August 22, 1904.)
the colony's wants, made one think the latter was the case.---*-*---*
-Yours, etc,
OLD BROOM. The same correspondent encloses the follow- ing jeu d'esprit→ amusing paraphrase from "Pickwick."
"Oh! Ford if you'd known.
How false D
n had grown
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
our
original methods under which the company's servants are running the trams. The car exhibited a label indicating that its destana tion was Kennedy Town, and, as route lay in the opposite direction, we made no attempt to secure a seat. Seized with a sudden inspiration that possibly, despite the index card. the car might be going to Shaukiwan, we
that such was the case.
Or guessed that your trees he would butcher. į questioned the motor-man, and ascertained You'd have done then, I vow. What you cannot do now.
And relinquished the business to Tat.. er.
TREE-FELLING.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
12th August. SIR.I think with," Common Sense and Chips." that it is a great mistake cutting down these trees. Every year they become more valuable as they increase in bulk. much more valuable to the Colony, as a health and water giver, than selling them. The trees assist the ground to retain the rains, thus farming natural reservoirs. We shall then have con- tinuous streams, sweeping away all mosquito breeding places, and giving us a plentiful supply of water.-Yours, etc.
OLD RESIDENT.
MORE HURT IS WROUGHT BY
WANT OF THOUGHT."
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS,'
We took our seats, the car filled, and
wp patiently waited for the starting.gung. It was evident. however, that expedition formed no
part of the programme. On looking out of the window we perceived that another car had arrived from the same direction, and was directly ¡ behind us. Reasoning that the last arrival must naturally start first, we vacated our seats and changed cars. We certainly started first; but after proceeding about one hundred yards. our car switched off on the cross-over track, and stopped. Then we saw that our first choice after all was really making the journey first. Another hurried change of cars ensued. and, after a some. what unceremonious entry, owing to the rapidly growing speed of the car. we congratulated ourselves on at last being well-started on our way. Such was not, however, destined to be. We made fitful progress to a point just beyond the Bowrington Canal. when the " conductor informed us that he had finished pidgin," and was going to take the car into the sheds. Here I was a pretty pli ht! The passengers flighted;
Hongkong. 13th August. SIR,I have found that the poor monkeys in the Botanical Gardens have not had a drop of water in their cell for the last three or four days. I have seen the poor creatures actually licking the empty water-pipe, and trying, to shake it to get water.
They had plenty of bread. biscuits, and bananas, but what is the use of all these things without water? I drew the attention of au Indian policeman to this. He only answered me
Am Ke Maloom Nae” (I don't know).
I will be glad if the secretary of the newly established Society for Preventing Cruelty to Animals will inquire into the matter. I remain. Yours, etc..
M. A. MAN ARE.
[Now that attention has been twice called tɔ these animals, surely their welfare has been looked after? Our correspondent does not say that he personally saw to the immediate provi- sion of water, which he should have done if his emo:ions were as sympathetic as they appear to be indignant.]
A QUESTIONABLY CHEAP RIDE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRES8.”
|
14th August. SIR-Actuated by the impulse toward novelty, and having postponed the hour of departure somewhat longer than we had intended, I and a friend decided to avail our- selves of Hongkong's latest acquisition, and to journey down to the concert at the Metropole by electric car, on Saturday evening. But the experiences that befel us may be calculated to induce a feeling of hesitation ere the plodding ricksha-puller and his jolting vehicle are again vetoed by us in favour of the electrically-driven method of locomotion.
34
but the car suddenly resumed it journey, so we again got inside, thinking that this might be only another eccentricity. We went along in good style for a few hundred yards more, when the final stop took plaze, a id we were compalled to alight.
onea more
After about fifteen minutes we succeedel in obtaining a double ricksha, and resumed our journey. Our progress now KAA slower, but was destined not to be accomplished without a little episode that came within an ace of finally preventing us reaching our goal.
It happened in St. George's Road. Our coolie saw a tram approaching, and despite the fact that it was evident the car would switch on to
would the cross-truck, when there
not be sufficient room for our vehicle to pass between the car and curb. he held on with a stric adherence to the rule of the road. When too late, he saw the danger, and was about to halt on the cross track. Urgent shouts of Fai-tik." impelled him onward reluctantly, and all seemed well, when the side of the tram caught the wheel of our rick." overturned it, and pre- cipitated us on to the path, happily without any damage ensuing.
We eventually righted the ricksha, and made the rest of the journey without further accident, reaching the Hotel shortly after ten, mentally uttering anathemas against both cars and ricksha-pullers alike.
you
do
137
the Legislative Council will address some inquiries on this important subject to the Government, who, I trust, will hasten to reas sure the colonists.-Yours faithfully,
PINE.
TREE CUTTING.
#
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS,"
SIE.-I see Mr. Dunn when interviewed by a China Mail representative explained his apparent vandalism by saying he was follow- ing the course pursued in England. The excuse worth owning is owned by private individuals, is a lame one. Nearly everything in England who of course have to consider the £ s. d. point of view and sell valuable timber occasionally. The Botanical and Afforestation Dept. is not (Mr. Dann notwithstanding) a private indivi dual or a limited company with hungry share- holders, and why our beautiful hillsides should be ruined I fail to see. It would be interesting to know the price that has been paid for the doubt, which will have no influence on the devastation already caused-something paltry, no
Colony's finances whatever. John Chinaman value of the trees and to cut down three where is wideawake enough to pay a little only of the
one has been stipulated. Heaven help our poor hillsides if they are to be at the mercy of the doilar-worshipping Chinaman. If dollars are wanted why not sell the Gardens as building sites and dispense with the Botanical and Afforestation Dept. altogether?-Yours, ste.. OLD BROOM.
It will indeed be a strange matter if not very shortly hear of some serious accident due to the lack of resource on the part of the ricksha-man and the asinine manner in which the man at the motor drives his car, without any idea of accommodating his speed to suit vehicles approaching.
As an instance of the lack of interest displayed by the collectors in their work, I might mention that we were not approached at any point of the journey for our fare, and enjoyed our event- ful ride gratis. Assuredly improvements will have to be introduced before the trams can become popular. At present, the Chinese, official and un-official, seem to regard the new vehicles as playthings.-Yours, &c.
OMNIBUS.
A surging, evil-smelling crowd of Chinese were congregated in the vicinity of the stopping station outside the Hongkong Hotel, watching with keen interest the passing of the cars. A favourite pastime with these gentry appears THE DENUDATION OF OUR SLOPES. to be to board the vehicle when it comes to a standstill, to saunter leisurely through the interior, and descend on the opposite side, the proceeding appearing to afford them consider- able satisfaction.
It was about nine o'clock, and, surrounded by these Celestial gentlemen, we awaited patiently the approach of the car, thinking that whatever time might be lost at this stage might reason ably be expected to be regained when once we got under way.
A car at length approached from the direction of the cricket ground, heralded by a vigorous clanging of the warning gong. It was now that we obtained our first insight into the
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
++
Hongkong. 17th August. SIR, I have read with much interest the discussion which has followed the attempt of the Superintendent of the Afforestation Depart ment to prove that his is a revenue-producing department. Mr. Dunn's readiness to sacrifi ce all that goes to make the scenery of the island delightful and to render it healthful must have been a sad shock to lovers of nature. I hope that, in order to allay the apprehensions of the public, who are still in doubt as to the fate of the woods, one of the unofficial members of "
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THE N. D. L. “PRINZ HEINRICH.”
INQUIRY INTO THE ACCIDENt at galle. The Receiver of Wrecks held an inquiry at the Customs office, Galle, on the 25th ult. regarding the accident to the N. D. L. Prinz Heinrich while off Dondra Lighthouse.
G. R. Meyer, sworn, stated :—I am Master of the ship. It belongs to Bremen. Her registered tonnage is 3,902 tons. I cannot say här official numbr he is owned by the German Lloyd residing at Bremen. She was built in 1894. (The Commander was unable to give the number of officers, crew and passengers on board, b.t would send the, particulars to the Receiver of Wrecks later on.) She had a general cargo and als mails and passengers. She ws coming from Colombo," having left at 8-10 am. Was her dae, light westerly breeze, slight swell and small rain showers. Her nixt port to touch was Penang. She was going at 141⁄2 knots an hour. The accident occurred on Saturday, 23rd, at 2.10 p.m. The weather was fine with light westerly wind. The second officer. myself and four officers were in charge at the time, she struck at 2.10 p.m. on s submerged rock or wreek 3.55 North latitude and 8 .27 East longitude 8 miles West from Dogdra Head, and about 24 miles from shores. It might be a rock or it might be a submerged. wreck. There was no appearance of wreckage. Finding she was making water, I brought her back to Galle. Arriving here the sams day at 6 p.m., she made 22 feet of water in half-an-hour. No services wore particularly rendered by anyone. There was no los ou board. Some cargo was damaged by son water. No lives were lost in consequence of the accident. We passed Galle Lighthouse at l·10_p m., about 24 miles off it. Passed Woody Island 1:52 p.m. about 1 miles off it. She stɩuck at 2.10 about 8 miles from Dondra Lighthousa. Her course was South 75 degrees East 2., E was on the bridge the whole way from Colombo with 2nd and 4th officer. I gave no warning." There was no appearance of a breaker. I cannot say for curtain on what the strusk. No hing in indicated in the chart. She only oraped off. We were in deep water-20 fathoms, from the chart. No soundings were taken. I stopped engines directly. I thought there was something wrong in an engine. I sent down and found the engines were,all right. I sent an officer and two carpenters to see how much water was there. There was about 6 feet of water at the fist sounding. I ordered the boats off and sent men down again to see if any more water was coming. In half-an-hour carpenters
p.m.
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