February 15, 1909.]
THE SANITARY BOARD.
PROSPECTIVE RETIREMENT OF CHINESE MEMBERS.
On March 5th the term of service of Messrs Lau Chu Pak and Fung Wa Chun on the Sanitary Board expires and we understand that neither gentleman desires to be reappointed. Mr. Fung Wa Chun has now numerous business calls to Canton which would not enable him to resume his seat, and when a representative of the Daily Press called to see him yesterday he learnt that he was away at that city. Mr. Lau Chu Pak was found at his office, and stated that he was not seeking reappoint- ment. He had served the interests of his countrymen on the Board for nine years, but business affairs would not permit him to continue. "Besides," said Mr. Lau, "it is time I gave somebody else a chance." Although retiring from the Board, Mr. Lau will still con- tinue to serve on the various other public institutions of which he is now a member, He is now connected with the District Watch- man's Committee, the Advisory Board to the Tang Wah Hospital, the committee of the Plague Hospitals, the Public Dispensaries and other institutions.
On the Sanitary Board Mr. Lau was ever an ardent champion for the Chinese, and it was greatly owing to his exertions that many of the harsh measures at one time in vogue have been considerably modified. When the byelaws regarding fumigation of premises were intro- duced, Mr. Lau was out early of a morning to see that the Chinese offered no opposition to the Sanitary Inspectors and to see that they were fairly treated. "From
ap- pearances," said Mr. Lau, “I was pro-Chinese, but I was not so in reality. I only wanted to promote a better understanding, and to teach my countrymen that the various measures in- troduced were necessary for the benefit of the Colony."
Mr. Fung Wa Chun has seen ten years' service on the Sanitary Board, and, like his colleague, has been identified with all measures concerning the Chinese, such as the disinfection of houses, the abolition of cubicles, etc. He has also worked hard for the mitigation of drastic measures and for the improvement and advancement of the lot of the Chinese citizens of Hongkong.
Among those who are likely to be recom mended by the Registrar-General to His Excellency the Governor for appointment to the vacancies are Messrs. Chan Siu Ki, Ho Kom Tong and S. W. Tso, all of whom are now connected with various public institutions working for the public weal.
RETIREMENT OF DR. BATESON WRIGHT.
We
e are officially informed that Dr. Bateson Wright, the Headmaster of Queen's‹ollege; is retiring from the Colonial Service in April next. Dr. Wright has been in the Colonial Service nearly twenty-seven years. He came out in January 1882 to take up the appoint- ment of Head Master of the College, but his first year in the Government Service was served in the capacity of acting Inspector of Schools. When he entered upon his duties as headmaster of the College the roll numbered about 400. The College now has a roll of about 1,400. How many thousands of boys have passed through the College in the long period
of Dr. Wright's connection with the school we cannot
but this we know that there are say, thousands scattered all
over the Chinese
Empire who hold the name of Dr. Bateson Wright in the highest respect and gratefully remember his painstaking and conscientious,
work in the school.
Another Chinese Prince intends to go abroad
Haien Chang, the elder son of Prince Su, has obtained
permission from the Throne to study abroad. He has decided to accompany the new Minister to Germany, H.E. Ying (hang, but has not yet decided in which country he will take up his residence.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
DANCE AT THE KING EDWARD HOTEL.
room.
a
On Feb. 8th Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Erskine and Lady Erskine, entertained number of their friends at the King Edward Hotel where a very enjoyable dance was held.' For this purpose. the small dining room was transformed, and made an admirable dancing the walls, the general effect presenting a very Handsome floral designs and flags draped pretty appearance under electric light. The big dining room was used as a supper room, while on the floor above, one of the front drawing rooms was converted into, a card room to accommo- date those who found more pleasure in a game of cards than in the dancing hall. Screens of matting draped with flags surrounded the balcony of the first floor, where the dancers sat out. Machado's string band provided excellent music, and dancing was continued with zest until an early hour. The artistic decorations were arranged by Mr. Gee, manager, of the hotel, and Signal Boatswain Cubitt and the Signal Staff of H.M.S. Bedford, and those who were present will readily admit that they did their work well. The supper was supplied by the King Edward Hotel.
The whole of the arrangements were under the personal supervision of the proprietor, Mr. D. Dorabjee.
Among the invited guests were
Vice Admiral Sir Hedworth Lambton, Major- General Broadwood, Commodore, Mrs. and Miss Lyon, Colonel Darling, Sir Francis and Lady Piggott, the Hon. Mr. F. H. and Mrs. May, Sir Henry Berkeley, the Hon. Mr. W. Rees Davies, Captains Erskine, Smith, Nugent and Clinton Baker, Colonel and Mrs. Bayard, Colonel and Mrs. Chamier, Capt. Baron von Mayern Hohenberg, the Hon. Mr and Mrs. W. J. Gresson and Mr. and Mrs. J. R. M. Smith.
AN UNKNOWN TONGUE.
Officials on duty at the Central Police Sta- tion charge room last week were greatly per plexed when a sailor who was considerably un- der the weather, could not be made to under- stand English. The constable who took him in wished to charge him with being drunk, but
Jack could not be made to understand the nature of the charge. He proceeded to address the Inspector on duty in a language which that officer had not apparently heard before, and which baffled the other men on duty. Inspector Hanson was called to act as interpreter, the police having an idea that the seaman was speaking German. This being disproved by Inspector Hanson, other interpreters were sent for, but questions put in different tongues failed to draw a response from the sailor. Then an English sergeant who had been in Wales told those present that the man was speaking Welsh. found, and the man was charged.
A Welsh interpreter was eventually
CHINESE AND CRACKERS. Although the firing of crackers in prohibited areas, and without a permit, may appease Joss or scare the devil, it does not satisfy the powers that be in Hongkong, and as a conse- quence some seventy odd Chinese were charged before Mr. J. H. Kemp at the Magistracy on court was occupied by Chinese of all degrees Feb. 5th. All the available space in the large from the humble mechanic to the wealthy mer- chant, and the widow who by propitiating the Omnipotent trusted that the barrel of rice would not waste nor the cask of samshu fail and Chinese constables, and as the defendants The doors of the Court were lined by Indian pleaded guilty to the charge his Worship im- posed fines of $2 on each offender. So time ran on until some $160 has been added to the Colony's revenue, and then five of the natives charged pleaded not guilty. The hearing of adjourned the Court. His place on the bench their cases was adjourned, and the Magistrate was taken by Mr. Ali Bux, à clerk at the Magistracy, and by the Magisterial shroff, who proceeded to collect the fines, and as each offender paid for his breach of the law he was allowed to pass through, the guard at the Court door.
119
ALLEGED ARMED ROBBERIES.
THE SANTIN CASE.
Before Mr. J. R. Wood at the Magistracy charge of committing armed robbery with on Feb. 9 Li Kam Fuk was arraigned on the others, not in custody, at Tsui Kong village, Santin,
We previously reported regarding this affair with knives and choppers, entered a house at that on January 4th a number of men, armed Santin occupied by an old woman and a child, attacked the old woman, and departed with $4.50 worth of goods. Subsequently the defen- yesterday conducted the prosecution. dant was arrested by Sergeant Cooper, who
house on the early morning of January 4th, Complainant deposed to five mon entering her and that defendant was one of the five. The door was broken open, and the intruders asked witness for money. She said she had none, and one of the robbers suggested that they should hang her up to the roof. then seized her hands, and took two bangles Some of the men
from her wrists. She seized one of the men, but he cut her with a knife, the defendant telling him that he would have to do so before he could release himself. Witness was also cut on the head, and when she released the man she had seized, all the robbers decamped.
After further witnesses had been heard, the hearing was adjourned.
THE CHEUNGSHAWAH. AFFAIR.
J. H. Kemp in the case in which five natives Further evidence was adduced before. Mr.
Cheungshawan, and the hearing was again were indicted on a charge of armed robbery at adjourned.
DISOBEYING BANISHMENT ORDERS,
Four natives were charged at the Police Court on Feb. 8th with disobeying orders o. banishment. Two of the men who appeared before Mr. J. H. Kemp were sentenced to six months' imprisonment. The third man to charged with a burglary. appear before the same Magistrate was also He was arrested after having broken into a house at Hunghom, and subsequently it was found that he was an old offender. On January 21st, 1907, he was arrested for being Я rogue and vagabond sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment and banished on February 3rd. On the 2nd May of the same year he was again before the Court, and sentenced to twelve months hard labour for disobeying the banish- ment order. On the 1st May of the following year he was again banished, but turned up again on the 18th of the same month, and went to jail for another six months, after which he was exiled from the Colony again. Yesterday, however, he proved, his Worship sent him to jail for six was found again, and on the charges being,
another twelve months to his sentence for re- months' on the robbery count, and added
turning from banishment.
The fourth man, who was charged before Mr. J. R. Wood, was much more
fortunate, a him. sentence of only six weeks being passed upon
VOLUNTEER CHURCH PARADE.
On Sunday morning a Volunteer Church
Lient. Colonel hapman, V.D., and marched parade took place when a fair number of vo- lunteers mustered under the command of to the Cathedral where a large congregation had assembled. The other officers present were Captains Thompson, Skinner, Armstrong, Lieu- tenants Ross, Northcote, and Kennett.
The Bishop gave an interesting address The text was taken from 1 Timothy 6--12 beginning with the words "Fight the good. fight" and the preacher dwelt at length on the pregress of Peace and the more satisfactory and certainly less sanguinary methods adhering to the old methods of bloodshed... In of settling disputes at the Hague rather than Hongkong where there were representatives and peoples of all nations we had an unequalled. opportunity of spreading peace and good will to men and understanding each other better..
After the service His Excellency the Governor inspected the corps.