October 3, 1904.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
think I can be accused of impatience if I per- mit myself to say that it is about time a regular time table was issued and adhered to. Up to the present one may have to wait two minutes or two or three, with a prodigious interval between twenty for a car, as they seem to run-in batches of the arrival of the next lot. Now if this kind of thing is to continne, from a European point of view, the electric trams, with their thunderous rumbling and incessant gong-sounding, might just as well have kept away from Hongkong Moreover, prior to the advent of the trama we all thought that by using them we should make however, perhaps owing to the frequent stop much better time than by ricksha. Such,
pages of the cars, is not the fact the man-power carriage gets there first. It is years. un- fortunately, since I was in London, but I un derstand that in that city, in order not to spoil the speed, there are certain stopping places suitably indicated, between which a halt is not
forts, as it would have been manifestly unfair to send news of the position of the rival fleets, which either could have tapped and made use of strategically. So they listened instead. The Russians were repeat- ing the alphabet over and over again in order to "queer" the Japanese recording in- struments. The Times correspondent makes a remark suggestive of unexpected uses to which the new invention may be put. He says:-"I am not sure it was not the con. stant use made by the Russians of their shore stations that prevented ToGo from coming up in time to catch MAKAROFF'S squadron outside. There is some discre- pancy in the times given when the Japa- nese decoy squadron sent its messages to Togo and when MAKAROFF decided that he was too far out at sea and reshaped his course towards Port Arthur.
permitted. Surely it would be no hardship if It was only
some similar method were introduced here. pro- when the Russians stopped their queer- vided of course that the stopping places were not iog' process in order to receive a message too far apart. There still remains the seating diffi- from the Bayan that the Japanese second-culty. Whilst Europeans are obliged to rub class cruiser squadron was able to get an
shoulders with all sorts and conditions of Chinese, interval in which to send its all-important message. We received both messages, the Japanese, of course, being in own private cipher, that from the Bayan being half in cipher, with a few words in French, and signe 'B.A.' But when once Togo had hoisted his fighting flags and sailed in under the guns of Port Arthur we felt that we were justified in sending just a short message, and so at 9.15 we sent a brief report from within seven miles of Port Arthur, which furnishes the first record of a wireless message reporting a naval engagement being sent direct from the scene of opera- tions to the office of the journal which was to give it to the public.'
their
HONGKONG JOTTINGS.
26th September.
I learn that a local man who recently ap- proached the Government asking their sanction to the establishment of a servants' registry has received a reply from the Colonial Secretary intimating that there are no regulations exist- ing to debar such a movement and wishing the promoters success in their attempts to benefit the public. Apparently we have been trusting too much to the Legislature and its come-to- nothing Bills, whilst all the time having the remedy in our own hands. I hear it has been tried once, and failed; but properly managed, I have little doubt that the project will be a success, despite the almost certain opposition that the guilds will have to it, for there is hardly a householder in the Colony who has not at some time or other paid dearly for taking on Chinese servants without references.
I was somewhat surprised the other day to see a common or garden kind of Chinese coolie, with neither uniform nor distinguishing mark on his flopping raiment, carrying a black despatch box marked "The Government, Hong- kong," in the casual way that marks the genus. Now I do not think it is either safe or seemly to entrust a Government despatch box to such very irresponsible hands. Surely there should be an Indian orderly or responsible servant in livery to take charge of the Governor's docu- ments. That the said coolie was not sitting down on the box by the wayside smoking or chattering to his fellows was at least remark able. I am bound to say that he was carrying it, and not using it; whether he would get to Mountain Lodge without the usual halts by the way for a smoke and for a nap is problematical. In any case, it would look more dignified for such property to be placed in more responsible
hands.
The electric tram cars have now
been running for some time, and I have been wonder- ing when they were going to be of any practical use to Europeans in the Colony. I am quite aware that it is no easy matter to get a concern such as this into good running order, but I do not
the trams will never become popular. The only remedy I can suggest is that, say, the two front seats be entirely reserved and labelled European 1st Class" in contradistinction to ordinary first class.
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What is worth doing is worth doing at once. Now that it is officially settled that the correct way to keep a place covered with fine trees is to out them down as soon as they mature, I hope the B. & A. Department will get to work at once on the slopes overlooking Victoria. There is a lot of mature timber in that lovely gorge that is crossed by the long viaduct. The gorge looks beautiful now, but there are heights of beauty to which it may still rise. Let the cutting begin, therefore, and let our gorge
rise.
I was at Aberdeen yesterday afternoon, and coming up the mountain path I was struck by the dismal appearance of the scene of recent operations. It was as if a peculiarly wicked typhoon had been zig-zagging over the hill-side. Great wide gaps were there, once umbrageous and vernal; twigsome litter all around and solitary trees left here and there, that had not the qualities that tempt the timber merchant, the sound of sawing even then. So, not content were badly damaged. I heard something like with breaking esthetic hearts, they were break ing the sabbath too, I thought.
His Excellency the Governor evidently has confidence that his proposal to form a Volunteer Reserve Association will meet with more en. Couragement than it had received previous to Friday's meeting at the City Hall. A member- ship of 32 is rather disappointing, but after His Excellency's lacid explanation of thefscheme and his patriotic appeal to eligible British residents there ought to be such an accession to the roll as will enable the Association to be
inaugurated with a membership of not less than few weeks ago that it would probably be 100. The suggestion made in this columu a advantageous to the scheme not to insist on a maximum age limit has been accepted, and this alone ought to result in the addition of many names to the list. Perhaps if I mention that "battleworthy” residents in the Straits Settle- that it has been publicly hinted to the Governor ments are taking an interest in the scheme and
worthy of his consideration, it may prove an of the Southern Colony that the subject is
additional incentive, naturally like to be unto Singapore a worthy as Hongkong would example in this as in all things.
The
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BANYAN.
American Trade Index" for 1904 has reached us from the National Association of Manufacturers. This book is typical of American enterprise. Whether English, Spanish, German, or French, it doesn't matter what you want; if you can give it a name, you have but to open at the section devoted to your own language, to turn up the name in the alphabetical list, and you are at once directed to a page of addresses of those members of the Association who supply the article.
241
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held Present: on the 29th ult. in the Council Chamber.
MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR
HON. COLONEL L. F. BROWN (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. E. H. SHARP, K.C. (Attorney-General). Hon. L. A. M. JOHNSTON (Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. Captain L. A. W. BARNES-Lawrence, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. P. N. H. JONES (Director of Public
Works).
Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, C.M.G. Hon. WEI A Yuk. Hon. R. SHEWAN, Hon. GERSHOM STEWART. Hon. W. J. GRESSON.
Mr. S. B. C. Ross (Clerk of Councils).
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minutes (Nos. 49 and 50) and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 10) and moved its adoption.
The COLONIal TreasurER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
APPROPRIATION BILL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding five million eight hundred and thirty-five thousand four hundred and seventy dollars to the Public Service of the year 1905.
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The COLONIAL Treasurer seconded. Hon. R. SHEWAN said -- Sir,--Before ven. turing to offer a few remarks upon the estimates now before us, let me congratulate the Council and the Colony in general on the change that has recently taken place in some of Great when he began to perceive what manner our most important offices. Frederick the of man the great Pitt was is said to have exclaimed, England has been a long time in We may say the same of the Colonial Office, for labour, but at last she has brought forth a man.'
it has sent us a man who I am sure we shall delight to honour-one who we think and feel will prove a good Governor for us, who will take a real interest in the Colony and in us and in our affairs, and who will deal justly between man and man, whether he be official or He may unofficial, Chinaman or foreigner. even in time succeed in overcoming the hide- bound prejudices of those officials whose only God seems to be "olo custom." micht we canna tell" even induce them to "tak a thocht" and mend their ways by keeping the
to go to minute book properly, for why we should have the minutes for our questions and to local newspapers for our answers—
HIS EXCELLENCY-That is scarcely what the Bill before us deals with.
He 46
aiblins
Hon. Mr. SHEWAN-I am talking of the Clerk of Councils' business, and his salary is in the Estimates.
HIS EXCELLENCY-That would be rather a
consideration of the items. question to be brought up when we come to the The hon. member should speak on the matter before the Council.
Hon. Mr. SHEWAN-The official members have
and their replies not be given. That is a thing marvelled why their questions should be printed
none of us can understand. I also think we are fortunate, in fact I am sure, in our new Director of Public Works, for he has already shown himself to be a man who is able and willing to rise above red tape when neces sary to do so to accelerate the business of the public. I really believe that under Mr. Jones' regime my friend and neighbour Mr. Goets when he next gives a dance will not have to wait six weeks for a permit to put up a little matshed, and only receive the said permit duly signed, sealed, and delivered long after the matshed itself had been put up and taken down and the dance was a thing of the past.
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