476
The Hon. Treasurer of the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals begs to acknowledge with thanks the following donation to the funds of the Hospitals:
Rev. J. Bosshard
$5
The Lun Fat, the launch that ran down a police pinnace in the harbour some time ago, was sunk in the Canton river last week by the steamer Pasig. The accident happened near Whampoa. Fortunately no lives were lost..
A game of water polo was played in the regimental bathing pool on Wednesday between a team representing the Victoria Recreation Club and a team of the West Yorkshire Regi- ment. The V.R.C. won by seven goals to two. Telegraphic intelligence has been received that the N. Y. K. steamer Tokio Maru, which was advertised to leave this on the 24th inst. for Australia, has stranded while coming through the Inland Sea. She has accordingly been taken off the berth at this port.
On 10th inst. six gamblers were taken before Mr. Wodehouse at the Magistracy. They were raided on by Inspector Baker the previous night in a house in Circular Pathway. Two of the defendants were fined $50 each and the other four $5 each,
The subjoined telegram, received by the Government from H. B. M.'s Chargé d'Affaires at Tokyo, has been forwarded for the informa- tion of the Chamber of Commerce by the Colonial Secretary 8th June, 1897. Medi- cal inspection enforced from June 7th against vessels from Formosa, Shanghai, and other Chinese ports to the South."
On the 14th inst. Inland Lot No. 1416, which is situated on Bowen Road near the filter beds, was sold by auction. The land contains 161,000 square feet and the annual rental is $1,110. The purchasers were the Hongkong Land Investment and Agency Com- pany, Limited, the price being $14,515, or $25 above the upset price,
The Peak Club will shortly shift its quarters. The Government Pavilions, formerly appro- priated to the use of the heads of departments, are now in a half dismantled and wholly un- inhabitable condition, and the committee of the Club have secured permission to occupy these buildings, putting them into repair at the cost of the Club and adapting them to its uses. This will involve an outlay of some $2,000, we believe, but the Club can afford this expense inasmuch as they have been granted the use of the Pavilions for a nominal rental of $16 per month. The reason for moving the institution from its present abode is a difference of opinion with the landlord as to responsibility for damage by typhoons.
At 2.40 a.m. on the 15th June a fire broke out in the home of the Moloch of kerosine-Jervois Street. The fire caused a good deal of trouble to the brigade inasmuch as it originated in a piece goods shop at 114, Jervois Street and spread to the upper stories of the adjoining houses, Nos. 114 A and 116, which are paper shops. Damage to the ground floors of the houses was principally caused by water, but the upper floors of all the three buildings suffered considerably by the
Nos. 114 and 116 were insured with Messrs. Siemssen and Co. for $26,500, $24,500 in the Transatlantic Insurance Company, and $2,000 in the Sun Insurance Company. The other house was insured in the Hanseatic Insurance Company for $10,000.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The Local Secretary, the Raub Australian Gold Mining Co., Limited, Singapore, has re- ceived the following telegram from Raub, dated 7th June:"Rough cleaning up of battery yielded 2,800 oz. amalgam, estimated quantity of stone crushed being 1,400 tons. Have struck reef in west crosscut Bukit Jalis. Gold plainly visible throughout, quality of stone is rich."
Another member of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps who recently passed the ambulance ex- amination rendered valuable service on Wednes- day, the 9th inst. A Chinese boy was bath- ing at Laichikok when he got out of his depth and he had sunk for the third time On being before assistance reached him. taken to the shore he was utterly exhausted and apparently was not breathing. The Volunteer at once proceeded to restore the boy by means of artificial respiration and suc- ceeded in bringing him round in a few minutes. The rainfall recorded at the Observatory from 10 a.m. on Tuesday until 10a.m. on 9th inst., was 5.14 inches, nearly the whole of which fell be- tween three and five o'clock yesterday morning, and the level of the water in Tytam reservoir was raised 4 ft. 6 in. A good deal of this rapid rise must be attributed to the eastern catch. water, and when the western catchwater is also completed we may hope that water famines in Hongkong will be a thing of the past. An- other effect of the heavy rain was to wash a large quantity of sand from the Parade Ground into Queen's Road, blooking up the side chan- nels and causing the street to be flooded. The sand was speedily cleared away by a gang of coolies.
The cutting on the hill-side below Bowen Road and to the east of and above the powder magazine is for the construction of filter beds and a covered service reservoir, Particulars of this work were published some time ago, before it was commenced, but now that the cutting appears to be exciting some curiosity it may be interesting to state that there are to be three filter beds with a filtration capacity of 1,000,000 gallons per diem, and the service reservoir will have a capacity of main will 600,000 gallons. A cast iron connect this service reservoir with the exis- distribution system and the service ting
Wanchai. We may mention reservoir at also that work is actively proceeding on the catchwater reservoir near Wongneichong Gap. The catchwater contours the hillside on the south of Wongneichong Gap and is to discharge into the reservoir, from which the water will be conveyed by a cast iron main 5in, in diameter to the Tytam conduit. The catchwater con- touring the hillside on the west of the Tytam Valley is also being constructed.
The new ball room at Mount Austin Hotel will be opened by a ball given by residents at the Hotel on Monday, the 21st inst. The room is 75 ft. by 36 ft., excluding the wide verandah, so that there is ample space for a fairly large dancing party. It is entirely separate from the main building, being built upon part of the tennis lawn, and there is absolutely nothing to prevent the charming Peak breezes from blowing right through the room and making the at- mosphere comfortably cool. The room is very handsome, the pilasters of the Ionic order setting off to great advantage the general tone of the interior, while the gas chandeliers, which are works of art and which cost a considerable sum of
money, form a very handsome addition to the "The Moralist"" writes in the Straits Times : general surroundings. The floor is of highly -It is the custom, perhaps a very natural cus-polished teak and the ceiling is also of wood. tom, for one colony to say, on occasions, Ah, The deep verandah is practically a part of the how much better this is done at Somewhere- ball room, there being no windows or doors Else!" Hongkong made that ejaculation when intervening but only a few supporting columns, it was found, a good time ago, that Singapore so that an almost uninterrupted view can be was first in the field with suggestions for a per- gained of the dancers. While being shown over on Saturday by Mr. Cook, the manent memorial of the Queen's Reign. The the room
manager, it struck us that there is only one boot is now on the other leg. Though we were first in the matter of suggestion, Hong- serious fault in the general arrangements, and kong is a long way ahead of us in perform that is that there appears to be no separate ance. Already, I see, they have collected entrance to the verandah, so that the servants about $10,000 for the worthy object they have will have to pass through the ball room in order in view, while we have not made a start towards to take refreshments to the verandah. Doubt- collecting the necessary sum, We are haggling less this defect would have been remedied if the over details, while others are leaving details to hotel had not been sold to the military authorities. take care of themselves until the scheme takes However, in the course of time Tommy Atkins practical shape. In matters of subscription, will take his meals in the ball room and his there is nothing like striking while the iron is fastidious taste will perhaps not carry him hot, as you, Sin, have more that once demon- quite so far as to ask for a special entrance to strated. The big hat ought to at once go round.' the verandah.
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[June 17, 1897.
moned a ricksha coolie at the Police Court Mr. Cyril Holdsworth, of Bay View, sum-
on 9th inst. for refusing hire. The prosecu. tor explained that as he was a heavy man- his weight was 230 lbs.-'ricksha coolies usually ran away from him on his approach and he always had the greatest difficulty in getting a 'ricksha. In the present case he called upon the defendant, who refused to carry him and ran away. The Magistrate inflicted a fine of $2.
Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., the General Managers inform us that they have received the following telegram from the Board of the Indo-China Steam Navigation Co., Limited:- "General meeting of shareholders will take place on 17th June. Report for last year forwarded by to-day's mail. No dividend will be declared. We are bringing forward £1,400. Balance at credit of underwriting account £90,000. Exchange reserve £3,900." London, 11th June, 1897.
On 10th inst. an important meeting of the members of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps was held at headquarters for the purpose of electing a Recreation Committee. Captain Chapman presided and before the actual busi- ness of the meeting was commenced he announced that Major Sir John Carrington was unable to be present through indisposition, a statement which was heard with feelings of regret. It was reasurring to the members to know that the Major's illness was only slight. A Recreation Committee was then formed and, at the request of the Commandant, the sense of the meeting was taken as to a proposal that coolies should be employed to take the guns to within a short distance of the Happy Valley on Jubilee Day. The proposal was carried by only one, the members in the minority being of opinion that the Volunteers themselves should take the guns. The Com- mandant also asked, in his letter, whether the Volunteers would line the central aisle at the commemoration service at St. John's Cathedral, a wish to that effect having been expressed by His Excellency Major-General Black. The members were unanimously in favour of the proposal. It was also unanimously agreed to accept the services of a pipe band to march the Corps to the Happy Valley on Jubilee Day. After the business of the general meeting was concluded a meeting of the Recreation Com- mittee was held. Sub-Committees were ap- pointed for the purpose of making arrange- ments for tennis, bowls, cricket, football, swimming, and entertainments. It was also decided to issue an express asking members of the Corps who wish to join the Recreation Club to send in their names to the hon. Secretary, Gunner G. T. Crook, Headquarters. The subscription was fixed at $2 per annum.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Shanghai Spring Regatta was held on
-We the 5th June and proved very successful. The Straits Times of the 7th June says are glad to hear that Mr. William Bibby has practically recovered from his recent illness, and was able to take a drive yesterday.
The sale of the Société des Charbonnages du Tonkin coal last year amounted, according to Tonkin papers, to 118,912 tons, as against 80,391 tone in 1895. A minimum sale of 100,000 tons is assured for 1897 and it is expected that this amount will be largely exceeded.
We learn that Mr. Bruce Hart, the son of the "I.G.," only attends the Postal Conference at Washington in the capacity of secretary to Mr. H. F. Merrill, who with Mr. F. E. Taylor, attends the Conference as representative of the alleged Imperial Chinese Post Office.—China Gazette.
A junk, laden with grain for the famine districts in Szechuan and having on board a special official in charge, in trying to pass the new rapids about Ichang about a fortnight ago got wrecked and was broken up, resulting in the loss of the junk and all on board. Two more grain junks are reported to have been total losses, In this way the famine but some of the crew and officials were rescued from drowning. sufferers are the losers by some 10,000 piculs of rice.-N. C. Daily News.
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