December 14, 1908.1
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in charge lita red bamboo-wick dip; he held it close to the altar. As to what comprised the central sanctum sanctorum It would be hard to say; a profusion of dirty lanterns, banners, and imitation fruit and flowers, surrounded it. There were, also, jars of sticks bearing characters in Chinese After chin-chinning joss, the worshipper has a dip at the jar for divine instruction. There is a second altar to some other deity in a side chapel; a third is upstairs. The rest of the building on the upper floor is empty; it has indeed, a weird geography. There seems to have been no particular design in the constructor's mind; that, however, was a long time ago. On taking leave of the holy man he held out claw-like fingers demanding "one, two dollar cumsha"; he got 20 cents. It would be hard to say whether the religious Chinee, or the sacrilegious
tourist gives our holy friend the most.
A BRITISH POSSESSION
HONGKONG,
NEAR
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
HONGKONG.
Another big olaim of land on the Kowloon side, said to represent something like one million dollars, is pending in the Land Court..
the day among the military. Both Engineers New s'yles of caps seem to be the order of and Artillery are sporting new shapes and
colours.
Mr. R. H. Craig, Governor of Viatoris Gaol, started for England on leave on the 9th inst. by the German mail. During his absence Mr. C. D. Melbourne, Chief Clerk at the Magistracy, will act in his stead.
The amount realised by the Bazaar held in the City Hall on on the 9th inst, on behalf of the Asile de la Sainte Enfance was the substantial sum of $2,612, The Reverend Mother Superior of the French Convent begs to thank all the ladies who assisted as stallholders as well as the public who patronised the sale,
Mr. R. Ponsonby, the new private secretary to H. E. the Officer Administering the Govern- ment arrived from Ceylon by the Simla, landing from the Government launch Fictoria at Blake Pier on Monday morning. He appeared to be tired out after the rough passage. Ponsonby acted as private secretary to H, E. Mr. Sir Joseph West Ridgeway, G.C.M.G., during his term of office as Governor of Ceylon.
On the 5th instant, when Police-Sergeant and Mrs. Gordon returned home to the station pace
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at Kowloon City, after the Naval and Military Masonic Installa- tion celebrations, they found their quarters burned out. The fire had completely gutted the sergeant's three rooms situated on the top floor, but it had been stayed before doing further damage to the building. Sergeant Gordon was obliged to go around in his dress suit ou th 6th inst.
LAMMA ISLAND. Of the numerous islands attached to the Colony of Hongkong, excepting, of course Hongkong itself, Lamms is one of the largest A company of Hongkongites armed themselves with shot-guns, and went there to look for birds, a few days ago. Landing from the steam launch on the eastern shore, not a great distance from Boulder Point, the northernmost projection, three pigeons were observed; they, however, were the only birds seen during the day. Setting out up country at a brisk through occasional-not many-paddy fields, beautiful partridge ground was traversed; the only thing wanting was the partridges. Long before villages were reached, woolly backed chow-dogs gave the alarm of fan-kwai. How Chinese dogs, unaccustomed to foreigners, do bark when an European approaches! Some- thing, indeed, like water-buffaloes in Malaysia, when tho great pot-bellied At the Masonic Hall on on the 8th inst. Bro. beasts charge like fury at Europe. W. H. Woolley was installed Worshipful ans who are only rescued from sudden
Master of the United Service Lodge, No. 1341. death by little Malay boys, who ran up and by Deputy District Grand Master E. C. Ray. lead the savage beasts away. A goodly quantity assisted by the Grand Lodge officers. After of brushwood, trees, etc., were to be seen in the the ceremony about 120 sat down to a banquet, vicinity of the villages. Here and there was a and a very enjoyable evening was spent. The patch of sweet potatoes vor other veget-officers for the year are as follows:-W. M. ables around the mud-huts, into each of which some dozeu persons were huddled. There were the usual poultry and pigs, but по other animals. Villagers themselves weze nice people. Indeed, after seeiug such good nature and hospitality, it is hard to believe some of the hair-raising stories of Kwangsi atrocities. As far as could be seen, the chief industries are fishing, gathering wood, and cutting grass. After a very unsuccessful, but not unpleasant day, the party returned with one solitary pigeou. Better luck next time. One thing about Lamma Island is that it is not far off; it is, by sea, about five miles distant from Victoria City.
Wor. Bro. W. H. Woolley; Wor. I P.M., Bro. H. W. Wolfe; S.W, Bro. J. W. Varcoe, J.W., Bro. II. G. Baker; Treasurer, Wor. Bro. H. J. Watson; Secretary, Wor. Bro. W. L. Ford; S.D., Bro. J. Gimblett; J.D., Bro. J. Hicks; Organist, Bro. J. T. Longstaff; D.C., Bro. C. W. Tuckwell; I.G., Bro. F. H. Ashford; Stewards, Bros. M. Taylor and J. T. Hawks; Tyler, Bro. J. Vanstone.
While the new
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steamers, the Kinshan's rudder was not attached to the vessel's counter by chains, so, when it carried away, sank. The Kinshun weat into dock.
river-staamer Kinshan, recently built by the Hongkong & Whampoa Duck Company, for the Hongkong, Canton, z Macao Steamboat Company, was coming down from Cantou, en route for Hongkong, Lamma Island is an ileal little spot; the fact
the other morning, her rudder carried away. of its having attracted a fair population speaks The vessel was steered by means of her twin screws for the rest of the passage; so well, for itself. Inhabitants are, for the most part,
did she law-abiding people with no farther ambition indeed,
steer that for several at than to live and die as their forefathers did. minutes
stretch the engines did It does not require a great police force to keep not require touching. After discharging her them in order. At the same time, it must be cargo, she went over to the Kowloon Docks. remembered that, as in Kwangsi at the present It cannot be couceived how the rudder cane to day, there once was a time, not so fur backdrop off. Something may have struck it when either, when inhabitants of places like Lamma the helm was hard over. Unlike sea-going Island had, for protection's sake, to throw in their lot with rebels, brigands, and others of like nature, who infested the China Seas. From north to south, Lamma Island is about four miles long; the greatest breadth is about two miles and a quarter. For a great part it is bordered by a sandy beach; there are numerous places to effect a comfortable landing. Iu spite of the being a goodly area of low. lying land, hillocks abonad. The highest peak is 1,14 feet above the sea level, another. jis 791 feet; about 400 fert would be the average. Pisnic Bay, situated on the east coast, is an ideal spot for trippers; shel- tered little nook for camping out abound in the numerous valleys. Who knows but what some day Lamma Island will be the watering place for Hongkong? Bathing can be enjoyed there without fear of sewage. When such comes to pass Macao, certainly, may look for another occupation.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
443
Mr. E. A. Grifiths is the new British Consul at Kobe.
The following appointment has been made at the Admiralty-Commander E. Winthrop, November 22. to the Pembroke, for the Goliath (N), to date
The Hankow-Peking Railway has extended its line to the banks of Han, and there is now A station at the west end of Hankow, which will of course lead to the development of the city in that quarter.
It is officially announced in Tokyo that Japan'a total revenue for the fiscal year 1904-1905/ amounts to 252,159,113 yen, which shows a decrease of 7,800,000 on that of, the current fiscal year.
against the Moros, from the 12th to the 17th Five days' severe fighting took place in Jolo alt., when 300 Moros were killed and a large number wounded, while the American casualties
were very slight.
The engagement is announced in Manila of Lieut. Q. Stirling, R.N., son of Admiral Stirl ing, of the U. S. Navy, to Miss Egbert, daughter of the late Colonel Egbert, who was killed in the Philippines in 1899.
Agentat Manila, died in Colombo on the 17th ult. Mr W. F. Stevenson, formerly P. & O.
He was on his way out to Hongkong in the P.&O. 8.S. China, with Mrs Stevenson, when he had to break his journey at Colombo,
The premises of Messrs. Kingsell & Co.. Main St., Yokohama, were burnt down on the 22nd ult. The loss was covered to the extent of 3,000 yen in .ae Yorkshire, and 13,000 yen. in the Norwich Union Fire Offices.
It is reported that there is a marked movement on the part of Yokohama Chiness to become Japanese subjects. Twelve recently obtained papers of naturalisation and forty-eight have now applied for the same privilege.
A mission, consisting of four Belgian lieuten- ants, specially nominated by King Leopold, will proceed to Chins next month with the object of completing the survey of the Hankow- Canton railway now in course of construction. The head of the mission, Lieutenant Pontus, is the son of a former Minister of War, and has already distinguished himself in tho diplomatio
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service,
L'Echo de Chine regretfully records the death of the eldest son of Admiral Bayle, of the French squadron in China. The Admiral arrived in Shanghai on the 23rd ult., when he received the sad news. The deceased young officer had served in the Chinese campaign under General Voyron. The Admiral was much grieved on receiving the intelligence and left for Ningpo, where he was to remain for a few days.
We understand that at the last meeting of the Committee of the local branch of the China Association, Mr. G. W. Playfair, being desirous of relinquishing outside work other than that connected with his banking business, owing to a temporary affection of his eyes, resigned the Chairmanship. Mr. R. Chatterton Wilcox, who had been acting as Chairman during Mr. Playfair's recent absence in England, was appointed in his place.
The death is reported of Commander G. M. K. Fair, of the Naval Intelligence Department, on the 3rd ult. from an attack of typhoid fever, He entered the service as a cadet in January. 1883, was lientenant of H.M.S. Centurion during the Boxer outbreak in Chius in 1900, and during Admiral Sir Edward Seymour's expedition in Jnue was employed on the staff of the Intelligence Department, and getting along the junks with wounded. In September of this year he was appointed flag-lieutenant to the Admiral,
The Colonial Secretary informed us last woek that a telegram was received un the 8th ecember, from His 'Britannic Majesty's Consul at Batavia stating that Hongkong has been declared to be infected with plague. This display of crass studity on the part of It is stated from Chinan, the_N.-C. Daily the Netherlands-Indian Government is sanual, News says, that Governor Chou Fa has sanc so that no particular notice need be taken oftioned the placing of Chinese Railway `polica it. As it is been suggested that it is owing along the new line from Kinochau to Chinan. to local newspapers taking notice of the At the more populeus towns the railway stations Sanitary Board returns that Hongkong is so are to be each provided with from eight so ten undeservedly quarantined, we may point ont policemen under one sergeant and a corporal. that Netherlands-India does not depend on It was at first proposed to raise a stronger fores Hongkong newspapers for its information | of Chinese Government patrolmen för the rail- any more than Hongkong depends од way, but there being not enongh money avail. Batavian papers for ils news of the declaration | able, the Governor had to be contented with the of quarantine.
above-noted arrangements.