490
PROPOSED NAVAL YARD
TRANSFER.
THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND under service conditions. I think you will find at first that the journey up will prove tiring | and perhaps alter your scoring, but after you have been working at the range for two months the whole Corps, I think, will find itself as fit as fiddles and keen as mustard. I hope all of you will make constant and, good use of the range, for, as I think I have said more than once, the Hongkong Volunteers may prove a most valuable addition to the forces of the Colony, but your value will be strictly proportionate the goodness of your shooting, and you must never lose sight of that. I think we have had object-lessons in other lands of the great need of always boing prepared and ready to act our parts as men. I am glad indeed to have the opportunity to open the range, and I hope that the effects of the walk-up will not interfere with the sighting of the rifle. (Laughter and applause.)
to
It has been talked about privately and in official circles for some time now that our Naval Yard authorities have been contemplating the removal of the Yard from its present sile in Hongkong to more commodious quarters on the Kowloon side of our possession in this part of the world. Authentic details of the proposed change are not yet made public, but we have reason to believe that Mr. J. L. Houston, the manager here for Messrs. Punchard, Lowther and Co., on his visit to England, will interview the authorities at the Admiralty with regard to this matter. We understand that the Hon. C. P. Chater, C.M.C., is connected with the scheme, in which case there can be little doubt that if the Naval authorities actually vacate the front- A rifle was then handed to His Excellency, age now possessed by them on the Praya, there who took it with the remark-" Has he got any will be an addition to the remarkable reclama- tricks?" Kn eling down, the Governor took tion scheme, the details of which have now been aim at the 200 yards' target and fired. All for some time before our readers. By such a present eagerly watched for the result of the development the scheme promises to do even shot, which His Excellency characteris d by more for the Colony than we have hitherto one word-" Mu!" A shout of laughter hoped. The advantages to be gained by went up when the marker, after the lapse the Naval authorities. on the other hand, of a few seconds, signalled a bull's eye. lie mainly in the greater amount of space The Governor created further amusement by which will be put at their disposal at Kow- the comment "The Victorian Order ought loon than they have at present for the to be given to that marker." Yard, with its workshops and dock. The site which is indicated by report as that which is to be occupied is at Tsimshatsui Bay; but, as we have, stated above, the details of the plan are not yet fully known. As our readers will see, if the scheme is carried out its effect on the de- velopment of the colony, and particularly on the city of Victoria, cannot fail to be enormous.
NEW VOLUNTEER SHOOTING RANGE.
OPENED BY H.E. THE GOVESNOR.
Shooting for the Governor's Shield, which was on view at the firing points, then com. menced. The following is a summary of the scores: ----
Field Battery.-200 yards, 165; 400 yards, 221 : 500 yards, 206; total, 592.
"A" Machine Gun Co.-200 yards, 154; 400 yards, 182; 500-yards, 130; total, 466.
"B" Machine Gun Co.-200 yards, 151; 400 yards, 2 1;00 yards, 155; total, 507.
" Machine Gun Co.-200 yards, 124; 400 yards, 182; 500 yards, 149; total, 455.
D" Infantry Co.-200 yards, 169; 400 yards, 235; 500 yards, 216; total, 629.
THE NEW N.Y.K. LINE FROM
· HONGKONG TO SEATTLE.
12
|
[June 17, 1901.
officers and engineers being Japanese, with Japanese crew. The crew all told numbers 123, The Kaga Maru is a steel twin-screw steamer of 6,800 tons, gross tonnage, giving a registered ret tonnage of 3,900. She was built by the Mitsu-Bishi Dockyard and Engine Works, Nagasaki. She has a complete cellular double bottom excluded from tonnage, a straight stem, two masts, one funnel, two decks, vis, upper and between, decks, and poop bridge and forecastle, with a shade-deck over bridge. Her principal dimensions are:-Length between perpendiculars, 445 feet; breadth moulded, 49 feet 2 inches; depth moulded, 33 feet 6 inches; length of poop, 64 feet; length of bridge deck, about 120 feet; length of forecastle deck over stern. 55 feet; between deck height beam to beam, 8 feet. The hull and machinery were constracted in accordance with Teishinsho regulations in conversant with the Japanese Shipbuilding and Navigation Encouragement Acts and under Lloyd's special survey for class 100 A 1 M.C. In all departments the require- ments of Lloyds and the Board of Trade have been fully observed. The vessel has two complete steel decks, the upper deck being sheathed with teak from forecastle to poop. A first-class dining saloon is fitted under the bridge in the between decks, and there are rooms for thirty-two first- class passengers, which are fitted on top of the bridge deck in steel houses The chart-room, wheel-house and captain's cabin are teak on top of the shade-deck, with
very
of
A
roomy navigating bridge carried from side to side of the ship at fore part of bridge-deck. There are seven water-tight steel bulkheads. The arrangements for coaling are perfect, whether from railway trucks overhead or from boats alongside. There are five cargo batchways on the upper deck, with similar hatchways tween decks. The two lower masts are also stiffened to lift heavy weights, and steel derrick posts are provided at those hatchways which cannot be worked from the masts; and there are ten powerful cargo-derricks, each capable of lifting dead weights of six tons. The ventilators are numerous, and of the latest approved pattern, and there are several capacious water-tanks and one
windlass sanitary tank. The is Napier's patent steam capstan, with the latest improvements, and the steam steering gear is Caldwell & Co.'s patent, and the rod, not the chain, proceeds along the bridge deck, being covered in entirely, and is carried down and below the main deck. Speaking-tubes from the bridge allow communication to any part of the ship. Hall's refrigerating machinery is provided, with a total capacity of 2,000 cubic feet, and making 3 owt of ice daily. The vessel is fitted with steel bilge-keels on each side for a length of 20 ft. amidships. There are twelve capacious boats, four being steel and four being wooden life-boats, and all the cus tomary appliances for life saving are provided. The ship is lighted throughout with electric light with Martin & Co.'s system. The engines are of the latest design and are very proverful, for on her trial trip the Kaga Maru måde 15 knots, and she will steam about 14 knots under ordinary pressure.
The new Volunteer Shooting Range at Causeway Bay was opened on the 8th inst. by H.E. the Governor. The weather was hot, and made the assent to the butts very. trying. The path, narrow and very steep in places, winds erratically up the hillside, and to
A VISIT TO THE "Kaga maru." the perspiring, panting traveller appears to For some time past the Nippon Yusen Kaisha drag itself out to the farthest possible limit in have had a monthly line of steamers running be- leading the way to the firing points. Shelters tween Hongkong and Seattle, and our readers will have been erected at each of these butts, and have noticed from recent advertisements that this
in the prove welcome breaks
climb to enterprising company has decided to establish the top. H.E. the Governor was to have a fortnightly line of steamers between Hongkong arrived at one o'clock to perform the and Seattle. This is of great importance to Hong. opening ceremony, but at the last moment kong, inasmuch as it establishes another quick Captain Pritchard, Adjutant of the Volunteer trans-Pacific route that cannot fail to prove of Caps, received a note that he could not possibly incalculable benefit to this Colony and to the reach the range before, at the earliest, a quarter American ports. The Nippon Yusen Kaisha, past one. Advantage was taken of the period being the premier shipping company of Japan, of witing to complete all preliminaries con has arranged the service with that thoroughness nected with the competition for the Governor's and effectiveness for which this compazy is so Shield. It was found that one or minor altera- well noted. The service will be maintained by tions would have to be made in the competing a fleet of six magnificent steamers of over 6,000 list as originally drawn up, the Band and "E
tons each, able to transport a vast amount of Company of the Engineers being short of the freight, and possessing splendid accommodation number stipulated for each team. This shortage for passengers. These steamers, which will was unfortunate, but it was not so much the take eleven weeks on the round trip, will enable The ship is intended for freight and pas fault of the absentees as of the hour at which the fortnightly sailings to be maintained. The senger traffic. Yesterday she took away about proceedings were fixed to start.
first steamer to inaugurate the new line is the 2,000 tons of cargo, which is a fair beginning, Soon after half past one, H. E. the Governor, Kaga Maru an imposing specimen of marine She has accommodation for 36 first-class pas accompanied by Colonel Sir John Carrington, architecture, and a striking representation of sengers, no second-class passengers being C.M.G. (Commandant of the Volunteer Corps), Japan's extraordinary progress in shipbuilding, carried. The cabins are all, with the excep and Lieutenant Blake, A. D., arrived ou for the ressel was built and launched at tion of two, on the upper deck, and are foot, the volunteers present stard ng at atten- Nagasaki and is now on her maiden voyage. very spacious and extremely well fitted up." tion as the party approached.
The Kage Maru was anchored in the harbour There are two berths and one sofa with spring Placing himself at their head, Colonel Sir for a few days, having left yesterday afternoon; mattresses in each cabin, also an excellent JOHN CARPINGTON, addressing the Governor and on Sunday a representative of this paper folding washstand with looking-glam, and (who is the Hon. Colonel of the Corps), said- was enabled through the courtesy of the splendid mahogany writing-desk with capacions Your Excellency, on behalf of the Volunteer local manager of the company, to visit her. drawers. In addition there are sundry odds Corps, I thank yon very cordially for your The ship was well worth a visit, and looked very and ends contributing much to the comfort of generosity in providing a good range for the stately when calmly riding at anchor. Her the passenger, among these being a canvas wall Corps, and hope that the use they make of it size was best indicated by comparison with the receptacle for brushes, etc. The walls of the will justify the trouble you have taken in con- smaller vessels in her vicinity. She was in a whole of the cabina, dining-saloon, smoking- nection with the range. I now beg your beautiful condition, for with the exception of saloon and music-room are of light Japanese Excellency to declare it open.
a trial run from Nagasaki to Yokohama maple, with panels of the sɔme wood HIB EXCELLENCY said-Colonel Sir John and from thence to Hongkong she had never grained by a peculiar process. We have Carrington and offlcers and men of the made a trip and was quite new, everything seldom seen anything more charming. Volunteer Corps, I am very glad indeed on board boing spick and span. She is way.
than this Japanese of panelling
s relief to the usual to find that the range is to be opened at commanded by that popular and able veteran maple, and it is quite last; there has been great delay about Captain Eekstrand, with Mr. H. H. Cosas orthodox white interiors of cabins and saloons. Lowever, now that I have come up, I must chief officer, and Mr. Muller, as second officër, | The wood has only recently been used for this say there is one advantage that appears to exist The chief engineer is Mr. 8. Moore, with Mr. purpose, and is procured from the Hokaido hers, and that is—you fire at this range strictly Thompson as second engineer- the junior portion of Japan. To correspond with the
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