited Sydney in order In 1883 the author, as High Commissioner to attend a Couvention of the leading Statesmen of Australasia to discuss malters of common interest, including the reported intentious of Foreign Powers to make annexations in the Pacific. Sir William afterwards accepted an succeeded in convincing its members that im invitation to take a seat on the Convention and media e tropical islands of the Western
annexation or colonisation of the Pacific tion giving expression to this policy, while was impolitic and undesirable. A resolu- guarding against the acquisition of the and has remained the policy ever since. islan a by others, was passed by the Convention this Convention a Cominittee was formed, on which Sir William accepted a seat, to consider and report on the best means of instituting a origia of the Federal Council which constitut:d Federal Australasian Council. This was the
tion of Australia-an Union with which Sir an important step towards the complete federa- William had ever been in strong sympathy.
At
In the matter of legislation having for its indebted to Sir William for the Buildings object sanitary improvement, Hongkong is Ordinance, 1889, the Crown Lands Resump- Ordinance. tion Ordinance, and the European Reservation
We mentioned at the beginning of our article that Sir William had a keen sense of humour. The pages of his book are enlivened by many anecdotes, and he te ls a good one of two former Governors of Hongkong. Sir John Pope Bennessy once at a William met Sir George Bowen and Sir
George that he had au interview on the same party
dinner in London. A
day with the Pope, Victor Emmanuel, and remark by Sir
Garibaldi fell flat. extraordinary thing! Very extraordinary;
Shortly afterwards Sir George remarked in a loud voice, "Very
Minister and the Archbishop of Canterbury." was asked to dine the same day with the Prime Upon which little Pope Hennessy, who was sitting at the opposite side of the table, said, thing has happened to me, Sir George"; and louder, "A much more extraordinary when asked what, replie, "I have been asked with the Archbishop of Canterbury."' to dine neither with the Prime Minister, nor
even
We must now reluctantly leave these pages, which we commend to all sorts and conditions of readers, for their attraction is manifold.
POLO CLUB GYMKHANA AT THE HAPPY VALLEY.
On the 1st inst. a Gymkhana was held Polo Club, and was attended by a mesure at the Racecourse, under the auspices of the of success which should encourage the promotion
Hongkong summer. future during the ancheered dog-days of a of such enjoyable meetings more frequently in There was a large at- tendance of spectators, including many ladies, whose bright dresses lent charm to the scene. there were too many races of the "fancy" It was not a punter's day by any means, for kind figuring on the programme to suit his insatiable betting spirit; still the Pari-mutuel was fairly well run upon; while the varied appreciated by the great majority of those character of the events on the card was a thing
present.
later ten ponies took the field for the first race, first saddling bell rang, and thirty minutes Promptly at half-past three the
Snipe, owner up. The Pole, Ball, and Bucket the winner of which was found in Mr. Clarke's
Race was won by Mr. N. H. Rutherford on a him a little advantage over his opponents. Mr. pony whose somewhat unpretending pace gave Johnstons carried off the honours at tent- pegging. In the Waler Handicap, Legacy, Mirabel, School Girl and Golden Bell faced the starter. Mr. Gresson was up on the o'd Shanghai champion, Golden Bell, who went grandly and won easily from the field. Mr. Ross, Hon. Secretary, won the Ladies' Nomina tion; Mr. Lyon showed himself to be most expert at riding to time in the Go-as-you-please Race; and the Paper Obatacle and Straw Screen Race, in which three riders were thrown, fell to Mr. Johnstone.
author's administration in Trinidad or New
Space does not permit of as noticing the foundland--in the latter of which Colonies especially he found opportunity tɔ do much valuable work. The last Colony he governed was Hongkong, which in these later years has grown to be one of the most important of all the Crown Colonies. His work in Hongkong seems to have been devoted to two dominating objects-one to facilitate expansion, the other to improve what with characteristic foresight he recognised as a dangerous sanitary con- dition. Thus he accomplished a vast and long. needed improvement in the lighting of the approaches to the Port of Hongkong by ob- taining from the Chinese Government permission Keller, D.S.O., as starter, and Mr. F. H. Lyon, Hon. C.W.Dickson officiated as judge, Captain to build a lighthouse, 30 miles to the East of it, R.N., as Clerk of the Scales; while the onerous at Gap Rock, while he induced the Chinese duties of Hon. Secretary were carried ont by Government themselves to establish another to Mr. C. H. Ross. The Committee was as follows: the Westward at Waglan. By the reclamation-Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G., Captain Nugent, of the Happy Valley much-needed space was R.A., Captain Carleton, Mr. F. H. Lyon, R.N., afforded for the healthful recreation of all Mr. C. H. Ross, and Mr. G. K. Hall Brutton. classes of the community; by the opening out In the course of the afternoon musical selections of Kowloon by roads and formation of building were given by the band of the 33rd Burmas. sites the development of that growing district At the conclusion of the racing "Mrs. May was fostered and accelerated; while by the Prays' presented the prizes to the winters on the Grand