A. S. WATSON & Co. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
DRUGGISTS,
GENERAL CHEMISTS,
AND
Manufacturers of the following AERATED WATERS, viz: SODA, TONIC, SARSAPARILLA, AND POTASH, LEMONADE, GINGERADE, RASPBERRYADE, AND PHOSPHORIC CHAMPAGNE.
7 A.M. to 7 P.M.
Snips' MEDICINE CUESTS REFITTED, PASSENGER SHIPS SUPPLIED.
Prompt Attention given to Coast Orders.
HONGKONG DISPENSARY.
HONGKONG, SHANGHAI PHARMACY,
SHANGHAI
CANTON,
Foocnow.
CANTON DISPENSARY,
THE DISPENSARY,
THE
Hongkong Telegraph.
HONGKONG, 11TH OCTOBER, 1881.
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH-TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11TH, 1881.
To visitors to tho City Hall Museum for the week ending 9th October, were: -Europeau, 105; Chinese, 1,932; total, 2,037.
According to our contemporary the Shanghai Mercury, the latest nows received from Peking is to the effect that Pong Yu-lien las refused the Vicoroyalty of Nanking,
ro.
The latest advices from Peking stato that the Empress Dowager is again ill. It appears that she has suffered a lapse, but no serious results are ex- pected from this unfortunate occurence.
To-day is the forty-seventh anniver sary of the death of Lord Napier, which took place at Macao on the 11th Octo. bar, 1834, Iis lordship was succeeded as Superintendent of British Commerce in China by Mr. John Francis Davis, who was subsequently appointed Go- vernor of Hongkong.
cial announcement, from such a high admission of galloways into our au- authority, was what might not in-nual races? If so we shall be glad aptly be called "a crusher." A few to give any gentleman ample oppor weeks ago in conversing with one of tunity of demonstrating on what our princely supporters of racing on grounds we may look for such im- the advisability of some slight provement. We really are unable to amount of attention being paid to see that there is anything in "giving the race-course during the summer, any one who wishes to purchase a we suggested that a sufficient amount big griffin an opportunity of doing of subscriptions to defray the cost of so." If there is any argument in
Probably on account of the threaton- proposed improvements could easily this, we are sorry it is beyond ouring aspect of affairs at the Cape, in be obtained within a couple of comprehension. Will it be contend- Tunis, and in Ireland, a Cabinet Council Deliveries in Town and Harbour from hours, when to our astonishment ed that the presence of Schmollis, of the British Ministry has been con-
and gratification we were assured or Earl Harold, or Wild Dash at our vened for to-morrow, Wednesday. that the Race Fund had à credit ensuing race meeting would improve
The seriousness off affairs in the balance of over $17,000, so that the the sport, render the competition north of Africa may be judged from the whole of the track could be re-turfed more exciting? It could be safely latest action of the French Govern if it were considered necessary with predicted that either of these animent, in ordering the occupation of out a single subscription being mals, fit and well at the post, would Tunis by the soldiers of the Republic. called for. What does it all mean? simply canter away with every race Can any one acquainted with our they contested, and entirely spoil past racing history explain this the interest of the meeting. The most paradoxical state of affairs? only persons likely to be benefited With the subscribers clected to by the adoption of the 14 hands act as Stewards for the forthcoming proposal are those who can afford races no fault can possibly be found. and are every ready, to pay an enor They are all gentlemen of position, mous price for anything that can worthy in every way of the honour win races. It will in fact encourage conferred on them. As, however, speculation at the expense of true with two or three exceptions, these sport.
Apart from what we have stated, gentlemen know little or nothing of actual racing business, and more- the resolution was on technical over take comparatively little, if any, grands an imperfect one, and the active interest in the preliminary fact that not a single subscriber pre- THE truth and sound reasoning of stages, we must express our regret sent made the slightest enquiry as to our animadversions on the subject of that our suggestion made last year, the proposer's idea of apportioning the Annual Meeting of the Subscri- that a working committee be ap-extra weight for the increased stan- bers to the Hongkong Race Fund, pointed to carry out in conjunction which appeared in our issue of Oc-with the Clerk of the Course all the tober 1st, were fully borne out by the necessary arrangements in connec- results of the said meeting, which tion with training operations, super- was held in the Hongkong Club on intendence of the course, arranging the afternoon of the 6th instant. A the programme of events, receiving more triumphant vindication of the entries, and other multifarious and principles we have steadfastly and onerous duties, was not adopted. We consistently maintained and upheld shall doubtless have the usual stereo-3 inches; which means for the onely protesting against several clanses in connection with the management typed complaints during training inch over 13.2 an increase of 7lbs. of our annual race-meeting we could as to the wretched state of the course, instead of the usual 3lbs. How not possibly have desired. We pub- the miserably inefficient matshed sta- much weight is it intended that lished without comment a detailed bling, the fearful decoctions provided galloways measuring the regulation account of what transpired at the so- by Taylor" in the shape of tea 14 hands shall carry? The omission called public meeting in the Tele- and coffee, and the unsatisfactory ac- of this important stipulation in Mr. graph of the 7th instand now pro- commodation generally, without hav- Forbes's proposal would seem to which, pose to devote some slight amounting any recognised official to remedy constitute an irregularity of attention to briefly reviewing and these and other supposed grievances. strictly speaking, ought to invalidate analysing the proceedings.
Complaints are both loud and deep the whole of the proceedings. The throughout the entire training sea-Shanghai Race Club's scale of weights son; suggestions for much-needed improvements are tendered privately with astounding liberality, yet when a favourable opportunity presents itself of advocating the cause of re- form, every voice is mute. This is owing to our rigid adherence to, and huge respect for that most emascu- late and bigotted tradition "olo custom."
A proposal, brought forward by
WRECK OF THE “BOLTON ABBEY.”
FOUR LIVES LOST.
H.M.S. Kestrel, which left here on the 7th instant for a echise in search of the dismasted ship Bolton Abbey, re- ported by the Americau ship Twilight, which arrived here on September 27th, returned to harbour oarly this uiorning with Captain Williams and ninoteen men, comprising the crew of the ill- fated vessel, which was wrecked on the Pratas Shoal an the 30th ultimo. The
following report has boon kindly fur- nished us by Mr. Lillin, chief officer of the Bolton Abbey. The vessel, bound from Nowcastle for Manila, was dis- masted on August 23rd in a sovero typhoon which occurred in Int. 17.35 N. long. 127.56 E. Rigged jury masts and proceeded on our voyage, and after making about 1,100 miles, averaging four knots an hour, on September 22nd sighted the American ship Twilight, bound for Hongkong, in lat. 20.21 North, longitude 120.52 Enst. I want on board the Twilight, and was kindly supplied by Captain Westland with a small boat, and a few other necessaries of which we stood in need. We required no assistance, as our ship was as tight as a bottle, and in good trim, and as wo had already safely tra velled oleven nudred miles had no
doubt of our being able to reach Hong- kong. The weather was fine for some days after we parted company with the The departure from Lisbon for Ma-Tailight, but it afterwards became very cao of Major Constantino de Britto is story, and our vessel was knocked noted in the last unmber of the Toraal
about a good deal. On September das Colonias to hand. Major do Britto 29th it blow a heavy gale, and the weather was so thick that we were un- dard in height, would appear to in-has been appointed Surveyor General
able to take sights, but we made out dicate that the meeting viewed the in the Holy City, relieving Senhor matter with supreme indifference. Quintanilla who will proceed to Europe by dead reckoning that we were in a perfectly safe position. At 5 am. în By rule 11, the weight for ponies is by an early mail. apportioned as follows:-12 hands
the morning of the 30th the wind was still blowing a fresh gale, the weather 10st., with an increase of 3lbs. for every inch above up to 13 hands 2 inches; and 11st. 1 lbs. for 13 hands
According to a message from Lon- don dated the 7th inst. the Boer Gov ernment of the Transvaal has telegraph. ed to the English Government, strong of the Convention, and requesting that the same be modifie 1. rising is also reported from Zululand,
Another serious
One of our local engineers in frooly expressing his views on the Tramway suliere quotes and the other reads ex- tracts from opinions recorded and ex- prosaed elsewhere on the subject; but the question really is, what previous individual practical acquaintance can they bring to bear upon the matters at issue? We are therefore justified in asking what personal qualifications ontitle their professional opinions to any weight with the Special Committe of the Legislative Council.
a hundred Chinese merchants amid the The firm in
usual firing of crackers. London will be known as Shaou Shing al Co., and the Hongkong agent is Mr. Leong On.
is 9st. 10lb. for 12 hands, and an increase of 3lb. for every inch above, which we consider a much less sen- sible arrangement than ours, for reasons which every practical horse- man and racing man must readily understand. In India the usual al- lowance for height is 4lb. the inch, which is more than double the allow ance in China, yet we have the un doubted authority of that experienced Mr. H. de Courcy Forbes, necessi-judge Captain Horace Hayes (vide tating the alteration of one of the Guide to Horse Training and Man- most important rules in our code,agement, page 205) for stating that was unanimously adopted, almost in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred Rule 10 reads even this allowance will not bring a without comment.
13 hands and a 13-2 pony together, nor the latter with one of 14 hands, provided the galloway has any pre tensions to racing form. Under all circumstances it is difficult to see on
Our Mauao correspondent, writes :- what logical and reasonable grounds The acrobatic performance given in the alteration of the rule regulating the theatre last night by the Hayes the height of ponies eligible for Star Troupe unfortunately ended in a Hongkong races has been sanctioned, fiasco, which might have resulted seri. or we should rather say, has been at ously. The house was a fairly good last recognised as it is written. Ac-one, H.E. the Governor, Madame Da cording to rule, galloways, 14 hands | and under, were always eligible, and there is nothing in the written laws to disqualify them for entry, although we readily admit that custom, that lex non scripta of racing legislation might justify the Stewards in refusing such entries. We shall return to this subject again.".
exceedingly thick, and the ship labour- ing very much, with a heavy soa con- tinnally breaking over us. The ship
had a tremendous list, and about a hundred feet of the bulwarks to wind- ward had gone. Eight minutes after sighting the shoal we struck, the vessel. becoming altoost a total wreck. Ac- cording to our dead reckoning we made ourselves, taking allowance for cur- rents, to be about 40 miles away from the Pratas. Immediately after striking we attempted unsuccessfully to run lines ashore, and then sent a raft, having no boats, with a line and three men. A heavy sea swept the carpenter over-
board, but the other two men reached the rocks in safety. Three more men, afterwards attempted to get ashore, but two of them were washed away and drowned. The whole of us eventually left the ship, myself, an A.B. and a boy,
The personnel of the Chinese firm to be established in London embarked this morning and left this port in the being the last to leave, and we had to height, so that we were almost con- China Merchants' steamer Meifoo, Cap-win ashore. The surf rose to a fearful Mr. Lew Shi-ting, who takes his family though a splendid swimmer succumbed tain Petersen. The chief-manager is
stantly under water. The A.B., al- with him; the second manager Mr.
to the heavy sea, and his body floated Leong Sin Kong; and four clerks
past me as I made desperate effort to Lum Wong Nam, Chin Yoic Kai, Ho
work my way ashore. The boy and Yok Peng, and Chok Chit Sang. The
I eventually succeeded in reaching party was escorted to the ship by about
the reef, and rejoining our com rades.
Five junks which were at anchor off the shoal picked us all up, took us on board, and treated us with the utmost kindness. We went down to Green Island, where the Chi- nese commenced to chin-chin joss, when the gunboat hove in sight, and eventually took us all on board and brought us on to Hongkong. The whole of the crow have lost every- thing they possessed, in fact with the oxception of the ship's papers which the Captain had secured in a life belt round bis waist, not a thing was saved from the ship. Great praise is due to the owners of the Chinese junks for their kindness to the shipwrecked men, and it is to be hoped that some efforts will be made to suitably reward them for their humanity. The steward, car- pentor, and two able seamen were lost, as above described, in attempting to reach the shore after the vessel struck. inore or less Most of the non are severely bruised and otherwise injured.
The subscribers present at the meeting totalled 27, a number far in excess of that in any previous year, if we are not greatly mistaken; a result attributable doubtless to the publicity we gave the subject in our columns. It must be noted, however, that the general body of subscribers was not represented at all, as the whole of the twenty-seven gentlemen who took part in the proceedings were members of the Hongkong Club. The outside subscribers to the Race Fund must certainly, judging from the amount annually subscribed, and placing the estimate at a very low figure, exceed three hundred. But even presuming that the number as follows: Height for ponies 13 did not reach one third of this esti- hands 3 inches and under; Gallo- mate, we would still have good ways, 14 hands and under." By grounds for contending that twenty- virtue of Mr. Forbes's resolution, seven subscribers all members of a which does not take effect until after supposed exclusive institution could the Race Meeting of 1882, the not adequately represent the wishes "height for ponies will be 14 hands and rights of the great majority. and under." Although the adoption Again, it will hardly be contended of this rule will place us on the that the real sporting element was same footing as the Shanghai Race fairly represented. The gentlemen Club, we consider that the acquies who are known in our racing world ence of the meeting of subscribers as Messrs. Paul, Henry, McOniodds, to the proposal a most unfortunate and Grammont are undoubtedly pil- lars of the local turf; the names of Messrs. Hockey, Heinrich, Ashley, Kahn, Theo, and Morgan have al- ready figured on the race programmes, but the other gentlemen present have not in any sense been prominent supporters of the national pastime. The Chairman, Mr. Atwell Coxon, after submitting the minutes of the previous meeting for confirmation, racing officia,l that we regret exceed- Matters in Ireland are evidently get-ing the whole extent of the rope, and announced that the amount of sub-ingly our inability to agree with anting desperate. Speaking on Irish scriptions last season amounted to alteration, which, we know right affairs at the Ministerial banquet, the $8,836.60, and the expenditure to well, was introduced with the best Prime Ministor appealed to all classes $8,358.13, thus leaving a balance in motives, namely, the improvement to support the Government in the hand of $478.47.. On being inter- of sport. Let us look at the matter great impending crisis. ragated by Mr. W. M. Morgan, the in, a practical light. Technically The steamer Ocean will undock at Chairman was understood to state there is no such thing as a pony Kowloon to-day, and make room for that this balance was all the money measuring 14 hands. Animals of the Tanis. The German steamship standing to the credit of the Race that height are known by the term Olympia comes out of the Cosmopolitan Fund, and that they, moaning the galloway. Is it an actual fact, is it Dock, and the Hawaiian ship Elvira subscribers we presume, had nothing even a probable contingency that Dorale will probably be docked this to do with any old fund. This offi- the sport will be improved by the evening, or oarly to-morrow morning.
and injudicious step for the best in- terests of Hongkong racing, and we regret that due notice of Mr. Forbes's proposed alteration of rule was not publicly announced in order to give subscribers an opportunity of oppos- ing what is a most startling innova tion. Mr. de Courcy Forbes is such a thorough gentleman and sports- man, and moreover such an energetic
LOCAL AND GENERAL.
Graça, and other notabilities of the city being present. As you mentioned. in the Telegraph a week ago, the the- atre is not suitable for acrobatic per- formauces, affording no accommodation for the proper and safe adjustment of the necessary apparatus for the per- farmers. Last evening the eldest of the boys was going through meos tricks on the slack rope, and in hang- ing head downwards with a loop round his ancle, the end of the rope appears to have become loosened, the boy fall- narrowly escaped knocking his brains out against tho seats in the body of the thoutro. A kerosene lamp, which hung from the centre of the house was knocked down, and but for the oner. getic assistance of several members of the audience who soon extinguished the flames, I should perhaps have had had to report a serious conflagration attended with loss of life. This un- fortunate mischance completely spoiled an entertainment which gave promise of proving a most enjoyable one,
A telegram from Victoria, British Columbia, statos that H.M. ship Garnet sailed from there on Monday, August 22nd, for Honolula, because an 80- nouncement has boon made that the United States intended to annex the Sandwich Islands. It adds that the British flagship is sailing thither from South America, also that the ships of other Powers have been ordered to
Honolulu.. Nobody at Washington seems to know of any such design on the part of the United States.