December 23, 1899]
the prayer of the whole British nation, and high confidence in the fulfilment of the wish will be entertained.
man.
of every
:
And yet, there is such a thing as
from any
one expecting too is much
comes, too, a tinie in the life mg when he can ho longer be expected to repent the successes of his youth. For be it from us to suggest that any decline of Lord ROBERTS's vigour or alertness has commenced, but ordinarily a man of sixty-seven is not quite the man he was when he whe twenty years younger. In this connection Lord CHARLES BERES- FORD's words at the banquet given to him by the Hongkong branch of the Navy League- may be recalled. His Lordship was speak- ing of the Navy, and of the greater respon. sibility thrown on the commander now than in the old days before the introduction of the electric button, and he said :-" No matter how good a man may be he is "liable to make a mistake. Therefore you wat as commanders men of excellent "nerve, men of excellent training, and you want younger men. A man may "think he is as good at fifty or at forty "five as ut forty, but he is nothing of the surt. He may be very good for ad- ministrative purposes, but for executive purposes you want young men who don't "fear consequences, who go straight ahead. You must have some sort of caution, some "sense of proportion, but when you get to a It has "certain age you know tʊʊ much."
**
C
a
**
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
RIFLE RANGES WANT‹D.
(Daily Press, 18th December.) Some weeks ago, before the news from South Africa bad become so grave as it has been recently, it was beginning to be asked whether, looking at the present ex perience, the British army was equal to the national needs. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir WOLFE-BARRY, of the Engineer and Rail- road Volunteer Corps staff, was reported as saying: In military matters, Grent "Britain is trading with insufficient capital, She ought to add 100,000 men to her army.' GEORGE BAIRD SHAW, the author, in an ironic mood asks how "Tom-
M
#4
5+
44
It is
507-
cular merits reprobation. “At a time like the preseut, when our army finds itself outmatc hed by a mob of Boer farmers, the reprobation may be expressed in more forcible terms. than might suggest themselves in the piping times of peace. It is said that the difficulty is the provision of soine $7,000 to $10,000 to equip the range. As our contemporary remarks. "All we can sny is that if the Secretary of State for the Colonies does not pass a vote like this after his exper- ience in South Africa, then it is time to “climb down all over the place.”.
"
**
#
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
On Thursday afternoon a meeting of the
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR (Sir Henry BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).
His EXCELLENCY Major-General Gascoigne, C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).
The Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK (Acting Attorney. General).
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master).
Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Superin- tendent of Police).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works).
►
Hon C. P. CHAPTER, C.M.G. Hon. Dr. Ho KAI.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M,G. Hon. WEI A Yur.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Aofing Clerk of Coun- cils).
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table
correspondence with referenon to the services of the Volunteer Corps in connection with the. occupation of the New Territory.
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table,
Financial Minute No 28 and proposed that it
be referred to the Finance Committee..
The COLONIAL TERASUERE seconded, and the motion was carried.
:
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table. report of the Finance Committee No. 12 and moved its adoption.
my Atkins" can be expected to shoot as well as the Boers "when the nation be
grudges the money to enable him Hongkong Legislative Council was held in the practice." The latter question has a local Council Chamber at the Government Offices,
there being present -- application, to which we would invite the earnest attention of the public and the authorities. With news of disaster upon disaster coming from South Africa, where the enemy show themselves superior to us both in strategy and marksmanship, it is disgusting-we can use no milder term-to learn that in an important garrison like that of Hongkong rifle practice is virtually sus pended owing to the want of ranges possible that our gallant friends the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers may some day before the war is ended find themselves ordered to South Africa, and if go we may be sure that they will stand up been our misfortune not to be able to say bravely to the enemy, but to ask them to ditto to all Lord CHARLES BERESFORD'S do so without giving them any chance utterance with the enthusiasm his admirers beforehand to keep up their efficiency in seem to think his due; but his view as to the marksmanship would be little better than age of an officer's greatest efficency possesses murder. Our attention was drawn to this at least some claim to consideration. It is subject a few days ago and we were making not a subject, however, on which a v nard enquiries concerning it when the last issue and fast rule can be laid down for applica of the Volunteer Gazette came to hand with a tion in individual cases. Medical books timely article showing how the matter contai. records ut deaths from senility oc-
stauds. Availing ourselves of our contem. curring before the age of twenty, while inporary's general invitation to quote from its other cases vitality continues in its ful columns anything of public interest we re- power to an extreme old age. Generally produce the substance of the article in ques- speaking, however, men verging on the tion, and would suggest that one of the allotted span of three-come years and ten are unofficial members should endeavour to not expeclel to possess the vigour, either elicit an official explanation by a question mental or physicht, of younger en. in Council. The neglect to provide proper ranges is criminal and the parties reapon- sible ought to be visited with severe punish- meut, if the responsibility can be fixed. The Volunteer Gasette saya:-" At the present moment and for the last few mouths no range has been at the disposal of the Vo- lunteers for practice, and we have heard "incidentally that recent negotiations to procure oue have proved abortive. HE. the Honorary Colonel and H.E. the Gen eral on the frequent occasious on which they have addressed the Corps have used
DANGEROUS GOODS : ORDINANCE. "these word-Unless you learn to shoot The ACTING ATIORNEY GENERAL-I beg to you are no use to us and we will have to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an: disband you'-yet here we are without Ordinance to amend the Dangerous Goods Or the slightest opportunity of becoming dinance, 1873. Honourable members will see the "marksmen. True we get a shot at Stone object of clause 2 of this Bill is to include; ini cutters' now and again, and the best shots the definition of dangerous goods, certnin goods which are not specified in section of "of the Corps get practice at the Rifle As Ordinance 8 of 1873, which it seems desirable "sociation Ranges, but it is the middling to treat as dangerous goods. Since, this Bill
shot who has to be brought forward and has been before the Council certain suggestions‹ "to get practice. The Volunteer case is have been made by the Chamber of Commerce "bad enough, but ке hear that the with reference to the definiti n of dangerous
regulars ure just as badly off—in fact goods contained in this Bill, and in con="
sequence of these suggestions. I propose to "there is no chance for practice unless move certain amendments to clause 2tof Here our contemporary advances a facetious this Bill in committee... Those amendments. suggestion that practice might be got by have been circulated to honourable members, shooting stray dogs. No doubt there will and I think they will meet with the views be found people irreverent enough to cap of the Chamber of Commerce. With regard that suggestion by another to the effect that to clause 3 of the Bill the object of that clause. a few high officials might be practised upon
"is to except labricating oils and, high test without much loss to the public. Any wil- petroleum tar or petroleum fuel from the opera- ance 8 of 1873 and from the operation of any pair the recent damage to the Raub Company's ful neglect that impairs the efficiency of the tion of sections 9, 10, 14, 15, and 16 of Ordin
army as a whole or that of any unit in parti- bye-lawa, etc., relating to the movement er
mien.
he
The great victories of history have been achieved by comparatively young MARLBOROUGH was fifty-four when fought the battle of Blenheim; W KLLING- TOX fought the battle of Waterloo when he was forty-sir; and N. Lson was forty- seven when he met his glorious death at We trust our the battle of Trafalgar. misgivings y prove unwarranted, but we cannot help feeding that the conduct of the South Arict war is a very heavy burden to lay upon a man of Lord Ro- BERTS'S He has us his chief of staff,
age. however, Lord KITCHENER, who i in his fiftieth year and in the very prime of In Lord ROBERTS'S his military career. caution and Lord KITH_NER's dash it is possible we may find the very combination called for by the circumstances of a war waged under conditions that are new to our army. Both men are soldiers of the highest type, and will approach their work in the spirit of NELSON, who, having made his dis- positions for the battle of Trafalgar, and hoisted the memorable signal “ England ex- pects every man to do his duty," said :— "Now I can' do no more. We must trust “to the great lisposer of events and the "justice of our cause. I thank God for this
great opportunity of doing my duty!"
44
It is said that $2,507 will be suiliient to re-
nist Bukit Komanjena.
44
..
14
•
4.
*
66
"
46
44
41
"
The COLONIAL TREASURER 16conded and
the motion was carried.
THE PLERE ORDINANOR,
A Bill entitled the Piers Ordinance, 1899, was read a first time, on the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY-GENEKAL, seconded by the COLONIAL SECRATARY,
THE COMPANIES" ORDINANCE, On the motion of the ACTING-ATTORNƑY
GERAL, seconded by the COLONIAL SECRET., ARY, the kill entitled an Ordinance to amend, the Companies' Ordinance, 1877, was read A. second time.
"
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.