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52
HONGKONG VOLUNTEER
RESERVES.
PROPOSED RIFLE RANGE FOR THE PEAK.
ADDRESS BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE.
17
Colour-Sergeant Bullock on Jan. 18th gave a lecture on Musketry to members of the Volunteer Reserve Association, at the Hong- kong City Hall Library. Sir H, S. Berkeley (the Chief Justice) was in the chair, and amongst those present were His Excellency Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M.G., accompanied by his private secretary, the Hon. (apt. L. Barnes-Lawrence, R N., the Hon. Mr. E. H. Sharp, Mr. E. A. Hewett, Mr. W. H. Trenchard Daris (Hon. Secretary), Mr. W. Danby, Mr. H. W. Robert- son, Mr. A. Mackenzie and others.
Sir H. S. BERKELEY said :-Your Excellency Reserve and gentlemen of the Volunteer Association,-Į 81 very glad to see the namber who have replied to the very short notice. I thought you would not mind short notice so long as you were able to secure the lecture from Colour-Sergeant Bullock. He has promised to give a lecture to be illustrated by diagrams. It will be most useful to us. I need not say that we appreciate the inte.est His Excellency the Governor takes in the Association, and his presence here this evening. We now number 120 members, of whom 54 reside at the Peak. We have recently appointed a sub-com- mittes to see if a range can be had at the Peak. Plans have been drawn which have been laid before you, Sir, Your Excellency, and before the General. If that spot can be acquired, and if His Excellency allows us to build a range there, it will be a great thing for the efficiency
of of the members
the Association. Not
the only for those residing at
Peak, for the range will be only about five minutes' walk from the top tram station, and will therefore be equally conven. ient for
persons below
for as
persons at the Peak itself. It will probably be used by all living on the Island of Hongkong, while we will have to fall on the courtesy of the Military and Naval authorities for allowing us to use their ranges for residents at Kowloon. I am
state able to
for the information of the General, members here present that at the request of His Excellency the Governor, has placed forty good rifles at our disposal (Applause). In a few weeks the Commandant of the Volunteers expects some of the latest pattern short rifles-we wil then be able to shoot against the Volunteers (Laughter). I am now able to make an announcement which will be good to you-you will be able to purchase the weapons if desire to do so and have your
you We will now hear Colour-Sergeant
own.
-
Bullock (Applause).
Colour-Sergeant BULLOCK delivered an ex- tremely interesting lecture, but of rather too technical a nature to justify reproduction. He received hearty applause.
re-
Sr H. S. BERKELEY-Your Excellency and Gentlemen, I am sure you will be unanimous in responding to a hearty rote of thanks for this very able lecture. All who have been on the range have been impressed by the workman- like, business-like manner of Colour-Sergeant Bullock in giving us the instruction we quire;
and when we have been there to the energy of Mr. W. H. Trenchard Davis, the very able Honorary Secretary. What
to hear from Colour-Sergeant Bul- expected to be good, but I do not think we expected such a capahle lecture as this. I have listened, in the course of my time, many lecturers, but never to one who had a greater grasp
of his subject and who delivered his lecture in workmanlike manner. I propose a very hearty vote of thanks to Colour-Sergeant Bullock.
were
lock
We
We
& more
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR-Gentle- men, I propose a vote of thanks to the Chair- man, to whose energy, coupled with the energy of the Honorary Secretary, so much of the success of the Association is due. I still receive chits .for advice and
for suggestions further steps to be taken for the advance of the Association. When I can help I do so, but without them I am sure the Association
strides would not make such
as it does Applause).
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Sir H. 8. BERKELEY - If it is true that the Honorary Secretary and myself have done something for the As-ociation none of us will forget that the Association itself is due to His Excellency the Governor (Applause).
HONGKONG'S RAINFALL.
The monthly 1904 rainfall at Hongkong Observatory, with comparative figures, is as follows:
1904
January February
0. 2
0.21
March
3.76
2.63
April
1.91
5.56 14.89
May
7.70
133.43
1884-1903. Mean. Мах. Min. 1.32 8.43 0.00 1.86 '7.95 01.02 10.43 0.17 1.84 1.15
48.84
June
19.64
16.80
34.37
2.34
July August September October
7.23
13.32
28.24
457
.27.64
14.22
27.87
5.20
9 77
821 19.11
0.63
2.00
17.87
0.01
November
December
་
re-
4.73 0.22 1.71 7.32 0.01 01.23 1.03 4.09 0.00 The yearly rainfall at Hongkong, as istered at the Hongkong Observatory, since 1884 is as follows:
inches.
inches. 45.33 72.79 100.43
1884
75.42
1895
18-85
10-92
1896
1886
69.17
1897
1887
66.29
1898
57.02
188
104.58
1899
72.69
1889
119.72
19:0
78.78
1890
70.93
1901
55.78
1891
117.12 1902
97.50
1892
90.97
1903
93.65
1893
99.95
1904-
80.42
104 25
1894 Last December meteorological observations show the maximum reading of the thermo- meter was 75.7 on the 8th; the lowest was 44.8
on the 24th; and the mean for the month was 60.7. The velocity of wind varied from 4 miles per hour to 19.9'; the mean being 10.6, and the general direction east-north-east.
HONGKONG'S NEW CHIEF JUSTICE.
From official sources we learn that Mr. Francis Laylor Piggot, M.A., of Mauritius, will succeed Sir William Meigh Goodman as Chief Justice of the Colony. The Chief Justice is not expected to arrive before May, as Sir
William Goodman's term of office does not expire until the end of April.
Mr. Piggott is a barrister-at-law, and was employed on special service by the Foreign Office in 1887. In November of the same year he also acted as legal advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan. He acted as secretary to the At- torney General, Sir C. Russell (afterwards Lord Russell of Killowen), during the Behring Se arbitration in 1893-4, and was appointed to Mauritius in 1894 as Procureur-General. was Acting Chief Justice there between 1895 and 1897. Mr. Piggott has published works entitled "Foreign Judgments,' Services out of the Jurisdiction," Ex-territoriality," and the Law of Torts
"
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POLICE PRESENTATION AT HONGKONG.
INTERESTING REMINISCENCES.
He
At the Central Police Station on the 14th instant a large number of the Police force assembled in the reading room for the purpose of bidding farewell and making a presentation to Inspector W. J. Ford, who, after twenty two years' service in the Hongking Police, was leaving that afternoon per the s.s. Malta for the old country, Chief Inspector Baker, in making the presentation, referred to the arrival of Inspector Ford and himself in 1882, from which time they had been close comrades. The Colony in those days was not what it is at the present time, either in size, safety or health. Police duties were then very arduous; crime was rampant, and armed robberies were of almost daily occurrence. It was not uncommon for the Police to have to turn ont, armed to the teeth, to pursue marauding bands of robbers, especially in Bonham Strand district. houses were to be seen on the hillsides in those days, and there was only one European resident
[January 23, 1905.
at Kowloon. The colony was smaller, and there were no reclamations such as we can boast to-day. These improvements have gone far to facilitate the suppression of crime, as the new and well-made roads furnish easier methods of getting about. Personally speaking, Mr. Baker said he lost a genial and genuine comrade, and friend of years, in the departure of Mr. Ford. The force also lost a tried and trusty officer, and he felt sure all were sorry to see him go, but doubtless he knew his own affairs host, so they could only hope he would have a pleasant time and safe voyage to the Home- land: a pleasant re-union with his wife and children, and long life to enjoy his well-earned pension. On behalf of his brother officers and himself, Mr. Baker then presented Mr. Ford with a handsome gold watch with the recipient's monogram engraved on the back, and an inscrip- tion reading as follows inside the case: sented to Inspector W. J. Ford by the European members of the Hongong Police Force, January 1905."
"Pra-
Mr. Ford. in accepting the presentation, said he spoke with very mixed feetings, for, while on this occasion he could not but feel very great pleasure at the kindness shown him, and the appreciative remarks of Mr. Baker, he was still filled with regret that he had to leave so many old comrades. His first duty, however, was to those who awaited him at Home, and he earnestly hoped that all present might live to be the centres of such an occasion in their own good time, and, from the Captain Superintendent to the last joined constable, he wished them all health and happiness and a most prosperous career.
The health of the departing Inspector was then drunk, the toast being greeted with three hearty cheers and a tiger." Mr. Ford then left for the ship with a number of his old friends.
CORRESPONDENCE.
CHINA PROVIDENT LOAN AND MORTGAGE COMPANY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS."
Hongkong, 13th January. SIR,-With reference to the letter which appears in your paper of to-day's issue over the name of Inquirer" in connection with the above company, I am at a loss to understand how the appointed consulting committee have allowed such an account to be issued.
It appears from the balance sheet that the overdraft with the bank, reserve fund and about $36,00 of the company's funds have been utilised to finance another company under the
It would be interesting to same management. know whether they were consulted on the sub- ject; if so, then it is quite time another com- mittee was appointed in their stead, who would look after the interests of the shareholders, and see that the surplus funds are invested in con- crns other than uuder control of the gene: al managers,
The investing public will note that there are still 100,000 shares unissued, and no doubt in a very short time shareholders will be approach- ed to take up this issue should the company require more funds, but I trust that share- holders will never consent to such a proposal until the general managers and consulting committee dispose of their present invest- an ad. ments, and utilise their funds in vantageous manner to the company, and not for the purpose of bolstering up unsound, or rather untried ventures.
Allow me in conclusion to state that this complaint is made solely to impress the consult- ing committee that they are custodians of our interests, and in accepting office must carry out their responsibilities and show they deserve the
Si-. Your obedient Servant. confidence of those who appointed them I am,
ONE OF THE SHAREHOLDERS." The Rev, W. Bridie, Wesleyan Acting Chap- lain to the Army and Navy, finished his term of service at the Wesleyan Church, Wanchai, January 22nd. He preached at both vices, morning and evening. Mr. and Mrs Bridie are leaving the Colony by the P. & 0. But fews.s! Coromandel on January 28th. The Rev. C. Bone, formerly in Hongkong, succeeds in the chaplaincy.
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