November 5, 1904.]
ing to a finish.
The supposed uncivilised, yellow, Asiatic emperor, whose levies have achiered the most notable results, and given him least cause for anxiety, is the only one so far to show concern on account of the sickening bloodshed. Mediation has been scouted by the Christian Emperor. It seems evident that the Russian ruler has no conception of Christianity's real mean- ing; and that he also lacks the common horse-sense to see that his ikon bearing soldiers can never annihilate forty-seven millions of Japanese, all firmly convinced that their Imperor is right and his cause just. As a matter of fact, we are approaching the point where it becomes evident, as we long ago foresaw, that the combatants have both bitten off more than they can chew.
now
No conceivable amount of Liaoyangs and Shahos is going to bring either side much "forrader." The only possible outcome appears to be mediation and arbitration. It is likely that Japan will not welcome it, because it would mean that she would have to release Corea from the clutch in which that country is now writhing. With Russia, it is a case of Scylla and Charybdis. Either way she stands to lose. In the now im- possible event of a Russian victory, St. Petersburg would have to recede from her original aims and claims. China's integrity is safe from either; and China's clever action in throwing open several northern ports to international trade has barred for ever Russia's pristine lien on Manchuria. America bas now a very important vote in the destiny of the disputed territory, and the present temper of America is against any ignoring of her locus standi. Russia's best line now is to welcome mediation, in- stead of so haughtily and foolishly scorning it. So doing, she may escape with a little, a very little, prestige remaining to her. Otherwise, her suicidal idea of fighting to a finish will leave her sans prestige altogether, and minus much that present discretion may save for her. The onlookers, sick of the deadly amok, will feel more disposed to deal gently with Russia come to her senses, than with Russia bent on a suicidal persis. tence in a mistaken course.
HONGKONG JOTTINGS.
0:
31st October.
I have often thought what a pity it is that there is not a decent Museum in Hongkong. The collection in the City Hall diguified by that name is quite unworthy of a great Colony like this I mean great in order of importance. I more than half suspect the prime reason for the insignificance of our local museum is the wretched manner and place wherein it now finds lodgment. It is no encouragement to owners of curiosities or collectors to donate or lend them
to the Hongkong Museum, as they are promptly entombed in the dingy ground floor of the city Hall, where they are lost to sight if not memory. I think if Hongkong had a building, say as handsome as the Rafes Museum at Singapore, we should soon secure a large, accession of interesting exhibits. Is there no local Croesus who will bestow upon the Colony a Museum instead of a hospital, a school or a reformatory?
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
A word to the D.P.W. The flight of stone steps opposite the Queen's Road entrance to the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, and which leads to Battery Path and St. John's Cathedral, is much used and should be kept decent. The steps might be kept much cleaner. for a coat of paint or colourwash. and the masonry front would be the better At present it is allowed to used 85 8. unsightly bills, which are posted there without hoarding for let or hindrance, and such portion of the wall as is not thus concealed has a blotchy eruption from damp or mildew. Its conspicuous position, fronting the finest building in the Colony, alone ought to secure for it. a little! atteption from the Public Works Department. !
I wonder who has the privilege of paying for the gas which has been leaking from the mains ¦ in Conduit Road for nearly twelve months now. | True, attempts have apparently been made to discover where the leakage occurs-at least I have noticed that the surface of the roadway has been scratched a few times--but the leakage remains as bad as ever. I do not suppose for a moment that the Gas Company is the sufferer. Perhaps the leakage represents thousand feet of gas in the annual bill for "public lighting." If so, the P.W.D. might give a little attention to the matter. It is not pleasant for those who use this road to be half choked with gas every time they pass hy Clifton
Gardens.
HO many
Hongkong yesterday Time was not asked to They tell me Time waits for no man. but at wait. He was asked to hustle, and men made him do twenty-three minutes odd in less than one second-another time recor. The Colony adopted, as everybody knows now, the standard
time of the whole China coast, which involved the putting on of the clocks 23 minutes and 18 seconds. It was advantages will become apparent before long. a desirable change, and its At present it is my pidgin to deal only with its temporary inconveniences.
As a lady said to me yesterday: This is so sudden. Why didn't they start three weeks ago, and put the clocks on a minute each day? Which just shows, as the youngsters say, how Then we wouldn't have noticed it so much." little women understand things. There are real grievances, however. The result of the town clock being pushed оп in the night is that, as I went to bed at the usual time
on Saturday night, and the clock Was put on early in the morning, I lost 23 minutes and 18 seconds of my sleep. That is bad for my health, I can never get those forty winks back again; and everybody knows that the turn-over snooze in the morning. just when we should be getting up, is more valuable than all the somnolent hours preced- bour's sleep before breakfast repairs more tissue ing it. Professor Huxley says that half an and restores more nerve force than three cups of such coffee as they give you in Hongkong.
BANYAN.
TRADE MARKS REGULATIONS.
On the 22nd October H:B.M.'s Consul General at Shanghai received information from H.B.M.'s Minister that he had been instructed by his Government to approach the Chinese Government with a view to the postponement of the coming into force of the Trade Marks Regulations for six months.
On the 24th October the following letter was received from the Consul-General for Ger-
many:
Kaiserlich Deutsches General Konsulat für
China.
Shanghai, 23rd October, 1904. To the Chamber of Commerce,
Į
W. D. LITTLE, Esq. Dear Sir, Baron von Mumm, our Minister in Peking. requests me by telegram to inform you that he has received a dispatch from Prince Ching to the effect that the putting in force of the Trade Marks Act has been postponed until further notice.
We shall be a gay and giddy community in the coming month. To begun with. we are to have a circus which expects to open next week; the following week is the Interport Cricket week, with its round of entertainments which, according to one enthusiastic member of the Cricket Club, includes the Government House Ball which is being held this year on the 15th instead of the 9th. When the Cricket week finishes the Amateur. Dramatic Club will give six performances of "Dorothy, which will bring as down the 28th of November. Finally there is the great ball to the glory and Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, no advices, honour of St. Andrew.
confirming the above, have been received by the Chamber from other Consulates.
1
to
Yours sincerely.
DOCTOR KNAPPE, So far, says Mr. Cabitt, the secretary to the
333.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held on the 3rd inst. the members present being
HIS EXCELLENCY THR GOVERNOR, SIR MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.
HON. MAJOR-GENERAL VILLIERS-HATTON, B. (General Officer Commanding the Troops). Hon. F. H. MAY, Secretary)..
C.M.G. (Colonial
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 Publis Works).
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, C.M.G. Hon. WEI A. YUK.
Hon. GERSKOM STEWART. Hon. W. J. GRESSON,
Mr. S. B. C. Ross (Clerk of Councils). ·
THE TREE-FELLING OPERATIONS.
ing questions standing on the paper in the Hon. GERSHom StewarT asked the follow.
name of the Hon. R. SHEWAN, who was absent owing to illness:-
-
How has the contract for felling trees and carrying away the wood been let ? Is it for a lump sum or per picul? If by the picul, is the weight being supervised and checked, and if so, for it? by whom? Why were not public tenders invited
The COLONIAL SECRETARY replied:-(!) In two ways, in the first, payments are made in an indefinite number of small instalments as the trees are selected and marked for felling by
the Forest Officers. About two-thirds of the estimated annual output are being sold in this is paid for all the mature trees in one block. way. In the second a total prearranged sum About one-third of the estimated year's fellings have been disposed of.thus. (2) The timber is not sold by the picul but by superficial measure. ments. The measurements are made and supervised by Forest Officers and checked by the Superintendent of the Botanical and Afforesta tion Department. (3) Tenders were publicly in- Jan. 1904), Government Gazete, 1904, page 110. vited in Government Notification No. 60 (29th Two contracts were subsequently let without calling for tender, as the first contractor could not handle the whole of the work.
BUOYS AND L GH18.
Hon. GERSHOM STEWART, on behalf of the Hon. Robert Shewan, gave notice of the follow- ing questions :----
With regard to Buoys and Lights. will the Government take into consideration the advis ability of having the present fairway marked at night by automatic light buoys? Are not the present two small white lights in the Capsui- hare the Government taken to replace them by mun Pass inadequate? If they are, what steps
better?
THE NEW PEAK TRAMWAY SCHEME. Hon. Sir C. P. CHATER moved the econd reading of the Bill entitled Au Ordinance for authorizing the construction of a Tramway within the Colony of Hongkong, and in doing so said I would state that as the title implies, it
is for the purpose of obtaining powers to con- struct a second tramway to give access to the higher levels, It is not designed to come into competition with the present Peak tram. way, but it is intended to give facilities for ready access to districts at present dependent solely upon sedan chairs, and will take an entirely different route to that followed by the existing tramway. The lower terminus will be near the end of Battery Pathway at its junction with Queen's Road. Thence it will reach Upper Albert Road, which is a continuation of Caine Road, and climbing upward will tap Robinson Road from that level ascending the eastern side of From thence a connecting path with the Cen Glenealy ravine, it will pass Queen's Gardens.
tial district. From that point it will climb the duit Road will give access to that new residen- slopes to Victoria Cap, where it is proposed to make the upper terminus. There will be stations for Upper Albert, Robinson, Conduit and the Peak Roads en route, and the
.pro-
moter contends that will prove a great convenience to the residents on these levels.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.