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It is
THE HONGKONG WFEKLY PRESS AND
-the common magpie, one of the best known of all the Hongkong resident specios, and its near relation the Chinese blue magpie. It is interest- ing to note that the Chinese consider the common magpie a bird of good omen. tame and confiding to a degree rarely, if ever, to be met with in other countries The Chinese blue magpie, however, is one of the noisiest resident species in the island and produces a perfectly amazing variety of sounds, from harsh guttural chuckings to beautifully modulated Auto-like whistles amounting
at times almost to a song." Though Surgeon Jones has nothing that is bad to say against the common magpie, he says of the Chinese blue magpie that "they are great rob- bers of the eggs of other species and the ap- pearance of the blue magpie in the vicinity of the nests of the magpie robin or the blackheaded bulbul is the signal for an immediate attack on the would-be robber." The blue magpie is a quarrelsome bird fighting for its right to a feeding ground both with its own kind and with the common magpie." The blue magpie is a bluishcoloured bird, with coral red bill and legs and a most disproportionately long tail.
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Hongkong is stirred to its depths. The
old-fashioned cocktail is threatened. You see it is this way.
Authorities on food-and drink- have discovered that the original cocktail with its cherry or olive was calculated to please the eye only. Now it is decreed that dry appetisers should be the order of the day. Cherries should be avoided. The squeezing of a piece of lemon in the drink is all wrong. Why? Well, it is said the oil floats on the liquid and being the first thing to reach the palate, remains there, preventing one from tasting any- thing but the oil for half an hour. Woe is me! Another delusion shattered.
The ascetic life does not flourish in Hong kong at least among the foreign community. The idea of prayer meetings at six o'clock in the morning may cotton on in other parts of the world, but I can understand those to whom the proposition was made in all sincerity the other day looked down their noses and evinced uo enthusiasm for the innovation. I believe a Now if it But that
compromise was arrived at-7.15 a.m. were training for the race meeting!
is a different matter.
RODERICK RANDOM.
HONGKONG,
On June 19th the Captain and Officers of the Japanese cruiser Chitose entertained a large
number of residents to tea on the cruiser, a very
pleasant time being spent. The cruiser left Hongkong yesterday for Sbanghai,
The dissolution is advertised of the partner- ship hitherto existing between Messrs D. D. Nowrojee and I. P. Madar in carrying on the businesses of the King Edward Hotel and the Hongkong Bakery. Mr. Nowrojee carries on these businesses in future under the old signs and names.
On the 12th inst. Mr. G. A. Caldwell,
the secretary of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dook Company, was entertained by a number of Office friends to a complimentary dinner at the Hongkong Hotel in recognition of the completion of twenty five years' service with the
company.
At the Magistracy on June 18 the proprietor of a Chinese theatre was summoned at the instance of the Registrar General for carrying without first furnishing an abstract of the plot ou a theatrical performance of a public nature
or nature of each performance to the Registrar General. Mr. Hazeland, before whom the case was brought, imposed a fine of $10.
Stanley Ling, whose address was given as Peak Hospital, reports to the police that early on Sunday morning while he was riding in a public chair he either lost or had stolen from him, a pocket book, an open faced silver Waltham watch, and from his finger a gold ring value £1. There were also taken away another ring and a silver cigarette case, the total value being £9.
Under instructions received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies H. E. the Governor has been pleased to appoint Mr. T. K. Dealy to be headmaster of Queen's College in succession to Dr. G. H. Bateson Wright, reti ed on pension. Mr. Dealy has been one of the masters at the college for twenty five years and his ap. point ment to the head-mastership gives general satisfaction.
assent, in the name and on behalf of His His Excellency the Governor has given his
Majesty the King, to the following Ordinance passed by the Legislative ouncil-Ordinance No. 12 of 1909.-Au Ordinance to authorize the Appropriation of a Supplementary Sum of Five hundred and twelve thousand two hundred Dollars and thirty-four Cents, to defray the Charges of the Year 1908.
At the Magistracy on June 14 Lau Fat Ting whose extradition is sought by the Government of China on a charge of armed robbery was There were two suicides and one birth in discharged. Previously Mr. Kemp discharged Victoria Gaol during 1908.
A fine of $250 was on June 15 imposed on a Chinese for having been found boiling opium, and with having a quantity of opium in his possession.
For stealing eight chairs from the Taiping Theatre a coolie was at the Magistracy on June 14th sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment and six hours in the stocks.
The Hon. Mr. F. H. May C.M.G., Colonial Secretary, with Mrs. May and family left by the Empress of Japan on June 12th for Canada. They intend spending the summer at Banff.
Death to the magpie! His Excellency the Governor notifies holders of game licences that he will be glad if they will destroy magpies whenever opportunity offers, with a view to preserving song birds in the Colony.
The master of a trading junk was prosecuted by Inspector Fenton at the Magistracy on June 17th on a charge of damaging a beacon light near Faumati. Defendant allowed his junk to collide with the light and damage was done to the extent of $206.92. The case was remanded.
A daring attempt to rob a European on the 12th inst. was frustrated by the pluck of the intended victim. While Sergt. Lawrence was proceeding to barracks late on Saturday night by way of a path inside the military grounds he was attacked at a dark part of the road by two coolies who rushed at him and attempted to throw him. Fortunately they did not succeed and the sergeant tackling them caught one man and the other ran away. The man who was caught was placed before Mr. Kemp at the Magistracy yesterday, and being convicted was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.
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the man but he was re-arrested and brought before Mr. Kemp who yesterday again dismissed him. He was however arrested again on similar charge. Mr. Reader Harris appeared for defendant on both occasions and and that he was wanted by the Chinese Govern entered the plea that he was a political offender
ment because he was a follower of Sun Yat Sen Mr F. I. Gelsthorpe, victualling store officer for Home. The Phiharmonic Society loses in at the Naval Yard, left the Colony on Tuesday him a most energetic secretary, and he will be much missed at St. John's Cathedral, where he was not only a member of the choir but has assisted the Bishop and clergy as a lay reader. Mr. Gelsthorpe is going up the Yangtse to Peking thence crossing Manchuria to Japan. He proposes to spend a few weeks there before continuing his voyage to San Francisco, thence going by rail to Canada en route to England.
[Juna 21, 1909:
The theft of a large quantity of cowhides from the steamship Chipshing has been reported to the police. On one occasion cowhides to the value of $950 were stolen, then sometime be- tween the 7th inst. and the 14th another lot weighing 1,500 lbs. were taken away and again 260 lbs. were stolen. All these thefts took place during transhipment in the harbour and the lightermen are suspected.
In the case of Lau Fat Ting, who was arrest- discharged a second time on charges of armed ed on June 14th at the Magistracy after being
robbery brought by the Chinese Government on which they asked for his extradition, it is stated that Mr. Reader Harris, who appeared for the defendant, is preparing to petition H.E. the Governor in the interests of his client, who claims that he is wanted by the Chinese Govern- ment because he is a political offender. He is said to be a follower of Sun Yat Sen.
Mr. R. H. Baxter, of the estimating and cost department of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, terminates his engagement His departure will be regretted by many out- with the office next month and sails for home.
side the circle of Kowloon Dock, as he took a prominent part in the social life of the peninsu
la.
With Mrs. Baxter he was largely responsi ble for founding the Kowloon Dock Amateur Dramatic Club, and both he and his good lady contributed largely to the success of the pro- ductions which they undertook. Mr. Baxter was a persona grata at Scottish concerts and his departure will occasion a loss which will be
felt.
The Bandmann's Merry Little Maids Opera Company brought their short season to a close on Tuesday when they produced that popular piece A Waltz Dream at present running with such conspicuous success at the Apollo Theatre, London. The Theatre Royal, in spite of the great heat prevailing, was comfortably filled, and the Company have every reason to be gratified at the success which attended their efforts, for the plaudits of the audience were In fact, we think we frequent and prolonged. are safe in saying that the present Company is one of the finest ever sent East by the enter- prising proprietors, and we wish them every success during their sojourn in the Northern
Ports.
It is proposed to hold the annual camp for the Artillery, Engineer and Infantry Volunteer companies this year in the New Territories November. As the distance from Hongkong from Saturday, 13th November, to Monday, 22nd
will be too great for members to go to and fro daily, all employers have been asked to grant leave of absence to those of their employes who are Volunteers to enable them to attend camp. In those cases where employers are unable to grant leave for the whole week they have been
asked to do so for either the first or second
camp will be specially interesting and, provided half of the week. The work to be performed in
sufficient numbers attend, most instructive. The Artillery companies will each day carry out some tactical scheme with the mountain sight tripods in lieu, and with maxim guns. guns and mules, and also with the howitzers, or The Engineer and Infantry companies will be able, in addition to other work, to carry out field firing.
in
An interesting note apropos of the remarks made in our leading article on June 15 appears in our Canton correspondence. Evidently plague is more prevalent in Canton than it is in Hongkong this season, and is apparently a Mr. W. H. Kelly, senior
matter of unusual concern to the authorities, audit office at the Naval Yard, was among
writer in the Our Canton correspondent's note also suggests the passengers who left for England by the that, contrary to the assertions of our Peking P. and O. steamer Delhi on June 12th. Mr. contemporary, the treatment of plague cases in Kelly, who Was a member of the Civil Canton is not more successful than it Service Cricket Club, took an active part in Hongkong. The percentage of deaths in Hong- furthering that Club's interests, and in re-
kong has usually been nearly 90. The high per- cognition of his services the members percentage in Canton has caused the authorities to sented him with a handsome souvenir on Fri- day. On Saturday morning a large number of friends boarded the steamer to bid him good by, and after all had given him a farewell handshake, and the steamer got under way, the launch containing his comrades followed the liner, a fusilade of crackers and volleys of cheering conveying the last message of those on the launch, bon voyage and future pros- perity."
order the arrest and deportation of doctors who are reported by the medical inspectors to have given wrong prescriptions in plague cases! Evidently there are medical Solomons, or Pond- ervos, in Canton who claim to know "the infallible cure," and the members of the medical profession in Hongkong who have for so long less be glad to have their attention directed to been seeking the infallible remedy will doubt- its discovery at Canton!