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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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THE NEW SOLDIERS' INSTITUTE.
(Daily Press, 16th April) On Saturday afternoon was witnessed the realisation of a scheme which has long been dear to Major-General GASCOIGNE, our now Acting-Governor, and to a great numi- her of the military officers of Hongkong. On that afternoon was opened a Soldiers' Institute on strictly non-sectarian lines, where social intercourse between men of the different regiments now or in the future to be stationed here will be possible, op- portu nities for rational recreation fur- nished, and alcoholic refreshment obtain- ed in moderation.
[April 21, 1900. 270
been originally tramways, telephones, etc. Their position as fere, unless, of course, there are other rea- which the Pacific Cable had regards the community at large, a question sons which may override the objection. On planned, namely, that of avoiding in the usually devolving on the government of this we may remark that the pecuniary intercourse of the northern and southern the State, has to be adjusted; the argument may fairly be left out of court; colonies the necessity of having to traverse meeting had also to take in hand the Eastern Extension Companies have had three-quarters of the globe, has likewise matters more or less international, as well as great experience in the Australian traffic, been dropped in the new scheme, which we those relating to property, registration of aud can gauge to a nicety the amount of learn has met with the approbation of the land, etc. and all these, it will be noticed traffic passing between Europe and Austra-Home Government. Now Canada naturally from ja perusal of the report, were debated lia. Knowing this as they do, they have complains, and with reason, that the with. not only without temper, but with discretion. contracted to lay the line without guaranty; | drawal of the Government after its promise The most remarkable feature of all this is and we are justified in the assumption that to Canada is a distinct branch of the faith, that the development has taken place on the Company would not do this unless it and it is difficult, looking at the affair with perfectly natural grounds, and without the felt that it could do so with perfect regard what knowledge we possess, to come to any intervention of any Foreign Power. The for the interests of the shareholders; to other conclusion. Speaking for ourselves, steps have in each case been taken in the thank otherwise would be 'to cast discredit though the pressure is not so direct, we first instance in conjunction with the native on the wisdom, if not on the integrity, of the have clear right to protest against the authorities who have felt grateful to the directors. But if a comparatively barren volte face. Had imperial interests been Council for their active aid in preserving line, like that which it is proposed to lay likely to be in any way advanced, we could order, which they had not themselves the across the Indian Ocean, be thus accepted as have found means to acquiesce in the means to enforce; an the part taken by the remunerative, what are we to think of a change, but, so far from their being advan- reason to - believe Foreign governments has for the most part line with numerous feeders, such as even- taged, there is very been confiued to granting their sanction, tually the Pacific Cable route must become? that our Imperial interests are being ruth- after the preliminary work had been accom Even more-and here comes in the rub the lessly sucrificed to advance those of a pri- vate concern; one which, however valuable plished. The present condition of the Settle Pacific line in time to come must gather to ments cannot, indeed, be better exemplified itself the enormous coming traffic of all service it may have done for the State, is than in the closing words of the Chairman, Eastern Asia. How profitable is that yet in such a position financially that it is when summarising the events of the year traffic we have only to turn to the pub- beyond the need of State aid. He said:" In conclusion, gentlemen, Ilished reports of the companies to see. think we have every reason to be proud of Engineering gives a summary of the last the success which our Settlement has at half-year's working, which is interesting te tained, and while it would be idle to deny quote. "The Eastern Telegraph Company,” that the responsibility of conducting our it states, had an excellent half-year's local government is becoming a heavier "business during the six mouths ending burden year by year, we can look forward 'September 30th, 1899. The revenue of the and balf-year amounted to £474,950; to the future with confidence in the belief that those influences which have stood us in "after deducting working expenses, and the the past will long continue to be powerful- "outlay incurred for the repair and renewal the influences of mutual co-operation and "of cables, and after providing for de preciation of spare cable, and income tax, "£306,890 remained ; increased to £310,426 by the balance brought forward from last year." This is good enough, but we learn further that, after paying a dividend at the (Daily Press, 17th April.)
rate of 20 per cent. per annum, they carried "Doest thou well to be angry, Canada ?" £10,000 to the slip reserve, £5,000 to a Any one who has followed the course of the removal reserve, £2,000 to an insurance recent negotiation with regard to the pro- reserve, £100,000 to general reserve, and posed Pacific Cable cannot but reply in the carried over no less than £33,000 to next affirmative; and this he will do all the more year's nccount. Now we by no means wish decidedly should he chance to be a resident to detract in any way from the right of the in China. It may be that Lord SALISBURY Company to do what it thinks best with its 1) reserves is preparing for us some of those good things own, but in these reduplicated which pass man's understanding; but if he there is just a suspicion that the Company be, the methods of the Government are wants to throw a little dust in the eyes of strange and past finding out, and the last the Government, and is doing its best to exhibition of weakness is by no means reas- underrato its financial position, One of our suring as to what is to come. Now we by no greatest and best founded complaints, and means would be taken to imply that the in this we are in a like position to Canada, proposed cable from Africa, by Mauritius, to || is that owing to the direction in which the Western Australia is worthless, but we feel lines are laid, we are cut off from any direct fully justified in the assertion that it is pre-communication with America, and that all mature, and but a playing with the real needs of the Empire. It is doubtless true that, as far as the Colony of Victoria is itself concerned, a cable across the Indian Ocean is likely to be as effective as one across the Pacific; but more than this cannot be affirmed of it. It certainly, even as far as Western Australia is concerned, possesses po one advantage not shared by the other, while for our vast interests in the Pacifi, in New Zealand, and in Asia at large, it is immeasurably inferior. The one ad- vantage which it seemed to show over the other is, when we come to examine it, really illusory. The point which apparently caught the suffrages of the Government was that while the Government had itself to take in hand the construction and mainten- | ance of the Pacific Cable, the Eastern Ex-
CABLE SCHEMES AND CANADA'S GRIEVANCE.
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General GASCOIGNE modestly disclaimed having done very much of the hard work of arrangement, but his energy and singleheartedness in the matter is well known to all. He was on Saturday the mouthpiece of the officers, as he said, but he long ago made the idea his own. Institutions somewhat similar have, as our readers know, existed for long, but none on such generous lines as the new club in G Block, opposite Fletcher Street. It is in- tended that the Institute shall be a Soldiers' Club, in General Gascoigne's words, exactly the same footing as one of our officers' clubs, that is, that there are to be no restrictions except the restrictions which good taste, good feeling and good conduct raintenance of always compel for the our messages to the States or Canada had to any building." On the liquor question the go first by a circuitous route to Europe, General has always taken the strong position that, admirable as are teetotal principles after which they had practically to come back one fourth the diameter of the globe. there is a large majority of men perfectly In this respect Canada is even in a worse able to enjoy the good things of this life" position than ourselves; especially as regards in nioderation, who under hitherto existing Australia. Now Canada, recoguising this, circumstances have been driven to undesir- had offered to bear a very considerable por-able localities in pursuit of what they have have been: every right to ask for, and so tion of the cost-about one-third-and the
various kinds. British Government, after beating about the tempted to excess of
• The bush, had finally engaged to meet Caunda argument that they have their own canteens by providing a like amount. The Govern does not serve, for, to adopt the General's ments likewise bound themselves to reduce instance, it would be hard if a man who had the rates from the very oppressive rate at come from Mount Austin into town were which originally, when as yet the lines were not allowed a glass of beer; and, moreover, on trial, they were fixed. Up to this the canteens do not afford the opportunity of Eastern Extension Companies had looked on, social intercourse and rational recreation at but, tuking advantage of a suggestion thrown which the new Institute especially out on other grounds, they proposed to The War Office when approached by Gen- the ready in the other case adopt part of the scheme and lay another | eral GascoIONE sanctioned the use of G. Block if it could be shown that an Institute was a positive
want and that it would be
Was no expense to the public. The want y proved to the full, and the generosity of the officers provided that the public should not
themselves. Now ceteris cable across the Indian Ocean. Unfortu- paribus, it is unadvisable for a government, (nately the scheme thus proposed · left the
en it can get a private association
un- main part of the project that of providing dertake a work requiring a good amount of another line altogether English to India, on Pecuniary responsibility, to attempt to inter- one side. The other great desideratum for
aims.
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