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HONGKONG AMATEUR
DRAMATIC CLUB.
PRODUCTION OF "THE NEW BOY," The hard work and study which the members of the Hongkong Amateur Dramatic Club have devoted to the production of "The New Boy' culminated on Jan. 12th in a successful first night. True, this was only to be expected, for the Club by previous achievements has acquired a reputation for all-round excellence which it cannot afford to lose and thus it is that the announcement of any performance by this organisation is practically a guarantee of a good night's enjoyment. Admittedly the public are indulgent and do not expect so much from amateurs as from professional artistes, but this indulgence is altogether un- necessary in the case of the A. D. C. who may, without injustice to themselves, be judged by the standard applied to the ordinary stage performers.
Certainly the artistes had every inducement to acquit themselves well. Apart from the well arranged stage and effects, they were encour- aged by the presence of a large and sympa. thetic audience, of ladies and gentlemen will- ing to overlook little faults and ready to cordially praise their histrionic ability when- ever they afforded them the opportunity. In these circumstances it was comparatively easy to overcome any tendencies to stage fright and the piece ran with a smoothness that was in the highest degree commendable. Indeed one could imagine that one was looking at professionals so easily and naturally did every artiste conduct himself or herself, and it is no empty compliment to say that their performance was infinitely superior to some we have witnessed here by experienced Thespians.
The light mirthsome character of the piece gave them ample scope for revealing their own ideas and treating the various incidents in a manner that while faithful to the book showed striking originality and artistic merit. "The New Boy" is described as a farce in three acts, and it certainly does not belie the appellation. Luthor, Mr. Artlur Law, has made the plot more pronounced in this production than in the ordinary farce, but with that exception, the piece runs ou conven- tional lines. A frivolous old gentleman makes
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[Januray 22, 1906.
THE SHANGHAI GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Minutes of Committee Meeting held on January 5th :-
Present.-Messrs. W. D. Little (Chairman), J. N. Jameson, A. Korff, A. McLeod, J. Stern, C. Broderseu, H. G. Dowler, H. E. R. Hunter, and the Acting Secretary.
drew attention to the appointment of certain Huangpu Conservancy Board.—The Chairman
officials to this Board, as rumoured in the press. It was decided to address the Senior Consul and ask him for any authentic informa- tion regarding the appointment of engineers. Chamber is read asking for periodical returns, Stocks of Copper-Letter from the London and the Secretary is instructed to communicate with them further on the subject and in the meantime to forward the Stocks of Copper on
the evening was Miss Blaiṛ. As Nancy Roach she acted the sweet maid of ixteen with a char ming vivacity aud naiveté and evidently felt quite at home in the part. A more difficult rôle was assigned Mrs. Francis Clark as Mrs. Rennick. Wishing to keep her second_mar- riage with Rennick a secret from Dr. Candy, involved the most extraordinary duplicity to on whom she founded very material hopes, which she gave a colourable verisimilitude, and her performance must certainly be described she showed an
as very skilful, though at times unnecessary restraint. Susan the servant found a capable exponent in Miss Shelton Hooper, who had little to do but did that little well. All the fun of the play really centred in Archibald Reunick, the diminutive Lusband of Mrs. Rennick, who actually passed himself off as her son, In Mr. Tester the character undoubtedly lost none of its effect. He brought out the humour so irresistibly that he convulsed the house when
himself like a he appeared in short trousers and acquitted rather precocious youth. Of quite a different stamp was Mr. H. M. Ken-chwang.-A letter is received from the New- Formation of a Chamber of Commerce at Nein- dall who impersonated Dr. Candy, the principal chwang Chamber advising that a General of the school. Dignified, kindly, and firm, except when his affections were touched by his early love, he gave a clever and artistic exhibi- tion. In filling the part of Felix Roach, Major Phillips had perhaps a more difficult study, but he acquitted himself well as the keen calculating man of business, while Mr. Smith, R. A., cer tainly made a very good French master, such as is expected from Theodore de Brizac. Bullock Major, the pupil who tyrannised over the un- fortunate Rennick, was capably represented by Mr. F. C. Kendal, and the part of the irate farmer whose orchard was plundered suited Mr. Northcote.
In according a meed of praise to the individua members of the cast, one must not overlook th very important part played by one whom th andience did not see ou the boards, Mr. Michi as stage manager was largely responsible for th Northcote the club were fortunate in having a success of the production, while in Mr. M. S capable business manager.
The band of the 119th Infantry was present and discoursed selections,
December 31st as compiled by the Chamber's
half-yearly return.
Chamber of Commerce has been formed and
styled The Newchwang General Chamber of Commerce.
chang. leiter is read from the New- Telegraphic Communication with New- ohwang Chamber pointing ont the delay in the exchange of telegrams. The Secretary is in. structed to interview the Manager of the Great Northern Telegraph Company and then com- After the transaction of some further business municate with the Newehwang Chamber. the meeting adjourns. The following cor- respondence is ordered for publication :-
Oxford Court, Cannon Street, London, November 10th, 1905. Dear Sir,At the last meeting of the Council of this Chamber a letter was received from the London Metal Exchange asking that a formal request should be made by the London Chamber of Commerce to the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce for the compilation and periodical stocks of copper in the warehouses at Shanghai, publication of data showing the imports and
to which request the Council willingly acceded. The recent increase in the amount of copper imported into China from the United States of America, the Commonwealth of Australia, and
the customary asinine exhibition when he THE SANITARY BOARD ELECTION the United Kingdom, with consequent accu- comes under the spell of feminine fascination, and as the two characters exchanged places the most extraordinary complications ensue, while the situations are exceedingly funny and the dialogue is amusing without being vulgar.
The cast, which was by no means numerous, was as follows:
Archibald Renuick (aged 30))—Mr. Tester. Dr. Candy, LL.D. (Principal of Birchgrove School, Dulwich; aged 6))-Mr. H. M. Kendall.
Felix Roach (aged 40-Major Philipps, R. A. Théodore de Brizac (a French master)-Mr.
Smith, R. A.
Ballock Major (a papi), aged 17)-Mr. F. C.
Kendall.
Mr. Stubber (aged 50)—Mr. Northcote. Mrs. Rennick (aged 40)- Mrs. Francis Clark, Nancy Roach (Felix Roach's daughter, aged
16) Miss Blair.
Susan (a servant, aged 20)-Miss Shelton
Hooper.
Stage Manager-Mr. Michie, When the curtain was raised it disclosed a well-appointed drawing room, and the audien were soon introduced to the principal chai .cters who made a very favourable impression. At the outset the movement was perhaps hardly enough, but the piece improved on further acquaintance, and by the time the first act was completed there was y consensus of opinion finding expression in laudatory terms. The second act was even better, and in the third act the fun became fast and furious, and the constant peals of laughter which rang out from all parts of the Theatre was a warm tribute to the success of the artistes, who made the most of the humorous incidents with which the piece abounds.
Coming to the individual work of the artistes it is pleasant to be in a position where no un favourable comment is called for. Allowing the ladies to take the precedence which gallantry demands, it must be admitted that the star bf
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A NEW CANDIDATE : THE RATE RECEIPT QUESTI N.
We learn that Mr. Henry Humphreys, of the Humphreys Estate Company, Ld., is a candidate for election to the Sanitary Board. Mr. Hum- phreys' father was a valued member of the same Board for eight years, and, we need hardly add, as he is so well-known, that the present candidate is following in his father's footsteps, having the same widespread interest in the Colony, and similar ability for all duties of an administrative nature.
We have already written of the candidature of Mr. A. Shelton Hooper, whose name has been very favourably received by the public. The election, us already announced, takes place at the City Hall on Monday, the 22nd inst. Rate- payers whose names appear on the 1905 jury lists (Special and Common) and ratepayers who are professionally exempt from such service, may vote, provided they can meet the extraordinary requirement of the Government, which is that they must prove their standing by producing the receipt for the r-tes paid by them for December. As it is very common for rates to be paid by the landlord in Hongkong, who recovers them in the form of rent this may lead to diffionities and disappointment. In England, the stipula tion is that the voter must have paid "all rates not later than the 20th of July that became due on the 5th of January preceding," but in that case (household franchise) the landlord's pay ment on behalf of the tenant is recognised. The words "paid by him" in the local stipula tion have raised fears that some may be disfranchised through a technicality, The (overnor.in Council has power to alter the schedule, and will no doubt see to it than no hardship is inflicted in this case.
There was no conset. Both candidates were formally propoɛed and elected to-day (22ad.)
mulation of stocks at Shanghai and other Chinese ports, has rendered it most desirable that the information sought for should be available to those interested.
I have therefore been instructed to express the hope that your Chamber will have no objection to compile and publish the statistics mentioned.
I have the honour to remain,
Dear Sir, Yours faithfully,
KENRIC B MURRAT,
Secretary.
REAL ESTATE IN MANCHURIA.
There is something familiar and something unfamiliar in an advertisement now appearing in tue press of North China. A Russian real estate office offere to let, on long or short leases, building lots for various enterprises, factories, warehouses, elevators, stores, apartment houses, private dwellings, wharves, and all other pur
poses.
All these lots are situated in Lower Harbin, Manchuria, alongside the Chinese Eastern Railway Company's Settlement, and have a separate water frontage on the Sungari River,
The Central Car Distributing Station of the Chinese Eastern Railway is situated about 1/2 to 1-1/2 kilometers from the above lots and it is jutended to build a branch line, thus connecting directly the offered properties with the main line of the C.E. Ry. Part of the lots are sur- rounded by the small river Madago, which falls into the Sungari River.
The advertiser explains that there does not exist the same regulations as adopted by the management of the Chinese Eastern Railway for their settlement, that none but Russian or Chinese subjects can own real estate, build on same, or have any commercial enterprise.
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