78
when I say that it is reported that chair or ricsha coolies summoned for refusing to accept hire or else using abusive language to their fares have expressed a preference to be brought before Mr. Wood who presides over the Second Court. So the story goes.
It has been truly said that the weather is man's conversational god, and though we do not perhaps get the same justification for comment on the atmospherical conditions as at home where the samples are difficult to classify, yet the past week has been one to make even old residents talk about the unusually protracted spell of raiu. Certainly it has of late become more than ever necessary to add the words "weather permitting' to any fixture out of doors, and not for a long time have there been so many public and private engagements can- celled as at present. Particularly is this true in the realm of sport where many fix. tures have had to be abandoned or postponed, but with the hope that springs eternal in the human breast, many are still on the card and with the return of sunshine there should be a good many engagements carried through.
The Criminal Session just concluded is re- markable for the number of prisoners discharged. Four out of the five men brought up for trial were found by the seven good men and true to be not guilty, and they bad of course to be acquitted. It is not often there is such a whole- sale failure on the part of the prosecution; and though some people may think of the expense incurred with no result, there can be no doubt that more dissatisfaction would have been felt bad the Crown not undertaken to proceed with the charges which were of such a nature as to demand investigation.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Western ideas are being rapidly assimilated in theast. In Hongkong we have just witnessed the first Bazaar attempted by Chinese which proved a great success, but the latest Occidental cult to find adherents in China is vegetarianism. The other day I met a gentleman from Canton, a retired Chinese official, who proclaimed him. self to be the only vegetarian in Canton. Of course be meant the only vegetarian from choice, for there must be many people in that city who never taste beef, fowl or even fish except on some extraordinary occasion. Indeed the whole race practically subsists on a vegetable diet. However, this gentleman belongs to the favoured class whose table could be supplied with all the delicacies drawn from the animal kingdom, and the fact that he chooses to deprive himself of these is certainly noteworthy. He admits that be is not so weig ty since he put himself on the new dietary, but he declar s that his step is lighter, bis eye brighter, and his brain clearer. I wonder if his experience will induce others of his compatriots to forego the "flesh pots of Egypt" and resort to simple
fare?
It has alwas been understood that girls were never allowed on the Chinese stage, and that specially trained boys took feminine parts in theatrical performances. Now, however, an ex- ception has been made. A company of actresses from Shanghai has been perf rming in one of the Westend native theatres, (Hongkong), and while the conservative do not look with favour on the innovation, the younger geperation are not afraid to patronise the show. From the stand. point of the promoters the introduction of actress has been a great success, but how far the movement will spread is difficult to say.
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Notwithstanding the disappearance of the Volunteers at home, they still flourish in Hong- kong, and efforts are being made at present not only to strengthen the corps numerically bat to make it more efficient. Recent orders show a desire to secure a greater number of specialised
men
88 gun layers, etc., for the artillery companies, while the formation of an infantry company indicates a desire to make use of the men who would not be required for the working of the big guns,
Practices are being arranged to make the specialists expert in their respective departments and the fact that a proposal to alter the date of the camp in order to get better results is being discussed proclaims that the commandant means the corps to preserve its motto: "Second to none in the East"
[Angust 8, 1909.
Jerome K Jerome in his latest book asks the, the report of the Finance Committee (No. 13),
and moved its adoption. question whether Charity is giving auto the Lord something we can so easily do without He was not thinking of the cartloads of were donated to the recent samples which Bazaar promoted by the Chinese in aid of the Flood Relief Fund, but there are doubtless many who will think this an admirable local application. When, however, we take account of the fact that this Bazar realised something like $60,000, the poor people who benefit by the proceeds of the Bizaar will recognise that this spring cleaning of the sample rooms in Hong
very anbatantial act of kong represents A
What is one man's superfluity is Charity. another's necessity.
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Ca
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Hon. Mr. SLADE-Before this motion is put I should like to ask for information on one point. It is with reference to the vote of $186,500 for the typhoon refuge for small craft. That, I understand, includes the cost of the dredger "St. Enocb," £15,000. I was not here at the last meeting, and did not hear the explanations given in Finance Committee, but since my return to the Colony I have seen a statement in a prominent position in one of the morning papers in which it is stated that the purchase of the "St. Enoch " for £15,000 has cost the taxpayers $100,000 more than it might bave done. I presume that means that the Government might have bought the dredger "Canton River' at a cost of £5,000, which is the difference between the two amounts. can hardly see how that is possible, because I happen to know myself about the Canton River" to the present cost of the
and I cannot conceive that they would be willing to part with the vessel at such a price. But the statement was given a very prominent position, and I think, Sir, that an explanation is due to this Council before the report on the Finance Committee is adopted, as to how this statement could have been made. There are other points which are raised in that particular article with reference to the com- parison and capabilities of the two dredgers. I am not an expert myself, and cannot comment on that, but I presume that the Government must have thoroughly well satisfied themselves that the dredger which they were buying was in every way fitted for the purposes to which it is being put.
owners,
A gentleman residing in South Russia Bas been writing to a London paper recommending weak tea as a thirst assuager for soldiers in the tropics. Everybody used to the tropics," he
I "knows that there is no drink equal to writes, weak tea for assuaging thirst, and the hotter it is drunk the b tter If everybody knows this, it is really astonishing how heretical so many be. Nevertheless the Asiatic, appear to from India to Japan, would hold it to be quite true that there is really no drink equal weak to weak tea for assuaging thirst; but "
des not appeal to the thirsty Ear peao. He prefers something stronger and prefers it iced.
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tea
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Most people who have watched the Chinese at laundry work in Hongkong will be familiar with the practice of squirting water from the mouth on to clothes about to be ironed. I see this is deemed a puuishable offence at Shanghai. Quite recently at the Mixed Court there the keeper of a laundry where this practice wa8 indulged in by the washermen was fined $50. The fine seems excessive. May it not indeed be contended that the objection to this practice which the Chiness laundryman finds so superior to the western method of sprinkling with the hand, is after all largely a sentimental objec. lion From a sanitary point of view the hand may be even more filthy than the mouth as a sprinkler. But coming upon the practice for the first time it does shock western suscep: tibilities!
RODERICK RANDOM.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on July 30th in the Council Chamber,
PRESENT:-
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR,
SIR FREDERICK JOHN UMALTRY LUBARD, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O.
Major General BROADWOOD (General Officer Commanding).
Hon. Mr. F. H. MAY, C.M.G., (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. Mr. E. A. IRVING (Registrar General).
Hon. Commander BASIL R. H. TAYLOR, R.N., (Harbour Master).
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUE, C.MG. Hon. Mr. MURRAY STEWART. Hon Mr H. A. W. SLADE, Hon. Mr. W. J. GRESSON. Mr. C. CLEMENTI (Clerk of Councils).
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-Sir, I welcome the opportunity which has been given me to contradict the gross misstatements which appeared in the artiole to which my hon. friend has alluded. The "Canton River," as it happens, was bought by the same firm from whom the Government purchased the "Saint Enoch."
It
was brought here in 1899, baving been acquired as a second hand vessel from one of the
home
ports to perform the work which ultimately devolved upon the " Saint Enoch.” The firm in question paid some £6,000 to execute certain repairs and works to the vessel before she was sent to the East, and I think that in itself is a guarantee that she was not in the best condition when they purchased ber. I am unable to give the relative dates of construc- tion of these two vessel, but I don't think that any one could come to the conclusion that is a more up to-date vessel than the one other. The "Canton River" was sunk in the typhoon of November 1900, and she lay for eight months at the bottom of this barbour, a circumstance scarcely calculated to improve the condition of any vessel of that type. With regard to the question of price, Sir I hope I am not revealin any secrets but I have ascer- Canton tained that at the present moment the " River is offered for sale at £22,000 as com- |pared with £15,000 the amount for which the Saint Enuch.” Government acquired the
to
ke
Hon. Mr. L. A. M. JOHNSTON (Colonial Treasurer),
Hon. Mr, W. REES DAVIES K.C., (Attorney- That, Sir, is practically 50 per cent more
instead
Ia of $10,000 less.
regard to General).
Hon, Mr. W. CHATHAM (Director of Publico.onoy, Sir, it so happens that the ves-e's Works).
have conducted operations of an exactly similar kind in this barbour, and the result is that the 'Saint Enoch " is found to perform three and a half trips during which she conveys : 00 tons each time as compared with the "Canton River's "three trips with 400 tons each time; a total of 2,100 tons for the "Saint Enoch
Canton River." I as against 1,200 for the think, Sir, it is almost unnecessary for me
the dilate further on
relative merits of the two vessels, but some reference WAS made to their ability to dredge Causeway Bay, As regards that point, I may say that the "Saint Enoch " draws 13ft. 6in, when loaded " draws & and I believe the "Canton River foot less, so that in no case is either of the vessels capable of dredging Causeway Bay with- out performing a vast amount of absolutely Against that I may say unnecessary work, that for dredging the barbour, which is really the most likely work for which the dredger would be required, the "Saint Enoch "- is capable of dredging a depth of 48 feet as Canton River's" 85 feet. compared with the
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read, and confirmed.
FINANCIAL MINUTES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table Financial minutes Nos. 39 and 41 and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee. The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
FIN NCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table
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