A
436
MASONIC INSTALLATION.
On Saturday night Brother Hyett was in- stalled as Right Worshipful Master of the Lodge Naval and Military (848 S.C.). A most enjoyable function was held. The programme was follows:---- Introduction
Song
Song.
11
.Orchestra Leave a little bit for your tutor"
C. Beaumont "While I am with you A. Jack Song.
T Stevenson Song
"Success to the Old Brigade " T. Hoskin Song 'What a good Job I wasn't there" P.Jackson Song
"Lend me your Fairy Wand" T, Mitchel
"Rose of Persia "
"I don't care
A. Jac
Song Song" It suddenly dawned upon me " T. Armitage
Overture....
Interval of 15 minutes.
Orchestra "What an awful draught" J. Stevenson "Cone to my heart again" T. Mitchell "Mulligan's Motor Car" T. Armitage
and A. Jack Fighting lads of England "... T. Hoskin What do you do with your Money"
F5
J
Song
Song
Song
Song Song
Seng
Song
Soppy Fritz
Kailum..
Mrs. Bumkum
50
My First Wife
"I didn't like it".
P. Jackson
Silent absurdity The Rival Lovers
Miss Bumkum
(The Rival)..
(The Barber).
A. Jack ..T. Amitage
T. Armitage A. Jack T. Jago T. Stevenson.
"God Save the King." The officers for 1904 are as follows:-R.W.M.
Wor. Bro. H. P. D. Hyett; Immediate P.M. Won Bro W. E. Claret Deputy Master, Wor. Bro. F. Howell; Wor. Senior Warden. Bor. F. Last; Secretary, Wor. Bro. H. Horley; Senior Deacon, Bro. E. Day; Organist, Bro. W. Carbury; D. of C., Bro. R. T. Allwork; Steward, Bro. J. East, W.J.W., Bro. P. Jackson; Treasurer. Bro. J. J. Blake; Junior Deacon, Bro. J. W. Wiltshire; Chaplain. Bro R. M. Healy Junior Guard, Bro. A. W, Hill; Tyler, Bro. J. Vanstone.
NOTES FROM THE BOTANIC GARDENS.
Two months ago seeds of the mosquito plant Ocimum viride, were received from Lagos, These were sown, and the plants obtained from them are now two or three inches high, sa that in a short time anyone wishing to experiment with the plant will be able to do so. William Thiselton-Dyer wrote to the Times recently on the subject and pointed out the improbability of
Sir,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
are sown should be well drained, and then about two inches of soil put on top of the drainage. The actual sowing is a very simple affair, as all that is required is to select a froad with ripe spores and place it on the soil with the surface containing the spores against the soil for preference. Then cover the pot with a piece of | glass, and after the spores have dropped out of their cases water carefully from the bottom of ha pot. This is easily dons by lowering the pot. gradually in a bucket of water and keeping it there until the top of the soil shows the firsr trace of dampness, when remove the pot from the water, as the remainder of the soil will become damp by capillary attraction. Afterwards water the pots in the same way, when required, until the plants are big enough to transplant. Water- ing from the top of the pot would be almost sure to wash all the spores away, as they are so very minute. The pots containing the spores should be kept in a moist atmosphere and shaded from the sun.
In about two or three months, or perhaps less, according to the species, signs of vegetable life will be seen in the pois, but these will not be feras, but what are known as prothalli, which bear the organs necessary for fertilisation. The ferns will be developed after fertilisation has taken place.
THE KIAOCHAU BUDGET.
The Kiaochau Budget, as presented to the German Reichstag, is as follows, the figures being in Marks, and the last two years' figures being given for comparison:-
|
[December 14, 1903.
Then again, the Kwangtang share of the indemnity is not small. I hear that the Viceroy is negotiating a loan of $1,000,000 to meet the expenses which his energetic administration renders necessary.
H.E. STILL ILL.
H.E. is unfortunately not yet able to resume work. He has applied for another month's A word about his very capable secre- leave.
Mr. Wên Taung taries may be of interest. Yao, the English interpreter, was educated at Queen's College, Hongkong. He proceeded to Tientsin, where he acted as professor in ■ Chinese Government school for several years. He was then sent to assist in the work of drasting the Mackay treaty, and after the conclusion of these duties came down with Shum as a Taotui. Mr. Kao, the French interpreter, is generally acknowledged to be an excellent French scholar, his translations of speeches at the dinner last He was week being especially admired. educated at a French school in Foochow.
Canton, 9th December. RAISING FUNDS,
mentioned in my last letter that the Pro- vincial Treasury was sadly in lack of funds where- with to meet current expenses. The Chinese papers have it that the following sums have been raised $200,000 from the tax on Fan- Tan saloons, $1,200,000 from the farmer of the Wai Sing lottery, and $500,000 from the duty ou exported rice. In connection with this last, the five principal charitable institutions in Canton have sent a petition to the Viceroy, praying for the prohibition of the export of rice, Income:-
1904 1903 1902
The petitioners say that grave discontent is 545,300 Colony's income M ...
$55,000 360,000
being caused by the rise, in the price of rice, Allowance of I rea-
.12,583,000 12,876,000 12,41,0.0 | and fear that there may be a disturbance.
Although the above-named immense sums ..13,089,300 12,876, 12,404,09 have been raised, the Treasury still finds it hard to make both ends meet. The Shang Hou 981,504 966,664 799,547
Chü, or Board of Reorganisation, from which the 2,404,356 2.441,755 2,368,539 Viceroy appropriated $400,000 towards the ex- 1,972,888 1,936,897 1,791,255 penses of the wangsi campaign, has now to be reimbursed, and it is said that in order to raise the necessary funds large sales of Govern. ment lands throughout the province will take place.
sury
Total Expenses. Civil administration.. Military administra
tiou Joint expenses
Harbour
Other Public Works. Houses for Officers Planting forests Fortifications Lighthouses, etc. Floating dock
Electric Works
Extraordinary penses Reserve funds
Total
ex-
5,361,748 4,345.316 4,959,2-9
3,473,000 2,900,000 3,400,000 1,784.00 1,934,000 2,105,0410 100,000 200,000 200,000 80,000 106,000 45,000 500,000 700,000 800,000 40.000 73,000 400,000
40,000
1,500,000 1,500,000
2 0,000
7,697,000 7,470,000 7,375.010 19.552 60,654 69,081
CANTON.
the plant affording any Permanent expenses 5,361,748 5,345,316 4,59,238 protection against mosquitoes. Of course the plant yields an aromatic oil, and this if applied to
.13,088.300 12,875,000 12,404,00) The amount for the purchase and completion the skin will, no doubt, keep off mosquitoes just
of the electric works at singtan became neces- the same as eacalyptus oil or oil of pepper- mint will if applied in a similar manner, but sary, when the negotiations about a participation of the Government failed in consequence of the we very much doubt whether patting a plant or
too high demands of the owners. two in one's room would be sufficient to prevent Hongkong mosquitoes from paying their nightly visits. The plant belongs to the same family as the thyme, sage, and basil and bears A fow the same generic name as the latter. specimens have been put in the No. 3 house.
The papaw
tree, numbers of which ara grown in Hongkong, has also the reputation of keeping mosquitoes at a safe distance, but we are likewise sceptical about its benign in- fluence as we have found larvæ of mosquitoes beneath the trees in hundreds at least, and spiders, ants, and other insects on the stems and leaves apparently enjoying themselves. The botanical game of this tree is Carica papaya, and it belongs to the passion-flower family.
The maidenhair fern balls, or rather baskets, in the plant houses in the old garden are in good condition just now. The botanical name of this plant is Adiantum cuneatum. and it is a native of Brazil and was introduced into England from that place in 1820. i bese plants are generally grown from seeds, or more correctly speaking. spores, and baskets similar to those under notice will take about eighteen months or two years to produce. Adiantums may, of course, be increased by division. The method of raising ferns from spores is rather interesting. The soil should be either baked or boiled in order to kill any seeds which it may contain, for if these were allowed to remain they would in all probability destroy the species it was desired to increase. The po s in which the spores
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
RAISING FUNDS.
BUILDING ACTIVITY.
In Canton and Shameen great activity is noticeable in the builder's trade. A French hospital has been built not far from the cathedral, while the new medical college in connection with the Carton hospital occupies a prominent position on the river-front; and higher up a club for Chinese merchants has just been completed. This building is in the foreign style, and will abut on the Bund. In Shameen hree new houses or blocks are being put up. Behind the Banque de l'Indo-Chine Messrs. Mehta & Co, are having offices built, while a few yards further west is a large block owned by four Parsee gentlemen; and to the rear of Messrs Deacon & Co, the residence of the German Consal will shortly be opened.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
I read with interest the article in the Daily Press on the barbarous overcrowding of sheep on the coast-steamers, Anyone who, like myself, has travelled on those boats must have been thoroughly disgusted at a state of affairs which wou d not be permitted for a single day at home.
FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.}
Canton, 8th December. SHOOTING.
Canton, 5th December. Export of rice to foreign ports is now per- mitted, and the authorities have placed it in the bands of a company, which bears the name of Yüeh Feng Yüeh Prosperity) Company. This monopoly is held on the condition that not more than 500,000 piculs may be exported annually. and the right of export expires after six years. Sport is becoming quite keen in Canton with For this privilege the immense sum of 31,400,000 the rice-crops and green fields extending for is to be paid, of which $20,000 have been paid miles and miles up the river, wild scenery in advance. The people are beginning to around, and invigorating cold to stimulate one Generally, shooting parties start complain already of the rise in the price of what to exertion.
from Shameen on Saturday evening so as enjoy corresponds to the people's loaf at home.
The provincial authorities are evidently hard the sport the whole day on Sunday, and be Last week What with the back Monday morning.
од put to it to raise funds. Kwangsi campaign, and the disturbances in parties in flower-boats, house-boats and slipper- other parts of the province, large sums have boats, with music and refreshment on board, went to Wongsha, Sachong, Siakmoon, and been spent on the upkeep of the thousands of
where game abounds. A well- troops sent down from the north. The building Peitau, of the new band will prove a costly affair. known shot, belonging to Messrs. Keuter, Brook- Work has already begun below Messrs. Butter-elmann & Co., was lucky enough to bag amongst field & Swire's Wharf. The river will be filled other field game a pair of full-grown royal in for a considerable distance, probably as far out pheasants, weighing six and a half ponads, on one as the flower-boata, lately moved to Cheung | of the hills at Saohong where he was trying to put up partridges. I am told that the pair of Sha, and all this will cost money.
|
Page 10Page 11
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.