August 30, 1902.1
crosses the border into Chinese territory without payment of duty.
The book is well printed, and the illustrations are numerous and well selected though some few are rather imperfectly developed.
The Ball. By ARTHUR 8. BAXENDALE. Lon- don, Wm. Heinemann. Novelettes de Luxe. THE title of Mr. Baxendale's story is from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam:
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The Ball no question makes of Ayes or Noes, But here and there as strikes the Player goes. So Harry Silcote, the hero of the tale before us, is the Ball that goes as the Player strikes. He is not, it may be remarked, any more capricioue in his movements than a vast numb.r of "heroes or of real men. Mr. Baxendale, whose name is not unknown in Selangor, opens The Ball in the Malay States and then transfers his scene to England. Dwellers in the Far East may therefore fake an additional interest in what is, as a whole, a well-written-book. One chapter, XI, is superfluous, though brief, Otherwise wo can recommend Mr. Baxendale's first effort in fiction (as we take The Ball to be) as a thoroughly readable work.
HONGKONG POLO CLUB GYMKHANA,
Under the auspices of the Hongkong Polo Club a successful gymkhana was held on the the 23rd inst. on the Polo Ground at Causeway Bay. The weather was a trifle warm but otherwise the day was delightful. A large number of spectators were present, both European and Chinese, and the company comprised many ladies. His Excellency Major- General Gascoigne was among the first arrvials. An interesting programme had been arranged, containing seven events. In most cases the events filled well, and competition was keen. For the success of the meeting much of the credit is due Mr. C. H. Ross, the Hon. Secre- tary, and Major A. B. Hamilton and Mr. G. C. C. Master, who acted as judges. In the course of the afternoon a capital selection of music was played by the band of the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Appended are the results:-
No. 1.-LEMON CUTTING.-Open to all comers Conditions: Cuts 1 and 2 on the
right. Points given for pace and style. 1, Captain the Hon. H. W. Trefusis; 2, Mr. Dale. There were many entrants; the two named showed outstanding superiority and got warmly applauded for their respective performances.
No. 2.-LED PONY COMPETITION.-Open (Figure 8 course). Conditions: Ride one Pony and lead another on a figure 8 coures on Polo Ground. To be run in heats of not more than 4 competitors in a hest.— 1, Mr. Venables. Some very good horsemanship and speed were shown in this competition.
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No. 3.-LADIES' NOMINATION, ROSETTES AND BARRELS-Open to Members of Polo Club only. Conditions: Competitors to be nominated by ladies. Each lady will be presented with a coloured rosette. Correspond- ing rosettes will be hidden in one or other of several barrels placed in different parts of the ground. Start from flag-ride over hurdle to the barrel of your choice-having found a rosette mount and ride home over hurdle. The lady holding the corresponding rosette to that first brought home to win prize-1, Mr. Pontifex, for Mrs. Robinson; 2, Mr. A. R. Grieve, for Mrs. Beresford-Ash. The winner had a good deal to spare at the finish.
169
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE RÉPORT.
splendid style out of a big field. One rider and just when the crew were on the high was unfortunate enough to lose his pony when road to excellence the captain was promoted, giving it a practice jump over the first and was succeeded by Captain R. W. White, hardle; it refused to jump after him, and as he who, fortuna ely, was no less enthusiastic had let go his hold of the reins, the pony than his predecessor. The result is that. cantered round the end of the hurdls and on to the Ocean has made 117 hits the public road. It was captured, however, in
from the same number of guns, and therefore in time to let the rider come to the starting-post. the same time as the Terrible's 102 hits in 1901. No. 6-POLO SCURRY OVER FIGURE 8 Much of the credit for this high scoring is COURSE. For bona-fide Polo ponies only. unquestionably due to Commander J. C. Ley, Condition: Over a figure 8 course on Polo her first, and Lieut. Norman Craig, her Ground. A hot race was won by Mr. Cruick-present gunnery lieutenant who have spared no shank with nothing to spare.
pains to drill and instruct the crew.
No. 7.-MAP AND CRACKER COMPETITION, - Open. Conditions: Start from flag-ride to point indicated, where will be found cardboard, pencils, crackers, matches, and instructions. Carry out these instructions and ride home, handing your cardboard to judge at winning post.-This event was carried out in semi-dark. ness and created a deal of amusement, The first competitor to get his crackers set agoing was Mr. A. R. Grieve, and in the nature of things the others had a hard time holding on to their ponies under the blaze and splutter of the fireworks, as they tried to carry out their own conditions. Mr. Grieve won easily,
AND SILVER MEDAL
IOR
ROYAL HONGKONG GOLF CLUB.
CAPTAIN'S CUP
The following scores were returned :-
CAPTAIN'S CUP,
AUGUST.
Mr. C. M. G. Burnie Mr. H. W. Slade Mr. E. J. Grist...
P
83883
82
85
Capt. R. C. Morris, R. A.... 98 Mr. C. H. P. Hay..
18
80
97
15
85
86
1
103
18
93
5
19 entries. POOL.
Mr. J. E. Lee
104
95
79
Capt. R. C. Morris, R A... 98 Mr. C. M. G. Burnie Mr. C. H. P. Hay.. Mr. E. J. Grist....
18
80
82
81
97
15
82
93
5
83
22 entries.
HONGKONG CHESS CLUB.
the remaining game by cable between Hongkong The following moves have been recorded in
and Singapore during the past fortnight:-
Black. (Singapore). Q-Kt 5 P-B 4 Rt. R
White. (Hongkong).
32 R Q 3 33 KR-Q 8Q 34 Kt K 2
35 Bt. R
36 B-B 2
37 Bt. R
38 Q-B 8q 39 Kt Kt 3 40 Kt-R 5 41 Ktt. Kt
P-B 5
R. t. R ch Q-K 8 ch Q-Q 7 Qt. P
Q 7
PRAISE FOR H.M.S. “OCEAN."
The Naval and Military Record writes:- Admiral Sir E. H. Seymour's handsome gift of a challenge shield to be held by the best gunnery ship on the China station is already proving a sound patriotic investment, as it has set up such a spirit of emulation and rivalry that in 1902 the Terrible has been out-scored by the Ocean, which now becomes the crack gunnery ship of the fleet. service point of view it is perhaps well that From a strictly the Ocean has wrested the trophy from the Terrible, for when men reflected that it was Captain Percy Scott, in the Scylla, who brought good shooting to the front in 1899, and kept it t the front in 1990 and 1901 in the Terrible, the sceptics sniffed and even doubted the honesty of the umpires who were interested in keeping down those tall scores as much as possible. But the succes of the Ocean has shifted the scene, and, while confounding the sceptics, has demonstrated that good shooting can be attained by every ship if each commanding officer is No. 5.-RUNNING, Leading and MOUNT insistent. The Ocean W88 commissioned ING COMPETITION OVER FOUR HURDLES- in 1900 by Captain (now Rear-Admiral) Open. Conditions: Start from flag-dismount the Hon. G. A. Curzon-Howe, a lineal -run and lead pony over first hurdle-mount descendant of the great Lord Howe, and in that and ride over second--dismount at flag (about 10 yards beyond second hurdle)-run and lead pony over third hurdle-mount and ride home over fourth burdle. In this event Mr. Ponti- fex again proved the victor, coming in first in
No. 4.-JUMPING COMPETITION FOR PONIES 14.2 AND UNDER,-Open. Conditions: Over a hurdle with movable top-bar. Three runs each, first over 3ft. 3in., second over 3ft. 6in., and third over 3ft. 9io. bar. In the event of tie, bar to be raised to 4ft. There were five competing ponies, Hon. F. H. May and Mr. W. Cruickshank riding two each and Mr. Pontifex one. First honours went to Mr. Pontifex after a very keen contest in which some good form
was shown.
| year the 6-inch guns made only 43 hits. From this starting point the captain determin d to work up his men to beat the Terrible, which stood alone as the crack gunnery ship of the navy. In 1901 the 6-inch guns made 64 hits;
Nor is it only with the 6-inch gun that the Ocean has beaten all records, for she was equally successful with the 12-inch gan, which made 17 hits for 25 rounds, an unprecedented achieve. ment. In 1901 the Terrible's 6.2-inch guns made 63 per cent. of hits to rounds fired, and her 6-inch guns 89 per cent.; in 1992 the Ocean's 12-inch guns made 68 per cent. of hits to rounds fired, and her 6-inch guns 71 pér cent.. but owing to the Oced is more rapid fire she made 4.87 hits per gun per minute against the Terrible's score of 4.25 in 1901. The brilliance of the Ocean's achievement will be seen when it is remembered that the average of the fleet in 1901 was 1.8. A point to bзir in mind in weighing the importance of these figures is that the target used on the China station is only half the size of that allowed by the regulations, and therefore the number of hits on the target represents probably less than the number of hits that would be made on an enemy in action. Now, let as take four ships at random, three from the Channel and one from the Mediterranean squad- ron, as it is commonly supposed that in the erent of war these would be the first squadrons called upon to fight. In 1901 the forty-six 6-inch guns of the Magnificent, Prince George, Hannibal, and Renown fired 340 rounds, and made in all 111 hits, whereas the twelve guns of the Ocean, in 173 rounds, made 117 hits. She is thus not only the most rapid-firing but the hardest hitting ship in the service, and probably in the world. Nor can it be said that she owes much to mechanical aid, for although the "dotter" has been adopted by the Ad- miralty it has not been issued on the China station, and the one used by the Scylla in the Ocean from the Terrible. To show the persistent Mediterranean, in 1899, was borrowed by the
efforts made by the champion ship to secure the lead it may be mentioned that while the average hits to rounds fired by the 12-inch gun was in 1901 34 per cent., in 1902 the Ocean made 68 per cent, or exactly double, whereas in 1901 she was still the leading ship, with 58 per cent.
While the success of the Ocean at once dispels the suspicions of the sceptics, about which wa shall, doubtless, hear no more,
it will afford the most intense gratification to the marine to learn that the champion shot of the world belongs to their corps, Gunner F. Skein, R.M.A., having completely broken the record established by Petty Officer Grounds; for while Grounds made eight hits for eight rounds in one minute, Skein of the Ocean made nine hits for nine rounds i the same time. Hero worship is a vital force in the marines, and any man may envy the reception that will be given to Skein on his return to Eastney Barracks. Nor is our satisfaction the marines lessened by the fact that Skein's with the lustre that has been shed upon
of Lis own corps; and between them these two comrade behind the gun was Gunner Bromfield,
men fired fifteen rounds and made fourteen hits. Class Petty Officer C. Harvey and Able The second best gun was manned by First
and also made fourteen hits. A correspondent Seaman J. Cousins, who fired seventeen rounds,
who supplies the above facts, states that the on the Ocean, writing from Weihaiwei, and quick loading was due to constant exercise with Captain Scott's loading "teacher," while the following the Terrible's example, and using the success of the ship generally is due to their
same mechanical appliances. Had Petty Officer Grounds survived there is no doubt he would have been made a warrant officer, and bis comrades of that class would have intuitively known with what honour to receive him in plain gunner drawing the modest pay of one their ranks. To-day the champion shot is a shilling and fivepence farthing a day, but from to-day he is a marked man, and he alone can retard his rapid advancement.
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