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by Japanese emigrants, is one which the Powers interested in the maintenance of the integrity of the Chinese Empire are likely to do their best to maintain for many years to. come, though, in truth, we cannot see that their efforts are likely to be of much avail.
RANDOM REFLECTIONS,
We do not need to look at the calendar to know that summer is practically over. The sting has been taken out of the heat, and though some may perspire as much as ever there is no doubt that we have many cool spells. The winter's sport and pleasure are beginning to stand out distinctly. Not only football and cricket clubs. are in dulging in preliminary practice, but already we have had one or two dances and others are certain to follow.
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The fear expressed by some of the unofficial members that the police would not interpret the Liquor Law aright has been justified. It is whispered that one enterprising detective. discovered an old woman taking two bottles of brandy out of the colony and he promptly ar rested her. When he took her to the Police Station he discovered his mistake, and it required some tact‘and other considerations to appease the old dame who had been made to lose the steamer by which she intended travelling,
5.
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It is too bad to make a joke and not have it appreciated, especially when it is an unusual effort. The Chief Justice introduced a nice little humorous allusion into a solid and solemn judgment the other day, and the Pressmen were so astonished that their pencils failed them. The joke would have been lost had the Chief Justice not made a determined effort to rescue
his little ewe lamb from oblivion and repeated it the next day,
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Hongkong has done well in the water. Don't misunderstand me. This is no reference to compulsory abstinence from other liquors. I
mean
I am
that our representatives distinguished themselves against the Shanghai men in aquatics and won the flag which the sister port provided for the greater number of wins. told that the Hongkong team has accepted an invitation to visit Shanghai next year and they will do well if they hold the trophy against the swimmers of that city.
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We have had our growl about the new import duties, and while we may feel inclined to kick ourselves for not having bought more largely in view of the increased prices, the operation of the Ordinance does not now appear quite so bad as many people imagined. It was thought by some that the harbour trade would be killed by the impost, but all the grumbling done over that has been unnecessary, as the fears which gave rise to it were quite unfounded.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND side the Colony? I am sure bathing parties
would like to know the answer.
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"Nobody," says the Well-Informed Person in a Hovio paper, "has less patience with dandyism or affectation of any kind than Lord Kitchener. There is a famous story of how he found a young officer using a delicately em- broidered lade handkerchief. And pray, sir,' said the scandalised General what may be your taste in hairpins?"" But as usual, the Well-Informed Person misses the whole point of the thing by about five furlongs. As an It was not the subal- Indian paper remarks:- tern's handkerchief.
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The hatpin nuisance is fortunately not so great with us here as it is in France, where in consequence of the many accidents which have taken place due to those barbarous accessories of feminine attire, the Prefect of Police in Paris has been advised to make regulations that woinen shall wear safety shields or point pro- tectors on their hatpins to lessen the risk of accident to their fellow-passengers in omnibuses and trains.
RODERICK RANDOM.
HONGKONG,
The revenue officers are now equipped with their distinctive caps, which look very smart indeed.
A Portuguese bluejacket was fined $8 at the Magistracy yesterday for having been drunk and disorderly in the Naval Canteen.
The only case of communicable disease notified in the Colony last week was a Chinese case of enteric fever in one of the outlying districts.
Major H de T. Phillips, R.G.A., at present R.G.A., receives early promotion to lieutenant commanding the Hongkong-Singapore Battu.
colonel.
Major-General Sir Wilsone Black, formerly the Officer Commanding the Troops at Hong kong. who died on July 5, aged 72, left estate valued at £54.824 gross, with net personalty £54,646.
from the Supreme Court to the Magistracy as Mr. G. A. Woodcock has been transferred principal clerk, while Mr. C. D. elbourne is at the cupreme Court now as deputy registrar and appraiser.
On Sept. 28 the warships in the harbour were decorated with bunting in compliment to the Portuguese, who that day celebrated the anniversary of their beloved Queen Dowager
Amelie.
A robbery was committed in Li Yuen Street on Sunday Thieves gained an entrance to a store by opening the door with a key which they had obtained to fit the lock and stole piece goods to the value of $800.
[October 2, 1909.
The late Mr. Kenneth M. Ross, of Jardine, Matheson & Co., of Hongkong, left personal estate of the value of £6,480.
We are asked to state that the Chief Justice does not retire after the Supreme Court vaca- tion. Ho merely goes on holiday and hopes to return to the Colony about May next.
There was a quiet wedding at the Peak Church on the 29th ult., when Dr. James H. Holmes, M.B., of H.M.S. Sandpiper, was married to Miss A. J. Poole, late of the Victoria Hospital.
Two natives were at the Magistracy on Saturday fined $100 each for having been found in the unlawful possession of 39 bags of vermicelli which had been washed overboard from a steamer at Green Island and discovered
and secreted by the prisoners.
Mr. J. S. Dobie, the Hongkong agent of The Chinese Engineering and Mining Company, Limited, informs us that the total output of the ompany's three mines for the week ending 11th September amounted to 26,552.30 tons and the sales during the period to 27,193.40 tons.
One of the water police was severely maltreat- ed the other day when he went on board a dust boat in the harbour to effect the arrest of some people who had been in the habit of dumping rubbish into the harbour. The occupants set upon him and fractured his skull with a chopper. He was taken to the hospital, where he lies in a critical condition.
With the approval of the Secretary of State. for the Colonies, His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint Mr. C. A. D. Melbourne to be Deputy Registrar and Appraiser of the Supreme Court; Mr. E. Ralphs to be second master of Queen's (ollege; and Mr. D. W. Tratman to be second Assistant Registrar General.
At the Magistracyon Sept. 29 Mr. Harry L. house coolie with stealing two long linen coats White, Nathan Road, Kowloon, charged his and one teapot and with leaving his service without giving due notice. On the first charge he was sentenced to fourteen days' imprison- ment and on the second he was fined $10 or fourteen days' imprisonment.
An extensive robbery was committed at Lantao Island on Sunday. Seven men entered a village. in the centre of the island and made a raid on a house occupied by an old man and his son. Armed with poles the robbers intimidated the inmates and took away $87 in money and a large collection of valuable jewellry and clothing, the total value amounting to $1,000.
An interesting ease came before Mr. Wood at the Magistracy on Sept. 29, when the Sanitary Department summoned a pork butcher for using a stall without permission. Defendant, however, stated that he had received permission to pull down the wall between the stall he rented and the one adjoining, and his Worship held that that being so there was no case against the
defendant, who was discharged.
The Colonial Treasurer's statement of the Colony's assets and liabilities on July 31st shows the assets to total $975,995,71, while the total liabilities are $379,823.23. The re- due by railway construction Five men, all waiters, appeared before Mr.imbursement Wood yesterday afternoon charged with the account, less the credit balance on account of murder of another waiter. They were all 1909, is $,118,687:11, while the balance of stands at (general account) employed in a restaurant in Des Voeux Road assets and quarrelled, and the deceased received in- juries which caused his death.
It is expected that the Hon. Mr. Rees Davies, K.C., Attorney-General, will act as Chief Justice until Sir Francis Piggott returns and that not It seems to me that on the whole the Gov- unlikely Mr. Hazeland will leave the Magistracy ernment is to be congratulated for having into act as Attorney-General in the interval. stituted the new arrangements in a common- sense manner. The iniquitous Customs service with its numerous indignities has yet to be created. At present it only exists in the fervid imagination of misguided critics, and the quiet way in which the new revenne officers go on board steamers and intimate that duty will have to be paid on any liquor which is being imported is a striking contrast to the frenzied utterances of those who could not find language strong enough to denounce the proposed. change.
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Of course, difficulties will arise and problems will come up for settlement, but if the same level-headed common-sense methods continue to characterise the administration as at present we need have little fear as to the results as to
the future.
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One problem which has been suggested to me is that if a picnic party wish to enjoy themselves decently, say, on the other side of Lantao Island, will they be allowed a rebate on their case of whisky which is intended for consumption out-
An interesting case came before Mr. Wood at the Magistracy on Monday when a dealer in old iron was summoned for having been in unlawful possession of a boat slip valued at $250 He was found towing it to his premises at Hunghom. He stated that he had a permit to recover wreckage, and the hearing was adjourned until Friday.
Mr. William Rublee, who was appointed to succeed Dr. Wilder as the United States Consul- General at Hongkong, hopes to arrive here early in December. Mr. Rubles has quite recovered from his recent ill ess, which neces- sitated a surgical operation at Vienna, and is now in the enjoyment of better health than he has had for years. Mr. Stuart Fuller will leave Hongkong shortly after Mr. Rublee's arrival to take up his new appointment as United States Consul at Gottenburg (Sweden).
$1,718,859.59.
H. E. the Governor has directed that the Harbour Master shall, for the time being, cease to perform ex officio the duties of Superinten- dent of Imports and Exports under the Raw Opium Ordinance, No. 9 of 1887, the sugar Convention Ordinance, o. 14 of 19 4, and the Liquors Ordinance, No. 27 of 1909, and has appointed Lieut. C. W. Beckwith to discharge those duties until further notice.
An exciting incident was witnessed prior to the departure of the Paul Beau on Tuesday night for Canton. A Chinese, carrying a basket of clothes for a passenger, fell overboard, and as the guard of the steamer made it impossible to see what was happening the worst was feared. However, the man appeared at the bow He had clung to and was promptly rescued. the basket, but the best part of its contents had. disappeared and the passenger was left in a sorry plight.