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THE HONGKONG POST OFFICE.
POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S ANNUAL REPORT.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND -
HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.
The report of Major-General Broadwood, The annual report on the Post Office Depart C.B., Officer Commanding the Troops in South ment, by Mr. C. McI. Messer, Postmaster-China, on the Hongkong Volunteer Corps for General, for the year 1908, was laid on the table the year 1908-09, is as follows : -- at the Legislative Council meeting yesterday afternoon. The Postmaster-General reports as under:-
Mails:-The number of mail bags and packets dealt with in the General Post Office, Hongkong, amounted to 204,289, an increase of 39,148 com- pared with the previous year.
Registration and Parcel Branch:-Registered articles and parcels handled in Hongkong amounted to 805,503, a decrease of 50,912, com- pared with the previous year.
Revenue and Expenditure:-A statement of Revenue and Expenditure is given in Table 11. Revenue amounted to $412.431.60, showing a
decrease of $32,989.32, due largely to the decreased rates of postage brought in by the Rome Postal Convention.
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Mounted Troop: A great deal of good work has been done in gaining knowledge of the surrounding country and in general exercise in the duties of the mounted soldier. All the training has been carried out in a practical and soldier-like way. The O.C. Troop proposes to do away with a standing camp during the Christmas exercises in future. I consider this sound both in the score of economy and efficiency.
Artillery(1) Good results were obtained by the adoption of the suggestion of Command- ing Royal Artillery that:-(.) All practices should be carried out under tactical schemes,
(i.) That instruction in the field, of Battery Commanders and their Staffs, should be given by the use of gun sight tripods.
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[July 5, 1909.
regards the cctual addition to the fighting strength of the Colony it must be remembered that a large number of members of the Corps are in employments from which they could not be spared in war,
THE COMMANDANT'S REPORT. The report of the Commandant, Lieut.- Colonel Chapman, showed that on April 1st, 1908, the total strength of the Corps was 295, while on March 31st, 1909, it was only 284. The Corps now consisted of a mounted troop, four companies of Artillery, an Engineer Com- pany and an Infantry Co.
The present strength of the Cadet Company was 24. The miniature rifle range erected near the Victoria School was regularly used, and many of the cadets made excellent shooting.
The standard of efficiency had been well main- tained during the past year, owing to the assistance and and loyal co-operation he had invariably received from the Staff Officer, other members of the staff, and all the officers and and senior N. C. O's.
THE FORTHCOMING CAT SHOW.
Money Orders-Consequent on the depres
(2.) The following remarks apply to the sion in trade throughout last year the money training generally-(a.) Fire discipline and order business has been correspondingly fire tactics require more attention. In former diminished in nearly all countries except that
years marks were only awarded for fire!
Although the announcement has been made from the German Possession in Oceana, w ich discipline and fire effect. This year, marks in several local newspapers, it does not seem to was double that of 19 7. There was a falling were allotted for fire tactics also. Such points be generally known that a Cat Show is contem- off of about £5,000 in the issue of sterling or as appreciation of situations, selection of posi-plated at a not remote.date. It is believed that ders and a decrease of £7,000 in the inward tions, etc., being duly allotted marks. B.Cs the idea came from His Excellency the Governor, orders The latter is accounted for by the were new to these conditions, and a marked im- and the matter is now in the hands of the reduction of Japanese Colonists in Queensland provement was noticeable during the latter Sanitary Department What steps they have and thereby reducing the amount drawn on
practices; (b) The Battery Staffs require more taken in the matter have not transpired, but we Japan by 50,000 yen, and, on the other hand, training and are also in some cases not complete. are informed that a committee representative of sterling postal orders have remained stationary It is almost impossible to lay too great stress both sections of the community has been with the sales of 1907. The paid orders have on the importance of a well trained staff, failing, appointed to make arrangements. greatly increased by 67 per cent. and local which a battery is a ship without a rudder postal orders have also increased by 32 per cent. (r.) The gun drill was good, layers and fuze Dead Letters :-The total number of all setters accurate, and the actual service of the articles sent to the Dead Letter Office at Hong-guns showed careful training. kong and despatched from that office during the year 1908 amounted to 99,241, riz., 48.92 of the former and 50,317 of the latter, showing an increase of 2,019 on the total of the previous year. Of the letters, etc., returned from abroad it was possible to return to senders 15.567 and of the locally addressed 2,821. The increase is chiefly owing to the large amount of lottery circulars which are-prohibited to pass through
the Post.
Enclosed in 38 unregistered returned letters, there were found articles of value, viz., money to the total value of £36. 0. 8. in notes, cheques or drafts, and also one large document. These when possible were subjected to registration and returned to the sen lers. 246 Chinese letters were found to contain coins-49 of them
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Engineers-The technical inspection of the Engineer Company was satisfactory, all but one or two being qualified for their duties. The attendance at the R.E. searchlight mannings and at the weekly practices at the drill emplace ment at Kowloon has been poor. It is regretted that the Eugiucer Company find themselves unable to adopt the suggestion to organise a telephone section which would include operators and linemen.
Infantry: A satisfactory start has at last been made with the infantry company, and it is hoped that it may eventully reach its full establishment. The musketry training has been conducted on sound lines but would benefit by increased range facilities. The Tai Hang range is inconveniently situated and unpopular in the were returned to senders. 182 post cards bear hot weather. I recommend that the King's ing the imitation of postage stamps addressed to Park Range become the volunteer range and the United Kingdom were withdrawn from the that the Volunteer Reserve Association be al- mails, as the regulations of that country pro-lowed the occasional use of it. At present this hibit their being forwarded. In only a few
is in the hands of the association, which is cases could these be returned to senders. 37 of small value from a military point of view, ordinary picture post cards and 3 letters were while the Volunteers are only allowed to use it posted without address.
occasionally.
Pillar Boxes -The total number of articles collected during the year from all pillar boxes was 161,933, against 168,496, in 1907 and 122,899 in 1906, showing a decrease of 6,563 in the total of the previous year. Special Postmen are detailed to clear these letter boxes.
Chinese Branch:-The total number of Chi- nese registered articles delivered by the Chinese Branch at the General Post Office was 187,090, of which 123,102 were from United States of America and Canada, and 63,988 from China and other countries, showing a total increase, compared with the year 1907, of 24,170. The amount of the ordinary correspondence dealt with has also largely increased.
Postal Hong Licences: -38 Postal Hong licences and 95 licences to letter carriers were issued during the year. The latter number shows a decrease of 25 letter carrier licences.
Western Branch Post Office:-The amount of correspondence sent between this Branch Office and Canton was:-Despatched 578,453 letters, 4,395 other articles and 7,659 registered articles; received 741,006 letters. 8,592 other articles, and 4,309 registered articles. In com- parison with previous years the figures show a large increase of correspondence handled by ⚫ this branch. In addition to the above., 13,034 Hong Packets were despatched and 18,529 received by the Branch. The revenue from the sale of stamps amounted to $72,174.10, compared with $43,928.38 in the previous year,
range
General:--Although a great deal of useful work is done at the annual camp at Stonecutters' and though every credit is due to the men who do this work in their leisure time, often at the end or beginning of a hard day's civil work, it cannot be said that the military value of the camp is equal to the expenditure involved. Most men are only present at irregular inter- vals for an hour's work in the morning and afternoon, so that units seldom work at full strength, a system which is most unsatisfactory both
the instructors and
for
instructed.
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Of course there can be no show without a prize fund, and though the prizes awarded will not be large or valuable it nevertheless entails a considerable sum of money to provide the prizes. Subscriptions to this prize fund are to be invited, and doubtless there should be a good response from our wealthier citizens.
Jur representative made inquiries yesterday and learned that the matter is being serious. ly taken up. He was told that the cats would be judged on certain well defined dis- tinctions which indicate certain characteristics. For instance, a certain shaped head betrays clean- liness, and other points can be judged in a similar way. Having in mind the Board's idea of the value of cats as rat destroyers, he asked if there would be any awards for good ratters, and he was further informed, with a smile, that the qualities of the felines in this direction would be tested by properly organised rat hunts. If that be so, there can be little doubt of the success of the forthcoming exhibition from the public standpoint. Such rat hunts will be sure to draw large gatherings.
CAPTURE OF PIRATES AT MACAO,
The Police Authorities of Macao (writes our correspondent) are entitled to a great deal of credit for the capture of a gang of pirates they They had news that a junk have just effected.
from Hongkong was bringing a number of pirates to Macao, and they consequently kept a sharp look-out. Success attended their efforts. The men in question were put under arrest, and the police were able to elicit from them information as to the whereabouts of their comrades ashore. The gang was divided into two groups, one group occupying a house in Rua da Palha, and a larger number were living in Rua Formosa. The capture of the smaller of the two groups was easily effected, but the greatest difficulty was experienced in arresting Every precaution was taken to the others.
escape, and even the Fire prevent their Bridage was called to the vicinity by the police in case the pirates, in despair, set fire to the Shots were exchanged between the house. pirates and the police, out the former were eventually overpowered and the result was the arrest of about a score, among them being a A few women and children noted pirate chief. It is a regrettable fact that the
were also in the house. The police also found Corps cannot be recruited up to its establishment. Au incentive would be given to the movement if a number of good revolvers and a quantity of the Government could see its way to bring ammunition. pressure to bear on its employees to join the Corps. From a general point of view there can be no doubt as to the value of encouraging all the able-bodied citizens to fit themselves to take a part in the defence of the Empire, but as
I recommend that future camps should be held in the New Territories for a week or eight days, and that endeavours should be made to get employers to allow men to be present continu. ously for at least three or four days of that time. If such a camp were run on lines which bore some
service conditions an economy could be effected and the training improved. All preliminary drills and instruc- tions of gun layers etc., should be done in the fortnight preceding camp so as not to waste time while out.
resemblance to
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A Straits contemporary learns that the on. W. J. Napier is resigning the Attorney- Generalship in September, and that the post has been offered to Mr. Justice Sercombe Smith.