April 4, 1904.]
It was
tring. She resembled the Bogatyr. presently seen that she was followed by four other ships. The Japanese, deeming it unwise to remain in the position in which they then were, retired until dawn on the 7th, when, separating into two divisions, one steamed slowly to America Bay-at the mouth of the Suchan River, to the north of the Askold Islands-- and searched it, whilst the other rapidly made the circuit of the forts between the Bosphorus Strait and the Askolds, where the two divisions reunited about 9 a.m. and again approached the forts. As these, however, gave no sign of life, the squadron steamed down the coast to the south-west, visiting all the points of importance. A Russian ship followed a long way astern, but took care not to approach. No signs of a line of communication were observed, such as would be necessary if a body of a thousand Russians were in Kwong-sung as reported. From this the general opinion here is that the north-easteru corner of Corea is at present free from Russian troops.
The action of Sir Cypriau Bridge, Com- mander-in-Chief in the Far Ea t, in placing the British Naval Hospital at Yokohama at the disposal of the Japanese authorities for their sick and wounded, has caused a great deal of favourable comment by the native journals, who speak in high praise of the Admiral.
A few of the war correspondents left yes terday, being assigned to the First Army Corps. The remainder will not be permitted to go to the front until the Second Army Corps is des- patched in about one month. The Japanese are determined no uews of their intentions shall leak through.
HILL DISTRICT RESERVATION
PETITION,
The following is the text of the petition to which we alluded in our leading article elsewhere:-
To His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government of Hongkong.
THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE UNDERSIGNED
Sheweth-1. Your Petitioners are owners and occupiers of houses in the Hill District of Hongkong, and, being desirous of preserving the said District as a place of residence for themselves, their wives and their children, and the wives and children of their successors in this Colony, beg to submit to Your Excellency that prompt steps should be taken permanently to reserve that particular part of this Colony for exclusive residence of non-Chinese in- habitants.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The Hill District is undeniably the healthiest | part of the Colony for all those to whom life in the tropics presents the disadvantage of an unnatural environment; in fact, it is the only accessible part of the Colony which is fitted to be a healthy residential quarter for people accus-Regiment supplied the music. tomed to a temperate climate.
2. The conditions of life in this Colony have changed greatly during recent years. The fall in the Gold value of the Dollar, the increased competition in all branches of trade and the consequent reduction of individual incomes have rendered it necessary for Europeans to re- main longer than formerly in the Colony before being in a position to retire home with a com- petency.
6. Your petitioners submit that in order effectually to secure the object they have in view it is necessary directly to prohibit Chinese. other than servants, from occupying houses built in the hill district, and further that, in imposing this limitation of residence, no hardship would be inflicted on the Chinese, for hitherto they have shown no desire to occupy houses in that district, and, as they are living here in their native climate, they do not suffer from the oppressive heat of the lower levels during the summer months as Europeans do. To shew how pressing is the need amongst the European section of the community for securing dwellings at the Peak. your petitioners may mention that the rent of houses there is on the average nearly treble that which was paid ten years ago, and this notwithstanding the fact that the number of houses has very greatly increased in the interval.
3. Coincidently with this change in the con- ditions of life, there have been a vast increase both in the numbers and wealth of the Chinese population, and the available area of building land in the lower levels of the City of Victoria being limited, the Chinese have gradually spread further along the lower levels until large areas which were formerly inhabited by Europeans are now mainly in the occupation of Chinese.
259
Hig
Major W. Higby, and Corps Armourer- Sergeant J. Hawks. The Corps made a splen- did appearance under inspection, both in marching past and in general drill movements The band of the Notts and Derbyshire At the conclusion of the inspection the Corps Villiers Hatton addressed the troops. was formed in close order and H.E. General Excellency, however, did not. as his predecessor, General Gascoigne, invariably did through his aide-de-camp, invite the Press representatives to come forward and note his remarks, Our representative gathered from those who heard the address that His Excellency congratulated the Commandant on the appearance made by the Corps and stated that what he wanted to see was more men. In future the work would be done with 15-pounders, B. L. and Maxim guns, and not with the heavy guns in the forts.
The Corps afterwards dismissed.
THE HYMN OF PRAISE.”
r
The second of the series of Concerts to be given by the Philharmonic Society took place 7. The extension of the principle of Ordinance in the City Hall at 5.30 on the 28th ult., the 16 of 1888 for which Your Petitioners ask is selection for this one being Mendelssohn's not very great, and their request for this Hymn of Praise-a very appropriate selection, reservation is made solely out of regard for the considering the day and the season. welfare of those who belong to non-tropical remembered that the Philharmonic Society gave It will be countries and who are now compelled to live in this same Hymn of Praise in the Cathedral on this enervating climate for the best part of the 15th of December last, and so successful their lives. It was the European section of the was it that, by request, they had arranged to Community that opened up and developed the give it a second time, but unfortunately several Hill District. They were impelled to do so by of the soloists and members of the orchestra considerations of health alone, for the locality were unable, through indisposition and for other than the lower levels. The number of reasonably abandoned. for is more expensive and less convenient, to live in reasons, to attend, and it was consequently the time. The beautiful available sites for houses in the Peak District | oratorio is now too well known in Hong- been built upon and very few remain for addi-performers, soloists, chorus, orchestra, and con- is limited. Already the large majority have kong to require any special mention, but the tional houses. Your Petitioners desire that this ductor alike deserve the highest praise for one as a place of abode for those who cannot dwell small proportion of Hongkong shall be reserved of the most finished renderings of such a piece we have heard for many years, and once again in equal well-being elsewhere upon the Island. showed the power and capability of our local and they submit it is for the advantage of the musicians. vocal and instrumental. On this should live in the environment to which it is soprano solos, but she was very well replaced by Community as a whole that each section of it occasion Mrs. Hagen was much missed in the best adapted,
Miss Murray Bain, who sang with all her well- known sweetness and tastefulness, as did also ed reputation as one of our local songstresses. Mrs. Craddock, who sustained her well-deserv- Mr. Lammert and Mr. Edwards were, as usual, in excellent form, the latter's duet with Miss Murray Bain being especially well rendered, while Mr. Lammert was quite at home in his solos, his voice haps.
being heard. per- than in the
to eren better advantage here Cathedral, where the last performance of the Hymn of Praise took place.
The soloists were Mrs. Craddock, Miss Murray Bain. Mr. G. H. Edwards, and Mr. G. P. Lammert. Conductor: Mr. A. G. Ward. Vice-President: Sir W. M. Goodman, K.C. President H. E. Mr. F. H. May, C.M.G.
Committee: Mr. P. Dow (Hon. Sec. Choral). Mr. G. Grimble. Mr. G. Lammert, Mr. E. Mirow. Mr. H. W. D. Schmidt (Hon. Sec. Orchestral), Mr. J.-Wacker (Hon. Treasurer), and Mr. A. G. Ward.
that the future welfare of this Colony, that is. 8. In conclusion. Your Petitiouers submit of its inhabitants as a whole, and its consequent extent value to the Empire, depends to a very large on the well-being of the European section of the Community whose health it is therefore essential to preserve, and that every year conditions render it more and more impor- tant that this section should be able to reside in a district where its members can live under the most favourable conditions possible and where the rising generation may spend their childhood amidst the healthiest obtainable surroundings.
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that Your Excellency may be pleased to consider favourably their request and to take prompt steps to preserve the Hill District as a resid. ential quarter for the non-Chinese residents of the community.
Dated the 22nd day of February 1904.
And Your Petitioners will ever pray. &c.
H.K.V.C. INSPECTION.
|
On the 26th ult. the annual inspection of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps was made by 4. As long ago as 1888, the necessity for C.B., Commanding the Forces in Hongkong His Excellency Major-General Villiers Hatton, reservation of a European district was recog- and China. His Excellency was accompanied nised, and provision was made by Ordinances by Major A. B. Hamilton, P.S.C., Deputy Nos. 16 and 26 of that year for future prohibition Assistant Adjutant-General; and Captain E. S. of Chinese tenements and the prevention of Ward, 2nd Grenadier Guards, aide-de-camp; over-crowding in houses already erected and to be The inspection was held on the Parade Ground erected in certain districts of the City of Victoria, opposite the Cricket Ground. There were ou but these Ordinances have not prevented the parade 170 of all ranks, and the inspection was practical absorption by Chinese of a large pro-witnessed by several thousands of spectators, portion of the area intended to be thus reserved.
5. Should this process of
absorption by Chinese extend to the Peak District, and it is not more unlikely than the absorption of the European District of Victoria must have seemed to the framers of Ordinance No. 16 of 1888, very serious results to the health of Euro- peans and their families would follow.
There being no other place for them to go to, they would then be driven to reside below, where the conditions are highly prejudicial to their health.
W.
Arms,
including a large number of the Regulars, The Commandant, Major C. G. Pritchard, R.A., was in command, and the other officers present were Major A. Chapman, Sup: Surgeon Lt. E. A. R. Laing, Captains. Ordish; G. J.
H. B. Sayer, T. trong,
Skinner, and R. Mitchell Lieutenants J. W. L. Oliver, J. A. T. Plummer, G. P. Lammert, W. Nicholson, M. S. Northcote, E. G. Barrett, M. M. Scott, and W. A. Crake, Corps Sergeant-
The Chorus and Orchestra comprised the full Philharmonic Society, which scored another success. Unfortunately the audience was very scanty, and it hardly seems that the Hongkong public has any appreciation of the Philharmonic Society's work.
HONGKONG ODD VOLUMES SOCIETY
AUSTRALIA AND THE EMPIRE.
Mr. J. B. Suttor, Commercial Agent for New South Wales, in the East, last evening lectured Hongkong Odd Volumes Society, on Australia at the City Hall, under the auspices of the
and the British Empire. The Hon. Gershom. Stewart introduced the speaker, mentioning that the distinguished visitor was an Aus tralian descended from one of the pioneers. In opening his lecture Mr. Suttor remarked that. like Mark Antony at the death of Cæsar, he was not an orator but a plain blunt man who loved his country. He touched upon such events as the conversation between Sir J. Banks and the Earl of Sandridge, at that time-1766-First Lord of the Admiralty, in