"
June 1, 1903.]
POLO CLUB GYMKHANA.
Fine weather favoured the gymk ana held at Causeway Bay on the 28th ult. by the Pulo Club, and made the fefe most enjoyable one. There were eight event on the programme, namely tent-pegging bending race thread needle race, Victoria Cross race, leading ruce, whistling race, polo ball race, and ricksha race. As may be gathered from the titles, pains were taken to impart originality to the card. Thus, in the bending competitors bad to pass in and out between eight flags, with a ran in of about forty yards They were to stait from a point indicated, 'eave the first flag on the left hand, the second on the right, and so on, turning right-handed cound the eighth flag, on the return journey passing the seventh flag on the left, the sixth on the right, and so on. In the thread-needle race (a ladies' nominatiou), the gentlemen were provided with needles, and the ladies with pieces of thread and pearl buttons. Each geztleman had to ride up to a lady, who took the needle threaded it and sewed oq a bu ton (with at least one stitch through och hole, it was stipulated) to his coat or slirt. The gentleman then mounted and rode home, and the winner had to show the button to prove that it was properly sewn on to his coat or shirt. The prize in the Victoria Cross race was not awarded for valour. A hurdle was first negotiated, and then one half of the entrants, monated, had to ride to the assistance of the other half, who were dismounted and supposed to be in diro distress. The first two past the post on the same horse won. The leading race consisted of riding one pony and leading another between fi gs per a figure 8 course. The whistling race (another ladies' nomina- tion) was an amusing event, and the condi- tions to be complied with were as follows:- Gentleman to be nominated by a lady: Ladies will be provided with a card and pencil. Gen. tlemen will be told at starting-post the name of a well-known song (each man a different tune). Ride up to your nominatrix, dismount (but do not approach nearer to her than 5 yards dis tant), and whistle the tune selected. The lady, having guessed the air which her partner is whistling, will then write its name on her card, hand it to gentleman, who will remount and ride. First past the post with namé of correct tune to win. Gentleman may look at card hauded to him by lady, and if tune mentioned thereon is incorrect, may say to lady, Try again; nothing more, however, may be
44
said, and the lady must
at (nce go
back to the 5 yards distance from gentleman." In the polo ball race, s ball, struck alternately by partners, had to be driven into goal, and in the ricksha raios, the last one on the card, dismounted men dragging rickshas had to ruu half-way across the polo ground and hand their mounted partners a letter each, or what did duty as a letter. Having ridden to another part of the field and posted their letters, the horse- men galloped back to the rickshas, got inside (after having dismonnte, of course), and were dragged home. The sport was good and much enjoyed by the spectators. The band and pipers of the 33rd Bormas played selections at ntervals during the afternoon.
POLICE SPORTS.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
395
there should be no unnecessary delay in the negotiations for a correspondingly rapidly return mail to China.
The following further letter was received on April 22 from the Secretary to the Post Office
"Sir, I am directed by the Postmaster- General to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter, dated 20th inst.; enclosing covers of let ere posted at tlie Russian Post Office in Shanghai, and to assure you that so far as this office is concerned no effort will be spared arrive at a speedy settlement of the negotiations concerning the conveyance by the Trans-Siberian Railway of mails from this country for Chins
BOAT CLUB SMOKER.
of formality and shirt-front, the smoking con Though there was about it a chilling display cort held in St. Andrew's Hall on the 23rd ult. by the Hongkong Boat Club, taken in the abstract, was an enjoyable function, despite a well-developed tendency to be weirdly classical, The orchestra performed capitally under the baton of Mr. G. Grimble, who, we understand, intends to keep its members together with a view to future appearances on the local concert platform, where there are abundant com and a distinct demand for the exercise of good musical talent. All the numbers on the pro-and the Far East.”: gramme were received with heartiness, especially marked in the case of Mr. Burnett who introduced a welcome variation but was unfortunate in h's choice of an encore. The programme was as follows:-
PART I
咳
Orchestra, March from Tannhauser Messrs. Mirow, Domnich
and Konig
Serenata Messrs. Goldring("The Sea bath
and Grimble its Pearls
Messrs. Mirow, Lam- >
Wagner Br ga
mert, Kouiz and "Die Kapelle," C. Kreutzer Wacker
Mesara. Konig, ( Barlow, Gol win & Mar- shall
Mr. Burnett.....
Orchestra
“Symphonie No.1,"
(a) Andaute, (b) Allegro con
brio.....
Comic Song
Beethoven
SIBERIAN GOLD,
to
OFFICIAL REPORT ON CPERATIONS IN THE PRIMORSKI BEGION,
The Ministry of Agriculture and Domains has published the following report (says the United States Consul-General at St. Petersburg) - on the results of the investigations relating to J. V. White gold mining, made in the Primorski region in 1893 and 1899 The geographical portion is favourable and the climate is soft; the "bsence of rigidity and the easy access to waterways - of communications promise favourable results. Gold mining in the Primorski region is divided into two parts-the northern, on the Amur River and the Okhotsk Sea,and the southern, on several little rivers along the South Ussuri district and the Island of Askold. Gold mining Has in- creased in the former since the construction of the Ussuri and Transbaikal lines of the Siberian Railroad. The large mining companies (which have representatives in large trading towns produced 62 4 per cent. of the total gold mined).
who buy materials, keep an eye on the market | and make contracts with tradesmen. The small
enterprises have no agents, and must pay retail prices. The large companies enjoy a credit from banks, and can receive loans at 8 per cent.
PART II. (Overture of "The Poet
and Peasant,"
and Bovet...
Come,"
Suppé Messra. Goldring "My Love is Th. Marzials Mr. Worcester... Tell Me, Mother;Darling,". Mr. Domnich "Berceuse de Jocelyn,”..... Godard Messrs. Mirow, Lam-("So leb denn
German mert, Konig and Wacker
Kleine Gasse," Folksong
**
wobl du
Comic Song
Mr. Burnett .......
Mr. H. C. N colle occupied the chair.
THE FAR EASTERN MAILS.
THE SIBERIAN ROUTE.
On April 15 a Manchester correspondent called the attention of the Postmester-General to the fact that letters had been received in Manchester from Shanghai via Siberia, i at that according to the official Post Office guide there Were no facilities for conveyance of letters from England to Shanghai by this route. It was March 18," was received in Manchester at 10.30 mentioned that a letter postmarked “Shanghai, a. on April 13, coming via Port Arthur and Moscow. The Postmaster General was asked to say whether letters from Manchester to Shang hai could be transmitted by this route, and if not, when such facilities might be experted to come into force.
In reply the Secretary to the Post Office wrote as follows on April 17:
"Sir,-With reference to your letter of 15th inst., I am directed by the Postmaster-General to inform you that towards the end of last year a notification was received from the Russian Post Office to the effect that the Trans-Siberian Railway would not be available for the transmis sion of correspondence to the Far East from this or other Europe n countries unless a special arrangement was come to beforehand. The terms on which the Russian Government is pre- pared to carry correspondence are being considered; and in the meantime all letters for China and the Far East, except for the places specially mentioned at page 453 of the Post Office Guide, have to be sent by another route. Due notice will be given to the public in this country whenever any arrangement is made for using the Trans-Siberian Bailway for the conveyance of mails. The Postmaster-General would be glad if you would furnish for bis inspection he covers of any letters, which you have recently received from Shanghai by way of Siberia."
On April 20 there were forwarded to the Shanghai received in Manchester via Port Arthur and Moscow. A letter posted in 8 ang hai on March 25 reached Manchester on April, 20, whereas the mail leaving Shanghai on March 24ia Sues was not due until April 27. It was again urged that for merchants engaged in the Far Eastern trade it was very desirable that
On on the 8th at the prizes won in connection with the Police Recreation Club were presented to the winners by Mrs. Lyons, wife of Captain F. W. Lyons, Acting Captain Superintendent of the Hongkong Police. In the billiard's handicap the first prize was won by Inspector D. D. Cuthbert, the second by Ser- geant McHardy, the third by P.C. Deveuey, and the fourth by PC. Gibson; P.C. Pitt won the prize for the highest break. In the tennis tournament (singles) PC. Deveney was first for the second year in succession; with Inspector W. L. Ford be won the doubles prize, ud in the ladies nomination P.C. Deveney and Iuspector Gourlay, Hommated by Mrs William- gon and Mrs. Cineron won first honours. Incretary the envelopes of two letters from the rifle shooting PC. Pitt look first prize, P.C. Evans second, PC. Davies third and Inspector John Gauld fourth. At the conclu sion of the ceremony of the presentation of prizes Mrs. Lyons was presented by Inspector W. Withers with a power-stand on behalf of the members of the Recreation Club.
+
The Russian Chinese Bank began to help the small companies in 1897 by undertaking to deliver gold to the Government laboratory and advancing money to the amount of 3 roubles (1.55 dol.) per solotnik (2.4 drams). In 1899 it issued 60,500 roubles (31,158 dols.) at 9 per cent. per year. Trial excavations are made at a dis- tanca of 1 verst (0.663 mile) apart, with additional pits to ascertain if the gold veins do, not incline ideway. When making final calculations the whole area is divided into trian- gular lots, formed by the lines of pits, and when the stock of gold is approximately studied draining canals are dag and the work begins with removing the turf - and necessary buildings are constructed. The upper soil. Generally, this work is done by hand digging, horse cars carrying the turf away; but recently they have begun to wash the turf away by irrigation. The gold sand is dug out with pickaxes and spades, a workman being paid from 1.19 to 1.80 rouble (61.2 to 92.7 cents) a day. The washing is effected by barrel engines moved by locomobiles.
་་
•
•
The richest gold layers in the South Ussuri region have been worked ly the ancient Chinese In addition to the gold-mining processes. industry in this region there are other natural riches-viz, forests, fisheries, and coal, iron and lead mines, which do not need so large an inv stment. of capital, and are not connected with such risks as the searching for and work- ing of gold mines. The lack of technical knowledge in the gold-mining branch is the principal reason why its development is so slow. The most important enterprises in the Ussuri land are the mines Osnovatelny, belong- ing to Lieutenant Molchansky, who worked them by contract during 1897 and 1893 and suspended the work in 1899; the mine" Askold ' (on the island of the same nam), where vein gold is being extracted by a plant for working quarts; and a mine on the River Biao-Soosi-be. The total quantity of gold mined in the Pri- morski region, according to statistion. was 1,101 poods 2 lbs. (39,904,7 lbs.), containing an average of 1 zolotnik (2.4 drams) in 100 poods (3,611 lbs.) of sand. This amount is less than the product of the adjacent region of which can be explained, by the business. The chief gold- in the Province of Primorski during the last ten years, and of gold veins of this region are not and not even declared.”
Amur
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