November 11, 1899:]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
to build some thirty of these Homes in differ- ent parts of the world which are open to the use of the men irrespective of oresd.
The six-a-side competition is, we are glad toeratum. state, at last decided, the winning team being Noble's. Their record is 3 games won. 8 drawn, and none lost; and 6 goals scored against one; which gives them 9 points and amply proves they merit their success.
THE INTER-PORT POLO MÂTCH AT SHANGHAI.
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the practice game of Monday last. This-ser- ved to give them a good idea of the ma- terial they have at their disposal and we think they should be well satisfied with what they have got. Several of their skirts of the British Empire, in the Far East, Hongkong, situated as it is on the_very_out new members show promise, but we hardly has always been, and must continue increasing think they will find it advantageous to discardly to be, a most important military and naval any of their old team. Blake, while he is here, centre. A large garrison continues to reside will well fill the vacancy caused by Anton's de- here, thousands of the Royal Navy flock in parture, and they are fortunate in having such upon as during the winter months. Yet up to excellent reserves as Hornby, Hall, Hinds, and the present no adequate Home has been prc. Jenkins,
vided. It is now proposed to supply this desid. venture to hope, present the oulines of the The following statement will, we scheme and give a clear ides of the scope of the task on which a few of us have set our minds.
"Sir George H. Chubb and a few other Wesleyans who are specially devoted to the moral and social welfare of the Army and Nasy, on the occassion of Her Majesty's Diamond Jnb.les, determined to raise a fund for the ex- press purpose of building Soldiers and Sailors' Homes in different parts of the British Empire. A considerable sum was subscribed. In no part of the Queen's dominions, probably, is a thoroughly modern and adequately furnished Home, which shall be conducted on total abstin- ence principles, more needed than in Hongkong. In view of this fact, the Wesleyan Chaplain and a few friends brought the needs of the England who are responsible for the admini Hongkong station before the notice of those in
The Committee has generously voted £1.000, or stration of this fund, and appealed for help. $10,000. But the buildings and furnishing of a commodious and attractive Home cannot be less than $18,000; there remains therefore $8,000 to Although, technically, the Home will be ander the control of the Wesleyan Army and Navy Committee, the building and its privileges will be open to all who seek them, and denominational differences will, as far as possible, be rigidly excluded. Those privileges will comprise beds, billiards, temperance re- freshments, and current papers. There will be a hall for concerts. The financial assistance of all who may be interested in the welfare of our soldiers and sailors is earnestly and respectfully solicited."
The Later-port Polo match was played at Shanghai on the 3rd November. The teams
Shanghai. D. Land, e
were:-
Hongkong. Majo Dobell... ..... Back Major Sir Horace
Macahon
B. L. B. Johnson 2 F. 8. Wa wyn
.Back.
A. W. Burkil
4
3
G Dallas
2
1
F. Crighton
1
The N. C Daily News account of the match is as follows:4The Hongkong polo team have come, have played, and have conquered. The first match with Shanghai, which has filled in an unoccupied day in the Race Week, took place yesterday afternoon, and our visitors can return with the satisfaction that they have gained a victory after a hard-fought game. A number of ladies were among the spectators who watched the match. The opening play went somewhat in favour of Hongkong, and served to show that the team was a strong one. The play was kept to the Shanghai end a good deal. though frequently a passage of clever play would send it to the other and of the field. The game was stopped for a while, as Mr. Crighton's pony stumbled and fell, though luckily no serious damage was done. This hap- pened when Hongkong had scored one subsidi- ary. They added two to this, when Shanghai got the ball, and with Dallas end Mr. Landale playing well together, scored the first goal of the match. Hongkong soon afterwards got -the ball between the posts, and from that point maintained the advantage they had gained. Shanghai played very hard, and often very cleverly, but their opponents were too strong, and the match ended in a win for Hongkong by three goals to one.
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CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.] THE NEW SOLDIERS AND SAILORS HOME, ARSENAL STREET,
be raised.
408
War Department for such a purpose as it is at present devoted to, the more so as it is the fact that the present General in Command' closely at heart, and is personally aware of here has the welfare of the soldier very the stameful conditions of barrack room life, which have for so. nothing less than a scandal, owing to the dark- long amounted to
being lit hy oil and ancient lamps of the "far- some and gloomy rooms after night-fall, these thing.dip" pattern of our ancestors. Further, it could be had rent free.
nothing as compared with the cost of building The structural alterations needed would be an entirely new Institute, even were the site obtained for nothing.
Neither Institution can, it appears, be ade quately developed as its respective promoters desire without the help of the public, seeing that for both the help of the public has been solicited through the Press.
It is beyond contention that if both Institu- tions are developed to the extent. ind icated in these
а appeals waste
needless of
money and
energy will have taken place, because the garrison is not large enough—even with the addition of the Navy-to require or to make proper use of two thoroughly efficient Institutions of the kind, in addition to the Royal Naval Seamen's Club, which supplements certain of the benefits aimed at in the others.
This being so, will the promoters of these rival Institutions not agree to work hand in ent and thoroughly equipped Soldiers' and hand for the establishment of one really effici Sailors' Institute, rather, than waste sorely needed money in providing two where one good one would amply suffice ?
To this end, might the following suggestion be thrown out f
The local Wesleyan body have the generous donation of £1,000 towards the provision of a thoroughly efficient Institution.
Unter the auspices of other religious bodies an excellently adapted building has been obtained efficient Institution thereon. Only money is rent free for the provision of a thoroughly wanted to make possible in this building the es- Sailors' Institutes in the Empire, the space tablishment of one of the finest Soldiers' and
latter body raise a further sum of £1,000-only available being simply immense. Let, then, this $2,000 more than is sought by the appeal to-day
and offer the local Wesleyan body the oppor- tunity of adding their £1,000 thereto with the most praiseworthy object of establishing in the free by Government "a modern and throughly building in Queen's Road already granted rent equipped Home" such as they are anxious to obtain monetary help for,
Soldiers and Sailors' Institute ? Is not this But it may be asked, is there not already a
for years, but it has never furnished anything sufficient? There has been such an Institute like the necessary attractions. Nor is it pos- sible that any rented building, probably but ill adapted at best, especially with the enormously high rents obtaining in Hongkong to-day, can Mo eover, the exigences of Hongkong life have ever offer facilities for a satisfactory Home. made it necessary for the Committee to change its location three times within a year. Those who know it best, and the good work it has If neither body can so far reconcile mutual done, are frank to confess that something more differences in other mattters as to agree to work complete, more homelike, more adequately furn-in concert for the welfare of their flock on lines ished-in a word, a modern building which shall furnish better accommodation and offer more attractions-to an absolute necessity. Such a building is now comtemplated. When com- pleted it will be a credit to the Colony and a blessing to the men. We venture therefore to hope that all who are able, irrespective of nation- ality and oreed will step forward and help us in this good work.
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TO THE EDITOR of the
! DAILY PRESS. To all who have the social, intellectual, moral, and spiritual welfare of the Army and Royal Navy at heart, it is applling to think of the many temptations, in Hongkong, to which the defenders of our commerce, our liberties, and our lives are exposed. Drinking saloons and brothels abound, in which our countrymen | spend their money, deaden their moral sensi. bilities, and in many cases ruin their health. On the other hand, the attractions and helps. to a better life are not what could be desired. The same dangers and temptations threaten men in all great military and naval centres. Heaven-elect ladies like Miss Weston and Miss Robinson have long been at work founding Soldiers and Sailors' Homes in important mili- tary and naval stations like Portsmouth, Ply- mouth, Gibralta, and Malta. At first this movement, like many a good work, was frowned apon and opposed, but it has ontlived its de- tractors, and the Homes are now highly appre- ciated not only by those for whom they have been specially built, but also by the Oom- manders-in-Chief on the foreign stations and the Admiralty and War Office at home.
The Army and Navy Committes of the Wes leyan Church has for many years devoted its vailable funds to this purpose and has helped
Cheques may be made payable to the Wesley- an Soldiers and Sailors' Home Fund, Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, or to Rev. C, BONE, Gleniffer, Kowloon.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY PRESS,'
DRAR SIB, The sum asked for in your co- lumus to-day on behalf of a Soldiers' and Sailors' Institute is a more flea-bite to the sympathatic and generous community of Hongkong, and will doubtless easily be obtained. But there are one or two points which merit communication to the public whose help is sought in this matter,
First, the reference in the appeal to the In- stitution already in existence bears amplifica- tion. This is situated in a War Department building given rent free for the purpose. It is most excellently situated in the very centre of the garrison, and at the gates almost of the Royal Naval Yard and Naval landing stage. Its internal space is so huge as to admirably lend itself to adaptation as "a thoroughly modern and adequately equipped Home" such as the public is asked to support. It could with out doubt be procured in perpetuity-from-
nowise touching points of doctrine, then I think the public is entitled to ask the reason why, before aiding in the promotion of a quite un- necessary waste of modey,
Enclosing my card, I beg to remain, dear sir, yours truly,
INSTITUTE.
Hongkong, 3rd November, 1899.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE 66 DAILY PRESS.”
Dear Sir, I have read with much interest
in your issues of the 3rd and 4th inst. the letters. on the above subject, and will gladly subscribe $500 towards the institute, should the sugges- tions of Institute," as to the combining of the alteration of the present building in Queen's Wesleyan and other religious bodies and the Road into "a modern and thoroughly equipped Home," be adopted. Enclosing my card, I dear sir, yours truly,
Hongkong, 4th November, 1899.
D. J.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY PRESS.
Sir, I have to thank you for your courtesy in so promptly inserting in your paper the statement I proposed dealing with the proposed New Soldiers and Sailors' Home. It is further a matter of congratulation that your readers are so far interested in this matter as to devote time and thought to its discussion, and that you, sir, moreover, have written a fair and Insid therson. It appears to me, however, that mo
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