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SPORT AND PASTIME.
(Daily Press, 9th July.) What attracts the attention of Hongkong sportsmen, more than anything else at the present moment, is the forthcoming Gymkhana Club meeting, to be held most probably on the 30th inst. As you mentioned in the Daily Press a few days ago, this will be the second meeting of the Club since its inauguration on the 1st March last. It was then suggested to hold races during the off season once a month from April to October, with a possible intermission during July and August. The number of Gymkhana meetings to be held each season is not to exceed five.
The new building at the Race Course, which. it will be remembered. was made ready in a makeshift sort of way for the February meeting. is now permanently completed. and very smart it looks. A part of the new concrete work in the members' compound has been done.
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It would not be safe to venture an opinion as to what ponies will come out" next meeting, and no entries are as yet to hand. Presumably the events will be much the same as at the first meeting. but nothing has yet been definitely arranged. On the last occasion (for mnemonic refreshment) Mr. W. G. Clarke's Standard, with Mr. Clarke up came in in the Grantham Cup; Mr. John Peel's Ca Ganny, Mr. Johnstone up, was first in the East Point Cup; Mr. J. Lewis's Starling, ridden by Mr. Alderton. won the Ichiban" Cup. & hurdle race; Mr. H. J. Gedge's Punch, with Mr. Grasson up. won the polo pony scurry; Mr. Johnstone brought Mr. John Peel's Ca Canny home in the Gymkhana Club Challenge Cup: an Mr. G. H. Edwards's Sylph Bose, ridden by Mr. Clarke, won the Primrose" Cup. Sine of these horses should win again, even with extra weights.
Talking about golf, by the way, a remark- able incident occurred at Taiping. Perak, the other day. Two men drove off, and each ball disappeared into a ditch. Upon arriving at the spot the players found that the second ball had rolled down the bank and actually lodged on top of the other ball! What ought to be done in that case?
The Water Polo Association meeting. great- ly delayed by the temporary absence from the Colony of Mr. A. Humphreys, the secretary, is to be held on Wednesday next. A Volunteer team, comprised chiefly. if not absolutely, of V.R.C. members. won the Shield last year. beating the V.R.C.
Details regarding the amalgamation of the Hongkong Boat Club with the Royal Hongkong Yacht Club are still under discus- sion. During the past week tubbing has been in progress at the Boat Club. A couple of crews have been out regularly. The membership of the Boat Club is increasing.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The Golf Club has had an exceedingly slack week. Things, however, promise to revive during the next few days. Play in connection with the "Drew" Cup is still in progress. The committee meeting has not yet decided what is to be done about the "Ross" Cup, in which the best card was not quite in order. This month's Captain's Cup Competition will be played off Saturday to Monday.
Another story worth telling. though I cannot vouch for the truth of it. is that a very long V.R.C. man invited several short ones to sign a suggestion in the Suggestion Book, not reveal. i ing what he had written till after they had done When he removed his hand imagine the anger of the little men when they read as follows: We beg to suggest that the shower bath fixing be raised higher so that we shall not knock our heads against it."
80.
Hou. H. E. Pollock, K.C.. has knocked Mr. R. H. Newborn out in the first round of the chess competition for the championship of the Colony. The four who died in the first round, which is now completed, were Messrs. Moses. Newborn. Swaby and Dastur. The drawing for the second round, the semi-final. in fact, has already taken place, and the games The result of the drawing is as follows:- are to be played off before the end of the month.
Pollock v. Kemp.
Falloon . Danenberg.
I see by yesterday's paper that the Hongkong Volunteer Corps give a promenade concert on their Parade Ground on Saturday. the 30th inst. I understand that the entertainment will be
much the same as last year. The Volunteers will be in uniform, and the accompaniments will be played by a band. The programme has not yet been arranged.
The site of the old H.K.C.C. pavilion has been turfed over, and looks very fresh. like the res of the field, after the rain. A piece of rail ing. of course, will have to be put in at that place. It is to be sincerely hoped that the comforts of the new pavilion will be available in time for the Cricket Season.
go
out
Certain Y.M.C.A. members as usual twice a week in a launch for swimming exercise. That little bay at Stonecutters' Island seems to be the favourite spot. The Y. M.C.A. Physical Department Committee consists of Messrs. W Armstrong, C. R. S. Cooper. S. R. Moore. T. E. Pearce, and R. S. Piercy.
The Civil Service Cricket Club hold their annual meeting in about a month's time, when arrangements will be made for the Cricket Season. At present two tennis courts are kept going daily. Another pastime is quoits. The Club is spending money improving the ground.
com-
Ап Australian exchange quotes some noteworthy scores recently made in English county cricket. Playing for Yorkshire against Attendance at the V.R.C. of late has been
Surrey. F. S. Jackson made 158 and very large indeed.
107. J. T. Tyldesley A good scratch water polo W. Rhodes
210 for game was played on Wednesday. With reference piled
Lancashire against Som- to the Aquatic Carnival, to be held on Satur-erset. A. E. Knight (Leicestershire) scored
140 at the day, the 23rd instant, some of the events have
expense of the London Club's been changed. The more indifferent swimmers
County
bowlers. C. B. Fry, the
made до fought shy of the four-length event, so the list Sussex champion.
less than of entries was short. This race has now been scratched, and a two-lengths race substituted. The throwing (water polo ball) contest also. has been abandoned. a plunging contest taking its place. The Club beat the R.A. at water polo last evening by fire goals to two.
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I overheard a rather amusing conversation in the V.R.C. bar-room the other day. One man said he thought of scratching his name from the two lengths competition. · For goodness sake don't," said a comrade. "Why. what has that got to do with you?" answered the other. Well, I will tell you. Once upon a time a Minister in Persia begged his sovereign to spare
the life of a subject condemned to death. If that man were killed,' the Minister said, 'I would be the ugliest man in the country-and if you," continued the witty racon teur, "scratch your name from that race, I shall come in last."
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in an innings against Derbyshire. W. G. Quaife, playing for Warwickshire against Essex. made 178 not out. Seymour performed brilliantly for Kent, scoring 108 and 136 not out against Worcestershire.
OMPAX.
According to a recent report by the Austro- Hungarian Consul at Bangkok, quoted by the Moniteur Officiel du Commerce, there is a good opening for electrical apparatus in Siam. The Siam Electricity Company and the railways are the principal buyers. The value of the elec- trical apparatus imported during 1202 was 169,755 ticals (17 ticals 1.), distributed as follows:-Germany. 63,619
ticals;
United Kingdom, 54,517 ticals; North America, 39,689 ticals; Other countries, 2,262 ticals. The value of the apparatus imported via Singapore was 9,668 ticals. There is a demand for artistic electric lamps.
[July 16, 1904.
LOCAL SPORT.
RACING.
Starling, formerly owned by Mr. J. Lewis, now the property of a syndicate, is training for the Gymkhana meeting, and making some very good times. Mr. Alderton, it will be remembered, brought Starling home in the hurdle race at the last Gymkhana. Mr. John Peel's Glenburn is also doing very well. It is the opinion of many that Jardine's stable should carry off most of the honours with Ca Canny, the winner of the East Point Cup and Gymkhana Club Challenge Cup at the last meeting, and Desert King, the noted pony which won races at Shanghai. A few days ago Mr. Inglis's Eclipse did the mile in 2 min. 16 secs., the last quarter in 32 secs. Mr. H. 8. Seth's Dormouse has also been out lately.
WATER POLO.
The Water Polo Association invités entries for the forthcoming shield competition. Teams desirous of entering are asked to send a re- presentative to the meeting to be held at the V.R.C. premises, Kowloon, on the 13th inst. at 6 p.m. sharp.
THE CRAIGENGOWER C.C.
The lawn tennis competition Kowloon v. Hongkong," played at the Craigengower C.C. ground on the 9th instant, resulted in a victory for the former. A number of visitors. including ladies. witnessed the games, play at times receiving well-merited applause. After the prizes in connection with, the 1902-3 and the contest was over Mrs. Braidwood gave away 1903-4 cricket seasons, and those of the 1903
tennis tournament.
Mr Asger, secretary of the Club, explained to Mrs. Braidwood and the visitors that the conditions for winning outright the Challeng❤ Shield. presented to the Club by Mr. E. Ř. Belilios, C.M.G.. for the highest batting average, were that it should be won two years in succession. or any three seasons. Mr. R. Basa had won it three times (applause).
Mrs. Braidwood congratulated Mr. R. Bass as she presented to him the handsome silver shield. Mr. R. Bass won it in the 1898-9 season. Mr. M. E. Asger 1899-0. Mr. R. Basa 1900-1, Mr. J. P. Jordan 1901-2, and Mr. R. Basa 1902-3.
during the 1902-3 season was then presented to The prize for the highest bowling average
Mr. M. H. Harteam. Mr. Harteam, really. was second to Mr. R. Pestonji, but Mr. Pestonji having won this prize on a previous occasion was excluded.
Mr. A. O. Brawn won the Belilios Challenge presented by Mr. Belilios for highest batting Cup for the 1903-4 season.
The Cup was averages on the same terms as the Belilios Shield.
for the 1903-4 season.
Mr. E. R. Herton won the bowling prize
Mr. A. O. Brawn, with Mr. F. Rapp as runner-up, carried the scratch singles in the 1903 tennis tournament The "doubles" as won by Messrs. A. O). Brawn and J. P. Jordan. The prize-giving concluded, Mr. Asger thanked Mrs. Braidwood, saying that he hoped they would see her again at the Club. presented her with a very pretty bouquet of flowers.
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Mr. Braidwood, on behalf of his wife, thanked Mr. Asger. He was glad to see the Club so well to the fore. The cricket arrangements last season were mainly the work of their secretary, who was the principal mover in arranging the League. The club certainly was not on top of the list, but he hoped that things would be different next year. They had received a photograph of the winning team, which they would have much pleasure in putting up in their pavilion.
Three cheers and a tiger for Mrs. Braid- wood, and three more for the ladies, terminated the proceedings.
INTERPORT CRICKET.
The Hongkong Cricket Club, it will be remembered, recently invited the Singapore Cricket Club to send a Straits Settlements eleven to Hongkong next November, in connec tion with a proposed Interport contest. Singapore has accepted the invitation.
A similar invitation was sent also to Shanghai, but the Northern club's reply has not yet been received.