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to do. A guarantee such as he had signed meant that if the debtor did not pay he would have to, and what was the good of signing a guarantee if he knew he could not, pay if the debtor failed to pay? The guarantee of a man who could not pay was no god at all. His Lordship advised him to aroid for the rest of his life becoming security for people under any circumstances, especially when he was a married man; his first duty was to his family and not to boon companions who let him in and left him as this mau had done. He had s.id he did it for a friend. Such a man was no friend at all.
The examination was closel The Court afterwards adjourned.
***CORRESPONDENCE.
THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS,”
Hongkong, 30th July, SIR, There will be started in this Colony a Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals as suggested by Mr. E. A. Howitt in his letter published in your issue of the 25th instant, and while heartily supporting the views expressed therein I would suggest that a similar society uight be formed for the prevention of cruelty to human beings in the Colony of Hongkong.
In view of the numerous letters recently published in the focal papers re the enforcement of the new Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, it is within the knowledge of almost every member of this community that the comfort of the Chinese residents in this Colony is very little considered, and that under the existing Ordinance above referred to, all cubicles in tenement houses that are con- sidered illegal, are to be demolished without considering the hardships inflicted and incon- venience caused to those whose circumstances are not so easy as those of some of their fortumate fellow-beings who could well afford to take up their residence at the Peak.
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To prevent overcrowding among the Chinose is universally acknowledged to be a step taken in the right direction, but what good can result if the Government makes no provision for the ready accomoda tion of the displaced inhabitants who now flocking about like shipwrecked people in search for shelter? The question now is, Where are those displaced people to go to? Since the Government has thought fit to enact suchi Ordinance, why should they not provide cheap dwellings for the poor and labouring class before the law is actually put in force?
It remains yet to be seen whether this actiou on the part of the Government proves successful or not in the way of improving the bea'th of the general public for which purpose this very Ordinance was originally enacted.
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[August 1, 1903, -
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
the Kowloon tramway are in operation there with a small body of braves, was attackel by are no cheap and rapid means of communication robbers and his valiant soldiers overcome and betwe u the localities named and the central plundered. A soldier named Lun, who was parts of the City, to which the majority of the conveying a despatch from tanton to Wuchow residents likely to be displaced are bound to for the Viceroy, was also robbed of his charge come daily in order to reach their offices and at about the same time at King Ting village. shops. Rickshas are comparatively expensive. - especially for long distances, and the saving in. rent is not likely to be sufficient to meet the cost of 40 con's a day for ricksha-hire. Walking in a Hongkong summer, whether in rain or sub, is out of the question for those whose occupations are of a sedentary nature (aud I think most of the persons likely to be. affected balong to this class).
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But in Hongkong (as in London) we have an alternative means of locomotion, ie, by water, and my object in writing this letter is to suggest that a system of cheap but powerful and rapid ferry-launches should be run in the mornings and evenings from the outskirts to the centre of the Colony. If the suburbs were thus brought into easy communica tion with the centre I feel sure that one of the greatest objections to moving from the centre would be overcome.
One line of ferries might run from North Point to Kennedytown and back, calling at the principal public piers en route; another line should run from Shamsuipo, and after calling at Taikoktsui and other villages to the north of Yaumati, cross over to Blake Pier: while a third line should rnu from Kowloon City ni Mataukok and Tokwawan to Blake Pier, Such ferry lines might be assisted by the Government at small expense by providing them with bamboo jolties free of cost in the outlying districts, and permitting the use of the public piers in Victoria.
The Star Ferry Co., which has, I believe, a large reserve of capital and launches, might operate one or more of these routes, whilst there are numerous Chinese-owned launches available for the remaining routes.
There is no need to wait for the construc tion of expensive permanent ways, or elaborate machinery the sea is there ready made and open to all.
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Trusting that this suggestion may be of some assistance in solving a most difficult problem. — Yours, etc.,
DECENTRALISATION.
CANTON.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Cauton, 28th July. OPERATIONS AGAINST THE KWANGSI REBELS, Preparations for a vigorous campaign against the Kwangsi rebels are being pushed forward. The Viceroy some little time ago issued a proclamation calling on them to surrender. Iu answer to this bills were posted up by the rebels The Chinese are now petitioning the Govern-in several towns stating that they were quite went praying for permission to re-erect the cubicles already demolished. Let us hope that the Government wil grant their prayer and that that section of the Ordinance relating to cubicles will be modified and amended in due
course.
Thanking you for the usertion of this in your valuable paper,-Yours, etc.,
POOR CHINAMAN. OVERCROWDING AND LOCOMOTION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRE88." Hongkong, 29th July. SIB In dealing with th› overcrowding question it is admittedly necessary to consider what accommodation is available for housing the persons to be displaced from the overcrowded area, and in every scheme which involves the destruction of tenement houses or artisans' dwellings at home provision for the anhonsed population takes a very prominent part.
Our Sanitary Board is now considering the destruction of cubicles in the central parts of the town and the necessary disturbance of a large number of residents Chinese and others; e question arises where are these residents
there are numbers Wanchai, Bowrington, North
gustown and the Kow loon villages, able it very moderate rents. Until, however, the new Victoria tramway and
willing to surrender if ex-Governor Wong were executed, but not before. It seems that they fear bis return to power. The rebels also state that they bear nò illwill towards the Cantonese soldiers, but will never, give in to the men of Hunan. The Hainanese are considered to be the best fighting-meo in China, and there are large numbers of them in the Two Kwang, where they are hated as "foreigners."
The famous general Fung Tsze Tsoi will sail for Canton in a few days from Yamchow (Chin Chow). One thousand soldiers have lately joined bis command there, and they will presumably accompany him to the capital and later on to Wuchow, where he will begin operations against the rebels. General Fang will be remembered as the victor of Langson and thou.hehe is advanced in years, he is quite up to the work before him--according to report.
THE MAGIC OF THE VICEROY'S NAME. In Canton, where a few months ago one heard of almost daily burglaries and armed robberies, peace seems to be prevailing at present. The magic of Viceroy Shen's name is acting upon robbers and police alike-the former are terrified, while the latter are burning with zeal to win the approbation of their new chief. Hence between the two the city is enjoying quict-a great contrast to the state of affairs at New Year. Outside the walls, however, matters appear to be as bad as ever News has been received that an officer named Cheng, who was proceeding by land to Kwangasi
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EDUCATION.
To taru to peaceful matters. The unmbar of schools in Canton where foreign subjects are being studied is increasing every year. I bear that the Ellis Kadoorie school inside the old city has been taken over by Mr. Tang, the edito: of the On Nge newspaper. Mr. Tang is an able and cultured man." He spent voral years in Europe and Americs, and is fully conversant with the best methods of teaching, and his school will doubtless be a great success. I should mention that there are still two branches of the Ellis Kadoorie establishment in Canton.
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[FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.]
MASS F R THE LATE POPE.
Cauton, 29th July.
A solemn requiem mass for the late Popo Leo was held to-day, at 10 a m., in the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the French Mission, and among the congregation presant were the Consular authorities, naval officers, a contingent of French marins, Europesa civilians and ladies, and General Kwong Hip. His Excellency the Viceroy was represented by wriquins and interpreters. The Church was draped in black and a catafalque was erected in the middle of the nave. As soon as the mass was finished the exequies service was sung. All the members of the Roman Catholic community were invited,
KWANGSI REBEIMION.
Shum, the new Viceroy has had a bad time in It is reported in Canton that His Excellency Kwangsi with the rebels. Besides being twice defeated the Imperialist soldiers were completely surrounded by the rebels who robbed them of their rice and ammuuition. It is said that His Excellency hastened to Siu Hing to telegraph to Peking for reinforcements of Hu- nau soldiers. His Excellency - au‹ arrival at Cautou quickly ascertained that the Treasury was at a low ebb, and he ordered oue-fourth of the number of soldiers in Cant n to by disbande '. Finding now that more soldiers are required, as one-half of the number has b on taken tɔ Kwangsi, the Viceroy has issued orders for the enlistment of more men.
NOTES FROM THE BOTANIC GARDENS.
The fountain this week presents the rare sight of Eichh rnia speciosa in flower. It is a native of the warm lagoons of Brazil and is much cultivated in European gardens though very seldom flowering This is one of the many interesting novelties obtained by Lady Blake from Chinese cultivators and presented to the Botanic Gardens
If, as we understand, it came from anton it would be interesting to know how the plant reached China from Brazil.
There are several plants of Plumbago. capensis in flower in different parts of the gardens. The colour of the flowers is rather ancommon, being a pleasing, light shade of blue. There are two bushes near the large Royal Palm in the new garden and several others on the banks below the rain-ganga. Though au African plant, it is clearly well adapted for our climate, for the flowers are produced in the greatest profusion. It is an old favourite in England as it has been in cultivation sinc1 1818.
The Coral tree, Brythrina Crista:galli, makes a brilliant show at this time of the year. One tree may be seen just on the right at the bottom of the steps at the Albany outrance and another near the status of Sir Arthur Kennedy, but the latter is not quite at its best yet. Two other trees are very conspicuous or one of the bank to the west of the deer-pen in the new garden.
There is a capital patch of colour on the lower terrace in the old garden produced by the bright red leaves of an "Amaranthus.
The rainfall since the 22nd July has been 1.76 inches only.
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