348
Her Majesty and her advisers will steadily proceed to urge the Board of Revenue to make definite preparations for placing the finances of the Empire on a stable basis, no matter at what cost of trouble or even of temporary expense it may be.
HONGKONG JOTTINGS.
7th November. There is a filthy mosquito swamp at Caroline Road, just on the in-shore side of the Cotton Spinning and Weaving Company's premises For the health of the district the green slimy bog-holes should be filled in. While talking of this subject, I might mention that watering coolies have prevented the water flowing freely at the Race Course trench. Happy Valley, just at the back of the Football Club's stand. They have done this, evidently, to save labour when watering the various cricket pitches.
A question of some interest is raised by the little speech of the Colonial Secretary on the third reading of the "Introduction of Imbeciles Bill". When Mr. Pollock represented the Chamber of Commerce in the Council he pre- sented objections to the inclusion of Chinese imbeciles in the terias of the Bill, and Chinese Mr. imbeciles were. consequently excluded. Showan, & few weeks ago, expressed his dis- approval of this, and when informed by the Governor that Chinese imbeciles were excluded at the request of the Chamber of Commerce, the hon. member, while not disputing the in-
formation (of which probably he had no previous knowledge), retorted that the fact of a reque-t being made was not a sufficient reason for com- pliance therewith. Quite so; but the hon. member showed considerable temerity in making that remark in this particular connection. By
the. Governor,
the Colonial direction of Secretary ascertained that the views of the Chamber of Commerce had not changed, and it comes to this: that the Hon. Robert Shewan is claiming a freedom to advocate views which are diametrically opposed to those entertained by the body whom he was elected to represent; What a pity it was that Mr. Shewan was not present last Thursday to express his views on this interesting point. The advantage in the bout lies with the Colonial Secretary.
Bny
[November 14, 1904. THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
sentations, as formulated by his facile pen, of residents who do not now visit the Gardens once a year, and this would result in a much acquired a new weight owing to their lucidity keener and wider public appreciation of this and force, and received an amount of attention charming, spot, which, as the hill slopes are at the Foreign Office never hitherto vouchsafed rapidly being covered with bricks and mortar, to an unofficial body. His retirement from the becomes of ever-increasing value to the Colony, helm is still matter for regret. He was not The announcement that the Band of the Sher-only the Association's voice; he was also its wood Foresters will play in the Gardens this brain and magazine of information. afternoon from 3 to 5.30 is gratifying to thei public, and I hope indicative of a resolve to per· mit Band performances in the Gardens at frequent intervals,
14th November.
con-
One of the Knights of St. Andrew pleads with me to convey to the ladies attending the weekly practice dances a delicate bint that St. George's Hall is not the kirk, and sequently it will not be said that a woman dishonoureth her head if she leaves her hat in the cloak room. I wou'd not for worlds deny that ladies hats are beautiful creations and lovely to gaze upon, but they are obviously not needed at a crowded dance. especially when the programme is one of reels and strathspeys. Ladies confess it, but what the tyrannical goddess of Fashion decrees her votaries dare not disobey. his was evidently not understood by the mere man who after extricating his eyebrows or mustaches from the brambles of a lady's hat Well, now, lasthursday mildly remarked:-" if ladies must cover their heads at a dance why in the nime of all that's Terpsichorean don't they wear bonnets or sailor hats instead of sun- shades?" You can imagine with what curiosity the ladies in that man's set looked him up and down.
Wear bonnets or even sailor hats in 19 4-why the idea is preposterous of course,
(Let me parenthetically make one remark to
the men.
It is this: Sotto voce swearing at the
vagaries of feminine fashions, my dear fellows. is of no use at all. Being a lady the goddess of Fashion has to be wooed and won: you had better join in humble petition to the deity),
I know not where the Goddess resides, but feel confident that this wail will come under her eye, and so I add the assurance that numerous petitioners will ever pray that she will hearken unto their complaint, and decree that henceforth it shall be lawful and correct for ladies to dance
with heads uncovered even though they are not dressed decolleté.
I
I hear that the Cricket Club are to be allowed to extend the Cricket Ground over the pathway' in Chater Road, which will increase it by ten feet all along its northern boundary. This work will be carried out next spring, at a small cost, and will be an appreciable gain to the very restricted area of the Cricket Ground. Would it not be practicable to afford it a similar or greater extension on the western boundary and reduce the broad road now running past the Law Courts to Chater Road into a path of similar dimensions to those on the eastern front of Queen's and Prince's Buildings? The road as a carriage way is not likely to be greatly used, and the Law Courts would gain in quietude, I fancy, if the thoroughfare were limited.
The construction of additional filter beds near the service reservoir above Bowen Road is causing some rather ugly disigurements on the hill side. The gally above Union Church has been used for depositing a great quantity of the soil, which is banked up in terraces of yellow earth. I trust the P.W.D. will not fail to turf these embankments, or when the rains come there will be a great mess from it being wasbed down into the stone channels and choke them up. Another place for the débris has since been
found, in the slip of unoccupied land between
the tramway and the two houses adjoining the Club Germania. This has been cleared of its trees, and is being raised to the level of the surrounding ground. At present I cannot pronounce the transformation an improvement. But but if properly laid out it may become so. would it not have been better to present the excavated earth to the Naval Authorities for use in filling up their reclamation?
-- BANYAN.
SUPREME COURT.
Friday, 4th November.
It is a very common belief in Hongkong that the departmental authorities only do the right thing by mistake. One whose convictions in
(PUISNE JUDGE.) this regard are very firmly rooted writes want. BEFORE HIS HONOUR T. SERCOMBE SMITH
I do not wish to be hypercritical, but I do not like the colours in which the new Cricket Pavilion is dressed. At rate let the roofing to know who arranged for the Band be a darker tint; either a nice chocolate or maroon brown or black. It would contrast better with the gay tone of the stuccoed walls.
In what manner, I should like to know, do the Peak Tramway Company's engineers pro- pose to get down to Queen's Road? It would, of course, have been simple if the new Provost Prison had not been built and the Military
Authorities would have granted a slice off the western boundary of the Murray Barracks, and by outting down all the trees on the eastern side of Garden Road But now it is more difficult, and the only way in which it seems possible to my unprofessional eye, is to run it on an over- head track something like the overhead railway at New York, only less demonstratively ugly. I remember seeing some time back illustrations of a street railway in Berlin where appearances had been consulted, and the result was not at all unpleasing. But, however the cars are to be brought down to Queen's Road, by all means
let them come.
When the excellent Band of the German
cruiser Hansa was permitted early in the year to play in the Public Gardens there was no mistaking the popular appreciation of this action on the part of the authorities. who for many years past had declined to permit Band playing in the Gardens because of the damage which experience had proved was done to the
shrubs and flowers under cultivation. This has always seemed to me an absurdly inadequate reason for denying to the whole community the enjoyment of good music in an easily accessible as well as a most delightful location. Annoy. nces by hobbledehoys are easily to be pre- vented. Occasional performances by military bands would be certain to attract scores
the
;
of the Sherwood Foresters to play in the Public Gardens last Monday at an hour when none but children and amahs could be present. I haven't the least idea, but willingly submit the question to whom it may concern. Until I learn what excuse there is to offer for appointing such an hour, I shall continue to share the general feel- ing that the performance must have been intend ed for amahs and children. Still, as I remark- ed last week, the fact of a Band being permitted to play in the Public Gardens at all is a welcome sign, and as gratitude is sometimes stated to be an anticipatory expression of thanks for favours to come, we ought to be grateful and content ourselves for the present with broadly hinting that from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. would be a convenient hour for future Band performances in the Public Gardens. The further sugges tion might be made that performances in the gardens need not necessarily be given on days when a military Band. plays on the Parade
Ground.
more
Mr.
CROWN BENT,
SMITH
Five cases of failing to pay Crown rent came before Mr. Smith.
appearance.
Mr. E. A. Bonnar, solicitor, appeared for the Crown. The defendants failed to put in an Judgment was given for the Chak Wo and another to pay $8,97; Foong plaintiffs, with costs, as follows: Choong, 88 97; Chan Tsoi Shi, $8.21; Chan Fu, $17.96; and Ng Fook, 81.54
OTHER ACTIONS.
Mr. E. J. Grist, solicitor, appeared for the plaintiffs in two actions -Moot Singh v. Lam So and another, for 90; Li Chong . Pim
Leung, for $93.77.
The defendants did not appear. Judgment was given for plaintiffs with costs.
WATSON & CO.'S BILL. '
J. A. Tarrant, Secretary of Messrs Watson the firm. Judgment was given for the plaintiff & Co,, sued B. Radcliff for $152.15, on behalf of
with costs
MONEY LENDER'S CLAIM. The honour conferred by His Majesty upon
Han Nam Singh proceeded against C. Mr. B. V. Gundry is a well deserved one.
McCreary for $240, being balance due on Gundry was one of the pioneers of progress in the Far East. Under his editorial supervision promissory note for $480. Mr. Otto Kong Sing who appeared for the defendant, explained that defendant borrowed from the plaintiff the sum the Shanghai morning paper attained con- siderable influence, and its leading articles were perused with attention not only in the East, of 830, for which he was charged $180 in instalments of $40. After defendant had but in London, and it became a recognised interest. Payments were to be made monthly authority on matters connected with Chna. As an author he also achieved some more than paid six instalments, amounting to $240, he was China and Her compelled owing to illness in his family to cease local fame, and his book Neighbours" has been widely quoted. But his paying. He asked for an order to be made for greatest success, perhaps, was as Hon. Secretary the payment of the balance by monthly instal- of the China Association. It is hardly too ments of $29. much to say that Mr. Gundry galvanised the Association into action, and made it a power with the Imperial Government.
Its repre-
Judgment was given for the amount claimed to be paid in monthly instalments of $30, with costs.
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