:
May 10, 1909.]
A fine of $100 was imposed on May 7th at the Magistracy on a pig dealer for having imported a diseased pig from Cheungshawan and with having it in his possession with intent to sell it for food for human consumption.
On the 7th inst, Mr. B. James, Head Mas- ter of Kowloon School, presented Mrs Drum- mond, the late Second Mistress, on behalf of the staff and pupils, with a silver rose-bowl, as a memento of the esteem in which she was held by all connected with the School. Mrs Drummond leaves for Scotland on Monday.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
GARDEN FETE IN HONGKONG.
379
The Chinese refreshment stall was presided over by Mr. Ho Kom Ting and Mr. Choa Leep Chi, who were assisted-by Mrs. Ho Kom Tong, Mrs. Tze Wen Wing, Mrs. Leung Shui, Mrs. Shi Fu, Mrs. Chung Fan Ting, and the Misses Choa Leap Chi, Ho Kom Tong, Chan Yau, Chung Yu Ting, Chung Fun Chun, Lai Mo Ching, Wong Lai Sin, Wong Oi Lin, Chui Yuk Lan, Lat Yin Kwan.
It is remarkable that until May 5tha garden fête has not been held in the colony for at least fifteen years, and the charm of novelty. added to the philanthropic object, contributed to making the al fresco event of Wednesday afternoon more than ordinarily attractive. A garden fête con- jures up visions of British womanhood in most picturesque surroundings, with music adding to The musical programme during the after- the gaiety of the occasion, but that which took noon was sustained by the following: Mrs place on Wednesday would not lose by compari-Beasley, Mrs. Wait, Mrs Badeley, Miss Hooper. Shortly after three o'clock on Saturday mor
son with anything we recall of the homeland. Captain Murray, Captain Dooner, Captain Fen- ning fire broke out in a stationer's shop at 130.
The ladies were there looking well in their role fold, Mr. Donne, Mr. Beavis, Mr. Harris, Mr. Des Voeux Road. The fire had a good hold of of tea table assistants and of course where the Chapman, and Mr. Carroll. the premises before the alarm
are was raised, ladies
there the gentlemen are also. and as a strong wind was blowing
The Botanic Gardens afforded an ideal location the time, the efforts of the brigade to save the
for the fete, and the few tents and matsheds that shop proved fruitless. The shop, and the two
were erected for the accommodation of the upper floors which were used as dwellings, were
various side shows peeped out picturesquely from gutted, the damage being estimated at $5,000, leafy shades. which is covered by insurance.
at
There was a slight mishap on the Peak tram- way on the 7th instant. In stopping the 9.50
down car at the Barker Road station the apparatus for signalling to the engine house broke on coming in contact with the insulators. The car was stopped and one of the Tramway Company's European employees who was on the car as a passenger ran up the track and quickly re-appeared with a break down gang. The broken apparatus was disconnected and the Bar proceeded after a delay of ten minutes.
For snatching money from a money changer's counter & Chinese was at the Magistracy on Thursday sentenced to six weeks hard labour and six hours' exposure in the stocks. On the way back to the Police Station, after having been exposed in the stocks, the prisoner hit his custodian over the eye with his handcuff. splitting open the policeman's forehead, and then took to his heels. He was recaptured however, and was yesterday sentenced to a further six weeks' hard labour and a further six hours' exposure in the stocks on the completion of his term of imprisonment.
There are people in Hongkong who have not yet learned that it is inadvisible to tamper with the course of justice in Hongkong. A few days ago a man was stabbed in Gough Street, though not very seriously, and the case should come on for hearing before the Magistrate one of these days. Some men were, however, apparently very anxious that the plaintiff should not appear as a witness against the man charged with the offence, and on Monday they attacked the plaintiff near the Central Market. He fled from them but they followed and beat him most unmercifully. Eventually the police came on the scene and several arrests were made. These prisoners were brought before Mr. Hazeland at the Magistracy on May 4th. The case was remanded.
The police stopped a brilliant enterprise on the part of a Chinese on board the steamer Honam. This worthy came across a book of disused cine- matograph tickets which was thrown out of Weissmann's during the removal, and quick to realise its commercial possibilities went on board the steamer and purported that he could sell passage tickets for twenty cents less than the the price demanded on board. Of course he told his victims that they were to keep the matter quiet. He succeeded in disposing of quite a number and then the police intervened. Brought before Mr. Kemp at the Magistracy on May 3rd he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and to undergo three hours' exposure in the stocks.
The Philippine Commission has taken up the slavery and involuntary servitude question in the islands with the intention of putting a stop to it. Commissioner Worcester has presented to that body a bill providing that all slavery involuntary servitude, which is very common all over the islands, peonage, or sale of human beings, shall be illegal and providing the pun. ishment to be meted out to those who do not obey the law on this subject. This law, says a Manila contemporary, should it pass the Assem- bly will put a stop to the very common pratice among Spanish and Filipino families of loaning money to native parents and taking a child in bond for the repayment of the debt, holding the child at times for many years and sometimes, in the case of the death of the parents, forever.
Beautiful as the gardens looked by day, their beauty was rendered more bewitching at night when the innumerable electric bulbs circum- ferenced the cafe chantant and gleamed from the tents in the vicinity, the charming music and the gay throng adding to the wonderful animation of the scene. A unique feature was the illuminated dragon, some fifty- feet in length which moved its throughout the grounds.
course
The terrace near the fountain was chosen as the scene of the cafe chantant and here tables, with a tempting display of dainties, were placed five on the side walks, a large marques being erected sinnous at the top to give accommodation for larger Lit with candles, it was borne by about was arranged by parties. Close by was a stage, on which the a dozen men. This event
There could be no performers during the afternoon took their Mr. Ho Kom Tong. stand. Hero an interesting programme of doubt that the garden fote was a great success songs, etc., was gone through in the course of and the promoters deserve well for what they the afternoon. Other stalls were found in con-
have done. Where all worked so willingly, it is venient situations, and a temporary theatre was perhaps invidious to mention names, but men. built near to the area reserved for the cafe tion should be made of Mr. Ho Kom Tong, who chautant, while on the higher ground Mr. Ho not only supplied the tea and aerated waters for Kom Tong and Mr. Choa Loop Chi had a tea the stall which was under his supervision but he and aerated water stall where welcome refresh-sold 80 tickets, realising $750, a hundred of ment could be obtained.
these being sold to the girls of the On Wai ›nglo-Chinese School at half price. Moreover he gave 2000 bulton holes and 25 bouquets, the proceeds from which went to the funds.
ST. ANDREW'S SUNDAY SCHOOL, KOWLOON.
The garden fete, which was arranged in aid of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home and Seaman's Institute, was under the management of Colonel Darling, Commodore Lyon, Lady Piggott, Mrs. F. H. May, Major Fisher, Mr. S. T. Dunn, and and Mr. A. Moreno, secretary. The result was very creditable to the organising ability and ingenuity of these ladies and gentlemen. The
The Annual Outing for the above Sunday Buffs Band opened the proceedings by playing School was to have been held on Saturday last, selections, after which the programme of the and arrangements had been made to visit Šeaton cafe chantant was taken up. At five o'clock in by launch, but owing to the unfavourable weather, the temporary theatre Mrs. Worthington and the outing as arranged could not be carried out. Miss Ella Rowe gave a duologue entitled "Chat. At one o'clock as the rain had actually set in, terbox" in the presence of a good number of it was decided by the committee to abandon the patrons, most of whom returned later to see idea of going to Seaton and the children Mrs. Jarley waxworks and living advertisements were assembled at the Seamen's Institute. organised by Mrs. Bayard. Very effective In spite of the weather more than half of the spectacles were supplied by the following ladies children were present, and after various amuse- and gentlemen: Mrs. Beasley, Mrs. Eres, ments, which the young folk seemed to heartily Mrs. Freemantle, Wrs. Murray, Mrs. Penfold, enjoy-if that may be inferred from the Mrs. Wait, the Misses Shelton Hooper, Hut-screams of delight that echoed through and ton Potts, Rowe, and Captain Dooner, Messrs. through the rooms-tea was served at four Anderson, Baguall, Donne, Davis, Gould, Innes. o'clock and after "Grace" had been sung the In the interval an interesting exhibition of tables were besieged, cakes etc, quickly vanish- ju-jitsu, juggling and Japanese sword fencing, ing. Subsequently, the Sunday School Prizes organised by the Nippon Club, was witnessed, were presented by Mrs. Packham. In addition to while the fortune telling, kicking the ball, the various prizes which were awarded for good cocoanut shies were also providing amusement conduct and attendance, there were three special for the mass.
prizes given for Religious Knowledge secured by Eva Packham in the girls division, Harold Lewis in the boys division, and Edward Lewis in the infants division.
The cafe chantant was managed by a com- mittee of ladies consisting of Mrs Lyon, Mrs Chamier and Mrs. J. R. M. Smith, who were assisted by Mesdames Murray, Wait, Tait, Grone, Penfold, Collinson-Morley, Freemantle, Grieve, Beer, Finch, Rowal, Butterworth, Pike, Wallor, Eves, Misses Rowe, Lyon, Shelton Hooper, Potts, Dennys, Wilkinson, and Carter Campbell.
At 7 o'clock each child received a small fancy bag of sweets. Then three hearty cheers were given for Mrs. Packham and other ladies who carried out the most important duty of catering.
The afternoon's enjoyment was concluded by the singing of the National Anthem. The Committee of the sunday School wish to thank all who contributed and assisted in rendering the afternoon a success.
The table d'hote, at which dinner was supplied from 7.30 was under the supervision of Com- modore Lyon, the band playing from 7.30 till 9. at which hour a popular concert, organised by the Rev. J. A. A.aker, was commenced and There is a movement in France to extend the items were rendered by the following:-cultivation of rice in Indo-China by investing Staff Sergeant Hutchinson R. E., Lance capital and improving the native methods of Corporal Bosworth, The Buffs; Mr. Scannel, cultivation. The export rice trade centres in The Buffs; Mr. Englefield, The Buffs, Mr. the port of Saigon-the quantity going to White, H.M.S. Tamar, Miss Bessie and Master Europe being about one-fourth of the total. Oscar Barrington. Bomb. Saunders, R.A., But Saigon rice, owing to the coarse appearance Sergeant Raybrand, R.E., Mr. Hogg, R.A. of the grain, does not find favour in Europe as Mr. Boyd, Mr. Harwood, R. E., Lance Corporal a food-stuff, and is used preferably for industrial Beckett R,E., and Mr. Peel (Accompanist.) purposes such as the manufacture of starch and The sweet stalls were managed by a commit-in distilleries. On the other hand, Saigon rice the of ladies representative of the various finds ready buyers in Japan and in Netherlands consulates in Hongkong, namely-Madame Von India. The Philippines, too, draw upon Saigon. Wiser, Mrs. Bribosia, Madame Lieria, Madame But China is the leading customer of Indo- Voretzsch, Madame Tiedmann, Madame Wink-China, and it takes on the average about one-half ler. Owing to illness Madame Voretzsch was unable to be present.
The cocoanut shies were in charge of Mr. E, P. Bernard and Mrs, Bailey.
of the rice exported from the Colony. China cannot grow grain enough to feed its 400 millions of inhabitants, and Indo-China comes in handy to make up the 'difference.