January 25, 1904.]
Company, Sir THOMAS SUTHERLAND, when he was superintendent for the Company at Hongkong, was in favour of the taking up by them of the Pacific run. But, though the Company has not so done, the opening of that new route was nevertheless a source of gain, and it is hoped that the Siberian line will in the same way prove of advantage. Sir THOMAS on the 11th ultimo expressed the opinion that his Company felt no jealousy or ill-will in connection with the
creation of the Siberian route.
It was pointed out in the London and China Ex- press last month that though the competi- tion of the new Russian railway was not to be feared as a serious competitor, but rather as an adjunct to the passenger list, it might be different, with the mails. Still, as it is not known yet what the British Government's views are on the question of the new mail contracts, it is useless to speculate what may happen. At present, Hongkong at least does not gain in time by the Siberian as against the P. & O. Co. mail service.
HONGKONG JOTINGS.
Dews
!
(Daily Press, 18th January.) Hongkong still wells in the midst of alarms, and being bankrupt of news tries to emulate the historic fame of Shanghai. Although we have no Bund, we have many "bunders" or should we called them" Pray-ers"? Certainly some people seem anxious to hasten on the war if talking can do it. Unfortunately for us in Bongkong, we live in a place where does not travel rapidly, though our relatives at home may imagine ns us next door to Shanghai and even Peking. There being no Mr. Hearst in Hongkong to get news regardless of cost, we cannot be as well supplied as the good people of New York, Chicago, and. San Francisco. Nor can we aspire to the luxuries of the Daily Mail even; I for one do not wish to. But doubless my preference for no news rather than all kind of ""news" of the newest kind will be looked on as Pharisaic. But to return to the subject, the past few weeks have offered a splendid opportunity for news invention. It has not been missed. But it is the public, not the newspapers, which is the sensation-monger. A Far Eastern public is really very ingenious in its attempts to add to the excitement of life.
•
FI
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
appreciated by those sons of China who w toessed it.
It is very amusing sometimes to see how the Chinese array themselves in old European gar- monts. There is one familiar figure who tends John" to wit. He wears his clothes rationally." a sweetmeat-stall in Battery Path, "European I noticed one little fellow the other day resplen- dent in an old fancy waistcoat and a crownless top-hat. Hats and caps especially appear to appeal to the Chinese. They will wear anything | of that kind which they can lay their hands on, straw hats, felt hate, and ordinary cloth caps being adopted by them with celerity. I suppose, by the way, most of these articles are pilferings from European houses. But the most fantastio dress I have seen tartan kilt fashioned into the semblance of a was an ancient Highland winter coat, and the Chinaman who wore it was consciously proud of his garb, though I do not suppose he knew the clin of which he displa ed
the colours. }
of some of thes. "curios
39
The European seeker after curios out here is a source of revenue to many an unscrupulous native vendor, whe, know.ng from lon expe- collectors, always contrives to have a plentiful rience the arti les most sought after by ardent supply on hand. No doubt, could the origin be discovered, they would excite much amusement and admiration at the ingenious manner in which genial "John keeps pace with the demand for his wares. The following instance in regard to the manufac- ture of "antique" porcelain was narrated to the writer by a Chinaman. A method whereby the appearance of century-old China can be and is simulated, is to kill a dog and pla o the new, com- paratively valueless, porcelain in its inside, after- wards burying same in the earth. At the end of a year, so my informant states, the ware is transformed, to all outward appearance, when humed, into a choice specimen of veritable 'antique." But the Chinaman is nothing if
not ingenious!
I hear that the Masonic Quadrille Club is to wind up its season with a ball on the 4th
prox. at the City Hall. It has been sugg sted to me, and I think the suggestion a good one, that it would be a very fitting finale to that club's most successful season if the projected ball were to be a fancy ball-either an ordinary ball at which all the guests appear in fancy costumes, or where all
appear in some-sel cted colour, making it a white, blue, pink or other coloured ball, where the ladies and gentlemen alike dress in any way they please, but in the selcted colour, the decorations all being in accord with the colour chosen. I have seen these balla, and the effect is very striking, especially when a sense of humour enters into the conception of the participant's costumes. I would commend the suggestion for the consideration of Mr. Harry Wolfe, President of the Masonic Quadrille Club, whose efforts hare made the monthly concerts so popular.
It is a matter that has always caused me surprise, how the numerous beachcombers whom one sees iu Hongkong manage to make a living at all. What do they get to eat, and where do they sleep? As a matter of fact many of them walk the streets all night and sleep in the heat of the day, or else find a bed in a warm corner of some new building, such as those now being erected in Des Voeux Road, which I am told are It must certainly come as rather a sudden favourite haunts of that fraternity. The more surprise to the person who, at one moment com- fortunate one who has been able to strike fortably seated in a ricksha, the next discovers some passer-by for thirty cents drifts China-himself performing gyrations in the air, having townwards, where in one of the numerous small suddenly and in voluntarily parted company with, restaurants he can for that sum procure a sub-his whilom means of locomotion. Zest is added stantial beefsteak, a cup of coffee, a bed to sleep to the affair by the blissful uncert inty as to on, and a blanket to cover him. Most of them which particular section of one's anatomy is would rather risk getting no sustenance at all destined to be the first to demonstrate than go into a house of detention, where at least the truth of Newton's Law of Gravitation. they are always sure of a meal and shelter from Bu scant time for any such philosophical the weather.
reflection was accorded to an gccupant of one of the afore-mentioned vehicles last Saturday evening, when travelling at a brisk rate along Queen's Road in the direction of the Clock Tower. Owing to the insidions aetion of the car-rails and the resultant unevenness of the road surface, combined with the well-known spirit of
can do", that permeates the Chinese soul, the lynch-pin whose duty it is to set as a support to the wheel suddenly forsook its post. the wheel promptly followed suit in regard to the vehicle, and the "fare" likewise found himself making an unpremeditated and undignified depar- ture from his coign of vantag. Fortunately for himself, he was able to re ain his normal balance after executing an impromptu pas-seul. but things might have terminated less happily, As usual, when anything of a similar nature takes place, the incident. was much
Hongkong appears to be somewhat of a city of pitfalls at the present time. D'Aguilar Street, Wyndham Street, and the Ice House Street are slippery enough in their inclines lesding down to Queen's Road, but for some reason unknown, and apparently unnecessary, for the last few days they have been flooded with water, rendering the roads actually dan- gerous for pedestrians in a hurry. As these roads are of solid stone and in parts of concrete I fail to see the necessity of doing more than sprinkling them to allay the very s all modicum of dust that accumulates on the surfaces. If a little more concrete and a little less water were laid down on them these roads might, in time, lose their reputation of being the pitfalls of Hongkong.
2+
Perhaps the most novel newspaper of modern I read the following in a recent home paper: times will be the one which five young and prutty Chinese girls have arranged to publish ia Cantoa. It is to be called The Canton Record and, will not be a woman's paper entirely, as it is to sive up as much space to politics and science as to fashion and society. All the girls interested in the project have had the ad- vantage of a liberal education. They are all the daughters of prominent families, with money to back them.' We qin only wonder, that our òɔn- temporar. did not state tha the piper was to be called The Canton Daily Mirror. That is a very effective touch, too, about the “young and pretty" Chinese girls who are to run the paper. But would it be possible to describe any lady journalists otherwise ? Surely not.
A vexed question of Volunteer uniform is to be settled soon. for I see that H.E. the Officer
uniform for the Hongkong Volunteers which Administering the Government has approved a may be procured by members of the corps for wear at concerts, etc.; the pattern is to be approvedby the Commandant, and the expense to be born by the members themselves.
HONGKONG LEGIS
COUNCIL.
BANYAN.
ATIVE
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held on the 19th inst. in the Council Cham- ber. Present:-
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER, ADMINIS- TSRING THE GOVERNMENT, F. H. MAY, C.M.G. MAJOR-GENERal Villiers HATTÓN, C.B. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Acting Colonial Secretary).
Hon. Sir HENRY S. BERKELEY," Kt. (Attorney-General),
Hon. L. A. M. JOHNSTON (Acting Colonial Treasurer).
Hoo. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). HOD. BASIL R. H. TAYLOR (Harbour Master). Hon. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public - Works).
Hon. Sir C. P. CHATER, C M.G... Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, U.M.G. Hon. WEI A YUK.
Hon, C. W. DICKSON. Hon. GERSHOM STEWART.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Asting Clerk of Councils).
PAPERS.
The ACPING COLONIAL SECRETARY-laid on the table the Report of the Committee ppointed by His Excellency the Governor to enquire into the ouses of Chinese infantile mortality in the Colony; a Report by the D.P.W..on Tytamtuk Waterworks Scheme for City aud-Hill District Supply; and a paper dealing with an increase of the Police Force.
FINANCIAL.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRE ART laid on the table Financial Minutes (No. 1 to 6) and moved that they be referred to the Finanos Committee.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The ACTING Colonial SECRETARY, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 13) and moved its adoption.
The ACTING › COLONIAL
TREASURER
seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
REGISTRATION OF DOMESTIC SERVANTS.
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK-Your Excelledoy, I would ask permission to lay upon the table a petition which has been signed by numerous ladies in the Colony with reference to the regis- tration of domestic servants. That petition, sir. is not formally addressed to the members of this Council, but it has to do with legislation, and therefore, sir, I think it is fit that it should be laid upon the table of this Council.
HIS EXCELLENCY-I think the hon, mem- ber's petition is not in order and cannot be laid upon the table of this Council, I think the hon. member must have received. a letter: addressed to him by the Colonial Becretary by my direction stating that, as tha
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