Hongkong, 24th May.
The past week has been uneventful. The weather, modified by a heavy thunderstorm on Monday night, has been bearable, though with gradually rising temperature. It has been fine during the past three days, but this morning a slight shower has made it moist and steaming and the skies are ominous of a heavy downpour, which yet may prove a storm in a teacup.
Recall of Hon. T. H. Whitehead.
Owing to the illness of Mr. Main, the Manager of the London branch of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, Mx. T. H. Whitehead, Manager of the branch in this Colony, has been called home to undertake the duties at the head office. The length of his absence is at present unknown and depends presumably upon the health of the London Manager. The Hon. T. H. Whitehead had just been appointed to the Executive Council when the news arrived here.
The departure of Mr. Whitehead, who departs for England on the 4th prox., will leave another vacancy in the Legislative Council. The Bench of Justices have been asked to nominate a member in place of Mr. C. P. Chater, who has gone home on leave, and the Chamber of Commerce will be asked to name a nominee to fill Mr. Whitehead's place. For the former probably Mr. R. Shewan will be
Wilcox is said to be the candidate.
Hongkong Volunteer Shooting Competition.
The monthly carbine competition of the A. Machine Gun Company, Hongkong Volunteers, wes held last week. The wind was boisterous, which made the shooting very erratic. This was the final shoot for two cups, the No. 1, presented last year by Mr. F. Maitland, was won by Sergt. J.D. Danby, who was the only competitor who had scored two wins out of the twelve. The No. 2 cup, presented by Lieut. Nicholson, was won by Gunner C. H. P. Hay, who secured the best aggregate for three shots. Next month a competition will commence for a Farewell Cup presented by Sir Thomas Jackson, and a cup presented by Mr, H. C. Wilcox.
The Japanese Plague Doctors. plague work las pervel a failure, ror Importing Japanese doctors to help in account of want of ability, but because none of them can speak or read English. For this cause alone they have increased the work for the sanitary inspectors instead of lessening it, as each inspector has been obliged to take in charge on his daily rounds one of the doctors. One inspector has had to give up the whole of his time to filling in daily returns, ete., which should have been done by the doctor, when he could have been rendering better or some useful service elsewhere. The Ssnitary Board has been compelled to send three of the doctors hack to Japan, and the ing four will be employed in bacteria ological work, examining dead rats, etc, It is a pity the scheme should have fallen through, as doubtless the services of the doctors would have been found a benefit to the Colony.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.