t.
*420
VOLUNTEER RESERVE.
The Hongkong Volunteer Reserve Associa- tion is now an accomplished fact.
A meeting has been held in the Legislative Connoil room. H.E. the Governor presided, and some fifty persons altogether were present,
His Excellency said that seventy-three gentlemen had signified their willingness to be members of the As ociation, and he hoped to raise the number to a hundred. They should elect a Chairman: then a Committee. He suggested for consideration of members that the committee of management should consist of a chairman and eight members, with four to form a quorum.
The resolution was carried.
The Hon. Gershom Stewart proposed. Mr E. A. Hewett seconded, and it was carried, t at Sir H 8. Berkeley be electe i Chairman (Applause).
Messrs. the Hon. F. H. May, the Hon. Ger- shom Stewart, W. G. Winterburn, F. Maitland,
A. Mackenzie, A. H. Skelton, G. L. Duncan, and C. W. Brett were elected members of the Committee.
Mr. W. H. T. Davis was elected secretary.
HONGKONG.
H. M. S. Glory arrived from Singapore on November 29.
The weekly return of communicable diseases mentions seven cases of enteric fever, six of which (all Chinese) were fatal; and the other was a European from Shanghai No plague.
At the Crown Lands sale at the Publi Works Department on Nov. 28 Mr. A. M. Essabhoy, through his agent, Mr. A. K. Ghoosiea, purchased Inland Lot No. 1727 for $803. The -annual rental of the lot is $18.
Return of visitors to the City Hall Library and Museum for the week ending the 27th November, 1904, were 291 non-Chinese and (9 Chinese to the former, and 09 non-Chinese and 1,580 Chinese to the latter institution.
On November 25th a Chinese sampan-man died in the Tung Wa Hospital. It is said that death was due to a stab in tue abdomen which another boatman gave him with a boathook, during a quarrel about a fare.
The godowns at West Point were still burn- ing on Nov. 25 watched by two European fire men with a fire engine. There was a small fire at No. 24, Stanley Street, a Chinese tenemeut, which the Brigade extinguished before much damage was done.
A man was seriously hurt by an explosion at the excavation works in Kowloon.on Nov. 29 An eye was irreparably damaged, and the nature of his numerous other injuries make it unlikely that he will recover. Another man, who was run into by an electric tram, is also in a critical condition."
It
The Chief Justice has granted leave to ap- peal to the Privy Council in the case of Chan Up Sui and Pun Kan Shan r. Chu Ping. The action was in respect of the ownership of a Crown lease on the Praya, the property being ralued at between nine and ten thousand dollars. A Chinam in eating his rice in the shade of a large rock near the Yatmati gas works was startled and hurt by the fall of a part of it. had been drilled and blasted the day before, and this was an "after fall." The man, who firmly believed that the earth dragon had had a per- sonal quarrel with him, was taken to hospital. The Royal Engineers had a large audience at their theatre on Nov. 28 when they presented Ajax and Achilles," after which & sketch followed a series of variety turns. An original song by Mr. Ray,
The Shelter of te Union Jack," a song of Russia's firing on the Hul trawling fleet, was particularly well received. Tho programma concluded with the sketch
Done on both Sides." The Tommies all seem- ed delighted with the performance throughout. Another gang of armed robbers, this time from Matankok in the New Territory, has been caught. Three of the ruffians, armed with knives, first held up a lady, and with threats and menaces obtained from her the sum of $10. They then held up three men of a junk's crew, and with threats of violence demanded their goods and chattels, Shortly after this they were arrested by Inspector Macdonald, and on appearing before the Court were remanded.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
L'oroner. Mr.
SPAT
[December 3, 1904.
A Chinaman was fined one dollar on Nov. 25, before Mr. H. H. J. Gomperts, sitting for selling live partridges without a licence. Mr. Looker, who conducted the prosecution, which was originated by Mr. G. C. Moxon, Ordinance, stated that it was the first case under the
an.1
The ball room at Austin Barracks was gaily. decorated on Nov. 28 with flowers, greenery bunting, the occasion being the farewell of the Sergeants of the Noits and Derbys to their comrades-in-arms in Hongkong. Over 200 invitations were issued, and were mostly accepted. Dancing. to the music of the 93rd Burmas, was merrily indulged in till an early
hour of the morning.
On Nov. 28 in Mr. Gompertz's Court, while a case was proceeding, and several policemen standing by, some Chinaman had the audacity to steal a European's hut, almost from under His Worship's nose. It would surely be hard to imagine a more cheeky theft than although it is on record that a Chinaman once marched into Court with a ladder, aud stole
the clock.
that;
Dignity is sometimes bought at a price in tropical places. Here is a wail from Ceylon that will find an echo in some Hongkong bosoms: So the frock coat and top hat are no longer de rigeur, and we must go to the Levée in evening dress! Well, the new order will do something, and that is why hear it has been introduced--it will prevent the heterogeneous costumes some of our Ceylou friends are arrayed in. Everybody knows what evening dress is and inste id of flat brimmed toppers we will see some in rickshas making for Queen's House crowned with solar topees. Alas! I never thought my dress coat would be subjected to such a trial as this. It is quite passable at night, in fact it looks rather well. But by day same is green-well I prefer not to say more. Nevertheless though old and climate stained-it will do its duty.
the
at
on
30
Mr. J. J. Spooner died at Gove nment Civil Hospital on November 29 and was buried
Happy Valley
the
The immediate cause of death was general de- bility. Deceased was 52 years of age. In his yonth he served his apprenticeship for the sea. and subs quently entere the P. & O. Service. He left this when second officer of the ss. Chusan. On the outbreak of the Zulu War, he went to the Cape, serving through that campaign, attaining the rank of sergeant-major in the Cape Mounted Volunteers. Upon peace being restored he went to Singapore, and joined the Police Force, but shortly after left to take up a position as excise officer in the employ of the Opium Farmer. He came to China in 1884, and joined the Opium Farm as excise officer, rising to be chief of that department, and remaining in the ser- vice for upwards of 18 years.
The children of the Union Church Sunday school went out to Quarry Bay for a picnic on Saturday.
The King has approved of the appointment of the Hon. Gershom Stewart to be an unofficial
member of the Legislative Council vice the Hon. C. S. Sharp resigned.
The Hongkong Volunteer Corps is now de- prived of the services of Bomb. C. G. Danby and Gunner S R. Boyd, both of these gentle. men having resigned.
On the 30th November a Chinese passenger jumped overboard from the Yaumati ferry launch Cheong Lee. The launch was stopped and 'he master of the Willing, who had witness- ed the occurrence, also steamed up to the spot He was and picked the man out of the water. conveyed to the Civil Hospital for medical treatment. The man declared that he wanted to die.
On the 1st inst. being the birthday of Her most Gracions Majesty Queen Alexandra. all the ships in harbour were adorned with bunting,
alnte guns
were fired at noon from H.M. ships in port. There was no holiday. but at most dinner tables last night loyal residents lifted a glass and toasted His Majesty's popular consort.
The adjourned inquiry into the cause of death of two Chinese children who died from the efiects of poisoning at No. 144, Queen's Road West, on the 19th October last, came on for hearing at the Magistracy yesterday afternoon
88
A. Franklin, the Assistant Government Analyst, after examination of the seed called pukwa, found that it contained nothing of a poisonous nature. The jury were satisfied that there had been no foul play in the matter, and brought in a verdict of death by misadventure.
FAR EASTERN ITEMS.
Messrs. Gibb, Livingston and Co. inform us that the seamer Courtfield with coolies from Seraia Island arrived at Durban on Nov. 28 all well.
The Hon. John Ferguson ha accepted the
Presidentship of the Ceylon Branc, Royal Asiatic Socie y, in succession to the late Lien-
tenant-Governor.
The China Review of November 14th hints
plainly that the Japanese are circulating anti- foreign literature throughout North China. It is a most unlikely thing. The Japanese are too shrewd to waste time or money on works of super rogation.
་་
The Japanese are said to be buying a quantity of cayus" ponies from Canada and the "Wild West." These beasts are hard, weight carriers, and forage for themselves. They are not for the Go erament stud farms, but for the winter campaign in Manchuria
The Tientsin A.D C performed three pieces last year, and at the annual meeting on Novem- ber 11th, it was stated that the financial results Our Flat." proceeds $1,273. expenses
The
School-mistress," proceeds "The Yeoman of
were
*
8876.66.
$1,322, expenses $1,236.16. the Guard." proceeds $2,568.00, expenses $2,788.37. Notwithstanding the loss on the last,
the members were in favour of another musical
play.
The annual report for the last fiscal year was marked by the announcement of the preparation of plaus, survey and complete study of a new water system,;. or Manila this study having been accomplished by Mr. J. F. Case. At the end of this fiscal year the board annouuces the pr paration of plans, surveys, and a complete study of a sewer system, accomplished by Mr. O.D. Ingalls, and the digested reports on both these systems by consulting engineer Fitzgerald, who was secured as an expert to examine and report with recommendations on these subjects.
The Koman Catholic cathedral which until 1900 stood within the Shan-chih Gate was a magnificent structure, and its destraction by the Boxers was a very great loss to the Mission. A very large indemnity was claimed for it, and its reconstruction is now in hand. It is stated that in future the Mission intends to make an elfort to reach the official classes, civil and military, instead of only the humbler classes who make so much trouble. The Government graduates of various degrees, and well-to-do families, may furnish coa arts who will do the cause credit, ad future converts will be invited to furnish guarantors, aud no offices of the church will be granted to those who cannot produce such. It is hoped by thus exercising great discretion in admitting new members to the church to avoid many of the complications which have continually arisen in the past. It is stated that the Catholic Bishop and the Chinese authorities will be jointly issuing a notice to this effect very shortly.
A gentleman who recently arrived at Shang- hai from Vladivostock. and who has been in residence at that port since the outbreak of the war, told the N.-C Daily News that the price of provisions, both luxuries and necessities, has increased nearly two hundred per cent. The Bogatyr was in the harbour, but apparently badly damared, as pontoons were necessary to keep her afloat. No Chinese are allowed in or ont without passports, and all the available coolie labour has been requisitioned to strengthen the fortifications, Vladivostock, as was Admiral Skrydloff, who seems to be very unpopular with all classOS. The general opinion, he states, in military circles is that Port Arthur will fall within a month, and Admiral Skrydloff has been cen ur- ed for failing to effect a junction of the two fleets. No supplies can be purchased without the production of a special permit from the Commandant of the garrison.
Admiral Bezobrazoff was in