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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND small but rising Colony, it is only fitting that a monument to his fame should be erected in testimony of the esteem in which she holds her most distinguished citizen.
TH
COLONY'S WATER SUPPLY.
May 19, 1902 insufficient reserve in event of emergencies and the right measures were not taken to Both these errors husband that reserve. ean and should be rectified.
FRENCH ACTIVITY IN THE SOUTH.
but it was not until 1901, and then very luctantly, that he would accept the post of Chairman, to which he has done so much credit For several years, he was also a member of the Committee of the China. Association, and at one time presided over that body, but withdrew from it about two years ago, finding it impossible to reconcile
(Daily Press, 10th May.)
(Daily Press, 16th May.) his duty to the Bank with taking an active
The heavy rains of the last few days, We have had repeatedly to comment, during part in the political aims of the Association. though they have not ended the water the past year, on the many signs of French Sir THOMAS JACKSON has always carried famine, have at any rate put a period to activity in the neighbourhood of her Indo. weight with the various Governors of Hong the season of total draught, and once more Chinese colonial empire, more especially in kong, and his influence, owing to his mo
it is possible for everyone in the Colony to the northward and north-easterly direction. deration and good sense, has been beneficially procure some water free of charge, if not To signs of this activity in the vicinity of exerted. It is, however, primarily as a suc-
through the ordinary supply-pipes. The Macao itself we have been able on more cessful banker that Sir THOMAS JACKSON advent of the long expected rain, though than one occasion to be the first to draw has made for himself a most enduring fame, with it we are looking for an increase in the attention. Once again, in the letter of our mt only in local annals but also in every plague figures, after the wont of previous Macao correspondent which appeared in part of the financial world. In that depart years, seems to justify a cessation of the yesterday's issue, we announced a fresh ment he stands head and shoulders above all keenest anxiety which was felt as to the manifestation of energy on the part of our compeers, and there, we doubt not, he is con-health of the city should the famine con- restless southern neighbours; for, though tent to rest his claims to public appreciation. tinue. It is too early yet to say that our the last move, in connection with the Ca While the Bank has ever been the mis- annual wet season has set in, but at least Tai promontory, seems to have been con tress of his affections, and he has been ready the record duration (within the time of the ducted with the full cognisance of the to spend most of his remaining time on the British occupation of Hongkong) of water-Paris authorities, it cannot be doubted that public affairs of the Colony, Sir THOMAS has failure has reached its termination. It is it is but part of the ambitious scheines with
· always been a keen supporter of all sport and now that it becomes incumbent on the which M. DOUMER, whom now we must, we rational amusement. No one knows better authorities to provide without delay against suppose, look on as the late Governor- identified than himself that all work and no play pro- the possibility of the recurrence of such a General of Indo-China, has duces a dull boy. His unostentatious bene- state of affairs as existed this year. We himself. As our correspondent reported in volence is too well known to call for remark. have on many occasions in the past urged his letter of the 13th instant, it is given He has always loved to do good by stealth, on the Government the necessity of learning out that the plan is merely to establish, and no one in real need ever sought his from the failures of its predecessors that it or rather re-establish, a French naval assistance in vain. Sir THOMAS JACKSON has will not do to increase, the water-storage hospital within half-an-hour's distance of been the confidant of many, and the sound capacity of this island only in accordance with the Portuguese colony of Macao. But it so the wants of an average growth of population. happens, according to our Macao correspon- This has always before resulted in the com- dent's letter, that the site in question, with its pletion of new reservoirs finding the excellent anchorage, commands the ap estimated growth of population at the time proaches to both Macao and Canton. The of their commencement to have been far too Chinese apparently are willing to allow the small. Nor is this to be wondered at, land to pass into foreign hands. But the seeing that every inducement is offered for question is not one which concerns the Chinese alone. It has been obvious for the Chinese to crowd into the Colony, re- gardless of the actual living space available some time that the French have been mak- for them. Yet when the water-works ucwing desperate efforts to build up a strong in hand are completed it is probable, or position in the Canton neighbourhood. rather practically certain, that they will be It is not for nothing that the French flag has inadequate for the population of that day. been exhibited so prominently in Canton on sampans, that a French We are planning, too, to open up still waters; even further, by means of tramways, the suburbs post office has been set up, or the various of Victoria, which will not only enable the other tokens of French activity have been present great overcrowding to be diminished exhibited. What attention is being paid but will also attract new immigrants. Do by the local government to such proceed- those to whom the government and sanita-ings it is of course not within our compet- tion are entrusted feel confident that they ence to say. can, with present schemes, meet the demands matter is being entirely neglected, but it for water in the near future? If they do, requires the utmost vigilance and energy on the part of Hongkong and of the home certainly the residents in the Colony do not share that confidence, We look to the authorities alike to meet such persistent effort Government to manifest its sense of respou- ns is shown by the agents of France. There was until lately a tendency among the more sibility by proceeding without delay to consider the possibility of adding to Hong-careless and ignorant at home to acquiesce kong's water-supply to a much larger extent in the absurd theory (supported even by than is at present planned: We must have some maps purporting to give the "spheres a surplus, in order to meet such con- of influence in China") that the two Kwang tingencies as this year's. drought, and this provinces were in a way under the tutelage surplus the island has never yet had. In of France. There is not a single fact nor the meantime, it is advisable that the waste' figure which can be adduced to support this. of water entailed by maintaining a constant Neither before nor at the present time has supply during periods of abundance should any nation but Great Britain held a lead be stopped. A reckless expenditure of ing position in the trade returns of this water is inevitable with a native population, section of China. In spite of a want whose education in municipal matters is as of encouragement and absolute neglect low as Hongkong's. A curtailment of the by the home Government, British traders. hours of supply before water-shortage have held their own with the rest of the We world on the waterways and the coast of sets in will diminish this waste.
China uearest this Colony. Circumstances we are right in saying
were all our have not changed, and we still want no at no period last year reservoirs full, 'Yet the residents, native hostile power established within a few and foreign, were able to get water for the hours' distance of Hongkong, whether whole of the twenty-four hours right up to in innocent guise or in overt defiance. the time when it occurred to the authorities that water was likely to run short this year. This prodigality out of our only comparative abundance is partly to answer for the recent distress. There was in the first place an
advice received has, in numerous cases, As saved the recipient from disaster. chief mannger, the relations of Sir THOMAS with the members of the Bank Staff were not merely cordial; they might be termed 'affectionate. He took the keenest interest in their welfare and amusements, and was ever ready with a joke, or, when necessary, Sir with encouragement and advice. THOMAS JACKSON is nowt finally bidding farewell to Hongkong, and, much as the Colony will deplore his loss, he necessity for the parting is self-evident. He has given his best years, his best energies, his maturest wisdom to the Bank, but it is now time that he should enjoy a well earned leisure in the old country. No matter how robust the constitution, no matter how vigorous the mind, there comes a time in this exhausting climate when a halt should be called, and tired Nature allowed to rest and recuperate. That fact has prudently been recognised by Sir THOMAS JACKSON, and he will leave here while yet his health is unimpaired and all his faculties are fully alert. That he may long enjoy the leisure so well carued is, we are sure, the fervent wish of all his friends in this Colony. Meantime, they would dearly like to have an enduring reminder of his most interesting personality, and it is with much satisfaction we learn that there is a movement to erect a statue either in the Bank itself or its immediate vicinity which will be a permanent memoriaÏ. Perhaps the most suitable site of all would be in front of the City Hall facing the Bank, but that is a detail which will noʻ doubt receive due consideration at the proper moment. It will, in either case, afford genuine pleasure to the colonists of every race and class to see the familiar features of “T. J." engraved in bronze or marble always present on the scene of his former activities. For his own part, we can well believe, he wants neither marble, nor bronze, nor carving as a record; he would be
d be content to leave his acts to sepak for him and his memory to rest in the esteem of his friends. But, as he belongs in some measure to posterity and as his career is interwoven with the history of this
believe
that
We do not think that the
In another quarter news reaches us of French activity in South-eastern Asia. As, however, reliable information from the actual spot is not yet to hand, we shall not dwell at length upon the matter. A
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