Page
March 14, 1895.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
185
range. The pay-in dollars- has also been again | tograph of Lyeemoon Pass in the evening | merely of Custom-bonse duties on such opiam increased; and men of good obaracter get " Home | being a beautifully quiet study, and pre-and on his going through the prescribed Custom. leave" every five years and passage paid. The senting almost the appearance of an etching: house formalities, the terms of the aid Con result is that the force has become popular. Of His "Evening light on the hills" is an enchant-vention according to clanse 3, section 3, being the 12 Iuspectors-including the Chief Inspector ing picture, the effect of the lowering sun's rays that British merchants bringing oplam into no less than 9 have upwards of 20 years' service. on the beautifully shaped heights bei g truly ports open to trade will be obliged to Of the 12 Sergeants no less than 9 have upwards artistic. Aberdeen Valley." also by Mr. have it taken cognisance of by the Customs of 12 years' service; one has served 22 years. These Caughtrie, is very pretty, while a wedding party and deposited in bond, either in a warehouse or facts speak for themselves. There is one thing a snapshot-forms a picturesquely motley receiving balk, until such time as there is'a' sale I should like to say. If at any time any of you group. Mr. W. H. Wickham, in addition to for it. have considered that I have dealt a little harshly showing a number of soap shots taken at the duty upon it, and the purchasers, that is to say, The importer will then pay the tariff with you, that I have refused you anything it was races. contributes a photograph of Wong-nei. the Chinese purchasers virtually, the lekin. in my power as Acting Captain Superintendent chong, which is a perfect picture, and one, or Deputy Superintendent to grant, rest assured entitled Sunset on the river," shows the charm- effected your petitioner personally" attended 6. That in consequenos of the confiscations it has never been done unkindly. I have looked ing effet of the dimming light on the water. each time immediately after the occasions of upon the Police Foros as public property and on Mr. A. Hill sends sixteen quarter plate seizures at the British Consalate, and set forth myself as one of the custodians of that pro-snapshots taken on the racecourse, and Dr. before Her Majesty's Cousal then emờinting, perty, and I have always striven to do my best Schroter and Dr. Schrameier, both of Canton, namely, before Mr Gardner, the particulars se for the good of the service in the interest show two or three exceedingly fine views. The to the time when, the place where, and as to" per- of the public whose servant I am. (Applanse) | Photographio Department of the Royal Ensons under whose supervision and guidance the I have now to express to the officers my sincere gineers is represented by four photographs seizures were effected, and that subsequently on thanks for the manner in which they have always | illu_trative of the damage done to matsheds H.M. Consal putting himself in communication so loyally assisted me in carrying on the duties at Kowloon, and Mr. Griffith shows groups of with the Chinese authorities on the subject, of the Department. I have only to add my Volunteers. Dr. Gerlach has two very good inquiries were held upon the sald sendres, sincere hope that as long as any of you remain views of the cemetary, and other gentlemen have terminating in decisions by the Chinese Prefect in the Force, you will, whatever your rank may sent photographs of considerable merit.
adverse to your petitioner, but your petitioner be, do your very best to maintain the present
has reason to believe not acquiesced in and popularity, the present good name of the Force
ILLFGÅL SEIZURE OF OPIUM AT to which during the last twenty-eight years I
agreed to by the said Consul, Mr. Gardner. have had the honour to belong (applause).
CANTON,
Mr. F. H. May, Captain Superintendent, afterwards entertained the Inspectors to tiffa to take farewell of Mr. Horspool. Deputy Super- intendent, and Mr. Mathieson, Chief Inspector.
THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION.
AN OLD CLAIM SIILL UNSETTLED.
The following petition has been forwarded to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by Mr. D. S. Fattakia :-
To the Right Honourable the Earl of Kimberley, K.G Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Downing Street, London,
S.W.
The Humble Petition of Dadabhoy Sorabjee Futtakia, of Canton, Merchant, Bleweth:-
1.-That your petitioner is a Parsee, native of India, and British subject, residing and trading at Canton as a merchant, and that he and his predecessors in their mercantile pursuits have had business connections in that city for over fifty years.
2. That owing to certain confiscations made by the Chinese lekin anthorities of Canton, under circumstances narrated below, of four chests of Indian opium imported by your peti- tioner into that port in the year 1885, your peti- tioner has been a sufferer to the extent of their value, as also to the extent of the consequences incidental to the non-restitution of his property or its equivalent up to date and that therefore your petitiouer now humbly seeks and prays that your Lordship may be pleased, after considering the merits of his case, to take such measures as may seem just and adequate to your Lordship for the vindication of your petitioner's rights.
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7-That in representations attached herewith, marked & and H, made by your petitioner to Her Majesty's Minister at Peking, first in 1897 and latterly in December, 1892, your petitioner has given în éxtenso the details referred to of the two seizures, aud consequently your petitioner deems it uutecessary to recapitulate them here, but it at the same time your petitioner cannot help requesting your Lordship's consideration to the following particulars, as it was alleged at the inquiries by the Chinese Prefect that the opium seized was smuggled' and' surreptitiously taken by your petitioner, and that the sisäres were made not in broad daylight but at night time. In connection with these two points your Lordship's attention is particularly requested to the unimpeachable testimony; herewith nifsched marked A, of Mr. Frank Duncan, one of the em ployés of the, lekin farmer himself, who in his declaration sworn to before the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Hongkong on the 11th of November, 1895, has openly avowed with refer- ence to the first seizure in June, 1885-
:
The Photographio Exhibition in the ro m of the Odd Volumes' Society was opened to the public on Saturday. The exhibition, as is doubt- less well known, was arranged for the purpose of making a selection of works which are to form part of the special exhibition of photography to be held at the Imperial Institute next May. A short time ago the Executive Council of the Institute sent out invitations all over the world for examples of photography in its application to the arts, sciences, and industries, and Hong- kong received its invitation through Mr. C. H. Gale, who is a member of the In- stitute, and he made arrangements whereby photographers could send their specimens to the Odd Volumes Society's rooin. A committee was formed to make selections from the collec tion, and the best will be sent to the Imperial Institute in due course. Although both amateurs and professionals were asked to contribute it ia a striking fact that only one professional Mr. Griffith-bas thought it worth while to take an active part in the movement. Amateur photo graphers are an ardent class; they love their work, and take a special pride in obtaining the very bes results and, when an opportunity affords, in exbibiting their most interesting pictures. In Hongkong there are, unfortunately, compara- tively few amateur photographers. This is rather a pity, because the natural advantages of the colony for camera work are really excellent. The light is sharp and clear, and there is ample scope for the use of the lens in the many exquisite spots in and about the island; indeed more charming scenery one could not wish for. But 4-That notwithstanding the conformity of of course there are one or two drawbacks. The your petitioner to all the requisite rules and re- art-or as some people prefer to call it, the galations as established by the Customs, and hobby is more expensive to practise here than notwithstarding your petitioner having had due at home, and the climate does not deal kindly cognizance of the chests taken at the Custom-Pro-Consul at Canton, plainly affirmed as fol with the printing paper. But the immense ad. house by payment of the necessary duty, your vantages certainly outweigh the trifling dis-petitioner was forcibly deprived of the posses- advantages, and for this reason we should like to sion of these chests. within the settled area of see a stronger development of amateur photo-exemption from lekiu, whilst they were being graphy in the colony. Why not have an annual conveyed to his bong after their removal from exhibition in order to awaken a broader interest in this fascinating study?
3.-That your petitioner in the ordinary course of his business ordered out from Hong- kong in the aforesaid year 1885, amongst others, four chests of Patna opium-two in June and two in October of that year, and that he duly passed and paid tariff duty on these obests at the Custom-house at Canton in conformity with the rules and regulations jointly fixed and passed by the British and Chinese authorities for that purpose,
Customs, by persons in the employ of the then lekin farmer, on the 29th day of June and ou the 3rd day of October, 1885, respectively, on the ground that no lekin duty had been paid thereon.
We had an opportunity of inspecting the ex- hibition on Friday and it is impossible to speak in other than high terms of admiration of it. Altogether there are 124 exhibits, and these have 5.-That your petitioner, being a foreign been sent in by twelve gentlemen. Mr. Gale. merchant and British subject, submitted to we think, must credit himself with the best dis- the lekin authorities, as he now begs to submit play. His bromide pictures are charming. One, to your Lordship, that, as such, under section 3 After the storm," is a particularly fine work of the Chefoo Convention of 1876, your petitioner taken in the harbour after sunset, and the was exempted from the payment of lekin duty scene is most imposing. He also shows two on opium imported by him and that on the se. photographs of Cape d'Aguilar which are very veral occasions he had previously imported opini Hue specimens, while another, My Dogs," is a into Canton in the regular course if bis trade very happy production. Mr. Gale exhibits the he was invariably and without any exception not only clond picture in the display, and it is held liable for lekin, and that on all those og His undoubtedly one of the best we have seen. Mr. casions he was allowed to import opium into fox think
Coughtrie is well represented, his pho- | Canton without let or hindrance on the payment
the
years. solid in
there near barn seeing
1.-First: That the said opium was seized in pursuance of a letter now in possession of H.M. Consul at Canton received by Mr. Sayers, another employé of the lekin farmer, in which it was enjoined by the farmer that the opium was to be absolutely seized in the following terms:-"I herewith send yon balf-dozen good soldiers, and whenever Caranji's opiam go over please seize it and also other Parsees so we must do somé daty to-day-be quick, the steamer 1 think in Hare some spank to-day and also ben Monday" (ride B). 2.-Secondly: That the lekin runners had a perfect view of the petitioner's boat, and t at when be, Mr. Duncan, in conjunction with other runners, boarded her the time was 4.30 p.m., and that the opium found in her was in ordinary opiam chests, not in any way concealed."
With reference to the latter seizure in Octo. ber, 1885. Mr. John Murray Nelson, also an em- ployé of the lekin farmer, in a declaration (vide D) sworn to before Mr. Henry Cockburn, British
lowsTM---
On one day about the beginning of October, the 3rd or 4th I think. I was slong- side the Custom-house in a sampan in order to see where opium imported by Parsees was taken to. I saw Mr. Futtakin bring some opium from the steamer Powan to the Custom-honse; I then saw him leave the Custom-house in a sampan and go straight over to his hong in Honam. Two lekin boats intercepted his boat before be reached the steps of his jetty. I motioned to them to go back; Isaw the lekin runners go on board Mr. Futtakin's boat.............. I then went straight down to the Yung Tung steam launch,on which Sayers was, and told him where the seizure had been made and that there was no right to seize the opium there. Sayers Baid it was none of bis seizure and that he washed his hands of it The opium was taken on shore there by the lekin people. The chests were opened and 18 balls of smuggled, opium, which iweze (maiyod