lent by the commander of the garrison, to keep the ground clear of the waves formed by the crowd of native spectators.
The following were the events, with results !--
1.-Menagerie Race (handicap), 50 y: ds. Tho competitors wearing costumes. An extra prize was given to the best cu: lume, to be approved by the ladies.
Master Johnston's goat
Miss Mesny's goat
1
2
F. R. G. da Cruz and A. Williams, prizes
for best costumes.
2.-100 yards Flat Race (handicap).
G. E. Bell
E. Bulbroo
***
3.-Egg and Spoon Race, 50 yards.
F. R. G. da Cruz
T. Loureiro
4.-Long Jump.
W
E. Bulbrook, 15 ft. 5 in.
E. Durlach, 14 ft. 8 in. V. Drayson, 13 ft.
5.-Needle and Thread Race.
in.
N
2
E. Bulbrook and Madame Flayelle, 1
6.-Three-legged Race,
'ï'. Loureiro and V. Drayson
E. Bulbrook and R. Benkel
7,-Stone and Bucket Race.
V. Drayson
F. R. G. da Cruz
8.-Wheelbarrow Race.
E. Durlach
G. E. Bell
9.-Obstacle Race.
V. Drayson E. Durlach
***
~~ ~ବା
1
20
2
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND ·
10.-Tug-of-War- "Strong versus Weak. 8 a-side..
Mr. G. E. Bell and Mr. E. Durlach were lected captains. The latter having won the 1088, he had the advantage of picking a few strong." In the tussle the two teams appear- d to be well matched, each keeping well bis Around for nearly a minute, when Mr. Dur- ch's team began to drag their opponents inch ly inch to the finish. The struggle occupied Jmin.
Durlach's team,
1
At the conclusion of the sports Mr. J. C. Johnston, the new Commissioner of Customs, on behalf of the committee apologised to the successful winners for the non-arrival of the prizes, which had been ordered from Hong kong, announcing at the same time that the distribution of prizes would take place at his (Mr. Johnston's) residence after the arrival of the objects, and that a circular would be sent round to invite all present to attend.
Judges.-Messrs. L. Flayelle (French Consul) H. A. Little (British Consul), Augustus Schom burg.
Starter. Mr. F. J. Allshorn (Harbour Master).
Executive Committee.-Messrs. J. C. John ston (Commissioner of Customs), H. von Varchmin (Germau Consul), Dr. J. H. Lowry. the Committee.-Mr. E. Secretary to
Durlach,
PRIZE DISTRIBUTION.
The prizes having arrived by the Huè on the 26th-alt, the committee invited the community to meet at Mr. Johnston's residence at 4.30 o'clock on the folowing Monday to witness the final ceremony. The whole community answered to the invitation, and about 5 o'clock Mrs. Johnston started to disp.se of the prizes. To each of the winners she spoke a few appropriate words, as she handed then their winnings. Before the company dispersed, cheers were given to Mrs. Johnston for her kindness in distributing the prizes, and for the committee, as well as to all who contributed to the success of the sports; and last, but not least, to the gentlemen who liberally gave to the prize-fand,
At last it would seem that the Lady Om (no Emily Brown," the only American Empress') has been raised to the position of Empress of Corea. The celebration in connection with the event was to have taken place on the 6th inst. but the illness of the Corean Empress Dowager having become so serious as to threaten that unless the ceremony of coronation were speedily, effected it might be interrupted by a period of mourning, the 25th ult. was substituted for the 6th inst.
O
WATER RETURN.
LEVEL AND STORAGE OF WATER IN RESER- VOIRS ON. THE 18T JANUARY.
Tytam
LEVEL.
1904. 1903. Below overflow Below overflow. 14 ft. 11 in. 19 ft. 5 in. Pokfulam......... 21 ft. 6 in. 22 ft. 7 in. Wongneicheong 25 ft. 2 in. 20 ft. 2 in.
STORAGE GALLONS.
Tytam
1903. 270,070,000
Pokfulam...... 21,600,000
Wongneicheong 1,900,000
1904. 240,100,000
19,575,000
9706.000
269,381,000
Total 293,570,000 CONSUMPTION OF WATER IN THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND HILL DISTRICT DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.
1903.
1902.
216,800
221,700
Consumption 69,834,000 112,120,000 gallons Estimated popu.
lation Consumption per
10.4 head per day
16.3 gallons Intermittent supply in force during the whole of December 1902; and from the 21st Decem- ber, 1903. CONSUMPTION OF WATER IN KOWLOON PEN-
INSULA DURING THE MONTH OF -
DECEMBER.
1902.
1903.
Consumption 14,516,000 14,568,000 gallons Estimated popu-
65,400
lation ........ Consumption per
+
59,500
head per day 7.8
7.2 gallons The Government Analyst reports that the water is of excellent quality.
W. CHATHAM,
Water Authority.
P. & O. S. N. CO.
The annual report for the year ended 30th September shows that including £11,060 brought forward. the total income amounted to 3,103,455, and after meeting working charges, paying Debenture interest, and transferring £250,000 to reserve, the Let surplus was £219 997. This allows of the payment of the interest on the Preferred Stock and the distribution of dividends and a bonus upon the Deferred Stock equal to 13 per cent. for the year; leaving £11,197 to be carried forward The cost of the large vessels recently constructed has caused some consideration as to the method of insurance which for the last 50 years has been carried out by the company itself. The directors considered that the best course to pursus was to continue this practice, but to strengthen the reserve by carrying £250,000 to its credit, raising the total to £1,250,000. Ample particulars are supplied of the new charter which has been granted to the company, an important proviso of which is that the com. pany shall remain a British concern in name and in reality. The condition of the freight market has been notoriously and universally unfavourable during the past year, and the receipts under this head have shrunk in om. parison with last year to the extent of £66,000. The deficiency would in fact have been considerably larger, but for certain exceptional earnings, especially in the direction of transport work. The Indian trade has, so far as the bulk is concerned,been on the whole good, but the rates have been extremely low. The heavy fall in the silver exchange interfered greatly with the trade between India, China, and Japan, but on the other hand, the China-Japan line run- year. ning from London did quite as well as last The Australian business marked a farther decline, owing to the effect of the prolonged, drought. The passenger returns show a decrease of £51,627, which is mostly due to the reduc- tion effected in the fares by the removal of the 10 per cent, surtax (imposed at the time when coal rose to an exceptional figure), and to the advantage accorded to the public by the extension of time for return tickets to a period of two years. There has been, however, a slight failing off in the receipts' from the high point reached two years ago, which is almost entirely due to diminished traffic with the Australian Colonies. It is to be hoped that the recovery
(January 11, 1904.1
of a certain mesure of prosperity in the Co onie since the drought censed, will tend to favourable reaction so far as shipping interests.. in general are concerned. The most prominent feature in connection with the expenditure sidu of the account is a reduction in the cost of ocal to the extent of £91,981, which is due in a great measure to the low freights which have at the same time influenced the company's returns unfavourably, as pointed out above. Labour charges still continue on a very high scale throughout the East.
HONGKONG.
A long preliminary "report on a cattle disease in the Colony of Hongkong," signed by Drs. W. Hunter and A. Gibson, is published in the Gazette.
Subscriptions in connection with the new scholarship for Queen's College, to be named after Sir Henry Blake, are being sent in by local Chine e gentry.
On News Year's Day there was a special thanksgiving service at the R. C. Cathedral. The Rev. Father Gomez of Macao preached an eloquent sermon, and the Right Rev. Bishop Piazzoli officiated,
The visitors to the City Hall Library and Museum for the week ending 3rd January, 1904, (excluding New Year's Day) were 167 non- Chinese and 50 Chinese to the former, and 60 non-Chinese and 1,771 Chinese to the latter
institution.
I
H.M.S.S. Amphitrite, Talbot, and Phoenix left port on Monday. After the Amphitrite's departure, the Sparrowhawk was despatched after her to cancel her orders to stop in Mire Bay, and order her to proceed north. Great activity amongst the fleet in harbour is noticeable; the Leviathan has been in dock, the Cressy is to do likewise and several warships have been coaling recently. Destroyers are kept fairly busy dodging in and out of port. They leave for gün practice at Mirs Bay in the morning, returning the same evening.
Lieut. P. H. Campbell, R.E., hon. secretary to the Royal Hongkong Yacht Club, is going home on leave shortly. The yacht he has been sailing, the one-design class Kathleen, belong- ing to the officers of the Royal Engineers, wil', after his departure, probably be sailed by Lieut. H. S. Gaskell, R.E. Who will take Lieut. Campbell's place as secretary of the Royal Hongkong Yacht Club is not yet decided. Lieut. Campbell leaves by a hired transport, the British Iudia 8.8. Dilwara, on or about the 21st
inst. !
News was received in the Colony on the 6th inst, that some matsheds at Canton belonging to Messrs. Butterfield & Swire had been destroyed by fire on the preious night. Enquiry made on office elicited Wednesday at the firm's the information that there had been such an occurrence, though not so serious as at first 1 he matsbeds which reported to be the case. were burned comprised a bungalow and out- houses at Pakhinkok, about a mile on this side of Canton, on the back reich, where the firm are at present engaged in reclaiming the water-front for the purpose of erecting godowns. The bungalow is used as a residenca by the o erseer in cha ge of the works. I appears that the fire occurred through an accident, and that the building's mentioned were eo pletely destroyed. No one was injured. Damage is covered by insurance.
An Association has just been formed in the Colony, uuder the name of the Hongkong Journalists' Association. The rules are model- led to a certain extent on those of the Institute of Journalists at home, and the main objects are:-The elevation and improvement of the status of journalists in the Far East and the obtaining for them of formal and definite pro fessional standing'; the promotion of social intercourse between members and the holding of conferences; and the promotion, by all rea- sonable means, of the interests of journalism itself. A committee has been élected as follows: -Mr. T. H. Reid (Chino Mail), President; Mesers. P. W. Sergeant (Hongkong Daily Press), Douglas Story (South China Morning Post), W. H. Don ld (China Mail); and Mr. E. A. Snowin (Hongkong Telegraph), Hon. The Association Secretary and Treasurer. simits both members and associates.
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