16
Ambassador Okubo passed through Tientsi on his way to Peking to make peace, while war was going on against the savages of | Formosa because they had murdered Japanese merchants, he said to me:"China and Japan are neighbours, and this affair is like a quarrel between children-enemies for one moment and better friends than ever the next." War between our countries was imminent then, but in the councils I led in advocating peace, and said that the killing of Japanese merchants by these Bavages did not concern us to the extent of making it an occasion for international war.
CANTON NOTES.
FROM THE
CHỪNG NGÔI SAN PO.” The 27th instant was the Chinese dragon festival, the fifth day of the fifth intercalary month. The Chinese observed this festival with more warmth than usual because the dragon festival of the fifth intercalary month had not come round for about twenty years. Most of the shops of Canton were closed and the people stopped business. Many people went to see the dragon boats, which were plying along the river all day in large numbers.
On the 26th instant eleven prisoners were taken out from the Nam-hoi and Pan-a prisons for final trial. After they had been tried, they were all carried in bamboo baskets to the execu-
tion ground to be beheaded. It is said they were all notorious robbers.
A fight broke out between two villages near Tai-ping, in the district of Tungkun. Most of the people of the villages were mat-makers, so that during the few days the fight continued few mats were imported into Canton from the villages in question. General Chang sent some soldiers to the place to suppress the fight the other day.
There are three theatres in Canton which were built not long after Li Han-chang took over the seal of Viceroy of Canton. They were all licensed and they paid a certain sum to the Government for a monopoly. The one in the West Gate was abolished some months ago and the one in the South Gate was also ordered to be closed by the officers some time ago, for some trouble had occurred there, and only one left is the one in Honan. The Canton offoers wish to bring it to an end too, for they have found out that troubles and fights often
occur in the theatre.
now
the
About one hundred and forty robbers made an attack on the village of Loong Kiang, in Sun- tak district. Eighteeu honses were robbed, from which more than ten thousand dollars worth of valuable things were taken. The villagers.beat their gongs to give the alarm. On hearing the alarm given the lukongs went to meet the rob bers, who were able to get rid of them by shoot. ing three lukongs dead. A military officer who was in the city of Tai-lung, hearing the noise, came out with some soldiers. When they came near the robbed village, they saw the robbers coming forward. The robbers at once opened fire at the soldiers, who fired their guns in return. After a desperate resistance three robbers were taken prisoners and the rest ran away.
In spite of the strict prohibition lately issued against the opening of fan-tan gambling houses there are still some of these places open during the night-time in Canton, and in some of the vil- lages also fan-tan gambling still goes on briskly
HONGKONG.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Friday being Coronation Day a royal kalute was fired, at noon from the shore battery and the men-of-war in harbour.
On Wednesday afternoon Mr. G. P. Lammert sold by auction the leasehold property at 26A. Graham Street. The price realised was $2,375.
A large number of persons have entered their names as subscribers to the Hongkong Public Library and the institution will probably be opened in the course of a week or two.
Mr. T. F. Hough, Clerk of the Course, re- turned on Saturday by the steamer Glenfruin. quite recovered, we are glad to learn, from the effects of his serious accident.
The General Manager of the New Balmoral Gold Mining Co., Limited, has received the following message from Mr. Johr Grant, Mount MoDonald “The rains have commenced. Mill starts again next week."
On Sunday afternoon a remarkably fine turtle was captured in one of the numerous bays near Capenimoon, by some members of the City Club picnic party. The turtle was first seen swim- ming leisurely in a salt water lagoon near the coast, and after an exciting chase it was driven ashore, secured, and eventually brought to Hongkong.
The work at the Supreme Court has shown a remarkable increase this year. It is calculated three hundred cases more than in 1893. The that there have been, up to the present, over number of cages last year was small on account count. Improvement in trade is perhaps the of the plague, and they are not taken into ac-
cange of increased litigation.
Hongkong which is to be forwarded to the fund In connection with the contribution from being raised at home by the Daily Telegraph in honour of Dr. W. G. Grace, we understand that the Hon. Secretary of the Hongkong Cricket Club has intimated by telegram that Hongkong is forwarding her tribute of admiration and shillings to the general fund.
colony, who recently returned, left again for Mr. J. F. Webber, formerly a solicitor in the home by the last German mail, and he omitted Carl Ludwig Rouch, of the Prays Est Hotel, to pay all his debts. A oreditor, Mr. John appeared in the Supreme Court on Friday and owing for food and refreshments supplied, and, claimed $61.75 from Webber. The money was in the absence of the defendant, judgment was given for the plaintiff.
line of steamers between Canton and Shanghai, A new Company, we hear, will abortly run a
via Hongkong, and calling at porte en route when sufficient inducement offers. The line is England. The Company is to be British and the to be opened by four newsteamers now building in capital will be supplied by Singapore Chinese. The head office is to be at Shanghai Premises for the Canton office, have already been leased
on Shameen.
+6
in pamphlet form of the Documentary History We have to acknowledge receipt of a reprint of the Peace Negotiations between China and Japan, March-April, 1895, with Text of the Treaty of Peace," which recently appeared in the Peking and Tientsin Tinies. We congratu- late our contemporary on its enterprise or good fortune in securing these valuable papers, which is in its second edition. we note are "officially revised." The pamphlet
afternoon between Mr. Salmon's "Q.C." and An interesting match took place on Tuesday Capt. Loveband's The Friar"-one mile over eight flights of hurdles. To an excellent start they raced neck and neck for two furlongs, when "*
Q.C.forged ahead and made all the running till balf way up the straight, where Capt. Loveland made his effort and drew level, but "Q.C. running gamely under the whip came again after the last hurdle and won éleverly at the finish by a neck.
Since last week rain has fallen in small quantities, but not enough to justify the au- thorities in giving a continuous water supply. I Happily there are now no cases of plague in the "It was a dream or something of the kind colony. Several interesting cases have been that made him do it." This was the reason given beard at the Police Court and the Supreme at the Police Court the other day by the wife of Court, and on Friday a discussion took place at a man who met his death by falling off a window the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders sill and then off the roof of a house in Tang Wan respecting the future of Hongkong as a ship-Lane. A bout a week ago he was sitting on the building port.
There were 48 in-patients treated in the Alice Memorial Hospital last month and the number of out-patient visits was 1,412. At the Nether- sola Hospital the numbers were 37 and 55.
The warder at Victoria Gaol, named J. G. Thorne, who illicitly supplied a sandwich to a prisoner, was on Friday, at the Police Court,
■ɔnt to gapl for six weeks with hard labour,
[July 4, 95.81
There were 1,866 visitors to the City Hall Museum last week, of whom 127 were Europeans, The enquiry respecting the fire at 79, Jervois Street was closed Tuesday, 25th ult. when IIon. H. E. Wodehouse ordered the release of the pre- mises.
Mr. H. M Hillier, Acting Commissioner of Customs, assumed charge of the Kowloon Cus- toms House and stations on the 25th ult. Mr. H. E. Hobson goes to Wuhu.
TIENTSIN.
22nd June.
The Japanese Minister, together with the Consul, accompanied by some thirty-five of their nationals, reached Tientsin on Saturday after- noon last, 15th instant, in the Viceroy's yacht Kuai-ma. The only foreigners present at the time of their landing were the U.S. Consul and the Harbour Master; the Chinese authorities being represented by a guard of some 40 soldiers under a petty officer,
The Japanese Minister and 'suite left here for Peking on Wednesday. We hear on good authority, that they are likely to return soon to Tientsin. During their stay at the Astér House it was very amusing to see the way the hung round waiting an opportunity to do them hotel servants and coolies, also 'rickaba coolies, some slight service-having an eye to ■ “ tip,” just the reverse, the Chinese living thers of course. In Japan. during the war, this was couldn't get assistance for " love or modey...........
between the army of attendants which accom- The native gossips are instituting comparisons panied the Viceroy to Bakan and the small entourage of the Japanese Minister. They also comment upon the fearless way in which the latter go about their business here, as compared to the pusillanimity which kept the Viceregal party within doors during their stay in Japan, except when compelled to go out.
We note that the Japanese Military Attaché, who was so familiar a figure here before the out colonel. This is no doubt in well-deserved break of war, has returned with the title of recognition of the services he has rendered his country.
We learn that the gunner Li, who blew up the sonth-eastern forts at Weshaiwei, under the direction of Mr. Howie, and who was supposed, was taken prisoner by the Japanese and is now in to have perished in the explosion, is alive. He Japan.
A Naval Court of Enquiry was held at the Detring, Mr. Lo Feng-lu, and Sheng Taotai. Chinese Admiralty last week, conducted by Mr. The sittings were held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the 11th, 12th, and 13th inst.. between the hours of nine and twelve. Messrs. Schnell, Howie, Kirk, Howard, and McClure were named, and their depositions have been handed examined in the order in which they are here. in to the Court in writing. The object of the enquiry was to investigate certain matters relat- ing to the capitulation of Liukungtao and the Chinese fleet. The result has been very un- favourable to one of the Europeans concerned, but no authentic report of the proceedings has reached us, and we refrain from publishing irresponsible
rumours.
is rapidly approaching completion. This will The new oil godown in the Extra Concession be the largest godown as yet constructed in Tientsin, and will probably develop a trade at present only dreamt of.
We notice the river water is again heavily charged with mud-the result of recent rains and it is to be feared that steamers will soon be having trouble on their way up and down the Peiho.
We understand that considerable improve. ments and extensions are being carried out at the Isabella Fisher Hospital, with funds from the trust, supplemented by local subscriptions.
port is shown by the fact that not long ago there The peculiar character of the trade of. this were seventeen steamers in port and waiting out-7 window sill when he fell on to the roof of an side for lighters, and not only was the bund adjoining house. His wife missed him, and densely packed with cargo, but the steamer agents shoutedTM" Are you there ? " and the reply was had to provide additional accommodation above, a "Yes, I'm here." Thereupon the man got up in below, and opposite the British Concession; yet u a dazed condition, and, in endeavouring to get within three weeks we observe from the Customs f back again to his own house, fell to the pave-report that there were only three steamers in ment and killed himself. A verdict of accidental port, all bound down river. death was returned by the Hon. H, E. Wode- house.
We hear that efforts are being made to obbain vi permission from the proper quarter to make ung i