522
That
placed under his sovereignty on the basis of personal union with Belgium. regime, however, did not prove satisfactory, and after protests had been made by the Powers interested a new arrangement was recently made. Only a week ago the Foreign Minister of Germany declared that the Belgian Government's scheme of reforms for the Congo, if loyally carried out, would contribute to the welfare of the natives, and achieve free trade for all nations in the Congo. His successor is his nephew, Prince ALBERT OF BELGIUM, who was born in 1875, and who has two sons and a daughter. Daughters are excluded by the Belgian Constitution from the succession.
RANDOM REFLECTIONS.
What weather for colds! The varying tem- peratures make it difficult to know what to wear and the result is that few are immune
from rheum somewhere.
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The past week has been remarkable for show. ing the great number of people in our midst who are at loggerheads with each ether. The members of the Sanitary Board are still divided over the cemeter. question, the Legislative Council is not unanimous with regard to giving greater facilties for litigants obtaining special juries when asked, one of the magistrates and a solicitor had a serious difference of opinion the other day as to whose name should appear as prosecutor in a certain case, and then we have the case against the excisemen for assault in which some sharp divisions of opinion have already been made apparent. And Christmas is coming too, when we want to be at peace with all men.
Writing naturally leads the thoughts to scribes, and their usefulness in supplying us with the day's pabulum. At the Supreme Court the other day a barrister asked a witness if he had seen a letter before it was written, and when the absurdity of his question dawned upon him he blushed and was heard to remark that it was a merciful dispensation of Providence that no reporters were present to note his bull.
THE HONGKONG WEEKEY PRESS AND | drinking. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has admitted that the effect of the whisky tax that many had dropped it altogether. In some was not only that people were drinking less but
districts in Ireland the drinking had gone down by 70 per cent, and in Scotland it had gone down by 50 per cent. It was unaccountable, he said, that people had not been driven from one kind of liquor to another but had been driven out of liquor altogether. Mr. Lloyd George did not attempt to take any credit to himself for the improvement, from the social point of This improvement view, which had ensued. was something gigantic. It is yet too soon to speak of the effects of the liquor duties in the Colony, but it is well known that the consump tion of liquor has decreased, a fact which is ex- plained not only by moderation among drinkers but to several having taken the resolution to
go on the water waggon.'
There
might not have been any newspaperman, as they are called in America, present, but the incident was not allowed to go unreported. The omni present, omnipotent, ubiquitous reporter learned the story and the barrister's thankfulness was perhaps a little premature.
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Training of the griffins has already com- menced at the Happy Valley and not a few folks come back to breakfast with healthy appetities. It is too early yet however to spot any winner.
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We are beconing quite Scottish in our public house reform. The new liquor bill contains a provision which has apparently been unnoticed. It certainly evoked no comment. Barmaids are to be abolished., and the public house loses one of its chief attractions. Many men like chaff with their beer and beer with their chaff. But doubtless the counter attractions to be provided will be found more valuable than what they have replaced.
The Government seem to be favorably disposed to the publichouse system which places it in the control of a private company whose profits shall not exceed a certain figure. Disinterested management sounds all right but it has to be borne in mind that disinterested management is not always disinterested. I have read criticisms of the systems in Sweden and Norway in which it was pointed out that the members of the company, having profits to distribute to local charitable and other institutions, acquired an undue social and political importance. Should the experiment be tried here it is proposed that the profits should go to the improvement of the public house itself. It certainly seems a sensible proposition that those who make the profits possible should reap the advantage.
From what I know locally I should say that Hongkong was emulating the Homeland in another respect. I refer to the decrease in
44
upon
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Now that the Public Works Department has decided the experiment of laying wood pay- ing in Ice House Street, the moment seems opportune to suggest that the local traffic Authority should impose requlations requiring vehicles in that usually busy thoroughfare being Only the other propelled at walking speed. day I saw a lady jostled in a group of rickshas and opium trucks, usually to be found ranged where the sidewalk should be, and the result of the encounter was that her dress was entirely destroyed by coming in contact with the greasy axles.
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That is only one aspect of the state of affairs. The slanger to life and limb from the sanje source must not be overlooked, and the incon- venience suffered by pedestrians generally in that thoroughfare has only to be mentioned to be appreciated.
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I have not yet heard of any enterprising capitalist providing Taipo with hotel accommod- ation in view of the traffic which is certain to develop with the opening of the railway June was the date reckoned on for the opening of the railway, but I understand it is not im- probable that trains will be run from one end of the British section to the other within the next three months, and that though the line might not then be open to general traffic it may be possible to run a few passenger trains at the week end, It is time then for somebody to be thinking about catering for the wants of travellers. A costly caravanserai is not required, but a "house of refreshment" with a few tennis courts and bowling greens ought to be a remunerative enterprise. Here's a chance for the now Licensing Board.
RODERICK RANDOM.
HONGKONG.
The Hongkong Race Meeting has been fixed for the 15th, 16th and 17th February.
Major-General Broadwood gave an enjoyable dance at Headquarters House on Monday night. H.M.S. Alacrity with Admiral Sir Hedworth the North on Dec. 13th, Lambton on board returned to the Colony from
The return of cases of communicable diseases notified as occuring in the Colony is a blank for the week ended the 11th inst.
The United States cruisers Pennsylvania and West Virginia, each of 14,500 tons, reached Hongkong on the 12th inst, from Manila.
Mr. T. H. King has been appointed to diş- charge the duties of Superintendent of Imports and Exports during the absence on leave of Lieut. C. W. Beckwith, R.N.
[December 20, 1909. The organ recital given in St. Peter's Church, on Tuesday by Mr. George West Point, Grimble was well attended. His selections from blind composers were greatly appreciated, and the solos by Mrs. R. E. Belilios and Mr. R. E. White were well taken. A
An extract of meteorological observatione made at Hongkong Observatory during the month of November shows the average maxi- mum temperature for that month to have been 75.5 and the average minimum temperature 65.4 degrees. The rainfall was .065 of an inch, and there were 187.1 hours of sunshine.
made at present in Victoria Gaol. Practically
Considerable structural alterations are being
the whole of the central portion, where the offices are situated, is being reconstructed, and the work is being carried out by prison labour, One of the features of the proceeding is the figure of an Indian guard, armed with rifle, keeping watch from an overlooking roof.
The two men who were on Wednesday fined for being in possession of opium which they were found secreting in Conduit Road were on Thursday sentenced to two months' imprison- ment each for having a printing die in their possession for applying a false trade description to opium, purporting that the opium came from the Opium Farm.
;7
The Bishop of Victoria and Bishop Ing ham accompanied by the Revs. E. J.. Barnett, P. Jenkins and Mok-Shan-Tsang and several Chinese laymen, have been on a tour of inspeč- tion of the Church of England Missions in the Tsan-Tsing district on the East River. They dedicated three new Chinese churches presented by the Chinese, and attended the ative Church Council at Pit Tam.
The funeral of Gunner Woods, 88 Coy.. R.G.A., who died at the Military hospital, Bowen Road, on Sunday night, took place on Monday afternoon. The cortege consisted of the officers, N.C.O.'s and men of 88 Coy. and the bands of the Buffs. The interment took
place in the Military portion of the cemetery at Happy Valley, accompanied by full military honours,
Inspector McHardy and a party of police who went to arrest a number of Chinese gambling on the hillside at Lyeemun had an exciting experience when they approached the gamblers. The latter threw stones at the police, but their aim was not too good and no casualties were reported. Twelve of the gamblers made their appearance before Mr. Hallifax at the Magistracy on Dec. 15 and were fined $10 each.
In the action brought by Umer Jooseb against S. A. Marican to recover $152, balance due for wages, the defendant on Monday consent. ed to judgment, and it was entered accordingly by Mr. Justice Gompertz in Chambers. Mr. F. Paget Hett (of Messrs. Brutton and Hett) was the solicitor for the plaintiff, and the defendant was represented by Mr. P. W.- Goldring (of Messrs. Goldring, Barlow and Morrell).
A robbery with violence was committed in broad daylight on Tuesday morning at eight o'clock in Wing Wo Street. A woman walking along the street was attacked by three men from behind, one of whom seized her by the neck and another snatched a gold and rattan bangle from her left wrist. The other tried to get away with a similar bangle on her right arm, but did not succeed. The three men then disappeared. The bangle stolen was valued at $20.
H.E. the Governor gave an Official Dinner
to which on Friday
the following were invited:-Admiral the Hon. Sir Hedworth Lambton, Colonel the Hon. C. Lambton, Colonel Two gangs of gamblers crowded the Magis- the Hon. W. Lambton, Captain Clinton Baker, tracy on Dec. 16. One lot numbered 24 and the Commander Norris, Mr. H. Mulleneux, Com- principals were fined $50 and the others $3 each.modore, Mrs and Miss Lyon, Major-General The second lot consisted of 20, and similar Sir Henry Rawlinson, Admiral Barry, U.S.N., penalties were imposed.
Capt. J. M. Orchard, U. S. S. West Virginia, Captain J. Pond, U. S. S. Pennsylvania Mir. W. A. Glassford, Mr. and Mrs. Rubles, Mr. G. L. Tottenham, M. F. B. L. Bowley, Dr. Thomson, Captain and Mrs. Lyons, Sir Henry and Lady May, Mr. and Mrs, Griffin, Mr. and Mrs. Ram, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Harris, Mr. and Mrs. Pinckney, Rev. and Miss Spink, Captain aud Mrs. Addison, Captain and Mrs. Bell, H.E. Major General Broadwood, Captain Heath- cote, Dr. and Mrs. Voretzsch and Mr. Fletcher.
A test case came before Mr. Wood at the Magistracy on Dec. 16th when a private ricsha coolie was charged with using the private ricsha in question to ply for hire. It was stated by the police that the defendant had arrangements with certain parties to take them to and from the Ferry wharf and the ricsha coolies naturally protested against the practice of the defendant. His Worship discharged the defendant with a caution.
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