September 28, 1908.]
I am sorry to confes it! My admiration for the Sanitary Board has fallen. And I'll tell why. For weeks my slumbers have been dis- turbed by the midnight caterwaulings which come with unfailing regularity from the ad joining roofs, and having used up all the old boots and shoes in the house I decided that it would be cheaper to invest in an sir gun. It would at the same time give me practice in shooting and (I would thereby make myself a better citizen, because we know the country needs man who can shoot. Well, I had only had the gun a night or two when I was roused one early morning by the most ear splitting noises and yells from the garden. a Cats again! Confound them!" Wearily rising and picking up the gun I had just drawn a beautiful bead on a bit of fluff which I could just see in the moon. light when the voice of my wife came sharply from the comfortable bed I had just vacated. "What are you doing, my dear? Not shooting at oats, I hope? " "You bet your sweet life that's what I am trying to do. If I can pink this big brute down here I'll make him warble." But," replied the partner of my joys and sorrows, You mustn't do that say more." By this time she had risen and caught hold of the gun. "Cats are really our saviours. They protect us from plague." "Nonsense!" I returned. "Who told you that?" "It's in the paper to-day," she added, "I never saw it," I replied. Perhaps," she suggested,"
"you don't read the Sanitary Board stuff."
"No, I don't. "I admitted with a growl. "Ah !" she exolaimed in triumph," then you don't know that cats will keep away plague." I dropped the gun in amazement. Words failed me. Even if language had come I don't think it could have done justice to the occasion, and when my wife made some further remarks about the wisdom of the Sanitary Board I was ungallant enough to murmur a little word that rhymes with ham.
The
However I am quite prepared to admit that every cloud has its silver lining. If our cats are to be protected now they will probably pro- vide us with some little amusement. Chinese get a good deal of fun out of cricket fights, and some of our people at home know the pleasure of watching a cook fight, while others have a good time by taking a dog into a barn and spectating at a rat hunt. Possibly we can insugurate a new sport in Hongkong with rats brought into a circle aud at a given moment & prise-bred tabby is let loose among the rodents while the spectators on the outside of the ring can work up excitement in the contest by a pari-mutuel. I offer the idea for what it is worth, Let the Spanish bull fight be the model on which our (miniature show is to be formed, The idea should not be neglected. It will provide entertainment for the masses and need not be regarded as competitive with the proposals of your correspondent who wants roof gardens and band performances.
*
Viceroy Tuan Fang at Nanking when asked recently to proceed to the Dragon Temple and pray for rain, refused to do so. He argued the matter with the petitioners, and as a glencher ssid
"Foreigners do not pray for rain." Од this an "Elder in Zion" preaches through the medium of a Shanghai paper to the unbelieving missionaries. The Viceroy, he says, has dis- covered that foreigners do not believe the religion they preach, and the "Elder in Zion" is greatly distressed. "Oh, Missionaries, Mis- sionaries!" he exclaims, "His Excellency the Viceroy Tuan Fang is not mistaken. His ringing message 'the Foreigners do not pray for rain' shows what China thinks of you, of your faith and your religion. It shows how apostate the denominations are!" And this little homily by an "Elder in Zion" shows a sublime faith which is uncommon in these scientific times.
Apart from business depression, times are not likely to be dall in Shanghai while Judge Wildey presides over the United States Court for China. Recently the Judge created a little senssion by debarring Mr. G. D. Musso, a local barrister, from the privilege of appearing in his Court, and I notice that Mr. Musso has lost n opportunity of attacking the Judge since. At the Mixed Court he went the extent of saying
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. that there was reasonable ground for suggesting that the Judge, the Attorney and the Clerk of the United States Court had conspired to suborn a witness. Yes, Judge Willey make things interesting at Shanghai. The prosecution of the editor of the China Gazette for criminally libelling the Judge is the latest sensation.
RODERICK RANDOM.
HONGKONG.
:
There were no cases of plague reported in the Colony last week, but three fatal cases of cholera.
Mr. C. Pemberton has been appointed Secretary of the China Fire Insurance Co. in succession to the late Mr. G. L. Tomlin.
The Victoria Recreation Club held their annual aquatic sporta on Thursday, Friday and Saturday last. H. E. the Governor distributed the prizes and congratulated the Club on its flourishing condition.
Inspector R. Fenton of the Hongkong Police, has just been onfirmed in his appoint ment to that rank. For almost two years he has been acting inspector. On Sept. 24th at the Magistracy Mr. Kemp congratulated Inspector Fenton on his promotion.
The total quantity of water supplied during 1907 in Hongkong was 1,517,091,001 gallons fl- tered and 24,968,000 gallons unfiltered, making a grand total of 1,5 42,059,000 gallons or 188,992,000 gallons more than in 1906. The average-consump- tion of filtered water per head per day with an estimated population of 205,110 was 20.3 gallons.
It is with regret that we have to announce the death of Mr. J. P. Cottam of the firm of Cottam and Co. of Hongkong. Mr. Cottam arrived in the Far East in 1875 and after different ventures opened the business in Hong kong. Deceased, who left Chins some seven or eight years ago, leaves a widow and four children to mourn his loeg.
At the Magistracy on Sept. 22 Mr. C. Mooney, secretary of the Hongkong Hotel, prosecuted s boy for unlawfully absenting himself from ser- vice. The defendant had obtained leave on the ground that be was sic: and he made use of the opportunity to look for other employment, Mr. Wood imposed the exemplary punishment of a fine of $15 with the option of 14 days' imprisonment.
On Thursday morning the Kowloon Dock Company launched the second of the West River patrol gunboats built to the order of A the Provincial Government of Canton. large company attended the interesting cere- mony, and as the vessel took the water she was christened "Kiang Ch" by Mrs. Gresson. The usual complimentary speeches followed, the address of Admiral Li being interpreted by Mr. Fang Wa Chun.
The expected has happened. A Chinaman 'was found bawking oats the other night at Hung- hom and he explained to the magistrate before whom he was brought that he was not selling cats. Having heard that the Sanitary Board wished the Chinese to keep cats he was distributing a number of them. Mr. Kemp, however, refused to be impressed by this ex- planation and imposed a fine of $4 or ten days,
On the 18th instant the premises of Messrs Skott and Company in Des Voeux Road were entered by a former bookkeeper by means of a duplicate key. He made away with the con- tents of the cash box amounting to $2,308 and took several others articles of value, The police who had been searching for him dis- covered him as he was trying to board the "Charles Hardouin" for Canton. He had a quantity of dollar bills in his socks. brought before the Magistrate on Sept. 23rd and remanded for a week.
He was
On the 22nd inst. the Chinese in Hongkong celebrated the anniversary of their great teaober Confucius. The day was observed as a holiday by the Chinese and decors ions, in which the dragon flag was conspicuous, and illuminations have public expression to the regard in which the memory of the sage is held. The most noteworthy feature of the day's proceedings was the gathering in the Taiping Theatre under the presidency of Mr. Lau Chu Fak. The large assembly of almost 5,000 of the leading members of the community did homage to a portrait of Confueuis, after which speeches expository of his teachings were delivered,
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At the annual meeting of the Hongkong St Andrew's Society the Hon. Mr. W Chatham was elected president, Mr. J. R. M. Smith vice president, Mr. David Wood secretary, and Mr A. 8. Fraser, treasurer. Mesars W. Armstrong, R.Mitchell,Murray Stewart, W. :, Jack and C.H. Ross were appointed members of com- mittee. It was decided to celebrate St. Andrew's Day with the usual ball,
A singular accident was reported to the Wanchai police on Sunday. An engine driver at Tai Hang, went to wind up his eight day in the employ of the Sugar Refinery, who lives clock on Sunday. To do so he had to stand on
a stool. The stool turned under him and in a van effort to save himself he clutched at the door of the clook, pulling it down upon him. The glass pierced the fleshy part of his arm and be bled to death before medical amistance could reach him.
The following gentlemen have consented to lecture at the Y.M.C.A. rooms during the coming season :-Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G., Dr. JC. Thomson, Dr. R. A. Belilios, Rev. T. W. Pearce, Mr. W. T. R. Preston, Dr. A. P. Wilder, Mr. Bellamy Brown, Rev. C. Bone, Mr. RA. Lowry, Capt. F. A. Brown, Mr. S. Kingsbury, Kev. C. H. Hickling, Mr. 8. T. Dunn and Mr. J. C. Joughin.
CORRESPONDENCE.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUILDINGS ORDINANCE PROSECUTIONS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS,"
DEAR SIB,-With regard to the wholesale issue of prosecutions by the Building Authority for non-compliance of notices to execute certain repairs to property and which formed the subject of a resolution in the Legislative Council yesterday, I think it only fair to His Excellency the Governor, the public should be informed that on the state of affairs being brought to his notice His Excellency at once ordered the with- drawal of all the summonsġt.
Yours faithfully, A, SHELTON HOOPER. Hongkong, September 25th, 1908.
MACAO IN DARKNESS.
DEAR SIE," A Visitor to Macao" is quite right. Our Electrio light has given out and nothing has been done about lighting the streets with Kercaone.
Our City Fathers are-well it would be more merciful not to say what they are.
All the streets AND narrow planes pitch dark every night now for a week, and no signs of the Electric light starting again.
I know one thing, thongb, that never fails in this city"-that is the unnecessarily noisy Church bells at 5 am, and all day long.
Knowing that your paper is widely read here. you will oblige by inserting this. Your truly.
I. I. I.. Macao, September 4th.
TYP HOONS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
L Within the past week or ten days threo ́ typhoons appear to have passed over the Railippine Islands.
On Saturday the 19th inst, the city of Manila and the provinces to the North were threatened. The storm gathered Esst of the Viscayas, and moved rapidly in a north-westerly direct on, but owing to resistance it met with ou approach- ing land, the cyclonic centre became deformed and it passed to the North of-Mails without doing any damage of importance to the city.
Two more typhoons have since gathered in the neighbourhood of the Visosyas, travelling in a similar direction. A report was carr‹nt in Hongkong on Saturday that upwards of 10,000 fves had been lost in one of these storms, bat the report lacks confirmation.
A telegram to the Daily Press states that no damage was suffered by Manila, but the Boutbera islands have suffered severely. The towns of Masbate and Romblon have b en completely recked, and sad havoc has been wrougat in the goooanut and other plantations.
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