480
The most interesting part of the ceremony was the procession from the house of the bride- groom to that of the bride. A lantern procession walked in front, and the two best men and bridegroom followed mounted on horses. These shied at the sudden appearance of lighted torches: the crowd, too, found the smoke and sparks from the torches very unpleasant, and from one cause or the other the crowd was constantly surging backwards and forwards until something like a panic seemed to have been created. It was a very great relief to every- one when the animals ceased their crub-like movements and walked forward like civilised beasts. The procession wended its way along Upper Lascar Row, East Street and Lower Lascar Row. returning to Upper Lascar Row, for the bride's house was really only a few doors from the bridegroom's. | by way of West Street. The ground floor of the bride's house was decorated with a profusion of bunting. Japaness lanterns, baskets of flowers and strings of sweet-smelling jasmine. The bridegroom, the two best men. the priest. and the bride's grandfather, acting as attorney for the bride, squatted down in the centre of the room, being faced by jars of flowers and sweetmeats, which were afterwards dis. tributed. The room Was fearfully hot and the visitors, all with hats on, and many with foot-gear off, almost tired themselves by in- dustrious use of the fan. The priest proceeded with the ceremony in low chanting tones, taking his words, no doubt, from the Koran.
The bridegroom and others next went upstairs. demanding an entrance into the bride's chamber. In spite of repeated hammering at the door the bridegroom was kept outside for a considerable length of time, only being admitted on "paying." The bride was sitting on the bed with a red cloth completely covering her, and that is all the visitors saw of her. After refreshments the company dispersed. The newly-wedded young lady followed her spouse home in a chair.
LOCAL SPORT.
This being practically mid-summer, there is of course, very little doing in Hongkong sport- ing circles. Launch parties and picnics are in fashion, young and old seeking the cooler breezes outside the hill-locked harbour, and finding places where they can splash in water free of the usual adulterations with which bathers within the harbour limits get acquainted.
|
The European branch of the Young Men's Christian Association ought soon to have a strong Athletic Club, and it is to be hoped that in the near future it will be in a position to place strong teams of various description on the local sporting field. At present the members are confining themselves mostly to launch parties to Stonecutter's Island, where an appetite for tea is acquired by swimming and water-polo practice. Some of the members, it may be remarked, are still in the “life-buoy stage," so their associa tion with the Club has afforded them the means of learning how to swim.
(June 27, 1904.
his
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
what about Sydney?" The answer is that | 1,000-up. in which the latter gave Sydney is a quieter harbour than Hongkong, opponent 650 points. He ran out with an and is therefore more likely to be infested by unfinished 40 odd when Roberts had only reached sharks. No one is afraid of sharks in Colombo 505. There are several good Chinese billiard harbour!
players too. Master Wei Yuk, son of the Hon. Wei Yuk, is in fact, one of the best juvenile players we have. He is a youngster in his teens.
I see in the Daily Press that the V.R.C. is holding a Water Carnival next month. If it is conducted on the same lines as the last one we can look forward to it with pleasurable anticipations of good sport.
The Golf Club is in full swing. The second competition for the Ross Farewell Cup. presented by Mr. K. McKenzie Ross on his departure from the Colony, was played on the 18th to the 20th inst. As the best curd returned was not quite in order the committee has not yet decided what is to be done about the matter. A cup presented by Deputy Inspector-General Drew. R.N., on his departure from Hongkong is to be played for. | match play on handicap, shortly there are no less than 44 entries. The Captain's (Mr. C. W. May's Cup is to be played off at the end of next week. This competition is played on the first Saturday to Monday in each month, and the winners of each competition play off, match play, at the end of the year.
+4
The Kowloon Bowling Green Club is as popular as ever, and the condition of the green is very creditable to those responsible for it. Bowls may or may not be an old woman's game." but it certainly is a very suitable pas- time for Hongkong's hot season, to say nothing about its sociability, affording as it does equal amusement for the ladies as for their husbands. | The daily afternoon tea-parties-for they can be called nothing else--are certainly very pleasing. At present the Club is playing off three com- petitions. i.e.. The Championship." "the President's Prize." and "the Vice-President's Prize." The contests may last till the end of the year.
Talking about bowls, we must not forget the Civil Service Cricket Club, which can certainly claim to be as adaptive to the different seasons as any other Club in the Colony. They recently returfed a portion of their nicely-situated little ground at Happy Valley, and a bowling contest is now in full swing. Perhaps no sporting club here is better attended by its members than the C.S.C.C.
Things at the Hongkong Boat Club are pretty slack just now, though a few enthusiasts go out in dinghys every evening for a splash to release themselves from office dust. The gym- nasium with its punching-bags, etc., is used to some extent; and one or two crews go out regularly. When the Boat Club share the proposed new building on the Hongkong side with the Royal Hongkong Yacht Club both rowing and sailing ought to receive an impetus : many yachtsmen, no doubt, will take up sculling and vice versa.
The Craigengower Cricket Club, whose pre- mises are at Happy Valley, play a tennis tourna- ment next month. The
men are practising hard, four courts going every day. The members of the Club will be at home" to their friends some day next month, on the occasion of giving away the prizes for the last tournament.
**
From time to time recently we have seen baseball matches here, played between various ships of the U.S. Far Eastern Squadron, but the game has not yet got a hold on the Colony. Englishmen here do not seem to care for it, and the Americans prefer their recreation in the milder form of billiards.
Tubbing is in progress at the Victoria Recreation Club, though the low tides in alter nate weeks greatly mar the sport, often keeping many would-be swimmers out of the water. Some, though, swim day-in-day-out, using boats when there is not enough water in the basin. Generally, however, one can plunge from the outside diving-board, always excepting when the locality is infested with jelly-fish. Sometimes it is found necessary to beach these posts, which have a nasty knack of sinking when you try to net them. They always come up, too, where they Personally I regard that are least wanted.
shark story" told by my confrère Banyan Regarding billiards, I think it would be a as, to use a slang expression, “bunkum. One good idea to put up a cup for the Championship man who had been out tubbing assured of the Colony. We have several good billiard me that he had seen a shark jump clear players here. Personally my favourite is Sergt. out of the water! As it is well known that Morris, of the Army Pay Department, who sharks never jump his apparition must have recently played a visitor for $300 a side. Sergt. been a porpoise there are, it is said, many Morris beat his opponent by some 150 points. porpoises here. Probably Banyan's" sharks Included in the first rank of our players are ware of the same brand. The fact that sharks Messrs. E. H. Hinds, A. G. Stokes, A. I. Ellis, are to be seen at the market proves nothing, C. M. P Remedios, J. A. Carvalho, W. Rose as these are caught outside.” It is argued and A. Hughes. Mr. Hinds, it will be remem- then "if they are outside they must be inside; 'bered, beat Roberts in ย
**
game
of
The Water Polo Association meeting has been greatly delayed by the absence of Mr. A. Humphreys, the secretary, who is away at Shanghai on a holiday. On two occasions the Club did what they liked with the Royal Artillery. The Engineers were to have played the V.R.Č. on Thursday, but as only two of the soldiers turned up a scratch match had to be substituted. There seems to be little doubt that a V.R.C. team-that is “ V.R.C.” “ Volunteers not-will win the shield again this year.
or what-
The first round of the Chess Championship Competition has almost been played out. The contest Kemp v. Moses was won by the former. In the first instance Moses opened, second move, with K-KB3, Kemp replying with the Petroff's defence. Pollock v. Newborn has not yet been decided, but Pollock has won the first game; Newborn opened with Ray Lopez. Falloon has knocked out Swaby. In the first game he secured white, and was answered with the Petroff's defence. Swaby tried the some- what unused King's Bishop Gambit in the second game, but without success. Danenberg opened with Ruy Lopez in his first game against Dastur, and won. He won his second game replying with the Petroff's defence. The first round has to be completed before the end of the mouth.
OMPAX.
JUBILEE FUND-HOSPITAL
ACCOUNT.
Following is the statement of accouats in connection with the above fuad, which has now been closed :---
RECEIPTS.
Transfer from general account (in-
cluding interest to Feb. 28, 1899). $97,849.92 Interest from Feb. 28, 1899, to closing
of account..
EXP NDITURE.
Contr et for preparing site,
&C.......
$ 7,500.00
Contract for superstructure 84,936.68 Goods obtained from England 10, 31.45 Gas service
Hot water service Cold water service. Electric Bells Fittings purchased locally. Architects'
com-
mission, includ- ing payment for plans of Nursing Institute, not built Less premium paid for competition plans
.$7,486,33
1,900.00
1,956,25
1,446.59 225.00
93,00
1,000.00
6,496.33
Premia for plans submitted
Overseer's wages....
in competition.....................
Gas fittings purchased
fr m Governm nt Mi-cellaneous
Less amount paid by
Goverment...
(Sd.) W. CHATHAM,
Hon. Secretary,
1,950.00 1,939,75
406.00 20.00
118,891,05
17,898.70
$115,548.62
3,342,43 115,548,62
(Sd.) T. P. Cochrane, Hon. Treasurer.
The working hours in all departments of the City government of Manila are in future to be from 7 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., except Saturdays, when they are to be from 7.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
The N.-C. Daily News announces on good authority that Mr. F. N. Dresing has been appointed by the Chinese Telegraph authorities to be Chief Superintendent of the Chinese Telegraph Administration, with headquarters in the Shanghai Office, on the Bnud.