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in bulk into the interior are eagerly availed of by the oil companies. We have heard of schemes for buying up, exporting and putting to other uses all the native oils used for lighting in China, but Sir ALEXANDER HOBIE says these schemes are not so simple as they look, for the chief lighting oils in China are also used for cooking and could not easily be dispensed with. Most people are familiar with the fact that China imports great quantities of rice. Last year that import was valued at over five and a half million pounds sterling. Few, however, know that China is an importer of ten, but it is a fact that last year Indi", Ceylon and Java sent nearly nine million p..unds, principally dust. It is used for mixing
with China dust in the manufacture of brick and tablet tea for the Russian market. China's foreign drink bill seems to be Increasing and though the import of aerated and mineral waters does not count for much, these waters the Report tells us
are now manufactured in enor. mous quantities all over the Empire. "In summer they are dispensed in mst ten houses in Peking, and street stalls are laden with bottles which contain waters of all colours, impurities and, as sign of the times, they can be bad iced. A half sodawater bottle of liquid costs from 40 to 50 cash, an it is dear at the price." This excerpt leads us to note other lines of trade in which the native-manufacturer is
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND.
seeking to oust the foreign product. Native candles for instance are now being turned out at several places in China and are ant exact imitation of the foreign article in every particular-colour, weight, general appearance and packing being antical," This is quite apart from the native candi. industry of China, which is enormous in every provi će. Ɛoaps too are now being produced in native es ablishments, but "the finest soaps will always hold their own until a good foreign factory is established in this Country which contains in abundance most of the materials required in their mana- facture."
The drop of nearly 10,000 tona in the import of rails simply means that rails are being turne! out and supplied at the Hanyang Iron foundry at Hankow. As everybody knows, the number of Cotton Mills is yearly increasing. Developmen s of this kind are to be expected.. Sir ALEXANDER HOSIE to wards the end of his report mentions that he has frequently alluded to the de ire of the Chinese to buy machinery and set up mills of various kinds. "The will to manu- facture is there, but the lack of technical knowledge not unfrequently leads to failure, The day may come when China will possess medical and technical colleges, and it is a pleasure to note that some of the highest officials recognise their necessity."
RANDOM REFLECTIONS. Has it ever occurred to any of my readers to nquire into the meaning of the word dollar P We use it every day, I mean the word—not every one of us is so fortunate as to handle the dollar itself-but few of us when introduced to the local currency ventured to take any thought As to its origin. The subject was brought to my notice in the Peak tramway the other day Among the passengers was a party of Americans which included one dear old lady who seemed to be much perturbed because this was an English colony and its money consisted of dollars and cents. "Why," she said addressing the
company, "the dollar is an American insti- tution," and she looked as if she were aggrieved that anybody else should use a word which she avidently regarded as exclusively American.
We know that
using a term which she thought belonged to the States, it struck me that very few knew anything about the origin of the word. previous to 1785 the English pound was in use in the United States, but on July 6th of that year the Continental Congress established the dollar, although the exact weight was not fixed until almost a year later, when it was made to approximate to the weight of the old Spanish dollar. Many people are under the impression that the dollar originated with the Spanish, but It was first coined at such is not the case. Joachimsthal, a mining town in Bohemia, and hence called "Joachim's thaler," or simply thaler or dollar. I am not quite sure but I suppose we may regard the Mexican dollar as a descendane of the old Spanish dollar, and, that being so, our offence in basing our currency on the Mexican dollar may not be so heinous after all.
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But talking of dollars emphasises the lack of them. It sounds a little Irish, I'll admit Maskee. What I mean is that the fall in ex- change makes our dollars less valuable and with some people more scarce. Yet because those affected are not civil servants there is no outcry Now the such as we heard not so long ago civil servants smile more broadly than before, but the poor beggars who find their salaries have not the same purchasing power that they once had and those who have to remit regularly home do not share in the jubilation. Not being in the Government employ they have simply to lie low and wait for better days. But when is this downward tendency to stop? It has beeu con- tinuous throughout the year and as 1908 draws to a close it seems more pronounced. For instance on Saturday there was a drop of a farthing from the previous day, which is quite a big fall, and
bodes ill for the immediate future.
The Chinese equivalent of the old cry get your hair cut" might be applicable in China at present, but it is certainly not expedient. In these days of mourning for the Imperial dead the Celestials must not have their heads shaven and though dirty crowns look bad and possibly feel worse, they must be tolerated until the period of 100 days has elapsed. One man got into trouble at Canton over visiting a barber who was induced to operate upon him. The latter risked death but he was let off with a whipping. Verily, barbers must have good reasons for mourning at present.
This note is not altogether Chinese, though the ation might suggest that it was. According to "child like and bland" nature of the explan- the Chinese Public Opinion, the Chief of Police at Amoy has asked the Japanese Consul concerning the matter of fishing with bombs in the rivers in Fokien Province. The Consul replied that the parties in question were not fishing but were only in play.
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Down Singapore way the time honoured discussion "Scotsmen or Scotchmen?" has arisen. Que writer, evidently a Sassenach, seeks to justify the use of Scotchmen, because, forsooth, he finds the word in an English dictionary. This is adding insult to injury. And when he describes himself an Anglesman presumably follow the fashion of those who call
[C
so as to
themselves "Scotsman" he only brings ridicule
upon himself. Though I have little sympathy
with the ultra-patriotism of those Soots who look upon the rest of the world as in heathen darkness because it is not under the patronage of Mac Some- body or other, I think a fairly good case can be made out for preferring Scotsmen to Scotchmen.
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Admittedly we have been accustomed to the use of the word Scotchmen, and when we have said that we have admitted perhaps the strongest argument in its favour, I have read several histories of Scotland and sampled a few of the old writers but I can't remember one who described the men of Scotland as Scotchmen. They are alluded to as Scots, or Scottis, from which doubtless comes the adjective Scottish, but not until comparatively recent years do we find the appellation of Scotchmen employed The famous body founded in France in 1418 was not the Scotch Guards; even our own regiment was the Scots Guards, and it seems to me, if on no other ground than that of euphony, Scotsmen" have made out: a good case for Though nobody dared to enlighten the old the use of that term in preference to the other. lady or apologise for British aggressiveness in 'I notice the Hongkong St. Andrew's Society'
: 44
[Dööember 7, 1908. Scotsmen," and who in the calls its members East dare question that authority ?-
am sure, Mr. Editor, you will pardon my Scottish outburst this week, when I remind you that I am preparing myself for the carnival of St. Andrew on Monday night. I am dieting myself on porridge and haggis, experimenting with samshu so as to get a good lining for the whisky receptacle, and practising a few guttural sounds so that I may be able to overcome the misfortune of my life in not having been born iti Sootland. [N.B.-Shows how careful a man should be in the choice of his parents.] [An- other N.B. This is a joke.] I can reel when sober and yell "hooch on the slightest encouragėl ment. I possess Scottish (not Scotch) ancestors who were hanged for theep stealing and my middle name begins with Mac.
Women are making great sensations at home. The suffragettes are continuing their nolay campaign with the clamour of "votes for women, and the prisons occasionally shelter à few of the more aggressive, but it is left to the town of High Wycombe to establish the preced- ent of electing a lady for mayor. There can be no doubt that à few of the aldermen did not view with pleasure the prospect of being ruled by a woman, even though she rejoices in the naine of Dove. Perhaps most of them were married and looked on the council chamber as a safety valve which enabled them to express themselves more freely than they dared in the presence of their spouses! None of them described the situation so well as Alderman Gomm who rushed into verse as follows:-
Our beautiful Dove has fallen in love
With thirty-one men round a table; She wants a seat in the Mayoral chair,
But I doubt whether she is able. The prospect of ruling thirty-one men is tempting for any woman, but-There is much significance in a "but.'
What a plethora of entertainments we are going to have next month! The Amateur Dramatic Society open on Wednesday and hold the boards for six nights, then the Bandmann Comedy Company come to delight us for a time. When we have got over the New Year festivities Amateurs will call for our the Kowloon
patronage when they present "The Silver King" on the 9th and 11th January: Following this we are to have the Herbert Withers Concert With a few Co. with us for a short season. dances sandwiched between these entertain-
ments, the winter in Hongkong should not be
one of discontent.
Permit me to clear up a misunderstanding, Mr. Editor: When the newspapers announced that Mr. Wood, the Police Magistrate, had decided that canteens must be licensed they jumped to a conclusion which was not warranted by the facts. The decision was that no civilian could conduct a canteen for his own profit with-
out a licence. The ordinary military canteens are not affected by the decision, and Tommy: Atkins' little attempt at co-operative dealing will not be handicapped by a tribute to the Government.
RODERICK Random.
ALLEGED ACCEPTANCE OF A BRIBE. -
Y
Before Mr. J. H. Kemp at the Magistracy on Nov. 30 an Indian constable, stationed at the Water Police Station at Tsimshatsoi, was indicted on a charge of accepting a bribe of a bottle of whisky. According to the evidence, a hawker who keeps a stall in Macdonald Road was approached by the defendant to "cumsha him a bottle of whisky a week. In consideration of this present the constable is alleged to have promised not to remove the hawker from his place of business. The complainant told the Indian that he could not afford to give him a bottle of whisky weekly, but would cumsha him once a fortnight. To this the constable agreed, and it was arranged that he should call for his first present on the following day. Meantime the hawker reported the matter to the police, and a detective awaited the arrival of the Indian. As he did not put in an appearance that day, he was waited for on the next, and when he appeared and accepted the whisky he was arrested." The case was remanded to enable the defendant call witnesses.
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