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AN ABSURD CLAIM TO CANTON.
(Daily Press, 51|| November.)
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The plan of the Roman Catholio Cathedral includes a second tower crowned by a som-what lofty spire, and this is represented on some of the illustrated post-cards is actually existing. I am glad to see that, for the credit of building, and to prevent visitors being misled. this campanile is at length actually in course of construction. When completed it will accom- modate the peal of bells recently imported for this Cathedral. The central tower is also to be raised and improved, a not very difficult matter, considering its present squat and dumpy I hope this improvement will be appearance. carried out simultaneously with the erection of the campanile.
In the French journal of Shanghai, L'Echo de Chine, on the 29th October there appeared an extraordinary article, beaded simply “La Vallée." The gist of it was that any attempt by Great Britain to seek compensation in the Yangtsze Valley (for tiris is la vallée referred to) for Russo- Japanese arrangements in the North would be followed by Frances seizure of Canton, It is difficult to imagine that a sensible man would commit himself to such statement, acd the Editor of L'Echo de
I am glad to see that considerable activity Chine has the reputation of being sensible. now prevails on the site of the New Law Such an article as La Vallée must Cour's. The brickwork is making good pro- surely have crept in unobserved by him.gress, and some blocks of granite have arriv.d He must know as well as anyone that, on the ground, and masons are basil, engag d as long as Hongkong xists as part of the cutting and chipping to shape. I see, however, in this an earnest of years of weary granite empire of Great Britain, Canton can never chipping, which will be a sad nuisance to the he French or any «ther nation's property. neighbourhood. Why could not the bulk of When Hongkong is abandoned (and what this chipping be done before the stone is date would L'Echo de Chine assign to this, brought from the quarries ? we wonder?), then Canton may perhaps be alienated. Such rak nonsense as
La Vallée" is only calculated to do great harm to the cause of Anglo-French friend- ship, and L'Echo de Chine does France an ill service indeed in publishing a puerility of the kind.
· HONGKONG ||JOTTINGS.
Perhaps the social season in Hongkong may be considered to begin this month, and certainly we could not wish for better and more appro- priate weather than we are now enjoying. The two principal socie'y events of November will of course be the Government House Ball on the 9th instant.and the 8. Adrew's Ball on the 30th H.E. the Governor and Lady Blake give their Ball in honour of His Majesty the King's Birthday, and the scene is sure to be a very brilliant one. As tir Henry and Lady Blake leave Hongkong on the 21st instaut, the occasion will certainly be the last of its kind, and it will b. therefore the formal social farewell to the Colony of our departing overnor and his wife, after five years' stay in our midst.
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The proposed establishment of a beer-browery in Hongkong recalls the fact that on more than one occasion a similar veuture has been set on foot. One brewery, proposed to be started in the neighbourhood of the Metropole Hotel. came to nothing at all, though the water procurable there was said to be peculiarly suitable for brewing purpos 8. Another was actually built on the Kowloon side in the direction of Chinwan; plaut was laid and the bottles for holding the beer were even put in stock, but at the last moment there arose a dispute about the ownership of the land to be utilised for the br wery and the scheme fell through. An expert in these matters tells me that Hongkong water is not suitable for distilling purposes, so I suppose we need not expect ever to see a Hongkong blend of whisky, though we may have Kowloon beer.
It is interesting to note how, as the cold weather approaches, the Chinese one toeefs in the streets increase in bulk. When the last breath of summer has been blown away by the north-east gales the Chiqaman immediately hies him to the pawnshop and redeems bis list year's winter clothes, which he piles upon his shoulders until he takes on the appearance of a The declaration of a public holiday on the hunchback or an old-clo' maḥ. A curious thing 9th instant, in honour His Majesty King is that the Chinese coolie does not app ar to feel Edward's birthday, has ben guzetted, and there the cold in his legs and feet. There remain bare is to be a military celebration of the event as
in many cases right through the wintry months, well as the Ball at Government Bouse. Last
while the wool padded cotton "extras are year (when. th day observel was the 10th buttoned over his body I suppose this bears November, the 9th being a Sunlay) thers was out a story that the Earl of Aber leen used to a grand parade of troops in the Happy Valley tell about an incident in his term as Governor. and an inspectio of them by Sir Henry General of Cunada. Meeting an o'd Red Blake. This year there will be a military feu Indian one freezing, snowy day, bis Excellency de-joie in the Happy Valley in addition, I pre-enquired how it was that he contrived to survive sume, to the review. Hougkong was also gratified last year by the bestowal of a knight. hood on cir W. Meigh Goodmau, our respected Chief Justice. Are we to be noticed this year, I wolder, in as pleasant a way?
It is not an uncommon thing on the Island, & well as in Kowloon, to see coolies wandering about with chits to deliver, unable to ascertaiu for themselves whother they are in the right locality of their destination or not, and it must have occurred to others as it does to myself that if the s reels were lab-lled with the names in Chinese as well as in Roman characters it would be a distinot public advantage. In the old treily ports of Japan this system of doubl. uomenclature for the streets is adopted, and even on the name-plates of private European residences there you aliuost invariably see the name given both in Roman and Japanese oharacters. If we in Hongkong are unable to set a good example, we should not be ab ve following one, and I. venture to respectfully commend to the Public Works Department this sugg stion as to street nomenclatur, in Hongkong and Kowloon, while th other suggestion must be left to commend itself to the ở nsideration of individual residents,
Boclesiastical buildings here, as elsewhere, are long in arriving at anything like completion.
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the cold with no covering but the tattered half blanket that was wrapped around his shoulder The Indian in turn asked how the Earl did not get his face frost-bitlen. "Ob," replied the Governor." my face has been exposed ever siuce I was a child.“ "Well, me all face," retorted the ancient warrior.
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The usual crop of good storie has sprung from Volunteer Camp life on Stonecutters, One of the best perhaps is that related about a certain corporal who, while on patrol da1y one night, saw approaching a figure where no fure should be. He challenged the intruder, but gol no reply. Again he asked who went there, but the enemy remained silent. At list, as the fig. ure would not re pond and app are i to be about to beat a hasty retreat, the Corporal called out the guard and the advanced with fixed bayouets on the haples‹ wretch. Examination at of si quarters showed that the spy was, of all things in the world, nothing but—a gost. Billy did guard a clean pair of het ls, and, though they not stand to receive the attack; he showed the followed up the retroa in gallant style, the goat is reported to be still at large.
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[November 7, 1903.
at the time. I saw a fresh instance of this on Fr.day. A ricksha was hurrying along on the wrong side of the road in Queen's Road and · ran over a dog. The animal was not much hurt, and the owner, seing this would not take the rioksha coolie's number, saying: “Oh. I can't bother to go up to the Polce Court!" It is this kind of spirit which perpetuates the constant infringement of the law by the coolie- class. It is not the coolie who is so much to blame as the man who does not complain when he has a clear case.
BANYAN,
HONGKONG SANITARY
BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was beid on Thursday afternoon in the Board Room. Hon. Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer (President), presided, and there were also present Hon. W. Chatham, Director of Public Works (Vice-Pre ident), Mr. H, F. Pollock, K C., Mr. E. A. Howest, Mr. A.
Lumjahn, Dr W. W. Peurse, Acting Medical Officer of Health; Dr. B. T. T. Barnett, Assistant Medical Officer of Health; Capt. F. W. Lyons, Acting Capt. Superintendent of Police, Mr. Lau Chu Pak, and Mr. Fung W. Chun.
CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, Mr. HaWETT, addressing the President, drew attention to the fact that he hd only received cortain confidential correspondence that morning, which was con- trary to the regulations. Had he had time to consider the matter his minutes might have ben different.
The PRESIDENT said that the letter in ques- tion had only been received from Messrs. Jardin, Matheson & Co., on the 3 th October, and there had not been been time to circulate it yet.
Mr. HEWETT said he had no knowledge of the letter of the 30th October. He had only secu letters dated the 8th and 16th of August, He intended to again bring up this matter which was of very great importance, and he saw Do reason why it should be regarded confidential.
A WELL IN CAINE ROAD.
There was laid on the table cores, ondence relative to a well at No. $19, Caius Road.
Mr. B. Brotherton farker wrote on behalf of his client, Mr. Li Lai Wo, usking that the water in the nell be analysed and, if it was fouud fit for domesti; purposes, permission be grauted to use it as such.
The Assista t M.O.H. (Dr. B. T. T. Barnett) minuted the query whether permis ios had been granted by the D.P.W. to dig this well ?
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The D.P.W. minuted: "This is a very old well; no record of permission for it."
Mr. E. A. Hewett :-" think all wells of this nature shoul l ba closed "
The PRESIDENT moved that the well at No. 19, aine Roud be c'osed.
Mr. HEWETT seconded and it was carried.
OPEN SPACES.
The SECRETARY submitted an application for exemption from the provision of open spaces for Nos. 127 to 141 (odd numbers, Hollywood Road.
The Ass stant MO.H. minuted :—“I think exemption from provision of an open space might be granted in this is so long as the window in rear is uot cut off from the main room so as to form a lobby."
The D.P.W. minutod : ~" I see the soaveng- ing line is shown to be only 3 feet in width and it cannot possibly bo widened in futuro by taking 3 feet from the adjacent houses as these are on a much lower level. I think exemption might be recommended on condition that the lane is
made 6 feet wide and that uo compensation is to be pail in respect of it."
The PRESIDENT moved that the lane be made ix feet wide.
Captain Lyons seconded,
Mr. RUMJAHN said he would like to dr.w attention to the irregularity of the conduct of the M. OH. with regard to this matter. He thought it was not customary to make winutes as he had done.
It has frequently been observed, but not fr. queatly enough, that many of the abuses noticeable in Hongkong could be lessened if people would only take the trouble to complain to bring such a matter up without first giving
"HE FR SIDENT said that it was not correct