310
per annum
's able to combine with his own duties those of Colonial Treasurer; and that certain officials in other Departments are able to do their own work and undertake the duties of other posts as well. Itgives the public the impression that some of the administrative departments are overstaffed with highly-paid officers. The Colonial Leave Regulations are responsible for this state of things, but we have no doubt that the list of officers receiving "salaries" was as carefully scrutinised as were the wages lists of coolies and office boys and the whole of the disbursements on account. We note, for instance, that the Committee wished to reduce the salary of the Attorney-General from £1,500 to £1,000 and allow this officer the privilege of private practice, but this recom- mendation was not approved for strong reasons of policy. The public, we think, will not quarrel with that decision. In the case Committee of the Local Auditor, the recommended that either the present system of allowing this officer to audit the accounts of the Naval Yard and of Weihaiwei be abolished, or, if continued, that the fees in respect of such work should be credited to the Colonial Government. The salary attaching to the post of Local Auditor is £650, rising by annual incre- ments of £20 to £800, and the officer receives in addition a fee of £100 for auditing the accounts of the Naval Yard and £50 for auditing those of Weihaiwei. It is not clear in the published summary how the Committee are to reduce expendi- ture if this outside work is abolished. Perhaps it is hoped rather that the fees may go in reduction of the salary payable by the Colonial Government. The recommendation has been forwarded to the Secretary of State, but the decision, so far, at least, as it affects the present holder of the appointment, must, of course, be governed by the terms of his contract of service, which
to
presumably allows, if it does not actually require, him
undertake this work. Another recommendation made by the Committee was a reduction of one Medical Officer in the Medical Staff, but this was not approved, as if such a reduction were made it would not be possible to give effect to the Colonial Leave Regulations, without calling in private practitioners, for whose services no regular vote is provided. It would, we presume, be easy enough to provide a regular vote if that was the only obstacle to the carrying out of the recommendation; but another reason for not adopting it is that it is being strongly urged by both the Principal Civil Medical Officer and his locum tenens that an increase in the staff is required for the proper supervision of the New Territories and the railway. A * rather surprising recommendation was that fees should be charged in the hospitals. for operations and for midwifery cases, and what is still more surprising, albeit agreeably so, is that the medical officers unanimously opposed this proposal on the ground that the Hospital charges and no already high enough, such charges are made in cther Colonies. Had the medical officers not succeeded in getting this recommendation vetoed, it would certainly have evoked strong public protest, for the existing charges are already fully as much or more than the majority of those who go into the public hospitals can afford. Of the one hundred and sixty odd recommendations made by the Com- wittee only about twenty failed to secure the GOVERNOR'S approval. It would evi- dently not be a bad thing to appoint a Retrenchment Committee every four or five years.
are
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
RANDOM REFLECTIONS.
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[October 11, 1909.
indicate the time and incidentally to keep them- selves awake. We can recall how watchmen at Home used to call out the hour and the state of the weather. It gave a feeling of confidence to the community to know that their guardians were doing their duty, and though I have no wish to add to the street noises, I think some plan might be devised for making watchmen of some use.
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The moon hath raised her lamp on high. Consequently after-dinner picnics have been the order of the evening during the past week,
The event of the week was, of course, the arrival of Lord Kitchener, who seemed to have a pretty good time. Nobody would have
Apropos of the foregoing, I note that a thought that the gallant Field Marshal possess contributor to the Foochow Echo is compiling a ed a hobby outside of his military duties, but Dictionary of Names in Common Use in China Hongkong has discovered that he is a collector of This is the first instalment: -- Chinese porcelain and a connoisseur to boot, as his experiences in the curio shops proved. is difficult to imagine the hero of Omdurman in such a rôle.
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Lord Kitchener, when he paid his surprise visit to the Rajputs quarters, commented on the uniform whiteness of the bedsheets possessed by the soldiers. Isn't a white bedsheet some- thing of a luxury? I doubt if the Tommies on the Hongkong side are provided with white
bedsheets.
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There are many uses for the "boy, but a new one is suggested on a notice in the Hong- Therein members are kong Cricket Club. requested to initial the book with the boy. Wouldn't a pen or a pencil suit the purpose better? If the boy is to be used in that manner must he be sharp ?
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"Which of you by taking thought can add is a Biblical query one cubit to his stature? which has oft been quoted, and considerable importance attached to it, as it is one of the reported utterances of the Founder of Chris- tianity. Apparently the Japanese are not greatly impressed by it, as they are, if newspaper accounts be true, taking thought to add to their stature. Those who can afford it have enlarged their scale of diet to include meat, and it is hoped that this dietary will improve the physique of the people, the relative smallness of the Japanese being ascribed to the fact that they are essentially a rice and fish eating race. subject is attracting some attention at home. just now owing to the visit of some Japanese who are buying cattle to be imported into Japan in order to improve the breeds there and in anticipation of the greater demand for beef. The vegetarians in Britain are disgusted that the Japanese should depart from their almost vegetarian dietary, but we who know the men in the Land of the Rising Sun are aware of the fact that they realise, as much as anybody else, what is good for them and what isn't.
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The
Various explanations have been offered for the unexpectedly high tenders for the Opium Farm, but it seems to me the reason is not far to seck. Trade in the Colony is improving. In upward practically every department the tendency is experienced, and it is not unnatural to suppose that those who have contracted the opium habit will have more money to spend than they have liad during the last year or two.
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Some inquisitive folks want to know now that the loss on opium is not so great as was expected-if the liquor duties will be decreased ? "I hae ma doots."
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I am not the only one who has marvelled at the farce of employing Indian watchmen to sleep on premises. The business men of this Colony surely don't engage those usurious sons of Ind from philanthropic motives, or because they believe that they are useful. Some of them, I admit might have been ornamental at one time when their turbans were clean, but most of them have got beyond that stage. It may be that our taipans are so conservative that they cannot break away from "olo custom,' but whatever the explanation, there seems little reason for perpetuating the farce as we know it.
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Only the other day two Indian watchmon were fined by the Magistrate for having been found asleep at their posts. The offence, I suppose, was in being found asleep. They have probably slumbered nightly for quite a long time, as most of them do, but somebody official was inconsiderate enough to come along before, they wakened. If watchmen are to be retained, why shouldn't they do as before? In former years they had to beat a gong every hour to
"Boy." The senior male domestic, or butler in the family, generally elderly and toothless. Never works, and is most hospit- able and entertaining during master's absence. His great affection for his em ployer makes him an unhappy man should he be deprived of a daily squeeze.
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Learn Boy. The smart domestic and willing horse," usually of more use and reliability than any other servant. House-coolie. The oil drinker and bottle eater. A man paid to sweep dust under the sofas and cupboards, and breed spiders. Cook. The head ornament of the kitoben, only wakes when provisions arrive, from which he takes several pieces as samples. Cook No. II. The dirty apprentice who does
the cooking.
Gardener. Another kitchen ornament rarely
seen out of doors.
Watchman. A man employed from 6 p.m. to
6 a.m. to sleep in the kitchen. Washerman. The domestic employed to do
other people's washing.
Chair coolie. An animal fond of chow, smoking and cards. Of little use, and has a cordial dislike for work. Amah. Flightly if young, and the discord
of the domestic-quarters if elderly. Policeman. A servant of the general com- munity paid to salute gentlemen, fly kites, and present petitions on seasonable and unseasonable opportunity. RODERICK RANDOM.
HONGKONG.
overy
For being in possession of eleven taels of opium a Chinese was on Oct. 6th fined $50.
The Hon. Mr. F. H. May, Mrs. May and family" returned to the Colony on the 7th inst.
Mr. J. W. Jamieson, the new British Con- sul-General for Canton, arrived in Hongkong on the 1st inst. by the Delta.
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Mr. R. M. Dyer, the new manager of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, returned to the Colony on the 1st inst.
Mr. A. J. Mackie, interpreter at the Magis- tracy, has been transferred to the Supreme Court, where he commences duty to-day.
The only case of communicable disease reported in the Colony last week was one im- ported Japanese case of enteric fever,
case was fatal.
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The
The banns are published of the wedding arranged between Mr. J. H. W. Armstrong and Miss Dora Humphreys, daughter of Mr. W. G. Humphreys, of Hongkong.
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The proprietor of the Owl Grill Room was fined $200 at the Magistracy for keeping a public bar while he only held an adjunct
licence.
Six months' hard labour was the punishment meted out at the Magistracy on Oct. 6 to a man found guilty of decoying two men into the Colony for the purposes of immigration.
It has become a common trick to steal the As the rubber tyres from first-class ricshas. value is somewhere about $20 each the game is fairly profitable when successful.-.
The police have been informed by Mr. F. Arnold, agent for the Pathe Freres in Hong- kong, that he lost his pocket book containing $210 in money and a cheque for $30. He left it in the lavatory at Weissmann's.
Thirty-two chair bearers were charged before Ir. F. A. Hazeland at the Magistracy on Oct. 1st with causing obstruction by rushing fares in various thoroughfares in the city. The defendants were convicted, and a fine of $3 was imposed on the bearers of each chair.
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