January 4, 1909.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Eorthy
in police aunals by reason of the, where their pleasure would not be wared by +{
that the Peace Preservation Ordinance to be proclaimed in consequence of a riotous outbreak connected with the boycott of Japanese goods. The proclamation remained in force for two months and was only cancelled last week. It is satisfactory to record that good progress is being made with the railway and other public works in the Colony, A commencement has been made with the new typhoon shelter at Mongkoktsui, the cost being defrayed by the increased taxation of shipping. This reminds us of the typhoon of July 27th last which did enough damage to house property to give it title to rank among the notable events of 1908. The commencement of work at the Taikoo Dockyard and Engineer- ing Works and the completion of the Naval Extension Works are also to be noted. It has been a bau year for plague, the cases totalling 1,073, a total not exceeded since 1903. Socially, the year has not been distinguished in
any marked way, and on the whole it must be set down as a very dull year for the Colony, though not more so than its two or three immediate prede- cestors have been. May this one be infinitely better, for the Colony as a whole and for every individual member of it!
RANDOM REFLECTIONS.
Back to ordinary life again. Christmas with its handle joviality, its shower of greet-
pump ings, and its heavy feeding, is over, and we are now struggling, more or less successfully, to get back to "the daily round, the common task." No doubt Christmas is a good time, but it is disorganising.
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There are, of course, different views of Christ- To the child it is a time of inexpressible delight, to the hard-working man or careworn business man it is a time of rest, and to the ordinary individual it means a bright day in a usually drab existence. On the other hand, it is a terror to the mean man because it involves demands which he does not care to gratify, and to the lonely man it is a time, of misery, as it emphasises his loneliness.
I heard some of my Scottish friends say that Christmas spoils. New Year. It robs the later festival of many of its characteristic features, and makes the individual less appreciative of its joys. Doubtless Scottish folk do not like to see their festival eclipsed by the other, but after all the observance of Christmas brings them more into line with the other peoples of the world.
Welcome to Lady Lugard! She has returned the Colony in time to brighten up Christmas at Government House, and those outside the gubernatorial residence will be glad to see her sweet smile again. Her. absence was felt and her-presence will now be appreciated.
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Talk of international amity! Where in the world is there such an example as is furnished by Hongkong? In its busy harbours the warhips of no fewer than six different nations were seen lying alongside each other during the week, namely, British, American, French, German, Italian and Austrian. Quite a happy family, and another instance of our cosmopolitanism.
lady's talking-which most men can obtain without payment.
How very serious men become when they are vested with a little authority. According to home papers the conduct of girl students at Glasgow University has incurred the displeasure of morals "to check the waste of time caused by of the Senate who have appointed a lady censor the girls speaking to the men students when there is no necessity to do so." I wonder if the members of the sedate regard the time they spent with their sweethearts as wasted. The national bard thought differently when he wrote
The happiest oors that e'er I spent Were spent among the lasses, oh
officials entrusted with the care of the cat A hint for the Sanitary Board, especially the emporium! In a home paper I read "Many triumphs in original colour were seen at the great champion show of cats opened at the Crystal Palace yesterday. With the modern cat, beauty is to a large extent skin deep that is to say, coat and colour reckon high, and high which have only recently been achieved in their value is set on certain combinations of colour
full measure. The most artistic of all modern cats is the blue Russian, of which Lady Decies Some ladies have a sense of humour. The has the pick, and yesterday won most of the other day in the car I overheard one relating prizes. Her best exhibits are of a level light how she had "got one" on her husband. Ap blue tint, absolutely unflecked by any other parently the couple were sitting at breakfast shade, and they possess that second desideratum and the husband noticing that his wife was -a copper coloured eye, which, to the regret of looking rather glum asked the reason and was all cat breeders, is apt to fade into the common told that she had had a distressing dream over- green with age. In the case of the white smooth-night. Naturally he wished to know. all about haired cat the eye should be blue, and such an it. "Well," she said, "I dreamt of a shop animal as the unbeaten Fulmer Snowstorm is a were there was a sale of husbands. They were revelation in the breeder's power to get the pure marked at all figures. Some were priced at colours he seeks. Again, the silver tabbies, $300, some $200, some $100, and a lot at $50!" lines and the clearness of the marking between rather foolish querry of the husband, for whose virtue depends on the blackness of the "Did you see any like me," was the perhaps them, are preferred either with golden or green brought out the crushing rejoinder "Oh, yes, eyes. But to judge by two of the best-Miss there were husbands like you tied up in bundles. Cope's Roiall Dame and Mrs. Slingsby's Don labelled ten cents each."," Needless to say, he Pasquale of Thorpe--the gold is preferred. So, didn't ask any more. in the self-colour "oranges," a very popular shade in rough-haired cats, the eye matches the coat every closely. But to the public, who do not deal in special colour, the smooth-haired Russian blues with the copper eyes are the most remarkable example of modern colour schemes and the highly artistic cat. these are worth £50, though the best are de
Some of
picked up for a song in a shop in Fulham." scended from a recent and blemished progenitor
Hongkong ought to be able to introduce several new features, and an enterprising department might have on view such breeds as death on rats," "won't be squeezed," "anti- opium," "the stay-at-homes "the maskee,"
the pugnacious," and so on, with colours vary- ing from an eastern purple to a funereal 'black or a doubtful white.
We have heard the different stages of drink. ing often described, but I never heard it more quaintly set forth than by a Chinaman. I ran across at Kowloon city on Xmas Day," Hallo." I said, as I saw him carrying a bottle, "you catchee samshu for Christmas?" "Yes," he, answered, "I pay ten cents one bottle! English wine more better." With that I agreed and he continued : English wine one drink makes head go round, two drink no savee nothing, three drink makee fall down-all same sleep." He knew a thing or two, that chap.
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RODERICK RANDOM,
HONG KONG.
No case of communicable disease was reported in the Colony last week.
Her Excellency Lady Lugard returned to the Colony on Xmas Eve by the P. and O. mail steamer Assaye.
On Dec. 31 a fatal case of plague was reported from Wanchai. This brings the total cases to the end of the year to 1,073.
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The iron structure at Blake Pier is practically completed. The shelter looks a substantial one and should not disappear when the next typhoon strikes the Colony.
On Kennedy Road, which at its terminus near the Naval Hospital is not without danger to pedestrians at night, owing to its precipitous. sides not being protected, there is now being erected a useful fence.
Many quaint specimens of English are seen in Hongkong. The latest issued by the proprietor of a native hotel is an invitation to his customers to attend the Christmas drawing at his place. There are *500 numbers and every one are entitled to get more or less present.
to exercise his power of disallowance with res- His Majesty the King has not been advised
pect to Ordinance No. 16 of 1908, entitled- An Ordinance to extend a certain definition in the Imperial Act styled the Evidence
We in Hongkong may well take courage Trade may be bad, and no doubt we have passed(Colonial Statutes) Act 1907. through a pretty serious time and are perhaps not quite clear of it yet, but it is comforting to know that we are not suffering alone. Accord ing to the interview with Mr. Lau Chu Pak published in the Daily Press the other day, the depression in trade is general all over China and the other ports are as badly off as Hongkong. That gives us grace of heart, because whatever may be said, we know we are not suffering altogether for our own sins, -
on Dec. 28th a Chinese woman was charged with Before MJ. H. Kemp at the Magistracy stealing ten pearls valued at $1,100 from the tenant of 26, Staunton Street. Two other natives, a man and a woman, were charged with, receiving the pearls, and the case was rematided
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We see many quaint things in this part of the world, but none more so than that related by Mr. Lau Chu Pak who, in the interview alluded to, said he saw a horse, a bullock and a donkey harnessed together to a plough. Doubtless the farmer thought more of utility and practical results than appearance.
Notwithstanding all that has been said and written about the talking nuisance at concerts, it is deplorable to find that it is not abated. The offender usually belogs to the fair sex, and, with a charming lack of consideration for all around I see the Chief Justice, despite the fact that her, she chatters to her companion on every he had to cram eight days work in three, is still topic but that of music, while lovers of the art working overtime on judgments. Another long have their evening's pleasure spoiled by her one filled a few columns on Christmas Day, unceasing chin-wagging. At Saturday night's and I wondered why his Lordship didn't take concert at the Theatre Royal a lady made her his own advice to heart. Last week he expressed self conspicions in this manner, and though himself in favour of the adoption of the French several mere men had the temerity to look their method in conveyancing. You simply say what disapproval at her, the unraly member was you mean," explained Sir Francis. Why doesn't not subdued. The incident had its sequel when-But no! I won't say it. This is Christmas several people left the vicinity and sought seats and we shouldn't say anything unkind.
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The many friends of Mr. Stuart J. Faller, Vice-Consul-General at Hongkong, will be who for two years and a half has been American
gratified to learn that a telegram has been received announcing that he passed his examina- tions in Washington recently, which puts him on the list eligible for appointment as full consul. Mr. Fuller arrived on the Empress of Japan on New Year's Day after an absence of three and a half months, to resume his duties.
Agreements have recently been concluded between owners of the steamship lines taking cargo for Europe or for the United States vis Suez to bring into force in Hongkong on and after 11th January next an arrangement for the measuring for cargo by a sworn measurer. With this end in view Captain B. Branch has been appointed official measurer for the lines running to Europe as well as the lines carrying cargo to the United States via Suez. Captain O. Mensing has been appointed official measurer at Canton for the steamers, carrying the United States via Suez.
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