262
their heads together over this knotty timber question they were not in a position to see wood for trees. Because he let his sense of humour get the upper hand, this oratorical Ajax drew down upon himself, not only the official light nings, but the chilly disp!1sure of those whose cause he championed. I feel sorry for him, for his only sin was that he didn't copy Dogberry, and regard the Legislative Assembly as a Public Dissembly.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
aspersions still, for with all its expertness and science it hasn't yet made half a be.inning on proper busine s lines. If it is going in for selling firewood, it has so far laid in a very small stook. There is ample room for more to grow. The estimates show that something more than a mere "thinning" is contemplated.
Now, dropping the criticism, let us look at the reply. If the Hon. R. Shewan's attack on officialdom was not well done, officialdom's reply was no better. Evidently the Colonial Secretary was caught off his guard. All the time, it must be understood, I am confining myself to the parts of the discussion relative to the Deforesta- tion Department's labour of love. The Colonil Secretary's reply on this head was one of the most vulnerable official rejoinders I have ever come across. Following up the persisteut plan of evading the issue, the Hon. F. H. May opened his mouth and was safely delivered
means. a pseudo-epigramatic gen-rality. It was observation so remarkable that I must begin a new paragraph with it.
of
an
When His Excellency the Governor has had time to take his bearings, as the nautical man would say, I believe the ladies of Hongkong are resolved to again petition the Government to institute a system of registration for domestic servants. This subject can no more be kept out of Hongkong politics than King Charles' head could be suppressed in the narratives of Mr. Dick, unless in some miraculous way an adequate supply of honest and efficient domestic servants can be secured to the Colony. Up to the time of the rejection of the last petition I had ims ined that Hongkong's sorrows were unique, but I have since seen that people suffer from bad and dishonest servants in several towns in India and seek protection by the same A petition is even now being circulated for signature in Singapore. So far, Ceylon enjoys the happy distin-tion of being the only place in Asia under British rule where a regis- "It is," he said, one more example of the tration system for domestic servants is in opera- innate aversion Englishmen have to anything tion. It is obvious that the need is much greater connected with science. They do things in a here than there, and the police reports of the last bull-dog sort of way; but do thes in a scientific few years su: ply effective argument in support way, and they seem to have no appreci tion of such a demand upon the Government as the wha ever." I like that. Fancy the Secretary ladies of the Colony have made and are prepared of a British Crown Colony official y describing to make again. The topic reminds me of an his nationals as unscientific bull-dogs. But has incident which came under my notice a few the Englishman an innate aversion to anything days ago. A lady dissatisfied with a newly connected with science? If there is a more engaged "boy" asked the cook to find a positivistic race than ours, which is it? Isn't better" specimen of the genus. After some days it data that he always clamours for, measures, the cook came to say he could find no "boys" and details, and figures, and facts? A wise that he believed to be honest who were wanting and witty Continental has said that thepidgin." He apparently knew many of the Englishman accepts a fit of delirium if it appears with footnotes, and is conquered by an sbsurdity if it be accompanied by diagrams.' Even that sounds more apt than the Colonial Secretary's dictum.
44
自常
11
The Colonial Secretary is an Englishman- no, an Irishman --and he has evidently been "conquered by an absurdity" disguised by a scientific shibboleth. Is there anythings cienti. fic about a sawyer? How is tree-cutting con- nected with science? It is that blessed word "expert" which has subdued the official mind. It seems somehow sacrilegious to contradict an Expert. Yet I believe when the lawyers want them, they can always find expe.ts for both sides of a case, who will contradict each other with the greatest pleasure in the world. There is science and science. The muddied oaf"
"in the "art prates of it. There is "science of self-defence and eye-blacking. There is scientific dressmaking." But if there is such a thing as a scientific sawyer, he doesn't stop Hongkong or Aberdeen side. They haven't got the hot platinum wire to work at the B. & A. Department yet.
E
It's a little too cheap, this talk about experts and science. It takes some experience and training to make trees grow; but even the notorious little American child with the impedi- ment in his taradiddlum could chop them down. This reference to George Washington reminds me of the Governor's share in the discussion. His Excellency claimed the res-
the ponsibility for
Philistinism, and his reason was a chivalrous one; but while I like Easy the national esprit which made him say : there on my subordinates-I am the one to blame" (for that is what his reply amounted to), I am not going to let him do the Quintus Curtius act without a protest. business began before His Excellency saw Hongkong, by some Jack Horner who probably thought to "pull out a plum" for the exchequer, and then say
"what a good boy am I." The little bid for kudos has missed fire. Instead of putting in his thumb, John Horner has put his foot in it.
The sorry
If the Afforestation Department was started at Hongkong chiefly for æsthetic reasons, there is no excuse, scientific or otherwise, for its recent lapse into money-grubbing. If, on the contrary, is legitimate business is the growing of timber for profit, then it must suffer greater
mora
other sort, but wisely declined to accept responsibility for them. This lady like many others in the Colony has for the present to console herself with the reflection that it is better to have a fool than a rogue in the
BANYAN
house.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held on the 6th inst. in the Council. Cham- ber. Present:---
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, S18 MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.
HON. COLONEL L. F. BROWN (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary). Hon. E. H. SHARP, K.C. (Attorney-General). Hon. L. A. M. JOHNSTON (Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. A. W. BEEWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. Captain L. A. W. BARNES-LAWRENCE, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. P. N. H. JONES (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Sir C. P. CHATER, C.M.G. Dr. Ho KAI, C.M.G. Hon. WEI A YUK.
Hon.
Hon. R. SHEWAN.
Hon. GERSHOM STEWART. Hon. W. J. GRESSON.
Mr. S. B. C. Ross (Clerk of Councils). STANDING COMMITTEES.
|
HIS EXCELLENCY--In accordance with standing order No. 47, I appoint the following all the committees :--Finance Committee members of the Council with the hon. Colonial Law Committee The Secretary chairman. hon. Attorney-General as chairman and the hon. Harbour Master, hon. Dr. Ho Kai, hon. Mr. Shewan and hon. Mr. Wei Ynk as members. Public Works Committee The hon. Director of Public Works as chairman and the hon. Colonial Treasurer: hon Sir Pani Chater, hon. Mr. Gresson and hon. Mr. Stewart as members.
FINANCIAL.
[October 8, 1904.
CHINESE EMIGRATION, The ATTORNEY-General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Chinese Emigration Ordinance, 1889.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The objects and reasons annexed to the Bill were as follows: -The object of this measure is to effect proper arrangements for the transport of indentured Chinese emigrants from Hongkong to the British Colonies and Protectorates in South Africa, and to ensure that the requi'e- ments of the recent Contention between the United Kingdom and China respecting the employment of Chinese labour in British Colo- nies and Protectorates shall be (in so far as they are not already) observed by all ships engaged in such transport.
APPROPRIATION 1905.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved that the Council resolve itself into Committee on the Bill entitled an Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding Five millin eight hundred and thirty-five thousand four hundred and seventy Dollars to the Public Service of the year 19 5.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The Council then went into Committee on the Bill and considered it clause by clause without amendment.
On the Council resuming.
1
The COLONIAL SECRETARY suid-Your Ex. cellency. Seeing that no amendment has been made, and if no member of Council objects, I beg to move the third reading of the Bill.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
HIS EXCELLENCY moved that the Bill be passed and become law.
The motion was agreed to. The Council adjourned.
HONGKONG SANITARY
BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on the 4th instant in the Board Room. Dr. | J. M. A1kinson presided, and there were also present Hon. P. N. H. Jones, Hon. A W. Brewin, Mr. F. J. Badeley, Major Josling, R.A.M.C., Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Mr. E Å. Hewett, Mr. A. Rumjahn. Mr. H. E. Pollock. Dr. W. W. Pearse, Dr. P. Barnett and Mr. T. H. Hanmer (secrets⋅y).
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 11); and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
ANTHRAX AT KENNEDY TOWN. There was laid on the table a report con- cerning a case of anthrax at Kennedy Town by the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon. It was not read.
FUMIGATING APPARATUS.
Correspondence relative to the Clayton fumi- gating apparatus was laid on the table.
He
Dr. Pearse, reporting on the matter, wrote that on the whole he was in favour of adopting the Clayton process for use in the Harbour, aa the weight of evidence was much in favour of its usefulness as a prophylactic measure. was not, however, as yet convinced that its sphere of usefulness could be extended to the general disinfection of Chinese houses in Hongkong.
Mr. Hewett minated-The committee of the Chamber of Commerce, which includes representatives of almost all the British and German shipping visiting Hongkong, have in- formed the Government that they are opposed to the in roduction of such an apparatus, as in their opinion it cannot with safety be used on a vessel unless there is no cargo on board. The reports a tached show that arious damage might be caused not only to the paint and fittings of a vessel, but also to many classes of cargo on board. The Acting M.Ó.H. states in his opinion it is impossible to properly close Chinese houses for the purpose of fumigation With all due deference to this official, I would state that with all passenger steamers greater difficulty would be experienced, and some passenger ships are so constructed that it would be an absolute impossibility to close the passenger accommoda- tiou sufficiently to kill rats, etc., by gas.
The PRESIDENT thought they must wait for further information with reference to the merits of this process. The Secretary of State said in his letter that the information presently obtained did not warrant a definite conclusion