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a doceur of ten thousand taels. We may uote the cases of Admiral LANG, and morey ately of Mr. KINDER, who had sought to purify the management of the Northern Railways; and more recently we may mention the constant attacks and suspicions under which Sir ROBERT HART has lived during the whole time of his Inspectorate. This it is, and not any defect of the men themselves, that has prevented the work of any of them from being effective in raising up a class of native fellow-workers, who would have been able of themselves to drag China out of the abyss of corruption in which she now finds
herself.
What is now the cry of the few men of worth and ability who are striving, but with little effect, to find men to take the lead in the Government of the Empire ? It is always the same; they are not to be found. No one, in fact, knows where to look for them; the REGENT offers rewards, but like DIOGENES, search he ever so carefully, the honest man keeps away from sight. Honesty, he finds, does not comport with present conditions of government, and distrust and falsehood have possession of the land. This is one of the causes, and not the least, that is leading to the present anti-foreign campaign, The foreigner, like ARISTIDES at Athens, finds his ideas of right and wrong offended at every turn, and, like the old Athenians; the China of to-day resents the presence of the man who would bring their backslidings to the light of day. So, like ARISTIDES, the foreigner has to bear the penalty of being ostracised. This is the true cause of China's exception to foreign control of her railways, not what she would like to present it as the national desire to have restored hier Lost Rights," rights that China has never at any time been in a position to acquire.
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RANDOM REFLECTIONS.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND ing round, and the rider might well have been | forgiven if he had hesitated to get on its back. When he did reach its back he found the seat behind the elephant's ears anything but com- fortable and it is certain he would not enjoy his ride as the animal took him to the starting place. Still, he deserves well for having provided us with a novel spectacle.
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I forgot last week to mention a remarkable coincidence which took place a few days before. In honour of the naval wedding which was celebrated recently lights in the shape of two hearts shone from the Tamar, but when they were taken down their place was occupied by the three green lights which indicate a storm a certain distance away. I am certain it was not prophetic, though, as I have said, the coincidence
was remarkable..
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The usurer has excited scorn from time immemorial. The Fible condemns him, Shakes- always despise him where they do not fear h m. peare holds him up to ridicule, and the populace In Hongkong he is unfortunately too well known, but seldom do we hear of such a tale of extortion on the one hand and simplicity on the other as was told in the Supreme Court the other day where a man who had borrowed $100 from one of these. Shylocks found after paying $270 in interest that he still owed $250. Hap pily for the borrower, he was taken to court. Otherwise he might have continued his pay- ments without getting out of the terrible entanglement in which he had placed himself. It seems unfortunate that the law should assist such unscrupulous moneylenders.
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[October 25, 1909.
Owing to the insecurity of the Sanitary De- partment buildings the office staff have vacated the premises for new quarters in Des Vœux
Road.
The fire brigade were called out twice on Tuesday morning, once for a fire in Cochrane Street, and once for an outbreak in Wellington Street. In each instance, however, the fire was extinguished before their arrival.
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The King's exequaturs empowering Mr. T. Funatsu to act as Consul for Japan at Hong-
for Chili at Calcutta, with consular jurisdiction kong, and Mr. C. Frérant to be Consul-General also over the British Colonies in Asia, have received His Majesty's signature.
A Quarry Bay man who had a gambling quarrel with several other men was threatened, or thought he was threatened, by the others, and to protect himself on the way home he stole a bar of iron from the shipyard. Mr. Hazeland on learning the circumstances discharged the prisoner.
With the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, H.E. the Governor has been pleased to appoint Dr. H. Macfarlane to be We understand Government Bacteriologist. also that the Secretary of State has approved of the appointment of Dr. J. W. Hartley as a
Staff. permanent member of the Government Medical
Warships in the harbour were decorated on Oct. 16th in honour of the anniversary of the birthday of Donna Maria Pia, the grandmother of the present King of Portugal. The Portu- guese community celebrated the occasion with a dance at the Club Lusitano while at Macao an official dinner was given in Government House and the public buildings were illu-
A paragraph appeared in the Press the other day relating the collapse of a "prehistoric dis-minuted patch box," as it was termed, during practico for the Fire Brigade review to be shortly held before His Excellency the Governor. The incident was regarded as unfortunute, but what would those concerned have felt like had it happened during the review itself? Yet methinks it might have been well if it had, because then the Governor would have seen for himself how much was needed to bring the Brigade up to date.
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When the subject of warning householders as And Mr. Justice Gompertz is promoted to to the disposal of refuse was under discussion at the office of Acting Chief Justice. If ho carns the Sanitary Board one member remarked that as many good opinions in the more exalted the rubbish should be taken away from the doors office as he has done in the short time that heof householders because entertainers would not has been Puisne Judge no one who knows him like their guests to drop into them. will be surprised. But who is to act in the what I know of Hongkong, there is more position which he vacates for a time?
likelihood of that happening after dinner.
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The regrettable incident in the career of the chief accountant of the Kowloon-Canton Rail- way, which has been generally known as the railway sensation." has ended in sentence of two years being passed on Mr. Butler-Wright. It is particularly regrettable from all points, not the least being the blow which it deals to the good name of Britain in the East.
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Now that the more vigorous games have com- menced for the season, isn't it time that the Colonial Authority had made their allocation of the grounds for sporting purposes at Causeway Bay? The junior cubs are anxious to know their fate in the matter.
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Man plays' many parts in his time, but who. ever thought of seeing the Colonial Secretary riding a circus pony?
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It looks as if the Gymkhana officials re- cognised they were at the end of the season when they sought to stimulate jaded appetities "erents. It was by introducing "fool pidgin too funny to see the ladies trying to knock down a doll with a number of sticks, and anyone who saw the exhibition will be confirmed in his old
belief that a woman cannot throw straight. heard it insinuated that a prizewinner was favoured in that a rival knocked down the doll she was not aiming at. I don't believe it myself but I give the yarn for what it is worth.
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Mr. Dupree deserves to be complimented for his pluck in mounting the elephant which was entered for the last race at the Gymkhana on Saturday. The animal may have been docile, but it was disquieting to have the trunk flourish
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offered was
From
At a fête held in an English town a prize
for the inost miser able looking bachelor. It suggests ideas for Hongkong. The period of the annual exodus is not far off and if the Horticultural Society or some fancy fair promoters were to offer a prize for the most discongolate grass widower it might attract the curious. It would be interesting to see how well the men could disguise their feelings.
RODERICK RANDOM.
I
HONGKONG.
A. European case of diphtheria was the only ease of communicable disease reported in the Colony last week.
His Honour Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz has been appointed acting Chief Justice during the absence on leave of His Honour Sir Francis Piggott, or until further notice.
His Excellency the Governor has promoted second lieutenants L. C. Rees, W. Russell and 1. Andrew to rank as lieutenants in the Hongkong Volunteer Corps.
February last was discovered at Wanchai and A lukong who deserted from the force in duly appeared before the Magistrate on Oct. 21 He was fined $5.
The Yaumati polico have been smart in recov- ering all the property stolen during a burglary The thief, who gained en- thore last week. tranco to a house in Mongkok by a scaffolding; took away jewellry and money to the value of $173. That has been recovered and the burglar arrested,
Mr. F. O. Day, of 10, Seymour Terrace, reports to the police that during the past two weeks someone has stolen from a box in his house eight large and eight small blankets, on several of which the name "Day was-sewn. A The total gold matchbox is also missing. value of the articles stolen is $175. The servants are suspected.
Two native waiters from the Hangfalau, a Chinese restaurant, appeared before Mr. J. R. Wood at the Magistracy on Oct. 20 on a charge of disorderly behaviour. It appeared from the evidence that the defendants partook of too much samshu, and then threw cups and bowls at one another. His Worship imposed a fine of $3, and bound the defendants over in the sum of $100 to keep the peace for six months.
A story is being told at the expense of three native entertainers in Hongkong, and to the discredit of those who duped them. They had been invited to contribute to the pleasure of three Portuguese and when they were about to take their departure they were handed by the host what purported to be a cheque. Next morning they took this to a local
bank, where the clerks smiled and said the The cheque instrument was not negotiable. was one of those original new year greetings drawn on the Bank of Good Luck. Hong- kong Branch," and the order was to pay to the happy trio "and family or bearer one thousand good wishes for a bright and prosperous New Year.
The figures "1,000" which stood in the There corner were crossed and $50 inserted.
one year." was also a stamp bearing the letters
Another old Portuguese resident of the Colony passed away early on Tuesday morning, at the Government Civil Hospital, in the person of Mr. Augusto Cæsar Botelho, who for the long period of thirty-seven years has been in Government service as a clerk in the Harbour Office. He joined as fifth clerk in 1872 and reached the position of first clerk in 1905. Mr. Botelho, who had been ailing for some time, was taken seriously ill in his office on Monday and was conveyed on an ambulance to the Hospital, stated, early on Tuesday morning. The news where he rapidly sank and expired, as before of his death has been received with deep regret not only by the Portuguese community but by the large circle of acquaintances which he has made during his long connection with the Harbour Office. Deceased was buried in the Catholic Cemetery at Happy Valley on the 20th inst., the staff of the Harbour Department and many friends following his remains to their last resting place.