276
AFFORESTATION AT WEIHAIWEI.
for discussion in the British House of Commons we get the question asked:
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
of
[April 9, 1904.
which carries the
It is interesting to note from the D.P.W.'s report for the past year that grants of land on nominal terms included a small area (2,500 square feet) for a temple at Tung Lo Wan; another for a cable hut for the Telegraph Companies at the junction of: Bonham and Pokfulam Roads: an area of nearly an acre at Kai Lung Wan for an extension of the ground used for burying urns containing disinterred remains; an area of 2 acres at Happy Valley for the Asile de la Sainte Enfance; a small area (2.267 square feet) adjoining S. Joseph's Church
a local industry. The Report also it is a question whether the tramways will oust recommends the introduction of the best the ricksha altogether, for it is difficult to (Daily Press, 7th April.)
European varieties of fruits for cultivation imagine anything more convenient than the Each time the Navy Estimates come up by the Chinese, and suggests that a trade į "handy little ricksha'
in fruit might be obtained with Shanghai passenger right up to his own door step. and other places in the East where Euro- pean reside. Chefoo formerly had a very flourishing trade in this line, but it seems to have greatly diminished of late years. This, however, is ascribed to the deteriora- tion of the trees, rather than to a falling-off in demand, and one can well believe that if good European varieties of fruits were cultivated at Weihaiwei there would be a large demand for them from all the coast ports of the Far East. Again we are told in the Report that "there are numerous « situatious in the neighbourhood of Wei- "haiwei which apparently offer all that is required for the establishment of vine- yards." and, while Mr. DUNN refrains from asking the Government to spend money at this stage on the introduction of the wine industry, he suggests that every possible encouragement should be offered to any
¦
ва
+
in Garden Road; and an area of 1.55 acres for the erection of an Anglican Church in Kowloon near the Observatory.
Yesterday was Easter-day, and the absence of all proper decoration for this, the greatest Feast of the Church, was much commented on by the congregation which gathered at the A lady. coming out of the Cathedral services. Cathedral, said to me. You would not think
*
"What does the Government intend to do with Weihaiwei? It will be remembered that the lease of this harbour was obtained as an answer to Russia's acquisition of Port Arthur; but for reasons best known to the Government, the intention to re-fortify the place was abandoned, and it is now the fashion to describe it in Parliament as "a kind of sanatorium" where ships of the Fleet can go in bot weather. Weihaiwei is, after all, something more than this. It is a flying naval base, a depot and a drill ground. The vote included in the Navy Estimates for Weihaiwei this year amounts to £58,000, and of this sum it seems that £8,000 will be expended on dredging. The harbour is in need of improvement, and though the dredging is apparently to be undertaken primarily in the interests of the Fleet, it might be well worth the while of individual or company willing to acquire to-day was different to any other Sunday. the Government to consider whether some-land for the purpose. Under the heading thing might not be made of Weihaiwei as of "Field Crops," Mr. DuNx points out a commercial port. Singularly enough, in the possibilities of a well-organised trade in the export of ground-nuts and beancake; the trade in the former at Tientsin, and Chefoo's trade in the latter, each amounts The to more than a million taels a year.
connection of some of the chief agri- cultural tracts with the sea by means of light tramways would almost certainly "result in a considerable export trade
Other crops grown in the district are available, but these two products especial. ly deserve immediate attention on account of the large amount of shipping that "would be necessary to handle them." Other recommendatious in the Report relate to forestry, shade trees, and finally to white
all the references which have been made in Parliament to Weihaiwej we do not remem- ber to have noticed that the spokesinen of the Government have even remotely hinted at the possibility of Weihaiwei becoming of any advantage to the Empire commercially. Such a suggestion would perhaps only excite derision, for in the acquisition of Weihaiwei its commercial possibilities were not even con- sidered. At present the trade is inconsiderable. Weihaiwei's chief export trade is in salt fish, which is brought in junks to South China. Its import trade chiefly consists of timber, firewood, and maize from Manchuria, paper, crockery, sngar, tobacco, kerosene oil, cotton-yarn, piece-goods, liquid indigo and other dyes. The Chinese inhabitants are either fishermen or farmers, and their demand for foreign goods is not large.
16
C
war.
16
All the recommendations strike us as eminently practical, and it is to be hoped that this official report on the agricultural | possibilities of the territory will receive the attention it deserves. It is clear that capi. tal might be very profitably employed at Weihaiwei, and that well-directed enterprise will reap no mean reward.
HONGKONG
JOTTINGS.
(Daily Press 4th April.) During the past week there has been a noticeable, and most appreciable, change in the weather. Old Sol has shown himself on three days, and those days, by his wise dispensation. were the first of the Easter holidays. In
Though Ministers in Parliament have been silent as to the development of trade at Weihaiwei, there is happily some evidence that the subject is actually receiving atten- tion. Towards the end of last year Mr. S. T. DUNN, the Superintendent of the Botani- cal and Afforestation Department in Hong- kong, paid a visit to Weihaiwei to study its agricultural and afforestation possibilities. We have now before us a copy of Mr. Dunn's Report. In offering certain recommenda. tions for the utilisation of the agricultural resources of the territory, it has been "assumed that the ultimate object of any
business in certain directions present action in this department is to became abnormally brisk, and the Peak tramway encourage sea-borne trade, and that the and the Kowloon ferries had somewhat of a expenditure upon it is only justified iu so difficulty in coping with the extra holiday traffic. "far as it furthers that end." In his preli- The Peak cars were so full that large numbers were disappointed about finding seats, and several minary remarks Mr. DUNN also refers to a
took jaunts into Kowloon Chinatown instead. good harbour being essential for export But, better than all--the pleasant change enabled trade, and suggests that a barbour in tlie the sojourners here in this Colony to doff, even convenient position of this port, in which if only for a while. their heavy rain. mist. and steamers could handle their cargoes in all | damp-resisting garments, and don light summer "weathers, should attract some of the ship-clothing and so deceive themselves into a
ping from the exposed anchorage of Chefoo."
16
C
CL
t
The report recommends attention in the first place to the production of silk at Wei- haiwei. The district is found to be eminently suited for the rearing of the silkworth, and silk has long been one of its staple manufactures. It appears that if a million cocoons a month were available a British company is prepared to erect a filature at Weihaiwei.
Mr. DUNN estimates
that
many hundred times this quantity could be produced, and he pertinently points out that the establishment of a large filature would have wider effects than the encouragement
consequence,
the spring is here.” The fictitious belief that Chinese are predicting that there is more unpleasant weather coming, but all I can say is, long may it be delayed. for we have had enough of it for the present.
have been
are
very
In a very little while the new tramways will begin running. At the depot at Bowrington Canal great activity is being shown in the preparation of the plant. Many of the cars
They constructed. handsome carriages, roomy, well lighted and ventilated. By the way, the coming of the tramways is calculated to do away with the street ricksha more effectively than the Com- mission which recently sat to consider the betterment of the street vehicle service. But
|
judging from the appearance of the Church, would you I did not answer the question. directly, but I thought much, and wondered.
Of late know.
While one and all are ready to admit that the general working of the Post Office is carried on in a way that cannot fail to give general satis- faction to the public at large, there is no doubt that in some minor matters the service calls for non-complimentary comment. several complaints have come to my
in the delivery of ledge about failure
Now letters at the proper date locally. I am told by a correspondent that he was to send by the P.O. anthorities allowed away through the Hongkong office certain
to S. Africa which postal orders afterwards returned as being uncashable there. Surely the attendants at the Post Office should be able to inform customers of the proper mode of procedure in this direction.
were
With the cessation of football and cricket in
the Colony--the destination of the Football Shield and the premier position in the Cricket League having now ceased to furnish a topic for speculation-it might be thought that mafters in the way of sport would have been
practically non est. Yet a cursory view around the Colony last Saturday at once dispelled might have enter- any anticipations one tained
On the to such being the case. as Cricket Ground practice in lawn tennis was being vigorously entered into; and away down to the Happy Valley was to be witnessed the unique sight of athletic events, a hockey match, a football match, and a scratch cricket match.
all going on within a distance of each other.
It
It appears that the necessary negotiations preliminary to the taking over of the old Rifle Ranges at Kowloon have not altogether been completed between the Government and the Military authorities. Meantime, however, the construction of the road across what will after- wards be the King's Park proceeds apace. It will afford a much-needed communication between the villages of Hunghom and Yaumati. crosses the swampy ground immediately to the north of Gan Club Hill and will intersect the area which it is intended, when negotiations with the War Department reach such a stage as to admit of it, to lay out as the King's Park. After traversing some rising ground, the road bifur- cates, one portion communicating with Sixth Street, Yaumati,and the other with an extension of Robinson Road which it is proposed to construct northwards past the Yaumati Theatre. With a view to future developments, the road is
BANYAN being laid out with a width of 100 feet.
The British steamer Strathyyle, which was lately sold to the Toyo Kisen Kaisha, has now been re-named the Manshu-maru. The Dutch steamer Helebes has been purchased by a Kobe renamed Nichiyei-mara. shipping firm and The Nippon Yusen Kaisha has chartered two more steamers in London.