August 2, 1902.]
Royal Indian Marine steamer Clive now in our harbour,
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
I'ossibly it may have been considered and found wauting; any way, it should meet with no objection on the part of the Chinese as it would seem to lend itself marvellously well to their ideas of ventilation, being easily stopped up with a rag if the air shows symptoms of getting too fresh-Yours, etc.,
L.
th se dens which scme Hongkong landlords love to construc for the slow asphyxiation of I earnestly commend the experiment to the their fellow mortals. It may be a striving after serious attention of the shipping companies the unattainable, but I have never seen any interested in this matter, for just as cur br: ve mention made of a simple device called Sikhs, and Punjabis are utilised for police and Tobin's tates" which I have heard spoken watchman's duty all over the East, not only ly of favourably and seen used in one of the older the British Government, Lut to a certain extent Government offices in London-and elsewhere. even by the foreign governments, so will the--and which would seem to be applicable to the advent of the Indian lascar crew in the Eastern condition of things out here; it is only a tube of waters le a force to reckon with, and will act as about 3in. diameter. made of some thin metal a wholesome deterrent to the Chinese crews and hent to a tight angle at one end, which is their secret guilds and societies, of which fortu- inserted in the outer wall about 18in or 2ft nately the Indian lascar.is blissfully innocent. from the Alcor ccmmunicating with the air During the recent labour troubles in Mania, outside, the rest of the tube being perpendicular and especially when the cigar operatives on the inside of the wall and some 5 or 6 feet demanded exorbitant terms from the cigar high, is said to help ventilation considerably. factories, and even went ou su organised strike, the idea of importing trained cigar operatives from the Madras l'esidency was suggested by me to one or two o the leading factories, as the cigar industry of Trichiuopoly is now making rapid strides under skilful European training and guidance, and there is no lack of trained operatives in India. The idea was readily ac- cepted, Lut the donbt was expressed whether the United States Government would consent to a colony of foreign labourers Leing planted on their sil, and also whether the bellicose Filipi- ncs would not revolt at the idea and use violence and bloodshed to oust these intruders. The question was not pursued any further, nor were the promoters of this novel idea afforded much time to sound the United States Government on the subject as the Filipino operative sou woke up to a sense of the injury he was doing to his national industry by putting forward impossible demands at a time when Japan, the Hawaiian Islands, and even Australia had closed their doors fast against them by imposing heavy due ties on cigars, and when the trade was not in a very flourishing condition. The strike has therefore uded, but if foreigners living in countries owning foreign-way are so willing and ready to seek help in time of their trouble from India, which may well be called the brightest jewel in the diadem the glorious British Crown, why should the Britishers not avail themselves of the ready-made forces placed within their casy orb, and shake themselves free from the conspiracy of "sixty against six as one of the shipping companies so effectively puts it-Youis, et
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TIN
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TS. TADY BURJOR.
A COMPLAINT.
TO THE I DITOR
F THE DAILY PRESS.
.
Hongkong, 24th July, SIR, Having en unfortunate enough to loso several anticks of value out of my room whilst lying along..de Kowloon Dock, I would like, through the medium cf your valuable paper, to warn shipmasters and others who have occasion to
use the Docks to be very careful of their property while over there. It seems to me that there is an organised band of thieves among the native workmen or coolies, who watch every possible chance of lifting anything they can lay their bands on. When you complain to the Deck officials about it you are told that there is a notice (or ought to be if they don't forget it) on your gangway warning you about thieves. Well, I was alongside fire days before I saw any such notice on my gangway and that was after the things were stolen. I am not the only victim on board my veɛɛel, as the 3rd officer lost a gold watch.
It is not the intrinsic va ce of the things I lost, but as they were most of them presents I naturally feel very sore about it Apologis ing for troubling you and hoping this warning nay make seafaring cople more careful when at the Kowloon Deck. Yours, etc.,
L. DAWEON,
Master, ss. Taiyuan.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
**an
Hongkong. 28th July.
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public buildings will not be illuminated on the night he 9th proximo. If I am right, it is really to understand that a good many, in fact every one
le regretted that such is the case.
of the offices and private residences which were to be illuminated last month, have retained the preparations me, and will very likely do so. Unless the Government decided heartily to co-operate with the public in making a grand display, the Coronation, at least in this Colony, will indeed be shorn of a good deal of i's splendours. We have now a two-fold reason for rejoicing, because His Majesty has just something be done anyhow, so that the unmer- a very serious illness. Let
ous subjects of Their Majesties in Hongkong can have an occasion to publicly testify their loyalty to their Sovereigns cn the auspicious day of their Coronation.-Yours, etc..
recovered from
ANOTHER OF THE (ROWD.
THE BIGH-LEVEL TRAMWAYS COMPANY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRES8."
Hongkong, 30th July. SIR-The late interruption in the service of the Peak Trams, owing, so it is said, to the brake being accidentally applied, caused con- siderable inconvenience to man of the season- ticket holders and others. No notice was cir- consequently several Peakites had to walk all culated by the Managers on Monday night, and the way down to their cffices in the pelting rain usual and were unable to obtain chairs, though on Tuesday, as they had gone to meet the car as
ready to pay for them.
SIR. Your correspondent L is advised in styling himself noinstructed cutsider." The Tobin tube is a much advertised and small pipe, which delivers a fountain of air overrated article, consisting of a comparatively about six feet above the floor of a room. The air rises about two feet du leaving the pipe, and then curls over and descends upon the leads of the occupants in the form of a draught. Tu cold weather this is not enjoyed, and couse. quently (even in England) the tube is promptly cellent way the tramway service has, generally I wilingly bear testimony to the very ex- plugged up with the handiest newspaper. In speaking, been carried on since the line was warm weather, or when the tmperature outside first of ered, and should not now trouble you and is higher than that within the building, these your readers, did I not consider that the cause tubes introduce no air at all: and owing to of this last accident calls attention to a weak to be of much practical use.-Yours, etc., their size, at no time do they pass sufficient air spot co: nected with the tramway which, in the opinion, I believe, of practical engineers, as well as in the opinion of those who are simply thinking of the safety of those travelling by THE CORONATION CELEBRATIONS. the Tramway, calls for serio s attention on the
M.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PREIS,"
1
Hongkong, 28th July. SIR,- I was very pleased on reading the Daily Press this morning to see that you referied to the necessity of the Coronation Committee and the community doing their best to make the approaching celebrations a big
Buccess. To an cutsider it would almost seem
that the recent sudden and much regretted postponement had “knocked the stuffing" out
of the local committee.
Many tradespeople and others have spent much money on arranging for illuminations,
and now they do not know whether or when to illuminate. Everybody is anxious to do some- thing, and your suggestion if the immediate publication of a programme is to the point. The postponement of the event did not mean its cancellation. Let us have a bigger slow than ever, which the coming event demands, and if necessary send round the bat again, and do so
chop-chop."-Yours etc.,
ONE OF THE CROWD
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10 THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PIESS."
Hongkong, 29th July. King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra is SIR, The Coronation of Their Majesties
and Reuter informs us that the King has now officially fixed for the 9th August next, signed the Prcolamation making that day a Bank Holiday. May I enquire, through the medium of your paper, what we are going to do locally to fitingly commemorate this auspicious cecasion? 1 hope that the Coronation Com- mittee will stir up and fix an official programme 28 ГОСЦ as possible. Over $30,000 has been subscribed by the public, and something should
part of the management. I refer, of course, to the brake. There is no doubt that the present arrangements for suddenly stopping the car from the car itself are, to a certain extent, efficient. That is, the conductor, by letting go the Lrake, can stop the progress of the car; but, in order to make the brake suitable for its purpose it should not le an instrument that the conductor is afraid to apply except as the very last resource, or one that automatically applies itself because the conductor's hands are wet and slippery or because his attention is momentarily called away. The consequences of applying the brake at present are, even where no injury to the machinery is caused, of such a Dature, delaying the running of the cars probably for a considerable time, that the conductor will never intentionally release the brake if he can possibly avoid doing so and the let go until it is too late and this may possibly result of this some day may be that he delays to
lead to the sacrifice of many lives.
Bome
I realise that the brake is only intended to be used in emergencies, but cannot equally efficient and more satisfactory machinery be substituted which will enable the car to be stopped as soon as serious danger is threatened instead of the conductor having to wait until an accident is inevitable unless the brake be app ied?—Yours, etc.,
H. L.-D..
6.
THE FORTHCOMING RACE MEETING.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS,"
Hongkong. 27th July. SIR, I was very glad to see a letter from Veteran" in your issue of Saturday last, and
VENTILATION AND TOBIN” 1UBES. be done. I see no reason why we should not I quite agree with all he says as to the desir-
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
}}
Hongkong, 26th July. SIR--Our Sanitary Areopagus meets and discusses themes far above the beads of common mortals-rats and grids and things-but an uninstructed cutɛider cometimer feels tempted to "ush in" with feeble suggestion. One of the objects apparently looked on as desirable is the conveyance of outside air to the interior of
have the services at the Cathedrals as original yability of knowing as soon as possible what the arranged, a Royal salute at ncon, a review of programme for the next race meeting is going troops, illuminations, and fireworks, and the fish | procession at right, besides the torchlight pro- cession and the garden party at Government House. I noticed that the bamboo scaffoldings at the Clock Tower, the Post Office, the Supreme Court, and other Government offices were taken down a few days ago; I there. fore surmise that the Government offices and
to be. I also agree with what he says as to the desirability of encouraging owners to take an intelligent interest in racing, and that owners should be encouraged to keep ponies over with a view to racing them again, and the reasonable- ness of the argument that these owners who do so have a right to expect that they will not be overlooked for the trouble and
expense
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