82
CORRESPONDENCE.
BLAKE GARDENS: A CONTRAST.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
'DAILY PRESS,'
2
THE "HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[January 13, 1906.
portation
according to, and, may vagaries of Dame shion, no made them uncomfortable and spoilt their evening's enjoyment as well clothes, but probably been responsible doctor's call a day or 80 afterwards.
It might be argued that the above quarters are provided by the Company as abcommoda- tion for the officer in charge of the working department of the line, but such being the oase, if there is suficient room for five or six lodgers beside such officers and I think without committing myself I can say I have known of five other people living on the pro- mises at the same time it is obvious that the Company's servants are being lavishly provided for at the expense of their patrons' comfort.
inadequate to keep the cold from shoulders,, had to stand on the arms and necks,
But it is not only the residents who require attention; I would refer to the whole travelling public and more especially to those who land from ships of all kinds to observe the beauties of Hongkong. Very, very few miss the oppor- SIE Those of us who remember the tertunity of ascending the Peak by tram, and these ribly distressing times experienced during the form and express their opinion of our Colony plague seasons of 1894-5 cannot but admire the from what they see ashore here. It is needless very beneficial change which has taken place to point out that the impression created in the in the once terror-stricken Tai-ping-shan mind of the stranger is that, from our local district, where the fell disease for days and accommodation for travellers, it is evident our days together claimed its victims by many a Colony is not very progressive, seeing that score. From a labyrinth of densely packed apparently residents are under the impression hovels, approached by almost inaccessible that what looked well and seemed fitting, say, courts and alleys, jumbled together without twenty years ago does not look ill and unsuitable the least regard to hygienic conditions such as to-day. ventilation, light and drainage, we have now the Blake Gardens covering an area of resumed properties which had to be levelled to the ground on account of their insanitary condition. From poverty, dirt and darkness we now have com- fort, if not actual pleasure, pure air and sun- shine for all who like to avail themselves of it. In every direction the landscape from the Gardens is pleasing.
Leaving this bright spot and taking the nearest cut to the Queen's Road West, which is only a stone's throw away, the contrast sud- denly becomes odious in the extreme.
We are at once back in the only remnant left of plague. stricken Tai-ping-shan of 1894-5, where every- thing seems to be the same as it was ten years ago (except perhaps that the number of the native gay-houses has greatly increased, That such a state of things can exist for long should be impossible and it is gratifying to learn that steps are being taken which will very soon change the present condition of this neighbour-
· hood to a much more healthy one.
The great benefit which has followed the resumption of the large area in the district of Tai-ping-shan has so far told a wonderful tale in the health records of the neighbourhood, and now that the Chinese New Year's festival is approaching it might be well if the Goveru- ment kept a vigilant look-out on this last remnant of 1894-5, especially if the festival week should prove to be of a cold, damp, foggy atmosphere.---Your truly,
SPECTATOR.
ACCOMMODATION ON THE PEAK TRAMWAY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS,'
SIR-There are many local discomforts in the Colony about which one hears many expressions of discontent but which are not remedied owing to the failure to bring to more public notice through the medium of the press. During the present cold weather dissatisfac- tion at the arrangements made by the Hong- kong High Level Tramways Company for the convenience and comfort of its passengers is more pronounced than usual. The arrange ments made by public companies nowadays are generally designed to give to the travelling public a maximum of ease and luxury instead of, as in this case, a minimum. The passenger waiting at the upper station for a car finds the whole accommodation consists of wooden benches to sit down on protected from wind and rain by a narrow roof which is practically useless for the purpose. Surely, considering the high percentage of profit made by the Company a small sam might be set upon one side to provide socommodation for those meeting the cars or travelling by them. Observe the lower station too. The principal convenience that meets the eye, besides a couple of benches and a olook, is a coolie shelter in which these favoured Chinese souls can rest or take shelter from the weather, such as we have now, or from the sun which in ita
proper season appears to devote most of its power to this particular part of Hongkong.
The greatest sufferers from the lack of accommodation at the present time are those whose pleasure or duty necessitates a journey up or down the Peak at night-time. Ladies are to be seen shivering in the fog and cutting wind at the upper Station, whose peculiar con- struction acts like a funnel to the wind, with the result that hair becomes dishevelled, dresses suffer and ordinary evening cloaks prove quito
of
If the residential chambers are of any great source of revenue to the shareholders, it might be regarded as a drawback calculated to depre- ciate the dividends, by asking that a part o such chambers be converted into a waiting room, but, as I understand it does not affect the Company's source of income whatever- being quite a private matter I think the re- quest might easily be acceded.
The financial position of the Company does not appear to warrant any niggardliness, and it is sincerely hoped an effort will shortly be made to remove an outward and visible sign of poverty and neglect quite apart from the appearance of ignoring the wishes and comfort of its patrons. It is possible that it may be urged that lack of space at disposal of the Company enforces lack of accommodation. There is an old saying that "where there's a will, there's a way," and in this case once a willing my card." upon the subject is expressed on the part of the Hongkong High Level Tramway Company there will be many capable of finding out the way for them should they require advice,— Yours truly,
A REGULAR PASSENGER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
Hongkoug, January 10th. SIR," A Regular Passenger's" communica- tion, which appears in to-day's issue of your esteemed paper, on the above, is certainly not untimely. There is not the slightest doubt that the said communication expresses the feelings of everyone using the trams, more especially of those who live at "The Peak": and I venture to compliment "A Regular Passenger" upon his ability as a weather expert to have made arrangements for the airing" of his feelings in the matter on sach an appropriate morning as this morning was. He evidently wanted to make sure that his
grievance would be appreciated by even
the most recent arrivals to our "beautiful island," whose scenery as yet to them is likely to be considered an adequate compensation for any and all-what at their present stage they might be inclined to call minor trifles.
While all the stations en route suffer from the same inconveniences, still, I think that, if put to a vote, there would be an overwhelming majority for any improvements that might be forthcoming to be devoted to the upper terminus first.
Thanking you for the publication and enclos-
“ANOTHER REGULAR
PASSENGER."
HONGKONG DANCES.
TÔ THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
SIR, -It has been my good fortune to attend several of the balls held recently in the Colony, and it has occurred to me that the pleasures of the evening would have been greatly enhanced if, when one took part in a square dance, one had some idea of the movements which would find favcar in the eyes of the set with which one is for the time associated. There are so many conflicting styles adopted that the
the effect is at times very embarrassing. What I mean will be more apparent when I tell you that at a recent ball I saw the Caledonians danced with three or four variations, and differences, quite as numerous, were seen in the more universal Lancers. One can understand the cause of all these differences-with people drawn from all parts of the Empire it could not well be otherwise-but it has seemed to me that some“- uniformity might be attained
if
an efficient master of ceremonies were appointed. He might require payment, but the promoters would be amply compensated for the extra expense by securing the greater enjoyment of their guests. The M.C., after an arrange- ment with the committee, would call out the figures, and give the usual directions, such as of the old country.-Yours truly. are given at similar assemblies in some parts
GOWAN.
I
Everyone knows that the High Level Tramways is one of the best, if not the best, of THE DEATH RATE: LOWEST IN 1904. local investments, and I think it might be arged in all fairness that there should be some con- sideration for those whose patronage help to make it such.
16
With reference to the lack of space which A Regular Passenger" says might be put forward as the reason for insufficient accom- modation, I do not think that such a reason could stand, viewed from an unbiassed and practical standpoint.
At the lower station I think that if the room which has the telephone in it was converted into a waiting-room, with windows looking on to the station, it would be more useful and certainly more appreciated than it is at present. Half the passengers do not know, I feel sure, whether it is a room for passengers' use or whether it is a private room for the use of the " staff."
At the upper station, I submit the following as a practical suggestion, and one which would not involve a considerable outlay-which fact I take it would go a long way if ever the subject should be discussed by the management that a portion,-it only one room of the many of the station premises now used as residential chambers for bachelors, might be devoted to a waiting-room, which would be greatly appre- ciated at this season of the year, especially by [adies at night time, whose social obligations take them to the lower levels, when having
44
TO THE EDITOR. OF THE DAILY PRESS. DEAR SIR-I regret to find that owing to a small error in the calculation of the total Chinese deaths, our general death-rate for 1905 - WBS 17.4 per 1,000, instead of 16.7 as stated in my speech yesterday. Therefore, 1934, with its general death-rate of 16.9, remains the lowest on record for the present. The rate for Chines
17.5.-Faithfully yours, taken separately was 17.4, and for non-Chines
FRANCIS CLARK.
PUBLIC DANCES IN HONGKONG.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY PRESS,
DEAR SIR,-Referring to the letter in the Daily Press to-day over the signature of “Gowan," suggesting the advisability of appointing an M. C. to give directions at our public dances, it occurs to me to sugg that the idea is an excellent one for practice dances, such as are usually arranged by the St. Andrew's Society. My pur however, is to ask whether charge of the arra
arrangemen Ball intend holding any r City Hall. If not, I am tion of the dance
mittée
George
!
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.