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May 1, 1909.1
If we follow the example of the Californian Assembly all this will be changed. A Sacramento message states that the As sembly has passed EL bill prohibiting any person from treating another to beer, whiskey, wine or intoxicating liquor of any kind what ever. The measure was introduced in the As- sembly as a joke. No one suspected for a moment that it would receive serious consider- ation, let alone the endorsement of a majority of the members. As a matter of fact, it is not
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now known whether the members of the Lower House were in earnest in voting for the bill, inasmuch as it is intimated that the motion to reconsider, is part of a prearranged plan to defeat the bill. There is a small sentiment in the ssembly in favour of sending the bill to the Senate, "just for fun.'
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What an upheaval in all our social customs were such a measure to become law here! The
Jimmy Woods, the solitary drinker, the single breaster, call him whatever you will, would welcome the legislation which saves him from a custom which demands he should occasionally pay for another man's refreshment, but the ordinary man, the man who likes company over his glass, will find himself in great peril. As the old Scotsman said to his wife, it was not so much the drink that he enjoyed as the "here's tae ye."
I am pleased to be able to tell my lady readers in strict confidence that the price of beauty has at last been definitely defined. Of course I know that no woman with due sense of her ineffable charms, would think of taking the remark to herself. Such an impossible thought never entered my mind for a moment. It is designed especially for those who have that peculiar faculty of saying "Oh dear Mrs. B. how thin you're looking, and how awfully pale you are. There is always a lady in the circle who is passé and I'm sure she'll be glad to hear that an Dakland milliner with a few slight blemishes to her natural charms has just sued a beauty culturist for 815.000 gold for destroy ing her only vestiges of beauty, thus rendering her case still more hopeless. Of course, there's no need of a beauty doctor in Hongkong, my chivalrous friends inform me. I wonder?
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A Denver woman, who is the daughter of a California millionaire, is suing for divorce on the ground of cruelty, the principal act of cruelty being her husband's refusal to allow male guests to kiss the bride, at their wedding, in 1892 Heavens, the brute! Wonder he allowed her to be present at the wedding!
RODERICK RANDOM.
HONGKONG.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The present pupils of Queen's College have subscribed $250 towards the proposed memorial to Dr. Wright, their former Head Master.
Mr. H. C. Nicolle, of Colombo, Ceylon, Trea- surer of that Colony, (formerly of Hongkong), who died on December 7th, left estate valued at £2,751 148. 4d.
The appointment of Mr. W. Wilson as acting Chief Manager of the Hongkong and Whampoa Docks, in succession to Mr. Robert Mitchell is notified by advertisement.
Since the 1st of January 35 cases of plague have been notified. Most of the cases have occurred in Kowloon City. It appears that there is a serious outbreak of plague at the Chinese city of Samchun on the frontier of the New Territory.
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That there were only three bankruptcies before the upreme Court on Thursday indicates that business in the colony is improving.
Hazeland ordered a native who was found in t the Magistracy on Thursday Mr. F. A. possession of a quantity of opium to pay affine of $330, the alternative being three months jail.
under the charge of a Chinese constable, a While in the waiting room at the Magistracy, native who had been sentenced on Tuesday to two months' hard labour and six hours' stocks, made good his escape, but was captured a few hours later by an excise officer. The prisoner when arresteil had a clock in his possession, which was supposed to have been stolen When charged before Mr. F. A. Hazeland yesterday a similar sentence was imposed to that passed previously.
The crowded house at the Theatre on Monday when the Ward Comedy Co. gave their farewell performance was the best possible testimony of the high opinion the Hongkong public has formed of the Company during their fortnight's stay in the Colony! The programme on Monday embraced vaudeville and dramatic items, with a number of capital songs interspersed, and alto gether afforded an excellent entertainment, and a fitting termination of a most successful season.
native who has disobeyed four ordens of banishment was charged before Mr. JH turning from exile, and with attempting to Kemp at the Magistracy on Monday with re- break from a cell in which he was placed at the Central Police Station. He was found guilty on both counts, sentenced to ten months' impri- sonment and four hours stocks on the first, and fined $25, in default six weeks' imprison. ment, on the second.
Several well known China hands are leaving for home on a well-earned holiday by the Kanagawa Maru to-day. Among the number may be mentioned Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Lam- mert, of Ningpo, and Captain L. F. Hussey the genial skipper of Messrs. Jardins Matheson & Co's S.S. Wosang. Captain Hussey has been for quite a number of years on the China Coast, and goes home with the best wishes of a wide circle of friends for a happy and pleasant sojourn in the old country.
On Thursday the funeral took place at the out to Hongkong about five months ago to take Happy Valley of Mr. B. . Coombes, who came up duty in Watson's Aerated Water Factory, morning from typhoid fever contracted at and who died at the hospital yesterday
Canton.
Deceased, who was 25 years of age, was sent up to Canton about a month ago to assist in the aerated water factory there He was attacked by typhoid fever and brought down to Hongkong about nine days ago. The attack was particularly severe and he died as stated on Thursday morning.
A ticket seller employed by the Star Ferry Co. was charged before Mr. F. A. Hazeland at the Magistracy on Monday with stealing an Indian's purse, which contained a number of Hongkong notes and some sovereigns. The story told by the complainant was that in a rush to catch a ferry he left his purse in front loss after the ferry had pushed off, and then of defendant's window. He only realised his observed the defendant pick up his purse. He returned to the Hongkong shore by the next boat and claimed his valuables, but the defendant denied all knowledge of the purse. After hearing the evidence his Worship discharged the defendant.
The guests of the R.G.A. Sergeants Mess His Excellency the Governor has been pleased Games Club spent a very enjoyable evening in to appoint Mr. H. L. Dennys to act as Crown the Artillery Theatre, Victoria Barracks, last Solicitor during the absence on leave of Mr. F. night, when a quadrille party was held. Danc- L. Bowley or until further notice, with effecting started shortly after 8 p.m., and continued
from this date.
Mr. Robert Mitchell, late manager of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, left the colony on Apl. 28th on board the s.s. Eastern for ustralia. He received an enthusiastic send- off from his personal friends.
The Police have received information from the New Territory that on Monday night the magazine of the Kowloon-Canton Railway at Taipo was broken into, and between $500 and $600 worth of dynamite stolen,
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Of the many cunning devices adopted by Chinese to smuggle opium into the Colony, the most ingenious method we have heard of attemp- Mr. J. H. Kemp at the Magistracy on Tuesday. ting to defraud the Opium Farmer was told to On Monday, a native walked off one of the river steamers with a basket of preserved eggs cover- ed with soot. n excise officer detained him, eggs, and found that it contained opium. Others and in examining the basket broke one of the were broken, and more of the drug discovered. and on appearing before the Court yesterday for The owner of the basket was forthwith arrested, contravening the Opium Ordinance he was being one month's imprisonment. ordered to pay a fine of $20, the alternative
merrily until the early morning hours, the affected by the oppressiveness of the atmos- votaries of St. Torpsichore apparently being not phere. Company Sergeant-Major Owen and Sergeant Walton acted as M's.C., add in conjunction with their brother sergeants, were responsible. for an excellent evening's enter. tainment. The attendance included Colonel Chamier, C.M.G., Commanding the Royal Artillery in South China, Captain Dwyer, adjutant, and Captain Garnett, President of the Club and officer commanding the 28th Company.
A native, described by Chinese as "a profes- sional phoenix stealer," appeared before Mr. F. A. Hazeland at the Magistracy on Wednesday.ob a charge of stealing a fowl. The mode adopted by the bird fancier is simple, but effective. He of rice and a cockroach. The rice is first goes forth in quest of poultry with a small bag sprinkled on the ground near the feet of the thief, and generally the bird is unwary enough to rush to pick it up, and to be picked up by
the man.
the cockroach is let loose, and placed so that In the case of a timid fowl, however, it will run towards the phoenix stealer. The bird follows, and is secured by the ready poacher. The first method was put into effect by the defendant at Samshuipo on Tuesday, and he was successful in snaring a fowl. It was a boisterous bird, however, and its noisy clucking attracted the attention of the owner, who gave the defendant in charge. Mr. Hazeland sentenced him to two months' im- prisonment with hard labour and six hours' exposure in the stocks.
FROZEN PIGS FOR LONDON,
A Hankow correspondent of a Tientsin con temporary writes:Sir Thomas Sutherland's references at the P. and O. meeting to the possibility of a big trade in frozen Chinese pork there is at this moment in Hankow 8,000 tons. caused much amusement in many quarters, but
of frozen pig waiting shipment. Blue Funnel steamers will take the cargo fo Liverpool. A company has been started, and is now handling huge trade is about to begin. A refrigerating not only pig, tạt pheasants, duck, teal, geese to etc. Hankow is eagerly looking forward the future when this company gets working on full steam. There is every indica tion of the assured prosperity, and future great- ness of this happily-situated town. [8,000 tons of frozen pig mean, we suppose, something like 160,000 carcases. Hankow must be better sup plied with cold storage accommodation than is generally supposed-ED H.W.P.]
AN EXTRADITION CASE.
STORY OF A PIRACY.
Before Mr. F. A. Hazeland at the Magistracy on Apl. 28th Mr. H. L. Dennys, acting Crown Solicitor, applied on behalf of the Chinese Go- verument for the extradition to China of Sun Kwan Cheung on charges of armed robbery and
murder.
Mr. Dennys informed the Court that on August 23rd two men, who would be called as witnesses, were on a ferry boat going from Kongmoon to Sunning, the two owners of the boat also being од board. At about four o'clock in the afternoon, when in a very narrow part of the river, and as the boat was gliding near the shore, some six men, clump of palm trees and held up the ferry. Four all armed with revolvers, rushed out from a of the robbers jumped aboard, one of the owners at the same time. jumping ashore and at- tempting to escape. He was pursued by the. other two robbers and shot dead. The passengers were relieved of all their jewellery? and valuables to the amount of $300 were res moved from the beat.
After hearing evidence his Worship adjourned the case.
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