284
VOLUNTEER INSPECTION.
ASSOCIATION..
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The annual meeting of the Hongkong Volunteer Reserve Association was held on the 31st nlt. at the City Hall-Sir Henry Berkeley, K.C., presiding over a moderate attendance.
[ April 3, 1909 certain specified and reasonablé terms and the committee thought that they should not again approach the Government until they could say that those conditions had beeen carried out. It would therefore be necessary for them to pro- ceed to the election of an honorary secretary and he was glad to be able to inform them that Dr. Evan Jones had come forward and was prepared to do the work if he would be elected by them (applause.)
Sir Henry Berkeley was re-elected chairman of the committee for the ensuing year, and the following committee was appointed: Hon. Mr. F. H. May, Captain Branch, Messrs. A. Deni- son, J. C. Gow, J. Hastings, A. Mackenzie, and G. H. Wakeman. Dr. Evan Jones was formally elected hon, secretary
This concluded the business,
RACE PONY ATTACKED BY A BULL-DOG.
A few days ago while a mafoo was exercising Mr. Tiefenbacher's well-known race. pony Maryland on Robinson Road, a bull dog, which was following two Europeans, attacked the pony, biting his off fore-leg very badly. The pony freed itself from the grip of the dog, pulled away from the mafoo and bolted along the road. It was eventually caught near Mr. Babington's house, and the police are now looking for the owner of the bull dog.
CUSTOMS RETURNS FOR 1908.
In view of the special attention which is taken in the movements of goods and treasure at the present time, the Acting Inspector General, the N. C. Daily News says, has approved of certain information being given in advance of the publication of the annual returns. The first set of tables contains the figures of the total amount of treasure, in gold and silver of all classes, and of copper coin, passing between China and foreign countries during 1908. For- eign countries are divided into Europe, America, Batoum and Asia, which again is sub-divided as will be seen. grand totals in all respects, the figures being, of The following tables show the
course, in Haikwan Taels,
the association because of any gain but because they felt there was a call of duty, they felt that The annual inspection of Hongkong Volunteers the manhood of the country should when by the General Officer Commanding took place
the occasion arose be able to take a part on March 27th at Causeway Bay, This in the defence of their father's abode. was the first occasion on which the Infantry
Proceeding, Sir Henry said the Association had company and the cadets participated, and conse.
been the subject of the consideration of the quently the event
Defence Committee of the Colony. As they W88 more than usually interesting. A good many onlookers were
were aware, there was a scheme, not made attracted to the locality and enjoyed the in- public, for the defence of the Colony in case teresting spectacle. The three detachments of of need, and in that scheme the authorities hoped Volunteers assembled at Headquarters, with the
that the members of the Reserve Association exception of the Quarry Bay section which should be able to play an effective part. It was waited the arrival of the others on the ground, impossible for the members of the association to and headed by the Buffs Band marched to the play that effective part unless they had a Polo Ground at Causeway Bay, the artillery, with training which would enable them to co-operate rifles slung over their shoulders dragging maxim effectively in case of need. The war-like spirit, ⚫ guns. Lieut. Colonel Chapman was in command, which was always alive, was with us to-day, but The corps certainly looked very smart and busi. there was a feeling born of long years of security ness-like and their appearance evoked favourable and peace that that spirit would never be called comment en route. Arrived at the Polo Ground upon to materialise. But, with all respect, he they were joined by the mounted troop, to the
considered that the reasoning of fools. In an number of 24 in charge of Lieut. Ross, and Empire such as ours it was impossible to say the cadets commanded by Lient. Williams. His when the call might materialise. He would Excellency Major General Broadwood was not
make an earnest appeal to the members long in coming upon the scene. He was received of the Association, who were physically with a general salute after which he mades minute capable, to attend at the ranges once examination of the arms and accoutrements of
or twice a month, or, at all events, as often as the Volunteers. Then the whole corps marched
they could so as to justify the existence of the past very steadily and subsequently advanced
association. The Defence Committee of the in review order. The new having been drawn
Colony, with a view to making the association up, the Inspecting Officer addressed them, effective in defence had made one or two very briefly, complimenting the corps upon their suggestions with respect to its members. One creditable appearance, smart turnout, and of those suggestions was that the members steadiness on parade and said all the move-
should be supplied with uniform, not necessarily ments were done in a soldierly manner.
to wear, but to have in readinessshould the occa- The parade strength was 230.
tion arise. The committee thought that sugges- tion & prudent one and one which should be ad- HONGKONG VÒLUNTEER RESERVE opted. They were all well aware that a man who was taken with arms in his possession by the enemy and not being in uniform was liable to be and as they knew had been in past wars with other countries, shot at sight. According to the laws of war in case of an armed conflict be- tween two nations only the authorised forces whether paid or voluntary were entitled to fight for their country. God forbid that the time should come when members of that association should be called upon to put on uniform but they should be prepared in case of necessity. The committee had approved of the suggestion and had informed the authorities that if the uniforms were provided by the Government and kept in store they would be used by them on whatever occasion might be proper. Another suggestion had been made, namely, that rifles should be provided and that also has been agreed to (applause). They had asked that the option might be with the members of the association for them to have the rifles themselves or to have them kept for them at the Volunteer Head- quarters to be served out as occasion demand ed. There was one other matter suggested by the Defence Committee which he strongly recommended for adoption and that was that those members of the association who had not been trained to drill either through having been members of the regular forces or having been in one of the auxiliary forces of the Empire should undergo sufficient training to enable them if called out to cooperate with the defence forces. It was suggested that those who were not now able to do so should learn such things as to advance, retire, form fours, etc., and it had been said that the time occupied in bringing one's self into such simple drill would not amount to many hours in the aggregate. Circulars had been sent out to members of the association on the subject and he was happy to say that up to the present they had met with a response which was quite favourable (applause). Last year he had announced that they would receive a grant from the Govern- ment to enable them to pay the secretary. that time considerable difficulty was experienced in finding a gentleman wh would be able to ments... spare the time to perform the duties.
He had approached the Government and the Govern. ment had expressed willingness to make a grant on certain reasonable conditions. These condi- tions were that the numbers of the associa- tion should be maintained and that the attendance at the ranges should not fall off. He regretted to have to report that those conditions had not been fulfilled and therefore the com- Korea mittee had not felt themselves justified in Vladivostock... approaching the Government for a further grant. The grant was given to them under
was
of re-
The CHAIRMAN said this was the fourth occasion on which the Volunteer Reserve Associa- tion had met to hear the report of the proceedings for the previous twelve months. He regretted to say that the report on this occasion showed a slight falling off in the enrolled membership. There were at the end of December 1907 on the strength 230 and on the strength last year there were 193, of whom 185 were present in the colony. The falling off had been due to members leaving the colony and to deaths. Practically the strength was the same as last year, and he supposed that the lack of accretion was due to the fact that the field pretty well exploited and that most of the men qualified in the somewhat restricted area had already joined. They knew that only those who had attained the age of 35 were allowed to join the association unless they had served in the regulars or auxiliary forces for a period of ten years. It had been suggested that the age limit should be reduced to 30, but the reason assigned by those with whom the last would lay W88 that it would restrict the area cruiting for the Volunteers. The last thing that any member of the Association would wish to do was to act in a way detrimental to the volunteer force. They were, he proceeded, part of the volunteer force of this country. They were men most of whom had passed through service of some kind and they had the welfare of the voluntary defensive forces of the Colony at heart. He regretted the deficiency, whatever its cause. If it was due to lack of enthusiasm he trusted that would not be the case during the coming twelve months, and if anything could be done to waken and maintain the enthusiasm they might trust the governing body of the 8880- ciation to do everything possible. The falling off in the numbers was to be regretted, also in his opinion was the falling off in the attendance at the ranges. He could not should be the see any reason why that case. The targets were there. They had two ranges and they had everything which could induce men to make themselves efficient with the rifle. It might possibly be that some thought they were efficient and did not need to attend but he would remind them that as in every sport the men who did not have constant practice became slack. Members did not join
t
Europe
America Straits Set-
tlements Saigon and...... Tongking... Hongkong... and Macao Manila
IMPORTS INTO CHINA.
GOLD.
GRAND SILVER, TOTAL. 4,062,863 4,062,863
36,500
2,690,947 2,727,447
5,286
5,286
7,067
7,067
143,131
12,583,308 12,728,289
259
259
Japan (in-
cluding
Formosa) 1,317,490 Korea...
17,304
429,880 1,738,370 88,232 100,592
1,514,425 19,858,842 21,370,173 The importation of copper is omitted for con- venience, from the above tables. Two districts
only sent copper coin to China in 1908, namely, Hongkong and Macao, Hk. Tls. 1,850; and Korea Hk. Tls. 56. hese figures are included There was no copper exportation from China. in the grand totals, respectively, as given above.
Europe
**
'merica Batoum India includ
ing Burma.. Dutch Indies. Straits Settle-
Saigon and
Tonking Siam Hongkong and
Macao Manila Japan includ- ing Fomosa
EXPORTS,
GOLD!
SILVER.
GRAND TOTAL. .11,246,158 1961,554 13,207,712
4.116
59,966 43,140
64,112
43,14
25,095
810 1,005,338 12,171
342,594
1,006,148 12,171
367,696
•
3,477 503,709
3,477 503,709
374,289 26,427,350 26,801,639
400,430
400,430
L
959,789 1,345,242 2,305,030
21,323
499,241 520,564 179,706 179,706
13,032,010 32,383,518 45,415,528