Page
May 1, 1909.]
To bank interest...
To balance in hand
113 40
$ 38,985.65
$544 40
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
ACROSS THE NEW TERRITORY.
BY AN OLD RESIDENT,
361
scenery. From Taipo onwards until we touched the Chinese border at Samchun, we had no choice of routes, for that stretch of country is traversed by the fine new road which has not long been completed by the Colonial Govern- After more than a few years' absence from ment. It practically follows the course of the In addition to above there is the $35,000.00 Hongkong, the writer was constrained, the old Chinese highway while avoiding the latter's promised by Mr. H. N. Mody.
other week, to make a trip across the New severe gradients and inconveniences. The old Territory-a trip which he had made many highway was indeed a stiff path, but it was well- times before in the old days when the Kowloon-worth traversing, just as is the new one, because Canton Railway was still merely a project in of the singularly fine country through which it the clouds and when Kowloon itself consisted of stretches, From the time we left Taipo until little more than a single street. The journey we reached the ancient City of Samchun, some is one which can never be devoid of interest. ten miles away, we saw at every stage of the
EXPENDITURE.
By Hongkong Land Investment Co. Ltd. :-
Purchase of land...37,800.00 Proportion of Crown
Rent
By Cheque Book
15.00
By Dennys & Bowley, Costs By Yik Loong pulling down old
building less allowance for
old
materials...
By balance
837,815.00 In the early days of British occupation of the
1.25 75.00
550.00 544.40
$38,985,65
C. P. CHATER,
Hon. Treasurer.
PRESENTATION TO THE REV.
J. H. FRANCE.
The Rev. J. H. France the popular seamen's chaplain who leaves the colony next month after ten and a half years spent here as Chaplain to the Seamens Mission was at a farewell social meeting held at the Seamen's Institute, Kow. loon, on Monday, presented with cheques amount ing in all to about $3,000 and a handsome writing desk in blackwood. The contributors to the testimonial were the congregation of St. Peter's Church, the Ladies' Benevolent Society, and his numerous friends outside those organi- sations. Bishop Lander in making the presenta. tion, on behalf of St. Peter's Church said that whatever was given Mr. France was but an inadequate expression of the depth of their feelings towards him. The Hon.
r. May presented Mr. France on behalf of the Ladies, Benevolent Society with a cheque for $360 and said that during his residence in Hongkong he had never known a man who brought more industry and real hard work into his duties than r. France had done. The Rev. Mr. France feelingly acknowledged the gifts.
MACAO LARMED.
A PROPOSED PETITION TO LISBON,
The Portuguese community of the Colony of Macao are to assemble to-morrow to discuss various matters affecting the future of the Colony and to authorise the forwarding of a petition by cable to the Government at Lisbon.
It is proposed that the petition shall set forth: | (1) That the opening of a new port close to Macao threatens the commerce and fishing interests of the Colony.
(2). That the delimitation of the boundary of the Colony should be proceeded with without any further delay, as procrastination in this matter is disadvantageous to the Colony.
(3). That the Governor-in-Council should be given full powers to take such steps for the welfare of the Colony as may seem to him desirable and necessary.
New Territory-it was taken over in 1899- a trip across the tract of newly-acquired country was rarely undertaken by anybody except Government officials whose duties led them thither, for it was considered that inore than a little peril attached to the excursion owing to the hostile attitude of the inhabitants, who at first strongly resented the cession of their native district to the British. But, of course, as time went on, this spirit of resentment became less and at the present time may be said to be obliterated entirely; and, if there ever was any real danger, it was not any more than is now entailed in a ricksha drive to Kowloon City.
it
THE ROUTE.
When it came to a question of selecting & route, we decided to follow the old accustomed one leading from Kowloon City over the hills by way of Shatin Gap to the right of the eminence commonly known as the Lion's Head. Through this Gap runs the old Chinese highway which led back into the interior and which in the early days of the Colony's history was heavily guarded desperate robbers who made Hongkong and to stop the passa.e of the innumerable hands of Kowloon City their happy hunting grounds and then decamped into the hinterland with their plunder. he worst of it was that the Chinese braves stationed there often belonged to the robber of the spoil.
gangs themselves or claimed their share
How on earth this hill-track ascending the Gap ever came to be dignified with the title of roughest description, much the same as one highway." passes comprehension. It is of the finds on the sides of Scafell or Ben Lomond, except for the fact that in the steeper places it is built in steps, very tiresome to climb, by the way, without the aid of which one would have to go up on all-fours. There is still an old guard house on the top, where a single armed police officer was on guard. The slopes or the summit are overgrown with a coarse hill hear is the shrill cry of the China pheasant as and the only sound of life that one can grass,
it calls to its mate.
upon
After our arduous climb up-hill, it was
to pleasant at first find ourselves the downward grade. The path was very rough but there were many pretty little bits of scenery to please the eye as we approached Shatin at the foot of the hill.
ON THE TAIPO ROAD.
!
journey some new object to be admired-whether it be the ever-changing aspect of the mighty Timoshan rearing its head some 3,000 feet on our left, or the busy workers in the fields, the quaintness of some mid-country mansion or the peculiar habits and customs pertaining to a wayside market; any of these minutiae, or above all, the striking beauty of the country side through which we were passing.
In the old City of Samchun itself,-where we arrived very much tired after our 30 miles tramp, and glad to seek out the quarters where we had arranged to sleep for the night-there are many things to interest the observer, while the sur rounding country is no less replete with objects and features worthy of attention. But our party had little time to devote to these desirable subjects of observation, for at an early hour next morning we had to be astir to catch the launch which was to bear us down the Samchun River to Deep Bay and so back again to Hong- kong, leg-weary to aslight extent, no doubt, but happy in having girdled the New Territory.
Separating Shatin from the Taipo Road is a small toe, or bight, of Tolo Harbour, which we elected to cross by sampan instead of going round about. From this point onwards to Taipo, some ten miles further on, one traverses an excellent road, the making of which was the first important project undertaken by the British after the cession of the Territory. (3) That the Treaty relating to the Macao-During its whole length it skirts the coast Canton railway project be signed without of Tolo Harbour and presents some of the further delay.
prettiest as well as the grandest scenery that, (4) hat dredging operations in the harbour the eye of man could desire. There are ham- of Macao be undertaken forthwith.
lats, but no villages, along the route and (5) That the Treaty of Commerce with at mets of such places one observes count- China (which was sent to Lisbon for ratification | less objects of interest in Chinese country life- in 1904) be ratified without further delay. terraced pad-ly-patches on the steep hill-sides, A great crowd went from Macao to the new orchards, "wonderful irrigation devices, and an city of Henngchow on Wednesday, which occasional water-wheel; not to speak of the was the day appointed for seventy students people themselves, who have not yet become so to go to the site of the city to eat accustomed to the appearance of Europeans that cakes. Our Macao Correspondent was they can abstain from gazing at our party in informed that among these cakes would wide-eyed wonderment. be put one containing a fatal dose of poisont Each student would be expected to eaf Had we come by the Taipo Road all the way, a cake and the one who died from the effects oe the distance traversed would have been 18 the poison would be made the patron saint of the miles; nor had our route over the Shatin Gap new city. This is the story current among the shortened the journey-the only advantage Chinese in Macao, but it seems an incredible being that it had afforded us a more diversi- tale.
fied range of view and a greater variety of
ACROSS COUNTRY.
E. H.
HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC
CONCERT.
Hongkong can hardly be considered a music loving community. On Monday night a vaudeville entertainment in the Royal Theatre attracted a crowded house but the Philharmonic concert in St. George's Hall on Tuesday was given by a chorus and orchestra of about sixty ladies and gentlemen to an audience which numbered The concert was one which fully sustained the re- very few more than one hundred and twenty. putation of the Philharmonic Society and really deserved better support. Part I included three short songs by Mr. Frank Grove, the words being set to music by D.. E Grove (Mrs. Grove). Mr. Grove was in capital voice and his songs were greatly appreciated. In response to an irresistible demand for an encore he sang All's right with the world." lullaby (Smart) was rendered unaccompanied by Miss Soth. iss Glover, Mr. E. . Ayris, Rev. A B, Thornhill, and Mr. C. E. H. Beavis, and was heartily applauded. The part songs by the chorus "To Sylvia (Schubert), and "Ichabod" (Tchaikowsky) were capitally given and deserved all the applause with which they were greeted. One of the most accept- able numbers in Part I of the programme wus the piano solos by Mrs Grove. Her selec- tions were a Nocturne (Chopin, Op. 37 No. 1) and the " Spinning Song" by Wagner-Liszt which were given in the able manner which we have learned to expect from this accomplished executant.
Si
Part II comprised the song cycle "On Jhelum River" (Finder), the solos being taken by Mrs E. G. Barrett and the Rev. M. Longridge. Both sang well and the final duet "Kingfisher Blue" had in deference to the wishes of the audience to be repeated.
44
The concert concluded with a ballad "The Wreck of the Hesperus by the chorus · and orchestra, the work having been specially orchestrated for this concert by Mr. Denman Fuller. The chorus are to be congratulated on the success which they attained in the render- ing of this piece and the applause evoked was heartily deserved.
•
Mr. J. S. Dobie, the Hongkong Agent of the Chinese Engineering and Mining Co., Ltd. informs us that he is in receipt of advice that the total output of the Company's three mines for the week ending 10th April amounted to 28,746.31 tons, and the sales during the period to 25,668.39 tons,