October 12, 1908.)
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however without a reference to the Hon. Mr. STEWART's remark that the garrison is not here for strategical and imperial purposes, the troops being scarcely more than sufficient to ensure order and security within the limits of the Colony. small part of this force may be requisitioned to quell a riot in an outport," Mr. STEWART Baye, "is a minor consideration of its uses which cannot be classed as strategical. We wonder what authority Mr. STEWART has for suggesting that only a small part of this force is available for quelling riots in the outports? Would the General refuse a request from the British Minister for the dispatch of B couple of thousand troops, say to Shanghai, on the plea that he has only sufficient “to ensure order and security in the Colony of Hongkong? We fancy not, and doubt if the War Office would confirm the statement that the troops are here for purely local purposes. No one questions the principle of contribution from the Colonial revenue towards the maintenance of the garrison; what is questioned is the excessive amount the Colony is required to pay and the basis on which it is levied. There is a suggestion in the Hon. Mr. STEWART's speech that the presence of the garrison confers great benefits upon the Colony, and the context indicates that pecuniary benefits are meant, as a reference is made to HIS EXCELLENCr's statement that from one-half to two-thirds of the funds devote to the garrison come out of the pocket of the British taxpayer. We do not think many will share the opinion that this necessarily confers great pecuniary benefits on the Colony. We are more disposed to think that the expenditure of the troops with in the Colony falls far short of the Colony's military contributiou. The expenditure on ordinance, on transport, equipment, aui- form and the greater part of the supplies is expenditure out of the Colony, and even the bulk of the soldier's pay is probably remitted to England. That being so, it is doubtful whether the Colony obtains any benefit whatever from the pecuniary point of view. When we are considering the ques- tion as to whether the Colony's contribution is excessive or not it is important that we should not be unwittingly misled into thinking that great pecuniary benefits are conferred upon us by the fact that from one-half to two-thirus of the cost of maintaining the garrison comes
of the pocket of the British taxpayer.
Though these observations have been inspired by a couple of sentences in the Hon. Mr. MURRAY STEWART's speech, we take this opportunity of expressing the admiration which we share with the public generally for the independence, courage, and ability he has shown on the Council, and regret that this speech represents Mr. STEWART's parting shot. Mr., HEWETT, whose place
Mr. STEWART has been filling as the Member represent ing the Chamber of Commerce on the Legislative Council, will have return- ed to the Colony before the next meeting of the Council, and Mr. STEWART therefore gives up the seat, We feel aure that Mr. STEWART is only out until the next vacancy on the Council occurs. There is no need for us to comment on his ability and keenness as a critic, nor upon the exceptional merit of the many striking speeches be has made in the Council The public generally recognise in Mr. STEWART & capable champion of interests of the taxpayers and would be gratified to see him again occupying a seat in the Council at the earliest opportunity.
out
the
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
RANDOM REFLECTIONS.
Sport has been very much under notice this last week. Most of the clubs of the Colony are
getting in order for the approaching season. Bathing parties have practically ceased, though I hear, the Y.M.C.A. party will circumnavigate the island-striking phrase! - оп Wednesday night. But other days other pleasures. Cricket and hockey are in full swing, golfers are taking to the " wee ba" with incressed zest, while the vigorous football players are getting into form. The bracing monsoon is setting the hearts of yachts- men a dancing, and other outdoor pastimes are being taken up more heartily. Cyolista are getting astride their wheels once more and those who believe in that oldest form of exercise —walking—ars noticeable these Sundays in the rural parts of the island or on the uplands of the peninsula on the other side.
*
A correspondent who was much impressed by the splendid physique of the Portuguese young men who stripped during the last aquatic sports writes: "We gas about our English youngsters, but I would like to meet, casually, at any regatta in England, any odd dozen with the fore-arms, chest measurements, length of a book. muscle, and leg-build as shown by our fellow citizens of many names, new pals and chums, in the Hongkong sporting arenas generally, and the V.R.C. particularly."
Aoh surely yer joking, Mr. May? Hongkong lady golfers able to lick the heads of fifty per cent" of the gentlemen players! No, no, I won't believe it. Ladies would never take up golf very seriously. It is debasing, it is demora. lising: it provokes language which should not be heard coming from ladies, I have it on the
authority of the most experienced caddies in Scotland that players who never become more expletive than "lut tat" when they foozle can never hope to become good golfers. Therefore, Mr. May, I put it to you Wouldn't you rather think our ladies were indifferent golfers than think of them as language experis?
for gallantry. Some bava
Of course, we know Mr. May has a reputation even declared that he has kissed the famous Blarney stone in that delectable land from which be bails, but
&# not prepared to
go 80 far 5.4 that, especially as I heard him assert io public that he had not done so. How. ever, whether he has or has not kissed the Blarney Stone, the Colonial Secretary cham. knights of old, and as he makes so bold as to say pioos the fair sex in a manner worthy of the that lady golfers could lick the heads of fifty per cent of the other players there can be little doubt that he will gain a greater reputation for gallantry than for veracity. Perhaps, however, Mr. May has heard the statement one hundred and one golfers in Hongkong
I am glad that after-thought mostly duffers." came to me. It helps us to understand the Colonial Secretary,
There are
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tion. The cost of a wireless station is trivial compared with the loss inflicted by the sudden visitation of a typhoon.
When will a rule of the road be established for pedestrians and rickshas? Polios, please note, or compel rickshas to carry band bells on the shafts. Now that rubber tyred rickahas are in use this is more than ever necessary.
Pardon me, dear reader, if I seem to make
light of a grave subject, but I cannot allow the subject of burning joss stioks in the Colonial Cemetery to pass without comment. The Committee, in framing cemetery regulations, wished to prohibit this practice, and with an appreciation of the proprieties preferred to use the dictionary term incense stick. Mr. Hooper, while admitting the correctness of the definition, objected to its use as likely to limit others with whom it was not intended to interfere, and after argument be gained his point. This is a case where a terminological exactitude is re- placed by a terminological inexactitude.
An amusing discussion took place in the
Ceylon press quite recently as to the descrip- tion to be applied to various kinds of amault. One judge described a kick administered by one man to another as "an unwarrantable
familiarity," and thisl-d a correspondent to ask how the following experience of himself and
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some friends would be characterised : Last week whilst on a motor expedition, we were passing through a crowded district immediately south of Kalutara on the Gaile road, when an individual amongst a crowd of natives ejected from his mouth a stream of betel juice, which was so well aimed sa to cover us in the car. However, we took no notice, but kept our course and speed. Now there are several ways of looking at this attention on the part of our native friend. Firstly, it might have been an accident pure and simple; but the shot was a martellons one and did not miss any one of as in the car. Secondly, it might have.. been intended 6.4 a high compliment, and, when one considers that this philanthropic indițidual deprived himself of his succulent mouthful entirely for our benefit, it is difficult to see in what other way the act can be taken thad as one of the highest attention and respect; no man can do much more than deprive himself of his best that he may present it to the stranger within his gate (I had almost said friend), Thirdly, the act may have been one of contempt, in which case I would learn how it should be Had I, as ■ European. correctly described. expectorated a mouthful of tobacco-jalce on a native it would have undoubtedly been an act of 20warrantable familiarity; but this was done by a native to me, and I cannot, therefore, think so strong a term can properly describe it. Well, let it go. I do not suppose that Johnson of dictionary fame would have interpreted it as an act of endearment amongst natives, but if any one will inform me through your valuable columns of the proper light in which I should look on this incident I shall be able to sleep easy once more,
RODERICK RANDOM.
F1
In another fortnight the Hongkong Volun teers will be under canvas at Stonecutters. The sixteen days' training is not a picnic, although there is a good deal of fun to be had ACCIDENT AT THE LEGISLATIVE for the gilded youth of the Colony. On this out of it, but represents a fairly strenuous time
occasion the new infantry company will make its first public appearance and the military experts will perhaps rejoice to see that only those who are likely to be useful in serving the guns are remaining in the artillery companies, while those whose inclinations do not lie that Way are transferring to the engineer and infantry companies. There csa be little doubt that the Hongkong Volunteers are being made a very useful body of men.
COUNCIL.
For-
An incident which might had bave mors ious results took place on Oct. 8th during the sit- ting of the Legislative Council. The Hon. Mr. Murray Stewart had just opened his speech when a huge piece of plaster fell from the roof on the desk immedia ely in front of the Hon Mr Badeley, narrowly missing his head and hands. For a moment consternation prevailed, Bob Mr. Badeley and Mr. Gremon hastily mored their obairs back from the danger zoo, and hon. members glanced easily up to tion communicated to him by Father Algue, wards the roof. Mr. Stewart stood silent, the Director of the Maails Observatory, that a while a clerk stopped the punkab, lest it should more stucco, but calmness WAS wireless itation on the Batanes Islands would dislodge any
restored when the hon. gentleman resumed be extremely useful in the typhoon season t
his address. When the Colony of Hongkong. Doabtless when
His Excellency subs Mr. Figg, the Director of our Observatory,sequently addressed the Council be mid that pays his friendly visit to Father Algue the the narrow escape of one of the hon. members matter will be fully discussed. The GovernI which they had witnessed was a matter on which ment surely will not lose sight of the sugges. they might congratulate themselves.
The community must feel indebted to Dr. Wilder for making public the valuable sugges-
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