166
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
"ceased to be taught." From this it will be seen that the Commissioners attached importance to the study of Chinese, and it was on this point that the controversy of fifteen years ago chiefly turned. The report was signed by the late Dr. STEWART, Sir E. L. O'MALLEY, then Attorney-General, the late Mr. RYRIE, and the late Mr. F. BULKELEY JOHNSON, while Mr. Na Choy, another of the Commissioners, expressed disscut in so far as the teaching of Chinese and Eng. lish concurrently was concerned, hold- ing that every hoy before admission to the Central School should be found to possess a competent knowledge of his own language. All the Commissioners, however, were agreed that Chinese boys should have an education in their own language, the only difference being as to whether it should be imparted concurrently with their English education or previously to it. The principle of con- current English and Chinese education has recently been emphasised by Sir Wi LIAM ROBINSON, a new rule having been `introduced under which no school is to par- ticipate in the benefits of the grant-in-aid scheme unless English is taught. In reality, however, we believe His Excellency is op- posed to Chinese education in tolò; we do not recollect that he has said so in so many words, but that is the inpression his utter- ances have conveyed. The idea of eliminat- ing the Chinese language from the colony and making English the every day tongue of the people is very pretty, as a day dream, but it is wholly lacking in practicability. What is wanted for European mercantile offices is a class of native clerks who, while competent as regards their clerical duties, shall also serve as mediums of communica- tion between their European employers and the Chinese customers,
A mere English speaking Chinanjan who was not fitted by education to associate on equal terms with educated men of his own country would be less useful than a man educated in both lan guages, as is shown by the inferiority of the Singapore hahah as compared with the Hongkong educated boy. This is a point, too, on which the Indian practice might be looked to for guidanec. In India there has been no attempt to suppress the use of the vernacular tongues, but, on the contrary, the native languages are taught concurrently with English in the elementary schools, and it is only when higher education is entered upon that the English language becomes the sole medium of instruction.
CAPTAIN CARMICHAEL AND THE
"ON SANG" INQUIRY,
Having referred editorially to Captain CARMICHAEL'S absence from the inquiry into the circumstances attending the strand-
|
Overture. Valse
selection... Polka...... March Selection
[February 27, 1896.
"Le Père La Victoire"
"Baner und Dichter"
"Sweet Briar "
Ganne Suppe Lowthian
Dandy Dick Whittington"...Caryll
"See me Dance"
..Solomon
"Hock Habsburg".
.....Kral
LL
"$
Williams
C
Waldteufel
Babylonia Valse
"Vision" Selection...... "Gentleman Joe" 'Galop
Violet"
..Slaughter Lamont
Section 13 deals with inquiries as to charges | Peachey, played the following programme of of incompetency or misconduct against music.
to the loss, March.... masters or officers and as
of vessels. abandonment, stranding, etc., The charge of personal bias brought by Captain CARMICHAEL against the Harbour Master may pass without further comment than that it was Captain RUMSEY'S plain duty to cause an inquiry to be made in such a case as that of the stranding of the On Sang. It is open to Captain CARMICHAEL, how- ever, to apply for a rehearing under sub- section 7 of section 13, and the Governor has power to direct that the case shall be reheard "either by the Court, by whom it was heard in the first instance, or by a Marine Court to be appointed under this section, or by a Judge of the Colonial Court of Ad miralty." If after what has occurred Captain CARMICHAEL fails to apply for such a rehearing the inference to be drawn will not be in his favour.
4
"
HONGKONG RACE MEETING.
FIRST DAY.
20th February.
The weather is the very foundation of one's enjoyment, and it was very unfortunate that more suitable climatic conditions did not favour the opening day of the annual race meeting held under the auspices of the Hongkong Jockey Club. True, it was fine, as predicted by the infallible weather prophet, but it was fine with- out a single glimpse of sunshine, and the tempe rature was much too cold to be appreciated by the ordinary resident; no doubt many of the hundreds of people who assembled at the Happy Valley yesterday devoutly wished for the sun to blaze forth in all its glory and add genial warmth to the surroundings The attendance in the Grand Staud and enclosure was not so large as was last year, nor did the scene pre- sent such a gray and festive appearance, as owing to the bleak weather the ladies could not don their lightest and airiest costumes, and there was not a single gentlemen who shone forth in all the majesty and pomp of a gorgeous check suit. Apparently, however, the weather did not deter the Chinese from swarming to the Valley, as there were just as many as in former years. One of the earliest arrivals at the grand stand was His Excellency the Governor, Sir William Robinson, who is the most enthusiastic of sportsmen, and amongst the others present during the day were His Excellency Admiral Buller, His Excellency Major-General Black, and many naval and military officers.
The day's proceedings were in every way highly successful and great credit is due to the many officials who worked so hard to facilitate the lengthy programme being got through promptly and without a single hitch. The heavy rains of the past fortnight had of course considerably handicapped owners in the train ing of the ponies, and so there was more glorious uncertainty about the sport, which made it perhaps all the more enjoyable; at any rate a more than unusual amount of specula tion was indulged in. The course was very
The following is the list of officials— Stewards:His Excellency Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G.; His Excellency Vice- Admiral Alexander Buller, C.B.; His Excel- lenoy Major-General Wilsone Black C.B.; Commodore Boyes, R.N.: Colonel Anstey, R.E.; Major The Hon. E. Noel, The Rifle H. T. Faithfull, Brigade; Lieut.-Colonel Hongkong Regiment; Major W. D. Garnett. Botfield, R.A.; the Hon. J. J. Bell Irving,
the Hon. C. P. Chater; the Hon! T. H; Whitehead; Messrs. A. Coxon, R. M. Gray. M. Grote, C. F. Harton, J. D, Hum- phreys, T. Jackson, R. Shewan,
Clerks of Scales :-Messrs. R. Shewan and C. F. Harton.
Judge:-The Hon. C. P. Chater. Starter-Mr. M. Grote.
Second Starter :-Mr. D. Landale. Hon. Treasurer:-Mr. J. C. Peter. Clerk of the Course :-Mr. T. F. Hongh. The WONG-NEI-CHONG STAKES; a sweepstakes of $5 each with $100 added; second pony to receive $50; for China ponies bond fide griffins on date of entry; weight for inches as per scale; subscription griffins of this season, 1895-96, allowed 5 lbs. Half a mile. Mr. Master's Niggler, 10st. 12lbs.
Mr. Buxey's Planet, 11st. 4bs...
(Owner) 1
(Mr. Crawford) 2 Capt. Loveband's Artexerxes, 11st. llb......
(Lieut. Col. The O'Gorman) 3 Mr. Derick-Hunter's Truce, 10st. 3lbs.
(Mr. Midwood) 0
Hon. H. L. S. Lee, Dillon's The Beast, 11st.
1lb.
(Mr. Power) 0
Messrs. Alexander and Taylor's Koumiss,
11st. 4lbs..
(Mr. Taylor) 0
Mr. J. D. Humphreys' Vapour, 10st. 12lbs.
(Mr. Hart Buck) 0
Mr. Carruthers' Marathon, 10st. 10lbs
(Mr. Cruickshank)
Mr. Tithong's Dragon, 10st. 4lbs. .....
(Mr. Grasson) 0
Mr. Fourman's Scorpion, 11st. lb.
(Mr. Morton Jones) 0 Just as the twelve o'clock gun was fired the horses were at the starting point, but the difficulty-not an unusual one-of getting them to face the right way caused considerable delay, Scorpion being partionlarly fractions. He first of all scampered away alone round the course, and at the plantation he stopped dead still, but a moment later, he bolted off again and was pulled up just beyond the rook. A fairly good start was eventually made consider- ing the large field, Artexerxes being last. Niggler was the first to show the way, being closely followed by Konmiss, Vapour being third, Truce fourth, and Planet fifth. Round- ing the bend: Mr. Master was leading, and then Marathon came well up. Entering the straight
ing of the On Sang, it seems fair that we heavy indeed, but the times recorded compare Planet, Niggler, and Koumiss were together
"
should give publicity to his explanation. His letter to a Shanghai contemporary will be found reproduced in another colunin. He says he was informed by the owners and managers, Messrs. JARDINE, MATHESON & Co.; "that there would be no inquiry into "the matter as they did not see any neces- sity," and he accordingly left for Shanghai. It seems right, however, to point out that Captain. CARMICHAEL does not correctly quote the section of the Ordinance to which he refers. The holding of a Court of Inquiry is not dependent on the owner feeling aggrieved. It is in section 14, not section 13, that those words occur, and the connec tion in which they stand is that if a shipowner feels aggrieved by the refusal of a certificate for his ship he may appeal to a Court of Survey, which is quite a different matter.
favourably with those of the previous year, and the sport was on the whole, exceedingly good. One particularly striking feature about yesterday's proceedings was the exceptionally large fields which turned but in many of the ten races, and at times the starter had a very trying task in getting the ponies into proper line. The principal race of the day was the Hongkong Derby, which was won by Stan- dard, who was a popular favourite. "He ran splendidly and well earned his victory, which was certainly a popular one. This year decided improvement was made by an additional board showing the names of the competing ponies being exhibited in a prominent part of the ground, while another improvement which deserves mention is the bamboo partition which has been erected under the grand stand to prevent the officials being hampered in their
work.
a
During the day the band of the Rifle Brigade, under the leadership of Mr. W. D.
ahead of Dragon, but fifty yards from the winning past Niggler, Planet, and Artexerxes. (on the outside) were leading and a grand finish resulted in the horses being placed in this. order. Niggler won by only a head, Artaxerxes being not half a length from Planet. Time, 1 min. 3 secs.
The ASHLEY CUP; presented by D. R. Sassoon, Esq.; for China ponies; entrance fees to go to the winner; second pony to receive $50; weight for inches as per scale; entrance $5. One mile.
Mr. Jay's Ambitious, 11st. llb. (Mr. Jones) 1 Mr. Dryasdust's Shiney Villiam, 11st. 4lbs.
(Mr. Marshall) 2
Mr. Buxey's Black Velvet, 11st.. llb.........
(Mr. Crawford) 3
Mr. Chancery's Despatch, 10st. 12lbs.......
(Mr. Taylor) Mr. J. D. Humphreys' Voltigeur, 11st. llb.
(Mr. Hart Buck) (
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