470
its way into the reservoir, as for many months in the year the troops will naturally roam over the hills and valleys adjoining for both exercise and recreation.
13. Such a danger does not, we submit, exist in the case of the present hotel, the residents of which are much fewer than the number of troops which it is proposed to quarter there, and are most of them engaged daily below in the pursuit of their various avocations.
14-If barracks, as is rumoured, are also to be constructed at High West, the danger we refer to will be further augmented.
15.-In this connection it should be borne in mind that for Hill Residents and many who live to the West in Hongkong, the Pok-fo-lum re- servoir forms their only water supply.
16-We would therefore respectfully urge that all possible risk of contamination to our water supply should be avoided.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE CBLE-
BRATIONS.
OFFICIAL PROGRAMME,
The official programme to be carried through during the Diamond Jubilee Festival has now been printed. It differs in no material degree from the programme first drafted, but there are several explanatory points which were com- municated to the Press yesterday by the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Hou. Secretary, which are important as well as interesting to the general public. The first event takes place on Sunday next, when the Committee meet in the Council Chamber at 10.45 am. and, in company with His Excellency the Governor, His Excel loney Major-General Black, Sir John Carring ton, the members of the Executive Council, the Puisne Judge, and the members of the Legisla Live Council, repair in a body to St. John's 17.-As regards the Mount Austin Hotel, as Cathedral. The commemoration service will be there is only one narrow road with the very of course a special one, and the prayers are to be steep gradient of about one in three leading to those used at the commemoration service in it, it will be arduous for soldiers to find 1887. As the Rev. R. F. Cobbold has pointed their way up from the lower level of Vic-out, it is to be regretted that the prayers specially toria
foot, and in the event of written to be used in the English churches on bodies of men being transported by the this occasion will not arrive here in time, al- tram oars (which can only legally carry 40 though we noticed that when the last mail left passengers at a time) the dislocation of the England the prayers could be obtained from the ordinary traffic will be a serious inconvenience printers, so it is possible there has been some to all ordinary passengers, who will thereby be unavoidable delay in obtaining copies for Hong- deprived of the car service.
kong. A plan will shortly be drawn up show- for this service, such a course being rendered ing how the various seats are to be apportioned necessary in consequence of the great demand there will be for seats.
on
the narrowness of the existing roads at the 18.We would also respectfully urge that
Peak does not lend itself to the free movement of even moderately large bodies of troops without causing much inconvenience to the ordinary passengers.
19-Sites, if not quite at such an altitude but equally good apparently from a strategio point of view, and more conveniently situated for the purposes of exercise and recreation ou the part of the soldiers can be found along the
chain of bills to the eastward.
20.-Mount Cameron, Caroline Hill, and the slopes above Causeway Bay appear very suit-
able sites for barracks.
21.-We would submit that the sites above suggested are more central, more easy of access, and that they are within easy reach of the Happy Valley and Causeway Bay, the only open spaces large enough for military exercises in the Colony.
22.-The time has surely now come for the Imperial Government to formulate such a com- prehensive scheme as will give adequate accom. modation to the troops on this station, and this can be easily obtained in the localities already referred to, which are sufficiently high up to be cool and salubrious.
23. On the one hand it is a comparatively simple matter for the Military Authorities, who have large means at their disposal and an almost unlimited choice of sites, to open up a new district. On the other hand it is a very difficult, slow and expensive process for civilians, who move one by one, to develope a new locality, and if a section of the community is driven below by the Military occupation of a place of large public resort at the Peak, an undesirable check will be placed upon the development and progress of the high level life of the Colony.
t
Juni 17; 1897.]
The Jockey Club stands will all be utilized for the great occasion: One has been taken by the Hongkong Club, one by the German Club, a third by Messrs. Madar and Farmer, who will provide refreshments for the general public, others will be occupied by private individuals who will extend hospitality to their friends, while the remainder will be taken up by the Jockey Club. Nor have the children been forgotten. They and their amahs will have the stewards' stand all to themselves and they will be regaled with ginger beer, sweets, and other good things to be provided by the thoughtful Committee. We might also men- tion here that a portion of the stand nearest the entrance to the ground will be re served exclusively for about 400 Chinese. Perhaps all the various stands will not be quite sufficient to permit of the whole of the subscribers using them, but there will be abundance of room in the enclosure for those who cannot gain admission to the stands. It is expected that the grand review and the musical performance will conclude at
of
&
80
7.15
little very
time p.m.,
will remain before the commencement of the next item in the
which programme, is fixed for 9 o'clook. This is the display fireworks and illuminations, including procession
boats of illuminated
and launches, the last named of which is being
ing from the preparations now being made in has already furnished numerous details. Judg. supervised by Hon. H. E. Wodehouse, who
various parts of the town it is apparent that the illuminations will be on a magnificent scale, while the fireworks, given fine weather, will also be a tremendons attraction. The Chinese will have a fireworks display near a flower show to be held in a mat-shed at West Point, and there will also be a grand display from lighters in the centre of the harbour. We might also mention that the new Hongkong Club will be temporarily opened on this night for the con- venience of members and their friends, and the Commodore and officers will also extend hospit
After the commemoration service nothing will be done until Tuesday, the 22nd inst., when the general rejoicings will commence. The first event is a meeting of the Executive and Legislative Councils at 10 a.m. for the pur- pose of sending a congratulatory message to the Queen. A reception will be held by H.E. the Governorat Government House at eleven o'clock, when the public address to the Queen and an address from the Masonic Lodges of Hongkong will be presented to His Excellency, who will also be asked to accept a tablet from the Chi-ality to numerous guests who will witness the
spectacle from the Victor Emanuel. nese to be hung in Government House as a memorial of the occasion. It is also intended, we understand, to present the Colonial Secre- tary and Registrar-General with a tablet to be placed in the Registrar-General's Office. It will be remembered by many residents that in 1887 similar presentations took place and it is a gratifying feature that the Chinese have decided to repeat the ceremony in honour of the Diamond Jubilee.
The grand review at the Happy Valley of the naval and military forces will be held at 5.40 p.m. and as His Excellency the Governor is always punctual to the minute we strongly advise everybody to be on the ground in good time. During the past few days special arrangements have been in progress at the Happy Valley for what will undoubtedly be a magnificent spectacle. The ditch which divides the race course from the playing portion of the valley has been for a considerable distance covered over and palings have been taken down so as to permit of the march past taking place on the race- course and training course. The advantage of this arrangement is obvious. The troops will pass immediately in front and in full view of the spectators, whereas if the alterations had not been made the whole of the men would have been confined to the inner circle of the valley and a long distance from the spectators. Excellent provision has been made for the general public, who can gain entrance to the enclosure by tickets which can be obtained from the hon. Secretary. The various Consuls are of course to receive special invitations to witness the review, while, as will be seen from our advertisement columns, ladies are cordially invited to the enclosure. The provision for sightseers will be on a very large scale. The 25.-We therefore pray Your Excellency to grand stand is to be occupied by the choir of intervene in our behalf with the War Depart-residents who are to take part in the open air musi- ment and to lay before the Military Authorities cal performance, particulars of which we have the objections which we have sketched above already published. His Excellency the Governor against the conversion of the Mount Austin and his staff and the Committee will occupy a re- Hotel into barracks, and to ask them whether served space in front of the grand stand, while they would be willing to sell the building to a for the general public two large stands, capable public company which would continue to manage of holding 1,500 persons, have been erected on it as an hotel; and if so to give a respite of one either side of the grand stand, the seats being month to the Colonists wherein to endeavour to in tiers, so that everyone will be able to gain a raise the capital necessary for such purchase. view of the whole proceedings,
24. In conclusion we would point out that the loss of the hotel entails a considerable loss of public income, as the taxes on the property, amounting to several thousands of dollars per annum, will be lost to the Colonial revenue. We would also beg leave to most respectfully urge that inasmuch as the ratepayers of this Colony have been called upon to contribute one third of the cost of the expenditure of the Military Authorities upon barracks, some con- sideration should fairly and reasonably be shown to the wishes and appeal of the civil portion of the community.
}
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The first ceremony on Wednesday is the laying of the foundation stone of the Victoria Hospital for Women and Children by His Excellency the Governor at 10 a.m. Excellent arrangements have been made for the general public. A mat-shed has been erected in the immediate neighbourhood of the nurses' quarters at the hospital. The Hon. C. P. Chater, the Chairman of the Committee, will present the Governor with a trowel specially made for the occasion and ask him to perform the ceremony of laying the stone. After the stone has been well and truly laid the subscribers to the Jubilee Fund will embark on board the steamer Heung- shan, which has been kindly lent by the Hong. kong, Canton, and Macao Steamboat Com- pany, and sail down to West Point, where His Excellency the Governor will lay the stone to commemorate the commencement of the Victoria Road. His Excellency and the Committee will land from the steamer at a specially constructed bamboo jetty, and the interesting ceremony will be witnessed by the public from the Heungshan. It is hoped that all subscribers will avail themselves of this steamer, for which no tickets are required. The Chairman of the Committee will also present His Excellency with a trowel on this occasion. The return journey will be made in time to allow of subscribers being present at the start of the gymkhana meeting at the Happy Valley, which is fixed for four o'clock. The alterations made to the ground for the review will have entirely disappeared at this meeting and the course will assume its wonted aspect. The many stands will be thrown open by various sporting gentlemen for the accommodation of their friends. Ladies are particularly invited to attend the gymkhana.
At 9 o'clock at night the display of illumina- tions and fireworks will be repeated.
During both days there will be an exhibition of Chinese curios at the City Hall from 10 am. to 6 p.m. and this is sure to be a source of The arrangements for the great interest. exhibition are in the hands of Mr. Fung Wa Chuen and the curios will include a very rare collection lent by Hon. C. P. Chater.
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