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St. Andrew's practice dance on Monday evening, and even those found themselves at a loss to make the music fit in with their ideas on the subject of reels. Isn't it possible to procure & piper?
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Although one might not suspect it, sage philosophy is occasionally dispensed at the Sani- tary Board.
We are all equal in the cemetery," said the Hon. Mr. Hewett in objecting to certain distinctions with regard to the burial of resi- dents, but while that equality is admitted it is sometimes forgotten in the monuments which
are erected.
It sounded peculiar to read the report of the last meeting of the Sanitary Board, where state- ments were made that graves would not be allotted to people still alive. The expression is certainly odd, but a little reflection makes it clear.
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On the King's Birthday we usually read something like this: "On this day throughout the vast Empire of Britain all hearts and all peoples will be united in their expressions of loyalty to the King Emperor." Unfortunately this week Hongkong was out of step, as it were, and on Tuesday not even a salute was fired nor a flag raised to show that it was the anniversary of the birthday of His Majesty King Edward. It is only proper that we should consider Chinese feelings, but at the same time we have a duty to ourselves. and it seems to me that a little forethought would have avoided the awkward time occasioned here by the postponement of the holiday at short notice.
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Naturally the King's Birthday leads one's thoughts in the direction of the only honour which has come to Hongkong. No one will begrudge the Colonial Secretary his new hon- our and his good lady her new title. Sir Francis has put in useful work in Hongkong, and he thoroughly deserves the reward which has come to him.
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Hongkong now boasts five knights-Sir Frederick Lugard, Sir Francis May, Sir Francis Piggott, Sir Henry Berkeley and Sir Paul Chater. Only one Lady is at present in the Colony-Lady May,
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After the many criticisms levelled at on Fire Brigade and its equipment, it is decidedly interesting to learn of the fine display made the other afternoon by the members in the presence of H.E. the Governor. It is a pity, however, that the occasion was not made public, as it would be assuring to the community to be enabled to judge for themselves the efficiency of the Brigade, and, after all, it is only fair to the members that they should have the opportunity of showing before a large audience the skill which they have attained in that particular department of their work. Their services are not always appreciated at their proper value, and some en- couragement should be given to the men, who are always in readiness to obey the alarm call of fireand who frequently risk their lives in the operations which they feel called upon to undertake. I told that the D. P. representative who got the "scoop" only learned of the event accident ally, otherwise we would not have learned of the creditable exhibition which took place in the Central Police Station compound on Wednesday; At Home it is a common practice for municipal fire brigades to give public exhibitions annually, and it seems, to say the least, rather peculiar that Hongkong should hesitate to make such an event public.
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The Director of Public Works would appear to have misunderstood a question put by the Hon. Mr. Murray Stewart at last week's meeting of the Legislative Council. Mr. Stewart asked: "Are we to anderstand that the public may be asked to put up with the nuisance created by the condition of the plot of ground between the New Law Courts and the Praya for the year or more during which the Post Office will be in course of construction ? D.P.W.replied that this question was disposed of by his answer to a previous question, but I have not heard of anyone who has been able to follow that line of reasoning. It appeared that owing to some matsheds in Mataukok Quarry having been blown down,
The
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
| thirty men had been housed in the matsheds opposite the New Law Courts, and the D. P. W. said these men would return to Mataukok in a few days. That is all well and good so far as it goes; but what Mr. Murray Stewart wanted to know, and what many other people would much like to know, Mr. D. P. W., is whether we have to put up for another year or two-or until the Post Office building is completed-with these unsightly matsheds in the very heart of the city? If the people who have been occupying this extensive range of sheds have been cleared out, why not clear away the sheds too?
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A correspondent, who seems to be a humorist sends me the following:.
!
A very amusing, and what might have been a very tragic, incident occurred at the Botanical Gardens. On Thursday morning a young lady, interested in the manoeuvrings of a young monkey, approached too near. In the twinkling of an eye he had seized her bonnet, and was in the act of tearing it from her head when a gallant young gentleman came to the rescue. With the lady's parasol he beat off the offending animal, and immedi- ately the young lady looked upon him as a great hero. But, alas! for the umbrella. It was a complete wreck! It would seem that monkey's head is more solidly built than a lady's parasol. The gentleman very kindly offered to have the broken parasol fixed, and thereby further ingratiated himself, into the young lady's graces. We sincerely trust that the young lady will suffer no serious inconveni- ence from the little episode, and that the event will serve to teach her the lesson to be loss interested in monkeys and more interested in men, or rather, say, a man."
RODERICK RANDOM.
HONGKONG.
[November 22, 1909.
The return of communicable diseases in the Colony for the past week shows one Chinese case of diphtheria and three cases of enteric fever-1 Portuguese, 1 British and 1 Parsee.
The action in the Supreme Court in which the Hung Cheong firm of compradores sued Mr. John Robertson for $74.36′′ was concluded on Nov. 12, when Mr. Justice Gompertz gave judgment for defendant with costs.
The N.D.L. steamer Wong Koi during her last trip from Hongkong to Swatow, on the 10th and 11th November, while a severe gale was blowing, picked up 15 shipwrecked fisher- inen, about 20 miles off Breaker Point. The shipwrecked fishermen were landed at Swatow.
At the Magistracy on Saturday a Chinese boy, a student, was fined $50 for assaulting a European girl in the Botanic Gardens. Com- plaints regarding the conduct of certain Chinese having been made, and a watch was kept with the result thatthe defendant was arrested when the girl called out for the police.
The practice of stealing the rubber tyres from ricshas has become very prevalent, and the police have been setting a watch to endeavour to trace the thieves. On Tuesday one man was surprised stripping a ricsha of its tyres. The value of a new tyre is $17, so that to secure a pair means a good haul.
More than ordinary excitement was occasion- ed at a gambling raid which took place at Quarry Bay on Monday. Eleven men were arrested, but four jumped into the sea, drag- ging a lakong with them, and managed to escape. The others made their appearance before the Magistrate yesterday, when the leaders were fined $50 and the remainder $3 each.
Chief Excise Officer Hoggarth made a large seizure of opium on board the s.s. Germania last week. He arrested three men who had in their possession 1860 taels of prepared opium. The case was heard before Dr. W. M. V. Koch has left for England on Mr Wood at the Magistracy yesterday, and twelve months' leave of absence.
Dr. J. M. Atkinsou returned to Hongkong on Nov. 18th by the Kamo Maru after short leave in Eugland.
A brass bell, weighing 100 catties, and valued at $100, was stolen from 7, Bonham Road on Tuesday night.
H.E. the Governor inspected the drill of the firemen connected with the fire float at Black
head's Point on the 17th inst.
The Club Germania, Hongkong, is celebrat- ing its fiftieth anniversary on Saturday, the 27th inst., by an At Home" at 11 a m.
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The staff of revenue officers has been augment- ed by the appointment of Mr. E. Dawson, who has been transferred from the Sanitary Department.
Two chair coolies who were proceeded against by Miss E. C. Soares for using abusive language were fined $5 each by Mr. J. R. Wood at the Magistracy on Nov. 12th.
The resignation of Captain W. Armstrong, of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps, of his appoint- ment of honorary A.D.C. to His Excellency the Governor has been accepted.
Two keepers of a gambling house were at the Magistracy on Nov. 18 fined $100 each, and other thirteen men who were arrested by the police when raiding the premises were each fined $4.
of Dr. C. M. Heanley, formerly
We note the return to the Colony yesterday assistant Bacteriologist in the Government service. understand it is Dr. Heanley's intention to commence private practice in the Colony.
We
At the Magistracy on Nov. 18th an Indian prison guard was prosecuted by Mr. Craig Assistant Superintendent of Victoria Goal, for having supplied an Indian prisoner with articles of food. He said he did not know the rules. Mr. Wood sentenced him to three weeks' imprisonment.
H.M.S. Kent and the troopship Rewa, whose departure was delayed for a day and a half by the typhoon signalled. South of the Colony, left on the 18th inst. They both appear to have encountered a typhoon. Wireless messages were received from the Kent, reporting that she No was rolling heavily and had lost a boat. news of the Rewa was transmitted.
the three men pleading guilty were each fined $50 with the alternative of three months' imprisonment.
Mr. Justice Gompertz has been appointed chairman of the Board appointed to determine. the amount of compensation to be paid to the owners of Kowloon Inland Lots Nos. 442 and 618, which have been resumed by the Governor- in-Council. The Acting Director of Public Works, Mr. P. N. H. Jones, is appointed a member, and the owners of the property have been asked to nominate a member within seven days.
Own
An interesting phase of Chinese industrial life came to light on Nov. 18 when the honorary secretary of a Chinese bakers' club was charged with fraudulently converting to his
the club. His use $169 belonging to defence was that he lént $50 to two mem- bers, which they denied, but as the rules prohibited lending the society's money without the consent of the members the prose- cution was instituted. The case was remanded.
His Excellency the Governor has given his assent, in the name and on behalf of His Majesty the King, Ordinance No. 38 of 1909;
An Ordinance to set apart certain Crown Land to be used as a burial ground for persons pro- fessing the Christian Religion"; and to Ordinance No. 39 of 1909.- An Ordinance to authorize the Construction and Maintenance of a Harbour of Refuge upou and over certain portions of the Sea Bed and Foreshore situated upon the Harbour frontage at Taikoktsui, Mongkoktsui and Yaumati, Kowloon, in this Colony."
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H.E. the Governor, accompanied by Captain Mitchell Taylor, A.D.C., and Captain Simson, private secretary, Sir F. H. May, and the Hon. Mr. A. W, Brewin, paid a visit on Nov. 17 to the Imports and Exports Department at the Har- bour Office. His Excelleney was conducted round the department by Lieut. Beckwith, R.N., Superintendent of Imports and Exports, and after inspecting the excise office and staff, he Victoria" to the proceeded by the launch King's Warehouse at Holt's godowns. After- wards H.E. went to Kowloon City, where he inspected the Pan Chan distillery and was much interested in the process of manufacturing samshui.
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