May 2, 1904.]
for by M. BEAU, Governor-General of Indo- China, and improves the river routes, these provinces will become commercially depen. dent on the French possessions in the neighbourhood. In fact (though M. ETIENNE does not make a point of this) the of absorption of the three provinces into the process Indo-Chinese Colony of France is likely to start as a result of the new treaty. All that Siam can hope to get from it, on the other hand, is the long-promised restoration of Chantaboon and a cessation of the open hostility of the French in Indo-China.
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As is well known, the new Anglo-French agreement did not fail to take into con- sideration the views of the two great Euro- | pean neighbours of Siam. We have heard no details of the understanding on this point, but according to the outline furnish- ed by REUTER in his telegram of the 11th instant, the two parties, "disclaiming all ideas of annexation of territory and being resolved to abstain from anything opposed to existing treaties, agree that their action shall be exer- cised freely in the spheres of influence east and west of the Menam basin respectively." It may be remarked that such language looks rather ominous for Siam. The "free exercise of action in spheres of influences -the spheres defined by the Anglo-French declaration of January, 1896—will not leave Siam much say in the matter of administra- | tion of territory outside the Menam basin itself. But unfortunately Siam is so weak, and her best friends see so little hope of her regeneration, that her dependence, more and more, on her neighbours seems inevitable.
HONGKONG
JOTTINGS.
++
(Daily Press 25th April.) Unless he be a Chinaman. I suppose there is no one living in Hongkong to-day who can claim to have been a resident in this isle of fragrant waters" ever since it became a posses- sion of the British Crown sixty-three years ago. I think I am correct in saying that the oldest resident, both as regards age and length of residence, was Mr. Dorabjee Nowrojee, who has left the Colony during the past week for Bom. bay. He was over eighty years of age, and had resided in Hongkong for fifty-two years. He started one of the first bakeries in the Colony. and has for many years held the contract for supplying the needs of the British fleet in these waters in that connection. But old residents will remember him chiefly by his connection with the Hotel business, and also as the founder of the Kowloon ferry service. At one time Mr. Nowrojee was the lessee of the Hongkong Hotel, and later of the Peak Hotel. He started the old Victoria Hotel at the corner of Pottin. ger Street, and when that building was pulled down, he opened the New Victoria Hotel. Later, on completion of Queen's Buildings, he acquired a lease of part of the block and opened the King Edward Hotel. Even this does not exhaust the list, for the Kowloon Hotel perty also belongs to him. Until about a year pro- ago, Mr. Nowrojes was keeping in fairly good health, but latterly he had been confined to his bed by the infirmities of old age. His departure from the Colony the past week was marked by many evidences of the respect and esteem generally entertained for him among the Parsee community, and the best wishes of a very large circle of friends of all nationalities go with him on his return to the land of his birth.
64
The great interest taken in the subject of public band performances in Hongkong may be judged by the anxiety of residents to express their views in the columns of the Daily Press. I have no desire, however, to join in the fierce contest between Semibreve," "Gold Lace," and others, for fear I should receive some of the acrimonious letters which the Editor has decided not to give to the public. It is fairly evident that the civilian portion of our population does enjoy the military bands and wants more." There is to be a performance by the Foresters on the Parade Ground to-day; but undoubtedly the Gardená-are-a more popular venue. It is
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
said that the authorities had good reason for discontinuing performances there in the past. Must we suffer for the sins of our predecessors? Last Tuesday's entertainment by the Hansa's unseemly.
by nothing
excellent band was marred
It was rather unfortunate that the Gymkhana favoured with propitious weather on Saturday. Club's first meeting should not have been There was good sport, the fields were fairly large, and dividends at the Pari-mutuel pretty satisfactory. The only thing lacking was clear, bright weather. There is no doubt the dull, away; indeed in the early part of the afternoon lowering aspect of the sky kept many people
been postponed, and this must have affected the the rumour got abroad that the gymkhana had attendance. I trust the Club will have better luck next time.
ง
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329
moters of the Bill have based their arguments testimony from medical officers in all parts of on the matter of health, having overwhelming the East in their favour. The leading Chinese have acknowledged this, and the result has been an amicable settlement. May the home authori- ties not undo the good work
Colonel L. F. Brown, of the Royal Engi here before the coming of General Hatton, neers, who was in command of the Garrison gave public expression recently to his high opinion of the value of the New Territory and particularly of
is
the slopes of Taimoshan
a manoeuvring field for troops. There
Most of the numerous high hills over there indeed. Territory form an ideal place for such a purpose. no doubt that the uplands of the New
would make excellent health-résorts for Hong. kong residents. At the present time the only drawback is the difficulty of conveyance. But
I saw a paragraph on Saturday with regard for this, I believe there would havebeen a
to forthcoming publications by Hongkong authors. As it was not quite correct, (or verse-for I shall not try to forestall the state the real facts. There is a book of poetry may
which should by this time have been issued by an Verdict of posterity) by a Hongkong official,
official in the Government here. Oxford publisher. There is also a prose transla- tion of Cantonese love-songs by another junior advertised already, so that it is no breach of con- This has been
Clementi, Assistant Registrar-General. The fidence to reveal that the author is Mr. Cecil publisher of the latter is the Clarendon Press of Oxford.
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The difficulties under which the Fire Brigade have to carry out their work owing to the want of water from the mains are made worse by a habit the Chinese have of opening all the taps in the neighbourhood whenever the water is turned into the mains, thereby reducing the pressure to a minimum so far as the hoses are concerned, and making the spread of the fire easy.
Bonham Strand West yesterday morning.
This was very apparent at the fire in It was about fifteen minutes before water could be got from the maius, and when it did come, in stead of being at full pressure it was wofully weak. I house within the radius of a mile were running suppose the taps in every Chinese full force. filling every available vessel.
The new ordinance to provide for and regulate the employment of pilots will be a really very good thing for mariners visiting this port. do not require pilots, nor do a large number of The many vessels employed on coastwise trade less frequent visitors, but, on the other hand. master mariners coming to Hongkong for the first time like to have assistance in finding berths for their ships. The P. & O. and some companies employ their own pilots, but the majority of craft requiring outside guidance bargain with Chinese boatmen in the offing. Last week, for instance, the skipper of a steamer from Japan-he had never been to Hongkong before--was asked £8 by
Chinaman to bring his ship in. Captain replied that he would stay outside The altogether rather than pay such an exhorbitant sum, and the Chinese boatman brought his price down to £5, which was agreed. On landing, the Captain was very disgusted to find that the usual price was twenty-five or thirty dollars Mex.
B
(Daily Press, 2nd May.) the third and final reading in the Legislative The past week has seen a measure go through Council which should be of the greatest benefit to this Colony. I refer, of course, to the Peak Reservation Ordinance, which is now law unless the work of our local legislators. That this some fatal influence at Downing Street undoes may not be the case is earnestly to be hoped. The ordinance has been through its due three readings and has been received in a sensible way munity. These gentlemen have recognised that by the representatives of the Chinese com- it is to the general public welfare that Europeans should have a small area in which they can live more or less in accordance with fare raised no foolish race-ery with which to their own home conditions. They have there- embitter the discussion. This aspect of the question has happily never arisen. The pro-
sanatorium or hydropathic established in the
Territory such an institution should be among tramway is constructed through the New district some time ago. If once the railway or
the first attendant developments.
a subject of discussion whether the new Cricket In certain circles in Hongkong just now it is Club pavilion being erected at the City Hall, public right of way across the pitch. As is end of the ground is going to interfere with the well known,
entrance gates at all four corners to be kept the Government, requires the open during the daytime. As the new pavilion gates there is a danger according to some is being built right athwart one of the present observers that it may interfere with the public privileges in the matter of the use of the ground. itself directly from Queen's Road there should If entrance is to be made through the building certainly be an extra gate provided clear of the club-house for the use of the public who may desire to walk across the field or to witness the matches on it.
European community is concerned) is not Hongkong for a small place (as far as its destitute of literary talent. I mentioned last love-songs by Mr. C. Clementi was announced, week that a book of translations from Cantonese
and that another Government official was about Mr. R. F. Johnston, as a local paper stated; but to bring out his poems. The latter author is
written in office hours, as suggested by that The Last Days of Theodoric was not, I believe,
kong. Another Hongkong poet seems to have journal, but before Mr. Johnston reached Hong- arisen, to judge by a short poem in the Daily Anderson's “Red Sea" is worthy of Kipling ; Press of Saturday. Really the last line of Mr. but perhaps the author will not thank me for the inevitable comparison. But he challenges it by the dialect which he adopts.
I have alluded before to the noticeable lack of games among Chinese boys. Pedal shuttle- cock appears to be the leading favourite. practised in quiet by-streets. It is a sort of There is another, however, that one may see
a bamboo pole, and standing erect and using one trial of strength. Two boys grasp the ends of leg as stay each tries to dislodge the other from his standing place by pushing the pole straight from the shoulder. There seems to be a knack in it, for sometimes a little fellow will force back an opponent considerably heavier than himself. Chinese boys, by the way, have taken very cularly football, in which, pastime small armies kindly to some of the European games, parti- of tatterdemalions may be seen engaged any day at the Happy Valley.
in the practice that obtains at the Naval Yard, I often wonder whether there is much good the Docks, the Kowloon Godowns, and other big works, of searching the employees as they pass out of the gates. The Indian watchmen pears to be a somewhat perfunctory fashion. perform the searching operations in what ap- Certainly the Chinese do not submit to the ordeal with a very good grace. It must be a humiliating thing for a respectable mechanic or as for the coolie class, there could not be a better tradesman to have to submit to be searched, and incentive for them to become thieves and adopt every wile to hoodwink the searchers.
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