THE CANTON VICEROY.
[January 8, 1906.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
account to desert her service. It would
as one of their representatives. But now have seemed thankless, and a breach that the three gentlemen who figured as (Daily Press, 80th December). of etiquette, for Suum to suggest that his candidates in the recent election for the Viceroy SHUM, or, as he is officially styled, health might mend if he had a post nearer Legislative Council are disposed of, H. E. THEN CH'ON-HSYAN, Governor. the throne, so he is still at Canton. It it is not easy to name offhand two prob General of the Liang Kwang, is a remark- was he who sought to cheat his "squeezing" able candidates for the vacant seats. Mr. able Chinaman, around whose name various retinue by receiving petitions direct; but A. SHELTON HOOPER, who was a candidate strange stories linger. If only half of the they poured in in such numbers that his a the last election, it is hoped will be one on things said of him be true, he must be a good resolutions bleached and withered in this occasion. We know of no one in the man of peculiarly manifold character and sight of so much hard work. His AL Colony capable of rendering greater service versatile gifts. He is by turns a military RASCHID exploits lose their halo by his on the Board to the general public, hero, a finished courtier, a HAROUN AL weakness in having favourites whom he especially at the present time when so many RASCHID, a conservative Chinaman, an allows to grab and squeeze in the old sweet of the difficulties of the Board arise out of impulsive politician, and a rabid anti-way-notably the recently recounted trick the operation of the new Public Health and foreigner. He has played many parts. It of his dear friend the ADMIRAL-and we Buildings Ordinance and when landlords was he who seized the opportunity of the must confess we do not like his recent pro-and tenants alike are harassed by DOWAGER-EMPRESS's flight from Peking nouncement that "the indiscriminate em- vexatious interpretations of some of its in 1900 to prove at once his personal ployment of foreigners is liable to provisious. Few men have a better know- heroism and his whole-hearted and self- create international difficulties." [Vide to- ledge of that Ordinance than Mr. SHELTON sacrificiug devotion to the Throne. With day's Canton letter.] We know that HIS HOOPER, who was Chairman of the Com- a mere handful of followers he way laid the EXCELLENCY is not above using the com. mittee hich sat upon the Bill before its imperial refugees, defied either foreigners pliant foreigners who are sometimes found enactment, and few we venture to think can or Boxers to touch them-happily there willing to work against less compliant have a better acquaintance with its were none in sight-and himself disturbed foreigners; and we know that Viceroy defects which landlords and tenants alike the aged EMPRESS's repose by noisily plant- SHUм does not love any kind of foreigner. would wish to see remedied. So far ing himself at Her Majesty's bedroom He makes a rule, it appears, that no official We have heard of. no other possible door, and declaiming that none should body or individual shall purchase any sort candidate, but we doubt not the occasion approach her save over his dead body. The of machinery from foreigners without con- will show that Hongkong is not lacking in lady was worried and anxious, very tired sulting him first. So far as the message public-spirited citizens prepared to devote and uncomfortable away from her usual goes, it is perhaps innocent enough; but in their time and ability to such service of luxurious surroundings; but however much conjunction with the spirit always behind the public as is entailed by membership she might then be disposed for sleep, she it and similar proclamations, it will be of the Sanitary Board. could not fail to mark these noble traits, and worth while to keep a sharp eye open for make mental resolutions to remember their developments. exponent as one of her most trusty servants and loyal friends. The former Sub-director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, and the sitter on Financial Commissions, was there and then marked for preferment when happier times should come. In less than two years he got his Yellow Jacket, and a few months later-in May 1902-he was hustled away with mixed feelings to the far south, as Governor of Kwangtung.
SANITARY BOARD ELECTION.
+1
THE CUSTOMARY THING.
4.
(Daily Press, 1st January.) Good resolutions are in order; and though. (Daily Press, 30th December.) new year resolves have come to be regarded The community has reason to view with like other promises and piecrusts, made to genuine regret the retirement of the Hon. be broken, we cannot wish our readers, as Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C., and Mr. AHMET we now do, one and all, a more happy and RUMJAHN from the Sanitary Board,- -a body prosperous year than the one just over, whose administration so intimately affects without stipulating that the old custom of the welfare and prosperity of the Colony as turning over a new leaf be adhered to for This was a reward for which he had to a whole, and the comfort and health of all it is worth. After all, a little of the appear grateful; but in his heart of every individual resident. The ratepayers have enterprise is apt to bear fruit; and we can- hearts he regretted the necessity of residing watched with interest the work of their repre-mot deny that, for one reason or another so far away from the light of the Im- sentatives on the Board, so far as newspaper (chiefly the idea that the times have been perial Countenance; as also from the reports of the fortnightly meetings reveal put out of joint by "the war"), we have
the services they render, but the been prone to backstairs of Peking, where a shrewd man
a policy of inas kee." may go softly and fare prosperously. His bulk of the work is done "behind the Would it not be agreeable if the Govern grateful MISTRESS Wotted not of this; she screens as the Chairman expressed it, ment were to make a resolution that it had the consciousness of having to some and knowing as he must do the full would start in earnest to consider if business extent paid a debt; and there was a chorus value of each member's services, his could not be helped by a Bill compelling all of courtiers around her, telling her that she generous testimony to the work of the Chinese partnerships to be registered; to try had indeed chosen wisely and behaved retiring members, whom he described as and make life easier for our householders by generously. This confirmation of hier judg- having been "towers of strength" to the instituting the official registration of ser- .nent no doubt led to SHUM's ultimate Board in times of difficulty, is a compliment vants; and to make up their minds to elevation to the Viceroyalty of the two
on which a high value must be set, and it is remember that Hongkong is after all a Kwang. Our Canton correspondents have
one which must be appreciated by the foreign city, foreign made, and that Chinese repeatedly told us of HIS EXCELLENCY's community whose interests they have prejudices have been humoured fong enough.. delicate state vi Lealth, and his consequent served no less than the retiring A resolution not to let 1906 pass away requests most conscientious they seemed- members themselves. Mr. POLLOCK's retire withoutcontinuing the attack upon insanitary to be relieved from his onerous duties, toment is due to his election to the Legislative areas would be quite the proper thing to make which he no longer felt quite equal. We were Council, where the knowledge he has this week. In the old days, when the told of the disinterested way in which he gleaned during his membership of the Chinese had to be coaxed into the Colony, nominated one person after another as Sanitary Board cannot fail to be of great it was good policy to make allowances for capable to undertake the tasks which were utility in the consideration of the legislative their habits; but they need no inviting too important to be left to a sickly man, projects which from time to time come up now, even after the foreigner has put his whose oul; ambition was to retire into for discussion. The term for which both foot down with regard to certain matters. privacy and peace. Perhaps the courtiers Mr. POLLOCK and Mr. RUMJAHN were Seventy years ago, come six months, the ut Peking were afraid His EXCELLENCYlected does not expire until March next, virile hand of Lord PALMERSTON made itself would not be coutent to plant cabbages.
felt in the Canton river: it would be pleasant. to find a similar spirit animating local politica At any rate, every time he showed signs of wishing to resign his post, they rushed in memorials, pointingout how important bis district was, in view of its dangerous juxtaposition to Hongkong, and how important it was to have such a good and able and faithful mau in change there. HER MAJESTY listened to these qraises of her favourite complacently, aud in the kindest way possible, with many counqliments, told him she could not think fo acceqting his resignation. She sent him mebieines" advised him to get the dest mebical advice, to take a holiday; but on no
by
but as Mr RUMJAHN contemplates a visit to Europe next year, he has decided to retire with Mr. POLLOCK So as to obviate the necessity of two elections. Another change has just occurred on the Sanitary Board almost without public comment. Mr. M. W. SLADE, one of the nominees of H.E. the GOVERNOR, has retired and Mr. E. A. HEWETT has been appointed in his stead. Mr. HEWETT is a desirable acquisition to the Board and his return to this sphere of public activity will give general satisfaction. Had he not been given a seat as the nominee of the GOVERNOR, we do not doubt that be would have been elected by the ratepayers
once more.
" that is
It would be pleasant, also, to learn that all directors and managers of local businesses, particularly public com. panies, had resolved to shut their eyes to all excuses, war effects, high exchange, enervating climate, and all other; and to induce some of the "hustle regarded as a necessity elsewhere. The Hon. Mr. SHEWAN's remark concerning sport was wrongly taken up and grievously misinterpreted: there can be no doubt that we need to concentrate more attention upon business. Pleasant as life is in Hongkong,