May 24, 1909.]
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nuisance. It is quite possible they have, for notices of this kind are very likely to have a restraining influence. An interesting story in confirmation is told of the early days of the tram cars before they bore the familiar notice about spitting. A European lady (no longer in the Colony) had a habit of showing her democratic sympathies by travelling third-class on the
Опе cars.
day Wanchai coal-heaver, begrimed with coal dust, jumped upon the car and took a seat beside the lady. Once comfortably seated, he expressed his contentment in the usual manner by expec- torating about the place. The conductor coming along at the time to collect the coal-heavier's fare, the lady in tones of indig ation, which the conductor evidently mistook for agreeable surprise exclaimed: Are passen gers allowed to spit where they like on this car?" The tram conductor, who had evidentl, undergone some training in politeness at the depot, answered with insinuating grace and a bland smile : "S'pose Missisy wantchee spit, can do any place, maskee"! I have no doubt the notices which were subsequently posted in the tram cars have served to prevent many little misunderstandings of this description.
Different men: different methods. In other
times schoolmasters were wont to use the cane or the "tawse" to keep their classes in subjection or as a deterrent against misdeeds, but I read in & home paper that a Scottish dominie has hit on a novel method of punishment. It is nothing else than compelling the unruly boys to take doses of castor oil. The parents apparently do not view the experiment with favour and they have complained to the School Board. It would be a pity if such originality were suppressed.
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We have been hearing a lot during the past twelve months from the Legislative Council about the financial straits into which the Colony is drifting, and we have had a Retrenchment Committee at work trying to save a dollar here and there in the various spending departments. Yet when the alarming statement is made to the Council that the railway which is being con- structed for us by the Crown gents will cost more than twice the amount of the original estimate not a word of indignation or protest has come from the lips of the Unofficial Members of the Council! True, only the two Chinese re- presentatives happened to be present last Thursday when the Governor brought the revised estimates before the Council, but the revelation was enough to give speech to the dumb. Perhaps the Unofficial Members will have a word to say on this subject at the next meeting, and get the Government to enlighten the community as to how this excess over the estimate is to be provided. Not even our optimistic Colonial Secretary who thinks the Colony is not so badly off that it could not afford $11,000 for compensa- tion to opium divan licences would regard the increase as a mere bagatelle not worth while worrying over.
Dear me! Our Legislative Council is being asked to pass a bill to demonetize postage stamps bearing the head of her late Majesty Queen Victoria. But why? The stamps have presuma- bly been paid for, and why should Government for some whim or caprice refuse to accept them at any time? As well demonetize the dollar or coins bearing the same effigy. I remember at home seeing George III coins still in use, and nobody ever suggested that they should be repudiated. When my notice was drawn to the subject, I looked at the copy of the bill under the heading "objects and reasons," only to find that there weren't any reasons! How funny our law makers can be when they like. No rea- sons are given for introducing the bill, and yet the heading "objects and reasons" stands out on the printed copy of the bill in black type. It looks as if somebody's thinking apparatus was out of gear.
Man plays many parts in his time, but who thought of seoing the Governor as a plaintiff in an action in the Supreme Court? Then these barristers with no sense of the fitness of things want to know who he is and all about him. Sounds cuus ; eh !
RODERICK Random,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
HONGKONG.
The Hon. Mr. E. Osborne' returned to the Colony on May 14 by the Empress of India after a year's absence.
Macao will take place in Hongkong and for this The deliberations anent the delimitation of
purpose Glenealy Building has been taken.
The appointment of Mr. W. D. Tratman to act as Assistant District Officer. Police Magis. trate, and Assistant Land Officer for the Northern District of the New Territories, is notified in the Government Gazette.
to appoint Mr. A. E. Wood to act as Assistant His Excellency the Governor has been pleased Registrar General and Deputy Registrar of Marriages during the absence on leave of Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe, or until further notice, with effect from 11th inst.
At a meeting of Pitman's Shorthand Speed Committee held on May 20, Mr. A. Ramsay, Hongkong Daily Press, was elected secretary in succession to Mr. S. Kingsbury, and arrange- ments were made to hold a speed examination at an early date.
Heavy penalties were on May 19 imposed at the Magistracy on a Chinese who was convicted of having taken liquor on board the steamer Loksun without permission and also selling liquor without a license. On the first charge he was fined $25 and on the second $100.
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The Right Rev. Bishop D. Pozzoni left Hong- mission tour. He will return in time for the con- kong on the 18th inst. for Swatow on firmation and Frocession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is to take place in the 31st instant in the compound of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
On Monday a Parsee Funeral took place after an interval of eighteen months. The deceased, Mr. Burjorjee Nowrojee Fattakia, was the proprietor of the firm of B. Nowrojee of Sha meen, Canton. He was 54 years old, and after lingering with an illness for the last few months, died at the Peak Hospital on Sunday night.
We regret to announce the death of Mr. L. J. Xavier, proprietor of the Hongkong Printing Press in Wyndham Street. Mr. Xavier died at his residence at Kowloon early on Thursday morning. The funeral took place in the evening and the esteem in which he was held in the Portuguese Community was evidenced by the large attendance.
A fine of $200 was on May 19 inflicted upon a native by Mr. Hazeland for having been found with a quantity of opium in his possession Defendant told the Magistrate that an excise officer had put the opium in his house, but the police officer said this was not true, the fact being that defendant carried on a business in selling opium.
Another case of infringing the rights of the Postmaster General came before Mr. Kemp at the Magistracy on May 19 when a Chinese was convicted and fined $100. It appeared that on Tuesday a steamer brought down some unstamp. ed letters from Kongmun and were handed by the ship's runner to a coolie who was caught delivering them by Inspector Gourlay.
A Japanese committed suicide in a most determined manner at Yanmati on May 18th night. His body was found floating in the harbour off the Kowloon coal stores, with the
throat cut. As his clothes were found on the shore at Yaumati, and as blood was visible near the place, the inference is that stripping off his clothes he cut his throat and either jumped or fell into the water.
Perhaps few people realise what a great temptation to thieves lies in the innocent-look- ing down pipe with which most houses are provided. House owners little thought of the facilities they were providing for the nimble midnight thief when they introduced this con- venience. The pipe gives the intruder op- portunities for entering a house, and it is safe to say that a very large proportion of the robberies committed in the colony are attributable to this source. Another instance occurred in Elgin Street on Wednesday night, where although the place is well lit a thief found the opportunity to climb a downpipe unnoticed, break the panel of a verandah door, and obtain access to the house from which he stole a number of articles of value.
Mr. P. N. H. Jones has been appointed to act as Director of Public Works during the absence on leave of the Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, C.M.G., or until further notice. Mr. Jones has also been appointed a member of the Execu- tive and Legislative Councils.
It is stated in the Gazette that H. E. the. Governor has been pleased to appoint Mr. P. P. J. Wodehouse to act as Deputy superin- tendent of Police and of Fire Brigade until further notice, with effect from 12th inst.
An unusual case was heard at the Magistracy on May 17 when a Chinese was charged with whom the case was brought, was inclined to hawking dog flesh. Mr. J. H. Kemp, before believe that the defendant was not acting illeg- ally and adjourned the matter for consideration.
Between Saturday night and Sunday morn the Chinese Y.M.C.A., which was locked with ing some person entered the committee room of the key left in the lock, and opened the safe by means of a duplicate key and stole therefrom $237. The thief also took away with him a pongee silk long coat.
The many friends of the Rev. T. W. Pearce of the London Mission Society will regret to learn of the death of his wife at the Victoria Hospital yesterday afternoon. The late Mrs. Pearce had a large circle of friends in the Colony, and their sympathy will be extended to the bereaved husband and sorrowing family. The interment takes place in the Colonial Cemetery to-day at 5 p.m.
The Hon. Mr. Chatham, C.M.G., Director of Public works, left the Colony on Saturday for Home by the Empress of India, on nine months leave of absence, Mrs. and Miss ( hatham, who have, been spending three weeks in Japan, join the steamer at Yokohama. Other well-known. passengers by the same steamer were Mr. C. H. Ross and Mr. H. Hancock. The latter will be away five months.
An interesting story comes from Lantao Island. According to the report presented to the police it appears that late on the night of the 15th inst. four men armed with choppers and fighting irons and carrying lighted torches entered a temple near the village of Kungshang, in which some five women were living. They told the inmates not to be frightened, while they helped themselves to the valuables and they took away jewellery to the value of $107 and $130. All the booty taken away belonged to one other articles amounting in all to the value of
woman, a concubine, who had left her husband some ten days earlier.
Another sidelight was thrown on Chinese life at the Magistracy on May 18 when a ricsha coolio was summoned for assaulting another. It appears that it is a recognised custom that Hoklos and Cantonese should keep themselves apart, that is to say that they should have sep- arate stands. In this instance it appears that a Hoklo appeared on the stand of the Cantonese in the neighbourhood of the Hongkong Hotel, and of course the latter resented the intrusion with the result that a free fight ensued. It could not be proved that the defendant was the man who assaulted the complainant and the summons
was dismissed by Mr. Hazeland, who warned the parties to have more regard for the suscep-
tibilities of each other.
Referring to the appointment of Mr. William A. Rublee as Consul General at Hongkong in succession to Dr. Wilder, a Manila contempor. ary says:-Consul-General Rublee will not be a stranger in Hongkong. He was United States Consul-General at that port in 1902. He was later transferred to Havana and, in 1903, tó Vienna, from which place he comes to Hongkong again. William A. Rublee was born in Madison,
under the wholesome influence of the Wisconsin State University, that has wielded and still wields such a power in American politics and sociology. For some unaccountable reason he did what many another western boy foolishly does, went to Harvard University for his acade mio education. Like some other shining lights in the Unites States consular corps, Mr. Rublee was a journalist by profession before he became a diplomat. He made his beginning in the con- sular (service at Prague, in 1890. Rublee was editorial writer on the Milwaukes Sentinel.
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