106
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
*as
[August 19, 1907,
B
VOLUNTEER TROOP GYMKHANA. as the gallant troopers went on their missin | message, to one not conversant with the names of life saving at the gallop the enemy of local villages, was a somewhat difficult one. pitilessly blazd away, while the crackers Here it is:—“ Ride to the Volunteer Camp which the China pooles had to face
near He Sheung Heungi tell him, the Officer made a din which they strongly disapproved commanding the Troop, to occupy without delay of, and the prancing and capering of the the blockhouse at Kong Tan He and the police miniature war horses was sufficient av dence of station at Shataukek placing sir men and a their desire to flee from the field of battle. N.C.O. in charge of each place with 200 rounds Sometimes a trooper would raise his fallen; of ammunition par man and three days rations. comrad to the pony's back, but while he With the balance of his troop he is to patrol, endeavoured to mount the restless animal the the telephone lines between the blockhouse and wounded man wou'd fall headlong to the turf. Sheung Shui and Shatsukek and Fan ing, Other troopers could not persuade their ponies doing his utmost to prevent these lines from to fac, such a galling fire and found it necessary interference on the part of the natives. to abandon the hope of rescue and fy to a quieter spot. Trooper Hall who was first to enter and e cape from the jaws of death closely followed by Trooper Dupree who caught him upon the rice home and the pair passed the, winning post neck and neck, Trooper Master helug a good sec^al. LADIES NOMINATION RACE-Troopers to be
Domiuated ya lady.
Ladies to line up in front of grand staud. Start from a point indicated, ride up to a tothering post, undo heid rope, remove bridle, and tie up pony to post. With bridle on arm run up to lady and band her tunic with all buttons off and chain straps uuhooked. Lidy to put in buttons and¦ fix on straps and assist her partner to pit on his tunic, which must b properly button dup, eto, as if for a parade,eturn to pouy, ua- hitch from post, put on bridl, tie up headrope, mount and ride past winning post. Trooper E. Howard, nominated by Mrs.
Blilios...
1
The members of the Hongkong Volunteer Troop were "at home" to their friends on the Polo ground at Causeway Bay on August 17th, and right well they entertained them. Rain threatened another postponement of the gathering before noon, but fortunately the weather cleared and although the afternoon Was rather hot it was in favour of the Troop. As a consequence there wis a larga gathering at the carnival to witness the feats of skill of the Volunteers, and the scene on the Polo ground was rendered more imposing by the presence of a large number of ladies attired in summer costume. A matshed had been erected to screen spectators from the rays of the sun, but the design wis not a good one and the occupiers soon found it necessary to go to the rear of this to find the shade. Doubtless the defect will be remedied for the next gymkhana. There were also booths whers tea and cake was served and where the gentle. men might partake of stronger refreshment. The band of the Middlesex regiment was in attendance and played selections during the intervals between events. Shortly after the conclusion of the third item on the programme His Excellency the Governor, Lady Lugard and party arrived and were conducted to the sea's reserved for the gubernatorial party. Among others present by this time were Sir Francis Piggott, Hon. Mr. F. H. May, and Excellency Major-General R. G. Broadwood Aggregate prizes on the day's events were presented by Messrs. G. K. Hall Bratton, A. J. Williams, A. C. Hynes, W. S. Dupree, G. C. Moxon, J. Paterson, H. W. Looker, C. H. Ross, H. P. White and W. R. M. D. Parr. The judges were Major-General Broadwood and Ciptain A. J. Thompson, R. A., who fulfilled their duties to the satisfaction of all concerned. The programme was as under :- LEMO CUTTING WITH SWORDS.--Start from the "Slope - Engage' Assault, make outs 1, 2, on the right, Slope Swords. Two russ for each Competitor. Third runs for those called for by Jadges. Trooper T. C. Vernon Trooper R. F. C. Master Trooper W. S. Dupree... HEADS AND POSTS. Start from the "Slope," "Engage,' Assault," cut 1 on the right, point lon the left, cat 2 and cut 4 on the right, pint 4 on the right, Flope Swords. Two runs for each competitor. Third rans only for those called for by the Judges. Trooper H. W. Looker Trooper F. C. Hall..
$1
2
His
3
Troop Sergt -Major G. C. Moxo 1 TENT PEGGING BY HALF SECTION.-Tow runs for all competitors after which the judges will call for further runs, if necessary. Competitors who in the opinion of the judges are not riding at a sufficiently rapid pace will be disqualified. Troopers R. F. C. Master and W. ́S.
Dupree
1
Troop Sergt.-Major G. C. Moxon and
Trooper L. N. Leefe
3
Troopers A. G. Roberts and A. C. Hynes LED PONY RACE-Ride one pony and lead another (both saddled) overa figure of 8 course. Ponies may be led either by bridle or headrope. Trooper R. F. C. Master, leading
Trooper T. C. Vernon's pony 1 Trooper W. 8. Dupree, leading Lieut.
C. H. Ross's pony
3
Trooper F. C. Hall, leading Trooper A.
Morfey's pony VICTORIA CROSS RACE. Single entries, Dammies representing wounded men will be place on the ground at a point indicated Troopers to gallop up to their dummies under fire, lift same on to their saddles and return to winning post. Trooper F. C. Hall Trooper Dupree Trooper R. F. C. Master...
}
dead heat.
3
This event was productive of no little smuss- ment to the spectators. Eight dummies were placed on an imaginary battlefield, and it was i the task of the heroes who competed to rescue them under a withering rif, fire. A tripod was erected on the ground, and to this was attached a bundle of crackers. On each side
of the course along which the Volunteers had to proceed three riflemen were stationed, and
Trooper H. B. L. Dowbiggin, nominated by
Mrs. Ormiston
Troop Sergt. Major G. C. Moxon, nominated
by Mrs. Moxon
3
As was to be expected of them, the ladies were very smart in fixing the buttons in the gentle- men's coats at least, the majority of them were. There were a few, however, who appeared to be overcome with nervousness, and so long did they tarry that the ponies, who were not pre perly tethered got loose and started riderless for their stables. Sergt.-Major Moxon was the first man dressed according to regulations, but Trooper Dupree was the first to monut. As he did not observe the conditions, however, he lost
he race.
RUNNING AND LEADING RACE.-Entries in
:
The winner's translation was-"Take messige to the Volunteer Officer commanding the Volunteer Corps at Ho Sheung Heung and tell him to occupy the blockhouse at Kao Teng Hung with a small foros. Then take a patrol of six men to the police station at Shataukok with 200 rounds of ammunition unch and ration for three days. With the remainder of his force he is to guard the telephone lines between Shataukok. Kao feng Hung blockhouse, He Sheng Heung and Fanling to prevent the natives from interfer- ing with the wires."
Other translations were: -
"Tell the Volunteer Camp at Ho Sheung Heung to gusid the telegraph wires to-- and leave a non-commissioned officer and six men there with three days' rations (no more).
"Go to the Volunteer Camp at Shen Hing Fang and instruct the commandant of the Volunteers to occupy the blockhouse near Lo Fu Feuug without delay and patrol with six
men.
"Ride to Shuo Sheir and tell the offioer of the mounted troop to occupy the blockhouse at Sha a Cok and Lo Shui Shui, leaving in charge an officer and six men with three days rations and 30 rounds of ammunition. Then tell him to proceed to Fanning Lohun Shai taking care to keep the roads clear from incursions of the natives."
BALACLAVA MELEE. To be competed for by half the Troop ve'8u8 the other half. Leaders will be selected, and they will select the tea ns by lot. No spurs allowet. Com. petitors will be provided with dummy swords and cockades, half the Troop blue and the remainder red. The object of the competition is to knock off your opponents' cockades. Opponents' ponies may not be hit. Com. petitors must keep within bonds, and retire at once when cockade is knocked off.
wout at it with such a'will that it appeared more likely some of the fighters would knock-off- their adversaries' heads. A hard fought fight ended in a win for the Reds, who fought in close order and weakened their opponents' attack by dividing their force. The winning detach- ment was composed of Troop Serg..Major G. C. Moxon (leader), Sergt. G. K. Hall Bratton, Troopers C. H. Blason, H. L. Dowbiggin, H. W. Looker, R. F. C. Master, G. E. Morrell, P. C. Potts, A. G. Roberts, T. C. Vernot, A. J. Williams.
pairs. Course rectangular, angles say A, B, C, D. Eren number will lead his partner's -pony round ABC, which odd number will
run from A to C, At C. even number will The Balaclave mêlée was an interesting event, dismoat and auto A, odd number will and the spectators appeared highly amused to mount and dead round CDA. At A oven see the amateur tommies' getting considerably number will mount and the pair will then knocked about with dummy swords. As stated ride as a half section past wrawing post. previously, the object in the competition was to Troopers R. F. C. Master and W. S. Dupreviock off an opponent's cockade, but the troopers Troopers F. C. Hall and A. Morfey... Troopers E. Howard and H. B. L. Dowbiggin 3 MESSAGE R CE.-Estries in pairs. Pairs will ride to a point indicated, even number will draw his rifle from buc et, dismount. fire two round blank and hand his pony to odd number, and double to front of Grand Stand, rder Arms" and stand to attention. Odd number will take led pony to a point market by a flig❘ and halt When all the eren numbers have arrived in front of the Grand Stand, the Judge will read out in a clear voice a message which the even numbers will commit to memory. In connection with this message maps way be consulted but written notes may not be taken. Even number will then rejoin bis partner, return bis rifl to bucket and communicate the message to bim, after which he will mount his owe pony. Odd number having learnt the message, will draw his rifle, dismount, fire two rounds blank. hand his pony to even number, and double to a point indicated where will be found a table, cards and pencils. He will write out the message, sign his name, hand the card to the person in charge of the table, rejoia partner, mount, retura and ride with partner to wianing post.
66
F1
Corporal A. J. Williams and Trooper
IV. S. Dupree Troopers R. G. Munro and F. C. Hall Troop Sergt.Major G. C. Moxon ani
Trooper R. F. C. Master
To many this 2as the most interesting event of the day and Isplayed the qualities of some of our Voluntees as despatch bearers The
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Lieut. C. H. Ross commanded the Blues, the other aaits being Troopers E. Buxton Forman, W. S. Dupres, F. C. Hall, E. A. Hankey, E. Howard, A. Morfey, R. G. Muaro, A. C. Hynes, L. N. Leefe, J. Paterson.
Aggregate prizes: The first aggregate prize was won by Trooper Dupree, Trooper Master taking the second, Trooper Hall_the_third, Trooper Vernon the fourth and Troop Sergt.- Major Moxon the fifth.
When the sports were over, Lady Lagard complied with a request to present the prizes. On completion of her task, and at the call of Lient. C. H. Ross, the Volunteer Troop raised thre cheers to her Ladyship, who thanked them very much and retired.
His Majesty the King has not been advised to ex rcise his power of disallowance with respect to the following Ordinances :-Ordinance No. 1 of 1907, entitled —An Ordinsace to amend the Probates Ordinance, 1897: Ordinance No. 2 of 1907, entitled-An Ordioane, for the incor-
poration of the Hongkong College of Medicine,
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