**
April 26, 1902.]
is probable that at no very distant date, a con- siderable percentage of the shipping of the Tort will.not be able to do with a lesser depth. Nesr- ly 2 square miles more of deep water could be added to our present space by increasing by one fathom the depth over the area between Yaumati and Stonecutter's Island. In the meanwhile the subject of improving the navigation con- ditions has received consideration.
an
A beacon has been built on a 12-foot patch inside and to the Northward of the 1.yeemun Pass, from which from the 1st January this year a red light has been displayed at night; a similar light is also shown on the North side of the Pass itself. It is now proposed that a light shall be placed on Blackhead's Hill and another. (automatic) on Cust Rock. This can be carried out at a comparatively small cost, as the already approved scheme of shifting Cape D'Aguilar light to Green Island and Green Island Light to Cape Collinson will make the Cape Collinson's apparatus available for Blackhead's Hill, and a considerable im- provement can thus be effected which will carry as on until the time arives when the larger scheme of general improvement already
|
CHINA. OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
|
across the Harbour. The advantages to be|OPENING OF KOWLOON SCHOOL. derived by such a means of communication are so obvious, that they need hardly be alluded to The formal opening of the new Kowloon The mere thought of the difference between School, the maníacent gift of Mr. Ho Tung, walking over to Kowloon direct, or riding over took place on the 19th inst. at 4 pm. in a chair or a ricksha, or, better still, in the in presence of a company thoroughly represon- electric tramcar, compared with the present more tative of the Colony and worthy of the auspi or less comfortless passage in moderate weather cious occasion. His Excellency the Officer and no passage in bad weather, should be Administering the Government, Major-General The principal obstructions to navigation at
sufficient to commend the scheme beyond ques- Sir W. J. Gascoigne, K.C.M.G., presided, and the Eastern end of the Harbour are, the tion. Nor is the scheme, in my pinion, anything among others present were Lady Gascoigne, Penguin Sh al off Quarry Bay, and a shoal in less than a practical one, for there can be no Mr. Ho Tung, Mrs. Ho Tung, and the two mid-channel South of Cust Rock. As neither engineering difficulty. I should say, in building Misses Ho Tung; Hon. W. Meigh Goodman of these carries a less depth than 27 foot at Low a bridge about one mile long over water aver K.C., Chief Justice, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Hon Water Springs, they are not at, present a dan-aging in depth about 87 feet and with a J. H. Stewart Lockhart and Mrs. Stewart ger to the ships of the Mercantile Marine, maximum of 32 feet at low water. Nor will Lockhart, Sir Thomas Jackson, Hon. T. H --though it is quite possible they may become so such a bridge be any practical obstruction, or Whitehead, Hon. R. Murray Rumsey, Hon. C before long owing to the tendency towards even incovenience, to shipping. The line IP. Chater, Commodore. Robinson and Mrs. larger and deeper draughted ships. But it has would propose would be from Pottinger Robinson, Hon. H. W. Trefusis, A.D.C., Rev. been pointed out that they are even now
Street to Tsim Sha Tsui and so striking T.W. Pearce, Mr. Wm. Parlane, Mr. A. G. Wize obstruction to some of His Majesty's ships Robinson Road, Kowloon. The style of the Acting Attorney-General, "Mr. and Mrs. C. Ford which make Hongkong their headquarters. A bridge not of importance at the present Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Tooker, Mr. T. K. Dealy propos I of the Vice-Admiral and Commander- moment, but I would suggest one break in it, Mr. T. Sercombe Smith, the Rt. Rev. Bishop in-Chief to remove them by dredging was con- to be closed by a "swing" or a "draw" bridge Piazzoli, Mr. B. James and Mrs. James, Mr sidered, and an estimate of the cost obtained, but not for genera! use, but chiefly for the conve- S. W. Tso, Mr. F. J. Badeley, Mr. R. F. Johns this proved to be so large that it had to aban-nience of more or less disabled ships wishing ton, Mr. Norton Kyshe. Mr. G. J. W. King doned and some alternative fourd.
to go into dock from the further side of the Hon. Wei Ynk, Mr. A. J. Raymond, Mr. A. H bridge. The Harbour would be practically Rennie, Mr. G. M. Billings, Messrs. Ho Fook divided into two parts, the Eastern and the Ho Kem Tong, Leung Shin Kong, Fung Wah Western, and at the first glance, it might seem | Chan, Lo Kon Ting, Yung Hin Pong, Choa Lup that, a ship in the Western half bound North, Chi,Wong Kom Fook, Lo Chi Jin, Pang Shan or a ship in the Eastern half bound South, chun, Sin Takfan, Chan Hewan, Leung Pin would be seriously inconvenienced, but this is Chi, Tso Sin Wan, Lau Chin Ting, and Dr. not really so. To a given point in her voyage, Wan Tun Mo, Messrs. Lau Wan Kai, Yuen the ship going North would, at a speed of 10 Lai Chnen, Kwok Siu Lan, Wei Lun Shek, knots, sacrifice 45 minutes if she started from Lan Wei Cheung, and Wei Long Shan. the West of the bridge and went out through The preliminary ceremony took place on the Sulphur Channel, while the ship bound South grourds outside the school in an enclosure set with flags of different nationalities. and being to the East of the bridge would off sacrifice even less How often one sees in Preparatory to the formal proceedings a photo- the pres nt day, ships sp nding almost as graph of the company was taken. Afterwards, many minutes in "pointing" after they have the Rev. T. W. PEARCE opened the proceedings, left their bu y if they happen to be adversely and said-Your Excellency, ladies and gentle- swang, while, on the other hand, ships under men, Mr. Ho Tung, the large-hearted, public- similar circumstances can be seen leaving just spirited donor of the Kowloon School, as they would do if the bridge existed, that is has done me the honour of asking me to to say, going by Lyeeman Pass if bound South take part in this afternoon's proceedings. and vice versa. By placing the bridge where Mine is the pleasing duty of saying at the out- I propose, the well established coasting steamers set, in a few words, which the Inspector of of the Douglas SS. Co. would have their Schools-who is now on his way to Europe on Wharf on the Eastern half of the Harbour. | furlough - would have said with more point, Their first port being only about 175 miles distant, 45 minutes might be of importance to them. It would necessarily be a low-level bridge both for the convenience of the approaches and for better security from typhoons. A clear.ce not exceeding 40 feet at high water would, I consider, be ample. That the cost of such a bridge would be con- siderable is undoubted, but any reasonable expenditure would be justified in a cause such as I have alluded to. Besides which, the bridge can be made remunerative by the imposition of a toll. Not less than 6,000,000 passengers annually pass between Hongkong and Kowloon (3,000,000 each way); this number would probably be increased by one-half it a bridge existed. 9,000,000 passengers at an average toll of 1 cent would be a substantial return on the money laid out, and this the direct return only; the indirect return in the form of rates, &c., would probably be even greater, while the advantage to be gained in being able to carry telegraph cables, &c, across the bridge instead of in their present rather precarious position and the possibility of using the bridge as an aqueduct for a supply of water to Hongkong from the Kowloon range cannot altogether be overlooked.
referred to above can be carried out.
and to more good purpose, that your Excel- lency's presence bere to-day, to perform this function of opening the Kowloon School, is highly gratifying to all friends of education in the Colony. To the Kowloon residents the occasion that brings us together is specially auspicions.
While on the subject of Harbour improve- ment, I desire to place on record, and to invite possible criticism of, a proposal which has already been before the Government in 3 tpecial form, and I therefore reproduce it in shis my annual report. It will be almost uni- versally admitted, I think, that the population of the town of Victoria is gradually growing beyond the numbers that can be satisfactorily and healthily housed, and while schemes are more or less tentatively put forward, having as a partial object the relief of this over-
They derive much satisfaction orowding, the real question of how and where to find good and sufficient housing
from the fact that this building, the foundation room for our ever-increasing numbers has
tone of which was laid two years ago by Sir not really been tackled. In 1894 we were
Henry Blake, is to be formally opened to-day by somewhat suddenly made to face the fact
your Excellency. There is a phrase of Lord that the conditions of life amongst the
Brougham that has become historic-a phrase very large numbers of Chinese of the lower
that has to do with education-"Let the class dwelling in Hongkong was such as to
soldier be abroad if he will, he can do nothing demand amelioration, and, since that memorable
in this age. There is another personage, a year, special efforts have been made with this
personage less imposing in the eyes of some, object, and with these efforts has resulted an
perhaps insignificant. The schoolmaster is almost universal demand for more room, Since
abroad and I trust bim, armed with his primer, the Island of Hongkong has practically little
against the soldier." When we in this Colony more room for the purpose, it seems remarkable
link in our thought the soldier with the school. that, just at about the time when the demand
master it will not be that we may set the one against the other. It will be our pride was forced upon us, the supply should have appeared in the acquisition of what is known as
to remember that so distinguished a soldier was so true a friend of the school-master. the New Territory. Our boundary on the mainland was thrown back and more than 200
The school which your Excellency is to square miles added to Hongkong. In this large
receive, on behalf of the Colony, from the hands tract of almost unoccupied land, we have to
of Mr. Ho Tung, marks a new departure in the history of education in Hongkong. It is hand; at once, the remedy for overcrowding in
a school to provide education for children of our City, and if we really mean business when
European parentage. The principle on which we speak about relieving the pressure in the dwellings in Victoria, we must give all half- Operations are to be started soon for the the school is based is that the plan of instruc- measures the go-by in favour of the one full construction of a railway connection between tion must be suited to the station of the pupils, measure of providing housing room whereby the present railway system here and the har- the views of parents, the genius of the children. the surplus population can be accommodated on bour quays, says the Kobe Herald. This Nationality, constitution, and inclination alike the other side of the Harbour. By this means scheme has been on the tapis for some time. have been consulted. It is felt to be of the a double purpose will be served, the unhealthy It has already been approved by the Dist, and first importance that these children, destined conditions now existing in Victoria will be is to b⋅ completed in three years. Mr. Okamura | we trust to remain in Hongkong and to occupy removed and, at the same time, the New Terri- of the Kobe Station is to begin the necessary useful, it may be superior, stations here, should tory will be opened up and developed, to the survey between the present railway and the enjoy such advantages as this school is well- This, sir, is the principle com- advantage of the Public Revenue and of the coast. The survey is expected to be completed fitted to afford. Company generally. But in order to accomplish in about three months. It has not yet been coded by the Government, subject to the approval this, it is absolutely necessary that we should decided whether the branch railway will come of His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Co- have easy communication with the other side, | to the east of Onohama. In fact, the detailed | |lonis, It would not be possible in the time allot. and by "easy" I mean something very different arrangements will not be decided upon until ted to me to trace the history of the movement from the present ferry service. Com the survey of the branch line is completed. extending over a number of years that has munication between Hongkong and Kow- The total amount of expenditure authorised by up to this Kowloon School. That moyenika
Will form a not uninstructive chapter in oon should be by means of a bridge' the Diet was 1,200,000 yen
(
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.