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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
A writer in an American newspaper with a trepidation, as he says himself born of know- ledge of the rashness of any act of criticism of womankind, ventures however to make some comments anticipatory of the special display which is a feature of Easter in America.
He says "Man's astonishment of course, has been in a measure discounted by what he has already seen, and mayhap paid for, yet to-day, it is permitted to suppose, the new fashious in headwear will be martialled as not before in all their varied glory. The inverted enal scuttles and bathtubs. the upside-down flower pots covered with artificial flowers and plants unlike anything that ever happened in the fields, and all the other queer creations which give a gargoyle effect to their wearers, will be ou view in force limited only by the numbers of our fair popula tion and the purchasing power of dollars. And yet it is likely that there will be many poor souls who, try as they may, will be unable to see beauty in any of it all save in the faces underneath the leadgear. Frankly, we are of the number. To our untutored sense the new spring hats are the worst examples of extrava- gant fancy gone mad. They are hideous in design and monstrous in execution, and compel¦ the male observar to sigh for the big hats of last fall. Those at the tine seemed evils hard to endure, but the milliners have brought as others we then wot not of. Why should beautiful woman wear such things? reason we know, but the *Why? ̈ remains. band of French milliners surely has no power recognized by the comity of nations to dietate fashion, for the simple emolument of their pocketbooks. And, anyway, to the average male mind at least, it is never good taste to dress in the extreme of fashion. A sensible man does not change the block of his silk hat from year to year, or the cut of his morning coat. Neither, we believe, would geusible women vie with one another as to who shall excel in eccentricity, deformity of dress and diseom- fort did they consult but their own good judgment. Is the Conclusion then that woment have in less degree than men the courage of their convictions? That is a hard question to answer. and perhaps it is as well to let the standmatter at interrogation point.“
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There is hope for some of our friends yet. According to Dr. Hollander of London, who road a paper at Cologne to the German Association of Lunacy pecialists it is possible to bore a hole in a man's head and dig out all his silly notions
with an instrument like a cheese taster. That means that it is folly to send a lunatic to the asylum. Far better to localise his abnormality. or rascality, call it what you will, put him to sleep, and then remove his mistakes or his bump of original sin with a cheese taster. If those operations became general, we could bring about the millenium in a very short time. That would be one up for the medical profession. I saw a newspaper suggest that the doctor might perform that surgical operation which it is believed is necessary for the Scot. But that is unkind.
ROD RICK RANDOM.
HONGKONG,
A memorial service for the late Mrs. Pearce was conducted at the Union Church on May 30th.
Mr. P. N. H. Jones has been appointed to act as Vice-President of the Sanitary Board during the absence on leave of the Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, or until further notice.
His Excellency the Governor has appointed Captain A. A. H. Milroy to be a member of the Pilotage Board during the absence on leave of Captain T. P. Hall.
The Rev. F. B. Meyer, who is making a tour of the East on a religious mission, is due in Hongkong on the 10th inst and will be here for ten days.
The case in which a drummer in the Buffs complained that he had been gagged and robbed one night by Chinese at Ship Street wharf has been withdrawn.
Chinese thieves hare now turned their atten. tion to street lamps. It was reported to the police on June 3 that the brass fixings of a street lamp at the junction of Macdonnell and Bowen Roads had been stolen.
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Mr. J. H. Gardiner, solicitor, has severed his connection with the firm of Messrs. Brutton and Hett, and has started the practice of his profession on his own account at 50, Queen's Road Central, the office of the late Mr. O. D. Thomson.
William Vincent, conjurer. Victoria Cine matograph, failed to appear at the Magistracy yesterday to answer a charge of disorderly behaviour in the Hongkong Hotel and also in the charge room at the Central Police Station, and his bail of $10 was declared estreated.
The Public Works coolie and two others, who were charged with the larceny of 1,806 lineal feet of pipe railing from different roadsides in Colony, were each sentenced by Mr. Hazeland at the Magistracy to six month imprisonment with hard labour and six hours' stocks.
Mr. J. H. Brown, master of the s.s. Chenan.
has informed the police that while the vessel was lying at Quarry Bay Dock on the 30th May, some persou stole from the deck during the night four cwt, of white paint mixed with The total oil, and five gallons of paint oil. value was put at $60.
Miss Nicholson. of Cosmopolitan Lock reports that she lost from the Chamber of
Commerce office on Wednesday, a marquise gold ring set with a large diamond and twelve small ones. The value of the ring was given at $250. It is thought that the ring was picked up from
the wash-hand stand,
salute at noon.
Memorial Day was celebrated on May 31st by the American warships in the harbour by a It is a day set apart in America for decorating the graves of soldiers who took part in the civil war, On Monday morning several American bluejackets might have been observed wending their way to the cemeteries at Happy Valley in rickshas laden with beautiful wreaths.
The Governor has approved the following corrections in a previous Goverment notification regarding the re-naming of streets :- At Kow. loon
East Avenue will be known as Hart Avenue, and East Terrace as Gordon Terrace, At Yaumati Sixth Street and Gascoigne Road South take the name of Jordan Road, while at Mongkoktsui Nullah Lane is re-named Shang- tung Street.
[Juno 7, 1909.
A report has been made to the police that between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning a robbery was committed at St. Stephen's College. The safe in the library was opened and $600 in money was stolen.
His Excellency the Governor has given his assént, in the name and on behalf of His Majesty the King, to the following Ordinances passed by the Legislative Council-Ordinance No. 10 of 1909.-An Ordinance to amend the Code of Civil Procedure. Ordinance No. 11 of 1909.--An Ordinance to amend the Public Health and Buildings Ordinances 1903-1908.
Fu June 4 Mr. J. H. Kemp made an order for the return of Lim Chee Saing alias J. W. Dobson to Penang where he was wanted on a charge of stealing from the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank 870,910. Chief-Detective In- spector Kirke from Penang produced the warrant for his arrest. Prisoner offered no
objection to being taken back to Penang.
Another story of the extraordinary impudence of the Chinese thief was told to Mr. F. a. Hazeland at the Magistracy on May 28, when two men were charged with breaking and entering a house in Ladder Street and stealing clothing and other articles to the value of 24. The defendants are alleged to have taken their booty to the house of a Chinese detective, and in- structed the houseboy that it was to be left
until called for. Before the men called for the stolen property however, they were arrested, and yesterday they appeared before the Court. After hearing the evidence his Worship sen- tenced the first defendant to three months' imprisonment and six hours's stocks, and dis- charged the second.
At the Magistracy on May 28 Mr. J. H. Kemp ordered that Yau Kwai, foreman coolie on the Canton Steamers wharf, should receive $5 out of the poor box. This was for gallant conduct in saving life. Some weeks ago we reported that two Chinese women, who were brought here from Canton, jumped into the sea from a steamer by which they were being returned, rather than, go back to China. One of the women Was drowned, but by the prompt action of Yau Kwai in jumping overboard, the other was saved. After rescuing the first, the foreman continued to dive after the second woman, but was unable to find her. In presenting Yau with the 35 Mr. Kemp commended him on his promptness, which was the means of saving the woman's life.
May you not have a brief for another year. That is the best the Court can wish you."
An interesting story was told before Mr. A boy Such was the sentiment expressed by the Chief Hazeland at the Magistracy on June 4. Justice, at the close of the hearing of the case at
rode up in a chair to 25 Conduit Road and
farewell to the Hon. Mr. Pollock; K.C., who the Supreme Court yesterday in bidding only gave the bearers ten cents. They demanded more but the boy went inside and got the assistance of others and they beat the importun- leaves for home on holiday, to-day. His Lord-
His com- ship added the hope that Mr. Pollock woulding coolie so mercilessly that he lay on the have a pleasant time during his twelvemonths. ground outside practically insensible.
The Hon. Mr. Pollock K. C. and pauion had meanwhile reported the matter at the Mrs. Pollock left by the steamer Anhui for
Police Station, and when the police arrived on Shanghai on May 30th. They are travelling
the scene, they found the man in rather a weak condition. The boy preferred a charge of steal- ing a pair of trousers against the coolie. Mr. Hazeland found the coolie guilty of the theft of the trousers but discharged him as he believed he had been sufficient y punished. Two of the four boys charged with assaulting the coolie ware fined $10.
holiday.
home via Siberia.
A week ago an engineer residing at the Sailors' Home complained that while riding in a riesha at West Point the coolie took him up a side street and with the assistance of another relieved him of his watch and chain and $40 in money. Yesterday Inspector Robertson placed the ricsha puller and a coolie before Mr. Haze- land who sentenced them to three months' imprisonment each and to be exposed in the stocks for six hours.
A Singapore contemporary quoting from our columns the report of a case in which a China- man was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and six hours stocks for returning from banish- ment, observes: There must be a different law in Hougkong to the Straits, where a man returning from banishment is sentenced to penal servitude for life, and the Court has no option but to impose the sentence on those found guilty."
Four Chinese Were on May 31st at the Magistracy convicted of applying a false trade description to packets of opium. They had similar paper wrappers to those used by the Opium Farmer, and as they had die stamps in their possession for printing the paper, as well as labels and a quantity of opium, the case seemed pretty clear against them. The first and second were sentenced to four months' imprison- ment and the others to two months' imprisonment
each.
Richard J. Blake, an unemployed engineer, was at the Magistracy on June 4 fined $15 and ordered to enter into a bond of $50 to keep the peace. He had been guilty of creating a dis- turbance in the charge room at the Central Station the previous afternoon. Apparently, when he came up to the Central, he wished to see the Captain Superintendent of Police, and was about to force his way into the office when he was stopped by the Inspector, who offered to have his name sent in. Blake, however, would not have this, and became very abusive. The Inspector informed him that the Captain Super- intendent was out but offered to take down any report which he liked to make. Blake, however, wanted to write it himself and took possession of the interpreter's desk. Inspector Fenton told him that that could not be allowed, that he was in charge there, but this only incensed Blake who became more abusive than before. He was ordered to leave but refused and had to be placed in the cells where he made so much noise that he interfered with the business of the Magistracy. However he was not so truculent yesterday when brought before the Magistrate and he was fined
as stuted.