The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, APRIL, 3rd, 1924. THE GATEWAY OF THE EAST.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, APRIL, 3rd, 1924. THE GATEWAY OF THE EAST.

Singapore, now much in the minds of ail, has an importance to the Empire builder as well as an attraction for the merchant, says u recent visitor, it lies within 70 miles of the equator yet possesses a climate more equable than that of Sydney. The temperature keeps wihtiiH the range of 80 deegres and 9.3 degrees in the shade all the year round. It enjoys the benefits of both the Chinese monsoon in February and the Indian monsoon in July. The evenings are always cooled by gentle breezes, lowering the temperature by five degrees, so that sleep is always possible. The strange medley of anciently designed Chinese junks, modern warships, and coastal steamers and sampans in the harbour make a unique picture. The larger liners are anchor-

ed at Tnngong Pagar, about two mile; from the main harbour. Here are the go-downs or store-houses of the merchants. A tram service supplies the city with cheap and easy transit. This is augmented with one or two thousand rickshas and numerous kharries, the latter a four-wheeled vehicle. The roads are in splendid condition and cars are to be hired by the hour at a very reasonable cost, usually driven by a Malay. A drive round the island can be made in ft couple of hours. The Governor’s house dominates the view from the Harbour, signifying the position of influence which he holds in that part of the Empire. The native States look to him for guidance in policy. Looking across the harbour from Government House can lie seen the islands of PuTau, Brani and Blakan Mati. where Forts Siloso and Silensing stand guard in postiion unknown to the ordinary citizen, but from which during the early months .of the war a silent watch was kept for the approach of any visitor from the German China fleet. Had Penang been so favdtirabty. supplied,

the Russian cruiser Zhemchug would not have been so much at tlie mercy of tlie Emden. The central position which Singapore stands in in the Eastern trade route is well illustrated by tlie speed with which crews were landed from tlie ships of three nations to quell the mutiny of the sth. Light Infantry a native regiment, in February 1915. Merely as a port of call and coaling station, a greater tonnage passes through this port than is registered in any other. Singapore lias a dry dock capable of accommodating tho largest liners, and lias all the facilities required for a naval station. Its importance was recognised by Sir Stamford Raffles and Sir Frank Swettenliam many years ago, but for whose advice the island would have been sold to another Power. Social life in the island is a model of democracy. Whereas in India a merchant’s assistant is the lowest social class admitted in the best clubs (shop assistants and mechanical engineers being barred), in Singapore all are on the same level. The Singapore Cricket Club stands in tlie centre of the town, and stretching in front of it are about thirty tennis courts and two playing fields, and still more tennis courts beyond which is the Eurasian Club. This latter owns those tennis courts and playing fields which are at its end of the Pa dang, as this paddock is termed. Tlie padang is bounded by four roads, and is not enclosed by more than a low wire fence. Cricket, tennis, hockey, Rugby, Soccer and bowls are regularly played nil tho year round. Matches take place between tho club and tlie regiments and corps who happen to be stationed there and the native clubs. Those mutches are watched with keen interest by a thousand or more spectators—Malays, Chinese, Tamils, and Europeans, among whom, apart from Britishers, Buteli and Gorman and Swiss can be picked out. If I were a seer, 1 might be inclined to prophesy that Singapore would be the metropolis of a universal League of Nations.