1881-11-12 — Page 2

A. S. WATSON & Co. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DRUGGISTS, GENERAL CHEMISTS,

AND

Manufacturors of the following AERATED WATERS, viz: SODA, TONIC, SARSAPARILLA, AND POTASE, LEMONADE, GINGERADE, RASPBERRYADE, AND PHOSPHORIC CHAMPAGNE.

Deliveries in Town and Harbour from

7 AM to 7 PM.

SHIPS MEDICINE CHESTS REFITTED, PASSENGER SHIPS SUPPLIED.

Prompt Attention given to Coast

Orders..

HONGKONG DISPENSARY,

CANTON DISPENSARY,

THE DISPENSARY,

HONGKONG. SHANGHAI PHARMACY,

SHANGHAL

CANTON.

Гоосном.

THE

Songkong Telegraph.

HONGKONG, 12TH NOVEMBER, 1881.

A PUBLIC mecting, convened by the Sheriff, was held at the City Hall yesterday, for the purpose of taking into consideration what steps should be adopted to offer a suitable wel come to their Royal Highness the Princes Albert Victor and George on the occasion of their visit to this colony. There was a large attend- ance of the general community, con- siderably over a hundred persons being present. We shall not be accused of disloyalty to the future King of Great Britain, or his brother; nor of want of respect towards the body of gentlemen who met together yesterday for the purpose of doing the Princes honor, when we characteriso the proceedings enacted at the public meeting as a gigantic farce. We say this advisedly, with no desire to give offence to anyone concerned, and we shall attempt to prove our justifica- tion for such a sweeping criticism on this latest City Hall burlesque.

As is well known to the whole

colony, a portion of the British Fleet, called the Detached Squadron, has lately visited the Australian Colonies, Japan, &c., and is expected to arrive in Hongkong on or about December 23rd. On board one of the vessels, the Bacchante, are two young lads serving as midshipmen, the Princes Albert Victor and George, grandsons of Her Majesty the Queen, sons of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. It is but natural that our Australian cousins should have availed themselves of the visit of the young Princes, to show their loyalty to the Crown, and their respect for the Royal Family of Great Britain, by public demonstra tions in honor of the Royal sailors and we doubt not that the gratifying receptions accorded to the Princes must have given great satisfaction at home. It is but right that the loyal inhabitants of this "dot on the

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH, 1881.

gladly placed at the disposal of the public meeting, was received with great applause, and a vote of thanks to His Excellency was immediately proposed, seconded, and carried with acefamation

been satisfactorily arranged and de- termined without the least inconve- nience or trouble. Municipal coun- cils all the world over are notoriously comme il faut at receiving royalty, although municipal addresses and harangues to royal visitors have be-

The Chairman then very properly come proverbial for their pompous asked if any gentleman would like to verbosity and vulgar claptrap. The suggest what kind of welcome we initiative in any proceedings to be should give to our Royal visitors, and taken in honor of the young Princes Mr. J. J. Francis proposed that the should most decidedly have emanated committee be authorised to prepare from the Government. The step a programme of what course they taken by a certain number of gentle intended taking, which would be men who appeaded their signatures submitted to a public meeting held to a document requesting the Sheriff subsequently; but the proposal was to convene a public meeting for the not seconded. Mr. Ryrie, supposing purpose of deciding in what manner that the business was finished, pro- to welcome the Royal sailors, with- posed a vote of thanks to the Chair- out consulting the Governor was not man, when Mr. Francis again called courteous towards Her Majesty's Go- the attention of the meeting to the vernment. The action taken by these necessity which existed for giving signatories the self-constituted lead-the committee appointed some au- ing citizens of the colony-in meet ing privately the day preceding the public meeting, for the purpose of electing a committee, drawing out resolutions, and in fact making the whole of the arrangements, rendered the public meeting nothing more nor less than a stupid farce. The public ara solemnly convened by advertise ment to meet at the City Hall," to consider what steps ought to be taken to offer a suitable welcome to their Royal Highnesses the Princes Albert Victor and George on the occasion of their visit to this colony," when as a matter of fact the gentlemen at whose request the meeting was con- vened by the Sheriff, had already assembled in private conclave, and on their own authority settled the whole business.

thority to carry out the reqiusite ar rangements, as he understood that a committee had been elected without being empowered to do anything, Mr. Johnson pointed out that his resolution provided "that the com- mittee be authorised to draw up an appropriate address, and to make all necessary arrangements to give a public welcome to the Princes on be- half of the community," remarked that an executive body numbering nearly 60 persons, representing all classes and interests in the com- munity might be safely trusted to draw up such a programme as would prove acceptable to the community. Mr. W. Legge, with all due deference to Mr. Johnson's opinions, consider- ed that it would be much better if the meeting were then and there in- The meeting at the City Hall formed as to the plan the Committee afforded a few of our leading citizens proposed to follow in the style of an opportunity of letting off a little entertainments to be given. Mr. of their oratorical steam, if it did Ryrie did not thing it possible for nothing else. To novices in the art of the committee to say what form the public speaking, it might be regarded entertainments should take, as the as a sort of rehearsal for the long-wishes of the Princes themselves winded orations now in course of pre- paration for the arrival of the wearied and worried lads, who, doubtless, ar- dently wish that meddling busybodies would leave them alone to enjoy their trip in

and comfort. However peace to be publicly pestered wherever they go is one of the concomitants of great

ness,

and so the infliction must be borne with as good a grace as, pos- sible. On the motion of Mr. P. Ryrie and Mr. Ng Choy, Mr. Francis Snowden was unanimously voted to the chair, and the learned and worthy Acting Chief Jusiice immediately improved the occasion by indulging in a rhetorical display, which he modestly enough classified as "pre- liminary remarks." He did not say anything we were not previously ac quainted with; but the emphatic manner in which he urged the com- munity to heartily unite and co- operate together, sinking all small differences of opinion or feeling was slightly comical, All this patriotic blowing of trumpets would have been in place had we been called upon to resist a Russian or Chinese invasion; but as the avowed object of the meet- ing was simply to make preparatory arrangements for a banquet, ball, reception or other ordinary courtesy to be paid to a couple of lads in short jackets, all the "high falutia" and grandiloquence was surely let off at the wrong time!

charms for the young gentlemen, in consideration of their father being supreme head of the craft in England, and doubtles there will be public receptions, garden parties, banquets, and balls at Government House.

The members of the Choral Society are working hard at the Pirates of Penzance, and we don't think they will need to be subsidised, as Mr. Tonnochy suggested, in order to produce an amusing and interesting entertainment. The proposed per- formance at one of the Chinese thea- tres might prove attractive, and the suggestion is certainly worthy of attention.

The P. &. O. steamer Sunda, Captain: Roovos, which arrived from Japan this. morning, reports having spoken the Flying Squadron at Kobe. The Princes were away shooting whop the Sunda left.

H.B. Tao Tsung-tang is expected to According to the Shanghai. Mercury,

Lin Kun-yih, in the meantime remains arrive ut Nanking about February; in charge; Pong Yu-lin, who pleaded sickness as an excuse for declining the post, is requested to resign his prosent position, as his sickness must incopaci- tate him for it.

The Tientsin correspondent of the Mercury observés After all, Tso has taken the Nanking government. This Although we cannot coincide with is the first visible result of the Viceroy what has already been done, for rea-Li's visit to the capital. Tao will fill sons above stated, we feel quite au important position in the shaping certain that the committee will do and execution of great military reforms- their best to provide a welcome for that have been planned. Tso and Li the Princes worthy of the colony. differ on many points, and do not love We trust, however, that the business each other, but one strong dosiro ani- will not be overdone. The Princes mates the minds of both, that is-to are mere lads, and they should be make China strong. spared all useless coremonials, ad- dresses, and speech making absurdi- ties. We can show our loyalty and respect without making our protes- tations of devotion offensive and wearisome. The feelings and wishes of the young sailors should be first consulted and afterwards religiously studied.

The American ship McNair goes over to Kowloon Dook this afternoon.

Sir Jemsetjee Jeejesbhoy has been sold to Chinese for $3,000.

We are informed that the old bulk

We learn that Her Majesty the Queen has confirmed the Ordinance re- pealing and amending the flogging laws of Hongkong.

The Earl of Kimberley has approved of the Governor's appointment of Mr. E. R. Belilios to a seat on the Legis. lative Council,

From private advices received from Amoy we learn that there is every prospect of the steamer Pakhoi, sunk in Amoy Harbour, being successfully

raised.

Wo hear that Mr. Pinto Bisto, the Portuguese Consul for Lyndon, leaves for his new post, by the French mail at the end of the math. His successor in Shanghai is not yet appointed.

Says the Mercury of the 8th inst The grase couras is open every moru- nig and a number of griffins are exercised; these are purchases out of the recent mobs. Mr. Bill has a large addition to the orchestra, Third Cornet, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Trumpets; the latter a pony spotted something like Third Trumpot, who is sold for Tis. 300. Mr. Paul, Mr. Dawson, Mr. St. Andrew, Mr. Ten Broeck are all training, no doubt for the Southern ports. Lothair is sold, Tls. 200; seve- ral of the ponies were sold last night at or after the auction.

THE ENGLISH MAIL.

The P. and O. steamer Thibet, with the Buglish mail of the 7th ult., arrived here this morning., A portion of our Singapore papers have been mislaid. We take the subjoined items from the London & China Express of October

7th:-

The Modesto, 14, Captain J. G. Mead was paid out of commission at Sheer. ness on the 80th ultimo, after eight years' service on the China Stalion. Her blue-jackets were granted the usual leave of absence, but the marines re- turned to the barracks at Chatam, and will receive their leave from that place. The 'Modeste has been placed in the 4th Division of the Medway Steam Reserve. Another instalment of the subscrip. The brown bear, captured in North tion griffins, eight in number, arrived Japan, is not to be presented to the by the P. and O. Company's steamer tended, but is to be given to the crew:

Zoological Gardens, as was at first in- Kashgar from Shanghai this morning of the Diamond, which is to be commis- They will be drawn for at Kennedy'ssioned aborily for service on the Aus Horse Repository, at five o'clock this afternoon.

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would have to be ascertained to some extent, but thought Mr. Johnson's observations had shadowed out that a considerable portion of the enter tainment would be of a Chinese character. The Chairman, evidently wishing to throw oil on the troubled waters, signs of disapproval with these rather vague explanations and promises being evident in the audi- ence, assured the meeting that the committee would do everything pos- aible to form an agreeable programme, and would be happy at any and all times to receive suggestions from gentlemen who had any to offer. Mr. Francis reminded the learned Chair- We are informed that the Lords of man that this was not a question of Her Majesty's Treasury, on the recom- suggestions by individuals; the commendation of the Earl of Kimberley, munity were entitled to be consulted

a

have granted Sir John Smale a retiring allowance on the most liberal scale, bringing up his pension to £1,145 68. 8d. per annum. It is understood that the Governor's recommendation as to the vacant Chief Justiceship is under the Secretary of State's consideration.

tralian station.

Commander Omsar H. Hawkins has been selected for the command of the

Humber, vice Commander Way, Com- mander Hawkins was employed in the destruction of Chinese war vessels in Escape Creek on the 25th May, 1857, his sevices on the occasion being re- warded with a medal; and of Chinese. war-boats in Taoung Kovan on the 27th May, 1857; also of the Fatshan" flotilla of war junks on the 1st June of the same year (Fatshan medal).

Midshipmen now serving on the Chi na station, who will complete their time for passing in seamanship before July. next, are to be appointed to ships in the Detached Squadron for passage to Eng land, their places in the China Squadron being filled by junior midshipmen now in the Detached Squadron.

Orders have been sont from the Ad.

upon which Captain Deane rose, and submitted that the speaker was out of order. Mr. Francis contended that he was quite in order, and great uproar ensued, the learned barrister carrying the house with him when he insisted that the com-

Says the London and China Express : Mr. Dalgleish, who was formerly munity had a right to be consulted. The business was concluded by the connected with the Central Asia Trad- Hon. M. S. Tonnochy, who favoured lately, on route for Yarkand, on a trad- ing Company, passed through Ladakh the meeting with his views as to what ing venture. He had a caravan with style of entertainment should be him of about thirty horses. This is adopted. The worthy Colonial Se the first time since the Chinese reoo-. cretary thought that, judging from capation of Elietera Turkostan that an his own experiences when he was English trader has visited the countrymiralty for the total disestablishment young, the Princes could not have too much of balls and theatricals..

The Army and Navy Gazelle says of the British Naval Depot at Shanghai, Probably Mr. Tonnochy's early days were suggested by Sir William Jervois, this store are to be taken, so that not

The fortifications of Singapore which and immediate steps for abolishing were spent in some favoured spot | K.O.B., when Governor of the Straits provision for its maintenance will be where public balls had more charms, Settlements, a few years since, and necessary in the next Navy Estimates. and theatrical performances were which were designed and erected by rather more artistic and attractive Captain McCallum, Assistant Colonial than ever has been the case in Hong-Engineer, and Lieut. E. F. Rhodes, kong. We trust we may be forgiven B., have lately received their arma for being truthful, if somewhat un- ment of heavy guns. The work of gallant, but a ball in this colony can transhipping these pieces of ordnance hardly be described as "a dream of and placing thein in the several forts fair women," nor are our amateur and batteries has been carried out by histrions altogether actors to the the European native subordinates of manner bora. It is to be presumed the Ordnance Store Department, under that the young Princes have "done" Assistant Commissary General of Ord- Dance J. E. Taylor, and the men of No. 14 Battery 7th Brigade (assisted by a Chinese coolie corps), under the directions of Captain H. W. Bracken bury and Lieutenant J. P. Fell, RA. The whole has been satisfactorily com- pleted, reflecting great ore lit upon the officers and corps concerned,

occan" should also show themselves alive to the necessity for displaying some of that boasted loyalty, which is so ostentatiously paraded on every

Mr. F. Bulkeley Johnson proposed possible occasion, when these two the first resolution, namely that a young sailor lads, one of whom in certain body of gentlemen whose the ordinary course of events is des- names he read, should be appointed tined to wear the purple, visit our as a committee to represent the com- shores. We frankly admit the no-munity on the approaching visit of cessity for this community deciding the Princes, which, as already stated, on publicly exhibiting towards our had all been "cut and dried" before- expected visitors the courtesy due hand, Mr. Johnson also went in for to their illustrious rank, the loyalty an oratorical display, but it must be we owe to the Crown, but we cannot confessed that his observations were agree with what has been done, and

to the point, and of a thoroughly we have still greater objections to sensible and practical character. Mr. the way in which the preliminaries T. Jackson seconded the proposal,

and it was unanimously adopted. A a good many balls and theatrical statement made by Mr. M. S. Tonno- performances during their short lives chy that HE. the Governor had so that anything we can produce taken a vote of $10,000 from the in that line in Hongkong could Finance Committee for the purpose hardly prove very attractive. The of defraying the cost of the welcome Masonic ball, which is rathor unique to the Princes, one half of which he in its way, may have some special

Z

-have-been carried out so far.

For all purposes of practical argu- ment, the Government of Hongkong may correctly enough be termed ab- solute. Had we possessed a munici- pal corporation, the question of ac cording a public reception could have

|

Captain Augustus Butler, R.N., died on the 26th ult., at. Reading, aged fifty-seven. The deceased entered the Navy in 1888, and was midshipman of the Wellesley under Sir Frederick Maitland, Sir Gordon Bremer, and Sir William Parker, As such ho witnessed the capture of Kurracheo from the Ameer of Scindo, and of Chugan from the Chinese in 1889.40; accompanied Rear-Admiral Elliot up the Paibo river; took part in the celebrated at- took on the Bogub Forts in February, 1841; served on shore and afloat throughout the operations connected with the ensuing capture of Canton, and was also employed at the taking of Amoy, the recapture of Chason, the storming of the fortified heights and