July 5, 1909.]
VICTORIA RECREATION CLUB.
The annual general meeting of members of the V.R.C. was held in the Gymnasium at the Club House on June 28th. Mr. T. E, Pearce presided, and there were also present Messrs. T. Meek, M. McIver, L. E. Lammert, J. Rodger, S. A. Seth (treasurer), Frank Lammert (secretary), and a large attendance of members.
The SECRETARY read the notice calling the meeting.
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The CHAIRMAN said it was in May, 1908, that the V. R. C. moved into the new premises, and consequently their income and expenditure had been extraordinary when compared with other years, and the cost of running the new and larger premises had been experimental. The treasurer, Mr. Seth, has gone to a great deal of trouble in preparing a new set of books and putting the accounts on a more satisfactory basis. The Club's best thanks were due to him for his painstaking work. There were some items in the accounts that differed widely from last year's, and needed some explanation. It was very pleasing to find that in the general working account they were able to show a credit balance of $2,0 0. This was accounted for principally by an increase in subscriptions and entrance fees of some $1,00. That was satisfactory, but he would point out that all the expenses had increased, and would increase further. Their new premises re- quired a large staff to keep them in good order, and there were always minor additions and repairs to be made. Next year they would have the new swimming bath, and further additions would have to be made to the staff. The committee did not see how it was possible "to diminish these expenses. Very soon they would have to find 1,200 extra to pay the interest on the $20,000 debentures they were raising with which to erect a new bath, and they would want to pay off a certain number of these yearly. One of the problems that the new committee would have to solve was the raising of more funds, and he expected that the members would find they would have to pay a larger subscription. It would be admitted that this was a cheap club. The present sub scription, $15 per annum, was not commen. surate with the benefits that they got from the equipment provided, and more so would that be when the new swimming bath was erected. The matter would have to be gone carefully into, but meanwhile it was satisfactory to find that they had a balance on the right side. There was a small loss on the athletic sports of $32. but they could not cavil at this remembering the good afternoon's sport which was provided. Their best thanks were again due to the numerous friends who had pro- vided prizes, and who subscribed to the funds for promoting the sports. The aquatic sports appeared to be the most popular and the paying branch of the establishment, and he thought this would be more 80 in the future. The V.R.C. were not successful in the Water Polo Shield Competition, but
both the teams were well up in the list when the finals were played. The reserve fund in the balance sheet stood at $26,867.62. This amount was $196.89 more than the amount at last year's summary. The $686.60 cash overdrawn was merely a book explanation. Certain cheques were drawn before the accounts were closed in payment of sundry accounts
pertaining to 19 8. These cheques were debited
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
No questions were asked and the report and accounts were adopted on the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by Mr. W. S. BAILEY,
Mr. A. RODGER was re-elected Chairman on the motion of Mr. F. LAMMERT seconded by Mr. MEEK.
Mr. W J. CARROLL proposed the re-election of Mr. F. Lammert as secretary.
Mr A. R. ELLIS seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously amid great applause.
On the motion of Mr. L. E. LAMMERT, second by Mr. C. J. COOKE, Mr. Silas was elected treasurer of the Club for the ensuing year.
"cash" in the books, and credited to bank as on 31st December, 1908, hence the debit balance of bank account in the books. Referring to the rowing branch, the speaker remarked that whilst they were not successful at Canton and not as successful in the Hongkong Regatta as they could have wished, it augured well for the future when they read that there was more interest taken in rowing, and that more members were using the boats. When next season's racing came along they hoped to again see the V. R. C. at the head. He should like to mention their indebted ness to the Yacht Club for the loan of one of their boats. The sporting spirit shown was much appreciated. With regard to gymnastics, it seemed a pity that more use was not made of the very fine room and apparatus supplied. The speaker said he had nothing further to add, but would be willing to answer any questions to the best of his ability (applause).
The following members of the general com. mittee were then elected by ballot-Messrs. J. Rodger, L. E. Lammert, T. E. Pearce, T. Meek, M. McIver, W. A. Crake, A. N. Kemp, H. R. Bridger aud C. B. Franklin.
A ballot was then taken for a ballotting com. mittee, the result being that the following members were elected:-Mossrs. J. A. S. Alves, A. A. Alves, A. E. S. Alves, J. Cruickshank, A. P. Nobbs, H. A. Seth, R. L. Bridger, S. C. MacNider, A. Pattison.
The CHAIRMAN-That is all the official business, gentlemen. I will now ask Mr. Meek to report on the swimming bath.
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Mr. EEK informed the meeting that out of 80 debentures, 652 had been taken up, which gave an amount of $16.300. That number of debentures had been taken up by 156 members only, which meant that some had been very liberal, while a great number of members had taken none Application forms were still to be had, and he hoped that those members who had not made use of them would proceed to do so. They had quite sufficient money at present to make the proposed bath, but he did not like to see a thing started unless they could accomplish it without a debit balance.
Mr. SILVA NETTO. wished to know the amount of the tender for the building of the new swimming bath.
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BAGUIO.
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THE SUMMER CAPITAL OF THE
PHILIPPINES.
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A little boy at Sunday School was once asked to give the modern interpretation of the old Biblical saying, "Go to," and he very aptly answered Come off." İn a like manner, the modern interpretation of the old saying, "See Naples and die," should be at least to foreigners. living in the East, Go to Baguio and live.”
Baguio is situated in the Benguet Province of Luzon, about 100 miles almost due north from Manila, and has an altitude of about 7,000 feet. It owes its existence in a very large measure to Mr. Dean C. Worcester, a member of the Philippine Commission, who discovered the very large plateau upon which Baguio is now built,
through the mountains of Benguet, whilst following up the old Igorrote trails
Its value as a site for the Capital Government in the summer was readily recognised by the Government, of which Mr. Taft at that time was the head, and he sanctioned the“ building of the celebrated Benguet Road, a road starting from the plains and running right up the canon of the Bend River up to the top of the mountain, a piece of engineering equal almost to any in the world.
70 Fahrenheit even in the middle of the hottest The temperature of Baguio rarely goes above
day, and in the winter it frequently reaches freezing point. It, seems almost absurd to think that in 10 hours from hot and steaming Manila (and Manila is hot between February and June) one can get to a climate where heavy clothes are necessary, and where one can sit round a pine fire in the evening, and if necessary almost drink hot toddy.
Whilst the (ommission is sitting at Baguio, a special train leaves Manila every morning at 10 o'clock. But the usual way is to leave Manila by the 6.25 train in the morning. Mr. MEEK stated that they only had a rough This train, although very slow (it seems to stop estimate from the architect. $21,000 would be
at every house on the railway), is very comfort- more than wanted. Final tenders, when pre-able and takes the passenger to "San Fatian,' liminaries were decided, would be put out to competition among different contractors. had not the least doubt that when competition He came along the cost of the bath would be within $20,000.
The meeting ended with votes of thanks to Messrs. Meek, S. A, Seth and the members of the retiring committee.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Dealing with the subject of commercial intelligence in his annual report Commander Basil Taylor, R. N., Harbour Master, writes as under
Fifty-three letters were received during the year from firms, principally in Great Britain. requesting information upon various points con. nected with their respective businesses, asking to be placed in communication with local firms, cr submitting samples or price lists. The replies to the several queries have been as full as the information, &c., at my disposal permitted, and wherever necessary, the name of the firm concerned, and the particular branch of trade indicated, have been published from time to time in the Government Gazette.
It is greatly to be regretted that no replies to or queries upon these publications in the Government Gazette have ever been received by me from local firms or individuals. Most of my correspondents send catalogues and price lists, and, in many cases. samples of their goods. These catalogues and price lists cannot of course, be published, but are open to inspection at any time during office hours by interested persons.
It may be that the publication of the names of the firms in correspondence with me has been productive of direct communication between the local and home firms, but of this I have no knowledge.
From the Foochow Echo we take the following paragraph:-"The Souchong market is booming. Good Old Foochow. When the most depressing news comes from the London Market, and things look at their worst, the merry Chaszee is always sanguine, and is now scrambling to buy Tarry Souchongs irrespective of price.'
& small junction about ten miles beyond where a change is made into a sort of light Dagupan, the port of the Lingayen Gulf
railway train to Camp One, Camp One is a very small place at the foot of the Benguet Hills and is the commencement of the famous
Benguet Road, and owes its name to the fact that the first camp for the building of the road was there.
Large steam Stanley motor cars await the train here at the terminal station, and a start up to Baguio is made as soon as possible after the arrival of the train. It is impossible in writing to express the great glowing beauties of this climb up the hills. Skirting along the edges of the cliffs with the everlasting hills on the one side and the Bend River on the other, with picturesque waterfalls every few minutes, with the road winding in and out, here on the edge of a precipice, there going round the noble curves of the celebrated
Zigzag, here steaming over a suspension bridge feet, there going cautiously by a small land with a shear drop beneath of hundreds of slide, and all the time the beautiful vegetation of the semi-tropical region makes a sight which must impress the average man with the grandeurthe unspeakable grandeur of the entire place, and makes one feel that one has not travelled in vain to reach here. At one part of the route-the Zigzag- parts of the same road below winding in and out -one sees five different
round the hills, and is possibly amongst the grandest sights in the world.
The distance from Camp One to the Garage at Baguio is 20 miles, and is covered by the very powerful steam motor
cars in two hours. The change from the tropical vegetation of the plains at amp One to the large pine trees of the temperate zone of Baguio is indeed striking, as also is the fall in the temperature as one ascends to the higher altitudes of the Summer Capital.
At Baguio there is a large and well appointed hotel called "The Hotel Pines," & Country Club, with several cottages attached thereto, and many private houses either built or building for various people residing in Manila. Notable amongst these is the house of the present Acting Gov- ernor-General, Mr. Cameron Forbes, a house