452
THE GOVERNOR'S DEPARTURE.
ACTING GOVERNOR SWORN IN.
On Dec. 15th by the P. and O. 28. Devanha H.E. the Governor, Sir Matthew Nathan, left the Colony for a trip to Java on the advice of his medical advisers. His Excellency proceeds to Singapore by the Devanha, and from thence to Java he will continue his voyage on H.M.S. Diadem. He was accompanied by Captain Coleman, A.D.C., Mr. R.A.B. Ponsonby, his private secretary, and Sister Stoddart of the Government Civil Hospital. By advice of bis medical attendants, his departure was as private and quiet as possible.
At the Legislative Council Chamber on Faturday afternoon the formal ceremony. of swearing in the Hon. Mr. F. H. May, CM.G., as acting Governor took place. The oath was administered by Sir Francis Piggott, the Chief Justice, in the presence of Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, Hon. Mr. A. M. Thomson, Hon. Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz, Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett, Mr. A. G. M. Fletcher, Bir Paul Chater, Mr. A. Seth, Mrs. Atkinson and Miss Carr. Mr. Fletcher, the Clerk of Councils, first read the Royal Warrant of Mr. May's appointment, the latter taking the oath of allegiance and the oath of office as Governor of the Colony and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's forces, and then signing the necessary documents which were sealed by the Chief Justice.
His Excellency then said: Iadies and Gentlemen, I am sure that you all share with me heartfelt regret at the unfortunate circums. tances under which I am called upon to take the post of Governor. I feel certain that each of us here to-day have no desire nearer our hearts than that His Excellency Sir Matthew Nathan may return from his short holiday entirely restored in health and energy.
FORMALITY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
We are requested to state that during the Governor's absence His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government will not reside at Government House, and that it is unnecessary for residents in the Colony, and others, who have already written their names at Government House during the current year, to call upon the Officer Administering the Government or upon Mrs. May as wife of the Officer Administering the Government. Those who have not already called at Government House and wish to do so will be good enough to write their names in the Governor's book which is still kept there.
THE KOWLOON DOCK TRAGEDY.
on
taken
The funeral of Mr. John R. Craik took place
December 15th. The body was from the Mortuary by launch to Observation Fier, where the cortege was joined by a large number of mourners and sympathisers. Messrs. Rattey, Lapsley, Baxter, Nicholle, Crawford and J. Gomes were pall bearers, and among those who followed were Sir Paul Chater, Messrs. Wm. Wilson. T. I. Rose, Robert Mitchell and H. Smith, with practically
the whole of the Dock staff. The Rev. A. Stevens officiated at the grave side and pronounced the committal sentences. There were many floral tributes. Great sympathy is expressed for Mrs. Craik and her family in their bereavement.
. Though the police have been busy, they have not yet succeeded in tracing the murderer.
No further developments can be reported in the search for the murderer of Mr. J. R. Craik, chief olerk at the Kowloon Docks, last Friday morning. The police have issued notices to the effect that a reward of $1,000 is offered for information which may lead to the apprehension of the person or persons who were concerned in the murder.
Tracks, blood drops, and a hand print in blood, indicate that after the hue and cry was raised the murderer, had a somewhat anxious time of it. He twice skulked behind corners, waiting for a clear course, as was shown by marks where he had stood and dripped blood it is thought from a wounded hand. The print of a bloody hand finally showed where he had rested it in leaping down into a nullah by which he made his escape from the dock premises. It is thought he made off towards Kowloon native pity.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
SHIP LAUNCH AT KOWLOON.
NEW SUBSIDIZED STEAMER.
The invitations which many people received to join "the trial trip" of the 8.8. Perle on Dec. 15th were premature, and due to a clerical error in selecting the stereotyped invitation forms. The Perle did make a trip, one that is often somewhat of a trial, but it was down the tallow ways that lead to the second baptis a. First baptized with wine, she at once, as the late Sir Wilfrid Lawson happily said takes to
and sticks to water
it
It ever after. then, really for
8. launch that comely-garbed ladies and sprucely-attired geutlemen picked their way through the wilder- Saturday afternoon, eyeing curiously on their way to the platform the mangled remains of the French destroyer Fronde, and wondering, for the most part, how on earth even the Dock Company could heal such seemingly fatal wounds as the Typhoon had made.
#88,
ness of iron and steel at the Kowloon Docks on
On the stem of a broad-beamed but shapsly hull was suspended a small bottle of wine. After a whispered colloquy with Mr. Mitchell, mavager of the Kowloon docks, Mrs. Wilks seized the bottle, a whistle sounded, a few ham. mer strokes were heard, an excited exclamation from somewier- below, and the stem, towering some eight or vine feet above the crowd, slightly shivered, sa does a bather before the first plunge of the season. The lady flung the bottle, the contents foamed over the slowly receding bows and then, in a tense half minute, the waters of Kowloon Bay divided to welcome the newcomer, "Sits nicely," an expert remarked, and the company trooped off to the recreation hall, to complete the ceremony in customary form. About a large table was wetted the toast of
1
are
[December 24, 1906.
informing her of the death of her grandmother, the inf-rence being that the girl in her grief contemplated drowning herself. The police ware not satisfied with this story and the mistress has been detained.
THE HONGKONG CHESS CLUB.
A committ meeting of the Hongkong Chess Club was hell at, Mr. Pollock's office, 18 Bank Buildings, on Tuesday, December 18th.
The following fixtures were arranged for the ensuing season.
1. Mr. Pollock's team v. Mr. Danenberg's team.
Five a side.
One gam› to decide. No handicap.
2. Correspo adenos m toh to be arranged with
Shanghai, if possible.
3. (a) Knock-out tournament for the Cham-
pionship of the Club. Best of 3 games.
Entrance fee $1 payable in advance. First prize. Cup to be presented by Club. Becond prize. Prize to be bought with
entrance fees.
(b) Knock-out tournament for those who do not enter for the Championship Tournament.
Best of three games.
Entrance fee 81 payable in advance
Prize to be bought with entrance fees. Mr. J. H. K mp has kindly consented to accept the vacant post of Honorary Secretary.
CORRESPONDENCE.
TH› CENSUS RETURNS.
f
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
Hongkong, December 21st. SIR It is perhaps premature to comment on the preliminary report on the census which was issued a few weeks ago, as the figures are
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success to the Perle," which, Mr. Mitchell said, was the first of the series to be built at Kowloon, where three others in progress, although similar oraft had been built at the Cosmopolitan branch of the Works. They, however, were of wood;
liable to correction "; but, as an increase of this was of steel. It was a steru wheeler. 16,683 in the total population in five years is the order of Messrs. Wilks and assumed to controvert the assertion mide some- built to Jack for Messrs, Roque, for the Tonkin River time ago by a member of the Fanitary Board Subsidized Mail Service. It is 146 feet long. that the New Building Ordinance has driven 24 feet broad, and draws only about two feet, thousands away from the Colony, it is interest- as it must traverse many shalowe. It will coming to compare the actual population with the fortably house thirty first-class passengers, and most recent official estimates. carry many scores beside. Its engines are compound surface condensing," of 200 horse power, and to develop a ten kuot speed. Its fnture ways lie between Haiphong and the Chinese frontier. Its completion had not been much de- the Dock Co. had had to cope; certainly no time layed, considering all the difficulties with which
includes the army and navy (together had been wasted. Mr. Mitchell handed Mrs. about 7,5 0), but it is not clear whether these of the successful launching. Wilks a gold curb
are included - in the Census Officer's pre- liminary report. I presume they are not as the figure 10,450 given in the report as, the total of "the non-Chinese population" corresponds rather closely with 10,981 which Was the P.ċ.M.O.'s estimate of the non- Chinese civil population.
bracelet as a memento
Mr. Jack expressed the satisfaction of bis own firm, and on behalf of Mr. Roque, handed Mrs. Wilks a pearl ring. There were also ceremony was over in a few minutes, and many gratulations by Mr. Wilks. The whole of the company had the experience of one of life's quick ransitions from gay to grave,
falling in with the sad company that was bearing the remains of the murdered Mr. Craik to the Happy Valley.
A TENTATIVE SUICIDE.
A Japanese woman attempted to commit suicide on December 20th, but obanged ber mind when she found the water cold. The woman, who lives at one of the houses in Ship Street, adopted a rather singular procedure Boarding a sampan at Blake Pier she told the women to row her to any ship. They took her to the Allanta, and after making a tour of that vessel she threw herself overboard. Apparently she was not prepared for the water being so cold.
Whatever the reason there can be little doubt that she changed her mind, for she screamed for help. The men on board the launch Atlanta, which was lying alongside, | came to the rescue, and threw her a rope. This she clutched and was taken on board, being afterwards removed to the hospital in a serious condition. The police on making investigation at the house where the girl lived wers informed that she received a letter that day from Japan'
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The total population is shown by the preliminary census report to bɔ 289,564, while the estimato given in the last annual report of the Principal Civil Medical Officer of Health Was 377,850 to the middle of 1905. The P.C.M.O.'s estimate
Assuming, then, that the Army and Navy are not included in the Census Officer's pro-
liminary report, we have still a difference of nearly 6,000 between the official estimate (more than a year old), and the actual returns.--
jours.
CYPHER.
P.S. The preliminary report shows an actual decrease of 3,000 Chinese in the City of Victoria compared with the returns for 1901, while the P.C.M.O. estimated an increase of 13,090,
C
MONSIEUR POLO.",
HIS EXCELLancı's new TITLE,
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Under the caption Gouverneur blesse Avenir du Tonkin has the following : :-" A la la suite d'une obate de cheval, M. Polo, Gouverneur de Honzkong, remettra lundi son service provisoirement au Secrétaire solonial, et partira en congé de convalescɔno, dans six semaines à Singapour et Jara."
This happy error should help that keen polo- player, Sir Matthew Nathan, to get better, if langhter be the excellent physio it is called.
A
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