September 19, 1004.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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tunately, Mr. WESSELITSKY cites his autho- | prospectus for session 1904-5 of the technical rities, and we are vastly amused to see the instruction classes held at the Institution of importance he has attached (by copious Engineers in Des Voeux Road may be quotations and frequent references) to "Mr.egarded, if in no better light, as an accept- STEPHEN England, one of the Daily Mail's able promise of greater advantages still to special correspondents in Tokyo, himself na come. These classes, from which we con- enthusiastic friend of Japan, and writing in fidently expect the must useful results, were a decidedly pro-Japan organ." We are organised in January last by Mr. W. H. amused, because we have the highest pos- WILLIAMS of the Government Education sible authority for saying, with BETSY FRIG Department, and offered for the first time once more, that "there ain't no sich person"; to Hongkong youth desirable opportunities that that particular contributor to the for instruction in Practical Mechanics. The Daily Mail, so far from being correspou first session closed on June 30th, and we dent in Tokyo," never spent twenty-four are glad to learn that this initial attempt consecutive hours in Tokyo; and that when at secondary and technical education in our he says (vide Daily Mail) "I could give a colony was distinguished by an appreciable long list of no'able men representing all measure of success. Thanks to the support the East who have been conferring with of the Institute's committee, the second the leaders of Japan"-or, for that matter, session sces a satisfactory extension of the when he says anything else whatsoever his scope of these classes, which are astounding informations should be taken embracing Advanced Practical Mathematics with a very, very big piuch of salt indeed. and Applied Mechanics, Machine Drawing, We would not mention his real name for Theoretical Electricity, Geometry, and worlds, for he was a vastly entertaining and Machine Construction. There will probably like ble young man; but it is sufficient com- be the initial difficulty of inducing sufficient mentary on the Daily Mail's authoritative numbers of young men to realise the value pronouncements on questions of the welt- of sacrificing part of their leisure to self politik to say that this particular special improvement, the value of which is fully correspondent was an enterprising American recognised by older men for whom such youth, who had drifted into Japan, applied to opportunities have come too late.
It was the Daily Mail when war broke out, and was so at Home at first, but the successes of the hurriedly engaged aud “starred” with Mail pioneer students aroused others to emulation ; headlines under the pseudonym that Mr. and now the demand for contiqued WESSELITSKY has cited as the name of an instruction, by those niready learning trades important authority. The youthful author and professions, is greater than the supply of the "Yellow Whirlwind " was too tem- of laboratories, workshops, text-books, pestuous even for the Mail. Further Mun- teachers, and the funds that procure these chausens from Corea, whither he was sent desiderata. It is too late in the day to after a few weeks' residence in Yokohama, dilate on the advantage of a theoretical, as caused his speedy withdrawal and retire- well as practical, knowledge of one's busi ment to the United States, wh r we believe, ness. Ân axiom, we used to be told, is a and trust, he is doing equally vivid work of theorem the truth of which is so apparent the same orange and green combination of
as to be instantly admitted. The advantage colour. From what we know of Mr. Wes- of knowing one's particular business from BELITSKY, who is an able and respected A to Z, from cellar to attic, is now axiomatic. member of the English journalists' associa- In America, where they fancy they know tions at Home, we rather think he will, on something about trade, millionaires' sons bearing the true facts, hasten to withdraw are going through the mill, from labouring his theory, and renounce his present belief, to managing; and are no longer regarded as that Japan is committed to a policy of freaks for doing it, except when the Sundy Asia for the Asiatics." Or, on second Supplement ditor bappens to be short of thoughts, he would do better to modify it, copy. Of course what is good for Germany, and proclaim the watchword of the real England, and America is good for Hong movement as “ Asia for the Japacese.” kong, and Mr. WILLIAMS and his coadju- tors are endeavouring to help our coming artisans and professional men to start where their fathers left off. The report of work already done has reached the Board of Education at Home, through the local director, with the resuit that the Bard has now consented to conduct examinations in all the subjects, on the same conditions as in England. Their certificates will be excel lent credentials for successful Hongkong students, because these classes are not to be conducted on the lines of coaching or cram ming for particular examinations. It rests mainly with the students in the present session to induce the Government of Hong- kong, already, as HIS EXCELLENCY pointed out on Thursday, entered upon a large number of important operations, to come forward and take its proper position as sponsor to such n momentous birth. If at the end of the session the standard of work done is sufficiently high, the Government, full as its obligations already are, can scarcely refuse to consider results with a view to promoting the scheme by providing laboratories for experimental science, and (it is to be hoped) engaging one or two specialists. is a consummation devoutly to be wished; and with such official encour agement and support, the beneficial results to the community as a whole are bound to be apparent long before the present genera- tion begins to make way for the next.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION.
(Daily Press, 17th September.) To Germany belongs the credit of the first national recognition of the necessity of more utilitarian education. The development of technical and manual teaching in Germany has been at once the delight and despair of educationalists and politicians and business men at Home. England has not been blind to the excellent results obtained by its neighbour, and more than several commis- sions from one body or another bave been, and seen, and, come back convinced of the need for similar effort in our own land. And not without results. Slowly, and with some false steps, constantly faced with the necessity of retracing false steps taken by previous experimenters and bunglers, England is nevertheless coming into line with the more advanced ideas of what is requisite and necessary for the success of the rising generation, and ultimately, of the nation. Here in Hongkong, we have an educational movement, which likewise is trending toward better things. Perhaps in the fulness of time we shall have a complete scholastic system which will obviate the necessity of sending our sons and daughters home to complete their education. The
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HONGKONG JOTTINGS,
(12th September.)
ports have quoted the fact that one or two Judging from the way the papers in other
recently been fined at the Magistracy for Chinese captains of steam launches have unnecessarily blowing the steam whistles of their launches, Hongkong is evidently being looked up to as a model in its regard for the amenities of civilisation. The case brought before the Court a few days ago when the pro- prietor of the North Point Engine Works was slumbers of a respected citizen by using a maloted in a fine of $75 for disturbing the hammer instead of a roller for straightening out iron plates will maintain our reputation in this respect. There must be many Captain Cuttles residing within earshot of the hammers which in the course of a couple of years will be beat- ing iron in the new Admiralty Dock, who have" made a mental note of this case. Our late Governor thought that even Government House would be intolerable as a place of residence when ships are under repair in the new Dock; and so with this precedent on record at the Magistracy we may expect to see the Admiralty charged by and bye with a similar offence, for the Dook, situated where it residents within a quarter of a mile of it. is, is bound to prove an insufferable nuisance to
*You
A curious remark was made by Mr. Justice Sercombe Smith in the case in which three Chinese servants sued a European lady for wages alleged to be due to them. might be insolent to your mistress," his lordship is reported to have said. "but if you are insolent in this Court it will be at your own risk." Judges, like the rest of us. do not always say precisely what they mean, and that his lordship in this case did not mean what lady to summon the three servants to the police he said is shown, I hope, by the advice he gave the
court and have them punished. But punished for what? The insolence or the assault? Both, I hope the Judge meant, for it would never do to give servants to understand on judicial authority that they may be insolent to their mis- tresses. The modern Chinese servant in Hong- kong is in no need of advice of that kind.. They are far too prone already to be insolent, and if they are not always taught by the mi tress they often are by “the msater" that their insolence is attended with risks.
The circular letter which has been sent oat with the object of strengthening the local Volunteer Force is a business-like way of going about the matter. His Excellency the Governor Corps is not of the strength required to enable is of opinion that the Hongkong Volunteer it to take its proper share in the defence of the Colony, and so eligible young men are indivi- dually asked to join the Force. With a Volun teer Reserve Association, and an association of ladies trained in ambulance work, this little outpost of Empire will be-well, what it ought to be in this respect.
BANYAN.
With reference to the scheme put forward by the Nanking Viceroy in substitution for the arrangement under the protocol, of 1901, Mr. Conger asked China what guarantee she would give that the work would be taken Yesterday, says the Times' Peking correspondent promptly in hand and carried to a completion.
on August 7th, he received a reply. The Viceroy of Nanking had offered to contributs Tls. 460,000 (about £57,500) yearly, taking on himself the entire burden of the work, and
the Waiwapu, in 's despatch: yesterday confirming the offer, informed Mr. Conger that Chiss would pledge for the purpose the opium and inland revenues of Szechuan provizce, at present yielding Tis. 400,000 (about £50,000) yearly, and the opium revenuse of Bu-chow praefecture, in the north-west of Kiang-nu, where in the old bed of the Yellow Biver the fuset opium in China is grown, yielding at present T. 200,000 (about £25,000) a you China states that these revenues are unpledged for any loan or service whatever. The propost has been submitted to Washington, expected to meet with approval.
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