September 18, 1909.]
LOCAL SPORT.
FOOTBALL NOTES.
With the first Annual General Meeting of the H. K. F. A. the season 1909-10 has com menced. Judging by the attendance at the meeting the benefits to be derived from an association seem to be fully realized. The pros pects of the clubs are good, in some cases never have they been better, and although it is to be regretted that the Y.M.C. A. are not entering a team in the league, the gap is filled with the forming of a new team in Kowloon, another ground is brought in to relieve the pressure. Most of the Y.M.C. A. players of last season are already booked for other clubs. In dealing with the prospects of the various clubs where any changes have taken place the club played for last season will be shown in brackets against the players' names.
HONGKONG FOOTBALL CLUB.
Our premier combination are looking forward to their first season of league football with con- fidence. Most of the players who have served them so well of late years have promised to again don the white, and McCubbin (Y.M.C.A.) and Acheson (Y.M.Ü.A.) are also booked. This with a reserve of good Have Beens" and young players should keep the club in a good position in the league table.
team
KOWLOON FOOTBALL CLUB.
The fact that the K.F.C. have entered the league and secured the services of such players as Browne (H.K.F.C.), Mead(H.K.F.C.), Storrie (Y.M.C.A.), Weaser (Y.M.C.A.), and Clements (Y.M.C.A.) would naturally lead one to suppose that we shall have a strong on the other side of the harbour, as players would hardly give up their places in clubs of good standing to join any other than a strong team. What the actual personnel of the team will be remains to be seen, but the services of several players who have not yet taken part in Hongkong football is assured.
NAVAL YARD FOOTBALL CLUB.
The Yarders are looking forward to a prosperous season, and with all last season's players to hand and in train- ing hope to improve on their past per- formances. Glover, their popular half-back and Secretary of last year, leaves the Colony in October, and his place will be hard to fill.
LUSITANO FOOTBALL CLUB.
The L. F. C. have decided not to run a team for the league this season. This club is more fortunately favoured in the number of players to select from than any other club in the Colony, but they realize that quality in football is before quantity, and have wisely decided to forego the privilege of playing the Senior teams for the pre- sent. They hope to enter the Hongkong Shield competition when the time comes, and have also promised to support any attempt made to form a Junior League.
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B Y'S OWN CLUB. The B.O.C. F.C have decided that in the event of there being no Junior League they will again enter the Senior League. Last season the Boys finished third from the bottom of the league, and during the latter end of the season gave exhibitions of the game which must have afforded every satisfaction to their supporters. In football, however, a certain amount of weight is required, and the Boys,. realizing this fact, would prefer to compete in a second division of the league for at least one
season.
MOSLEM FOOTBALL CLUB. The M. F. C. have entered the Association, but do not intend applying for admission to the league. The H. K. Shield will give them an opportunity to match themselves with the Senior teams, and it may be that some other competitions will be initiated this year to encourage the younger teams.
NAVAL AND MILITARY.
The prospects of the Military teams are good so far, and will be dealt with next week. The Naval teams are unable to join the local league, but they have formed a league of their own. Their prospects will be dealt with on their arrival at the station.
GENERAL.
The examination and registration of referees is receiving the attention of H.K.F.A. All who intend to qualify at the first examination
CHÍNA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
should lose no time in securing Referees' Guides and studying them.
Although the motion of Sapper Heigh, re the general subscription from Army and Navy teams, was withdrawn for a year, the two following motions, viz., being allowed to play the Camerons, and allowing ships to join within 10 days from notification from the Secretary, clearly showed that the very contingencies which the motion, of Sapper Heigh was made to cover had already arrived.
This
If the League Committee are in any way short of funds, they would be well advised to try to erect open stands near their fields. and arrange with the H. K. F. C. and K. F. C. procedure would not be without precedent, as the Shield committee erect an open stand near the club ground every year.
REFEREE.
HONGKONG CRICKET LEAGUE.
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The annual general meeting of the Hongkong Cricket League was held at the pavilion of the Hongkong Cricket Club last evening. Mr. T. E. Pearce presided over a fair attendance of members, representing various cricket clubs in the League.
Mr. A.O. BRAWN, acting hon. secretary, read the notice convening the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN said the accounts were very simple, and he had nothing further to say in reference to them. The season had been a very successful one. He would therefore propose the adoption of the report and accounts.
Mr. BIDEN seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The following officers were elected :--Pre- sident, Hon. Dr. J. M. Atkinson; Vice-President, Mr. W. Drew Braidwood; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. AE. Asger. Mr. Brawn under- took to carry on the work until Mr. Asger's return.
The SECRETARY proposed that the manage- ment of each club should be allowed to pleas; itself what and how many fixtures it arranged so long as it arranged and played at least every club once, and not more than one club twice.
Mr. LANGLEY seconded.
Mr. ROBINSON proposed as an amendment that the League should carry on as it had done in former years.
Mr. BIDEN seconded.
The original motion was agreed to.
It was arranged that a League XI. should play two test matches against the Hongkong Cricket Club during the season. Dates will be fixed later.
The matter of forming a second division of the League will be considered at a special meet ing of the junior clubs to be called in October.
The time of starting league matces was fixed for 2.15 p.m. and entries are to close on September 25th.
The meeting to arrange fixtures will be held on 27th instant.
This was all the business,
CHINESE TRADE AND SILVER.
Some interesting remarks on Chinese trade and its effect on the silver market appear in a recent circular issued by Messrs. Samuel Montagu, of London. They say: It is reported officially that the foreign trade with China indicates that the excess of imports into that country over exports dwindles year by year, and that the excess for 1908 is smaller than any since 1900. Apparently a change is taking place in the industrial conditions of the Chinese Empire, which not only must produce far reach- ing effects beyond its borders, but also by disturbing the balance of trade will demand silver in increasing quantities for the adjust. ment of such balance. At each Chinese port there is a decrease in the import of opium; this is a loss to Indian trade, but a desideratum to all well-wishers of China-if not accompanied with increased cultivation of that drug within This fuct of decreasing the country itself. imports is the key to the large lock-up of sycee in China, and also the heavy purchases of for- ward silver carried here from time to time on China account. It is not too much to say that at the present time, owing to an almost total absence of imports, China is gorged with silver.'
OPIUM SUPPRESSION.
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In the Spring of this year the Board of Finance appointed several officials to investigate the suppression of the cultivation of the poppy in the Provinces of Kiangnan, Anhui, Honan, Shantung and Shausi. They have now reported as follows: With regard to Kingnan, the cultivation of the poppy is confined to some fifteen districts within the Prefectures of Hwaingan, Suchow, Haichow, and Tungchow, of these the districts of Fung, Pei, Siao and Tangshan produce the most. In the year before last there were disastrous floods in Kiang- people had not stored grain for such emer- nan and the authorities attributed the fact that gencies to the cultivation of the poppy, and at once issued proclamations for the pression of the growing of the opium plant. Last year the area under cultivation was reduced by more than one-half, and this It can, year it is reduced by quite 99 per cent. tion of the poppy will entirely cease in the Pro- therefore, be confidently hoped that the cultiva-
vince of Kiangnan. The South of Anhui is not suitable for the cultivation of the poppy, and it is confined to the North. Most of it is grown in Fungyang Fu and Yingehow Eu, but small quantities are also grown here and there in the other districts. Since the proclamations for its suppression were issued last year the quantity grown has been reduced.
sup-
tung, but the districts of Teng Hsien, Tsining, Opium is grown in most districts in Shang-
Kinhsiang and Tan Hsien produce the most. Last year the Governor of Shantung issued a proclamation suppressing the cultivation of the Poppy, and he sent deputies to all parts of the province to make investigations with power to have all opium plants uprooted if they should find them. However, with regard to the three Hsien, leave has been granted to the poor districts of Tsining, Kinhsiang and Tan
people to finish the present crop, as seeds have already been sown, and if they are forced to uproot their opium plants they would be deprived of their means of livelihood : but it has been made clear to them that they must cease growing during the second-half of the year. On the whole the area under cultiva- tion in Shantung is much reduced as compared with former years.
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In Honan the districts of Hsiayih, Shangkiu and Yungcheng in Kweiteh Fu, and Hsa Chow, Siangcheng and Changkoh in Hsuchow Fu, produce the most opium for the market, Last Autumn the Governor of Honan ordered his subordinates to prohibit its cultivation, and this Spring he sent out deputies to make investiga tions with power to uproot all opium plants found growing. But a lot is still grown in the Yunging district, for the same state of things is prevailing there as in Taining, Kinhsiang and Tan Hsien. The local authori- ties petitioned to let the people finish the pre- sent crop on condition that they are to cease growing entirely during the second-half of the year. As to the rest of the opium-growing districts if cultivation has not entirely ceased very little is grown.
Opium is grown practically all over the Pro- vinces of Shansi. Since the proclamations for the suppression of the cultivation of the poppy were issued no more has been grown in the south, and although it has not been entirely suppressed in the north only very little is grown here and there on the Mongolian Border,
-Shanghai Times.
THE P. & O. STEAMERS.
ABOLITION OF THE
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"HIGH TEA.
It will interest many readers to learn that the P. & O. Company have decided to abolish the distinction which has hitherto been maintained on their ships between first and second class passengers in regard to the evening meal. Instead of the high tea, second-class passengers in The arrange- future will have late dinner. ment applies to both mail and intermediate steamers. Passengers' travelling Home from the Far East, where late dinner is the rule for all classes, will welcome the decision. It comes into force on the outward steamers this month and the homeward ones in October,