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The Imperial Commissioners in charge of the prohibition of opium-smoking among official classes in Peking and the provinces have found out, says a contemporary, that there are no less than twenty-seven Metropolitan officials smoking sub rosa. It is stated that if, when the limit of three months (from May 1st 1908) granted by the Throne has expired, these officials are found to be still unable to break off their proclivities, they shall be denounced to the Throne for punishment.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The cry of the Chinese at Batavia for education under official control has been met by the opening of the first Government Dutch school there for people of that nationality, The school was opened on July 1, in the pre- sence of a large gathering, official and other. wise. The Resident of Batavia spoke about the readiness of the Government to meet Chinese
wishes in the matter of separate schools, and urged the parents not to neglect to see to their children attending peally and clearly dressed. Several leading Chinese present thanked the Government for the action it had taken. Two hundred and seven children were enrolled on the first day, the ages varying from six to six. teen years. Six teachers undertook the task of instruction.
His Excellency Captain Coutinho, the ex- Governor of Macao, is credited in the San Francisco papers with a statement on the seizure of the "Tatsu-mara," from which it appears that Portugal as well as Japan made a claim on China, bat the nature of the claim is not stated. A paragraph in the interview reads:-"In behalf of the Portuguese Govern. ment the Portuguese Minister took the matter up with Peking, and there has resulted a diplomatic correspondence between that capi al and Lisbon which is not yet settled. Portugal
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claims that the act was committed within Portuguese waters. Whatever the settlement which China may be forced to make with Portugal, Captain Coutinho holds that Japan was within her rights in forcing the apology."
It is proposed to hold an Exhibition of Old Chinese Porcelain in Shanghai under the aus. pices of the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, in or about the second week in November. A special feature was the decision to issue a descriptive catalogue, profusely illa- strated, after the Exhibition, which will embody the history of the ceramic art in China, and also a detailed catalogue of all the pieces exhibited. The Exhibition, the N.-C. Daily News remarks, seems to be meeting with much popularity, and exhibits are already promised from high Chinese official sources; in fact it promises to be a unique exposition. It was also decided to send particulars of the coming Exhibition to all the European and American art journals, also inviting subscriptions to the edition which will be issued. Any information or suggestion which may be of interest to the proposed Exhibition will be gladly received by the Hon. Secretary, Mr. A. W. Bahr, oare of Messrs. Hopkins, Dunn & Co.
HONGKONG.
The Colonial Secretary has received informa-
tion that the Government of Indo-China has declared Hongkong to be an infected port.
On July 15th Sergeant Peter Brazil, one of the most popular officers in the police force, was married to Miss Norah Harley in St. Joseph's Church, Hongkong.
In view of the prevalence of Cholera at Canton and the surrounding districts, the Sanitary Department have issued a warning to the public to take the usual precautions against
infection.
Six months' imprisonment in default of pay- ment of a fine of $200 was the sentence im- posed on a Chinese women by Mr. J. R. Wood at the Magistracy for dumping the dead body of a child near Arsenal Street.
The schedule for the 1909 Flower and Vegetable Show under the auspices of the Hongkong Horticultural Society has been issued. The exhibition, which will be open for two days as usual, will be held in the latter part of February. The rules are practically the same as before, though two additional rules are inserted, and the schedule is thoroughly comprehensive. Mr. L. Gibbs is the honorary secretary.
•
H. M. oruiser Monmouth on completion of 80 extensive refit, left on the 16th ins. for Wei-hai-wei,
Lieut. Colonel Carter, of the Army Pay Department left the Colony by the last English
Mail steamer on transfer to Dublio.
Mr. E. Shellim has been appointed Chairman of the Court of Directors of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in place of Mr. H. Keswick who resigned on leaving the Colony.
Another tatch of men from the 8.8. "Sheikh " were before the Marine Magistrate on July 13th on a charge of refusing to obey the lawful com mands of the Captain. The five meu ware ordered to forfeit ten days' pay and to undergo seven days' hard labour.
Narsing Institute, was married at St. John's On July 11th Miss Hadden, of the Hongkong
Cathedral to Mr. B. L. Frost of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Co's service. Dr. Sted. man gave the bride away. Miss Harrison acted as bridesmid and Mr. Brayfield as best man
The accountant in a rice shop in Wing Lok Street was on July 13th convicted by Mr. Kemp at the Magistracy of having given a receipt over the value of $25 without having stamped it. Mr. Dennys, of the Crown Solicitor's offipe, prosecuted, and the defendant was fined $20. This is the second case within a week where an accountant has been fined for evading the Stamp Ordinance.
A burglary at the premises occupied by Messrs Caldbeck, MacGregor & Company was reported to the police yesterday. When the clerk entered at six o'clock in the morning he found the main door open and further examination showed that the drawers in the place had been forced open and money to the extent of $53 abstracted, The burglars had apparently entered by the open fanlight and after searching the premises and failing to open the safe, they drew the bolts in the main door and got away.
An old woman attempted to commit on the 15th ins. suicide by drowning. She jumped into the harbour at Kennedytown and as sbe Was seen walking in the water an Indian watchman and a lukong went in to rescue her. When she saw them coming she made for deeper water but was ultimately sarght and assisted out. taken to the Police Station at West Paint where her demeanour suggested iosanity. She was medically examined and subsequently re- moved to the asylum.
She was
An unusually large number of coolies were landed in Hongkong on July 12 from the South. Ninety-four time-expired labourers from the Netherlands Indies were brought here, prior to being passed on to their respective districts, and 21 criminals came up from Singapore. They were dealt with by the police and deported. These 115 men could not be accommodated at the Central Police Station and had to remain in the Station compound all night under the charge of lukongs.
Much sympathy will be felt with Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Gordon whose little five-year old son is lying at the Peak Hospital suffering from extensive burns on the body. He was standing near a small methylated spirit lamp when the draught created by the opening of a door drove the flame upon him and instantly Gordon were close at hand and succeeded in ignited his clothes. Fortunately Mr. and Mrs.
extinguishing the flames but not before the poor little fellow had been very severely burnt about the body. Fortunately the face suffered badly burnt in extinguishing the fire. but slightly. Mr. Gordon had his right hand
The Members of the Committee of the Kowloon Cricket Club met after the opening of the Now Pavilion, and the Chairman on behalf of the Mem- bars presented Mr. N. H. Mody with a silver souviner. Mr. Richardson in making the pre- sentation referred to the fact that it was mainly through the efforts of the President that the Club had been able to build this pavilion. He then proposed the health of Mr. Mody and the toast was received with enthusiasm, Mr. Mody in reply thanked the Members for the souvenir which he said he would always cherish as a memorial of the successful days. He thanked the Committee for the way in which they had worked and proposed "Success to the Club"|
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(July 20, 1908.
The Colonial Treasurer's statement of the Colony's assets and liabilities on April 30th shows the balance of assets over liabilities to be $1,447 816.01. The liabilities are placed at $2,069,322.95, and the assets at $3,517,138.96.
Since Sunday over 200 undesirables have been dealt with by the Hongkong police. This is an exceptionally large number and entails a con- From Saigon came siderable amount of work. 37 undesirables and from Singapore 16 ad-
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desirables.
On the 15th July the office s of the Barazilian erniser visiting Hongkong rere entertained by Commandador and Mrs. Leiria and the members of the Portuguese Club at the Lusitano Club. Music was discoursed during the afternoon,
For smuggling op'ume from Bangkok the assistant compradore on the German steamer
Paklet" was at the Magistracy yesterday fined $150. Mr. Hoggarth, excise officer, explained that two years ago the Opium Farmer had notified shipping firms that on the arrival of any vessel with opiam that the opium would transferred to the ship when it was ready to be sealed and taken to the Opium Farm and sail. This would prevent the ships from being detained pending a search for opiam.
A Chinaman was charged on July 17th at the Magistracy with having obtained $1,000 by false pretences. His modus operandi was alleged to be that he represented himself as the agent of a shipping company and could obtain for the complainant and his friends situations as compradores and assistant compradores on the steamers. He required a deposit of $1,000. When he received this money nothing more was heard of bim. Mr. Goldring appeared to prosecute and Mr. R. Harding appeared for the defence. A remand was granted.
The police on duty at the Shun Lee" wharf on July 14th came upon an interesting case of kidnapping. It appears that a few days ago a couple at West Point reported that their six months old son had been abducted, and curiously enough as the mother was standing on the wharf she saw an old woman going on board with the child on her back. She informed the police who arrested the old woman. The latter pro: tested her innocence and declared that she had been asked by another woman to take the child down to the steamer and received twenty cents for so doing. She took the police to this other woman who denied any knowledge of the arrange- ment. Both women are in custody and the case will be thrashed out ou Monday.
Two lukongs very cleverly interfered in the confidence trick the other day and spoiled s fairly good harvest for two tricksters. An old junkwoman from Shaukiwan came up on Mon- day for a day in the town and was scoosted at the Clock Tower by two men who sail they were looking for their uncle and would be glad if she could assist them. They walked on together and then one of the men nudged the old woman and told her that his companion had picked up a bundle of notes but as he distrusted him he would be delighted if she would get them changed. She agreed, and as she was moving off with the bundle it was sug gested that she should leave some of her gold rings as security, She parted with one or two, but before the tricksters could get away the two lakongs who had been shadowing them swooped down and took them in custody. On six months' imprisonment. Tuesday they were convicted and sentenced to
The death of Mr. W. Beilby, who assisted at the construction of the Hongkong tram ways, took place on the 4th inst, on board the P. and O. intermediate steamer "Namur," between Hongkong and Singapore. The deceased was on his way home from Shanghai along with his wife. After leaving Shanghai, he became ill. from the effects of rheumatic fever he had when young, and soon after the ship had left Hong. kong, he became delirious and died as stated. Mr. Beilby looked after the interests of Mosera Dick, Kerr and Co. at the laying down of the Singapore tramway system, and on finishing his work there he went to Bangkok to assist in the erection of the tramway system there, and eventually proceeded to Shanghai, where he arrived about two years ago and was employed as an engineer for the tramways with the Arm of Messrs Bruce, Feebles and Company. Mr. Beilby was married at home eighteen months ago. He was 28 years of age,
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