1
December 4, 1895.]
HONGKONG.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The American ship Wandering Jew, which was recently on fire in the harbour, is advertised for sale by auction.
At the Police Court on Friday Jules Marcess. Pokfulam Road, was fined $100 for selling Wilkinson appeared for the defence. intoxicating liquors without a licence. Mr.
The weather during the past week has been beautifully fine and the temperature such as to make walking very enjoyable. On Wednesday a Marine Court of Inquiry was held respecting charges made by the captain of the Torrisdale against the mate. An interesting opium case
The enterprising management of the Mount was heard at the Police Court on Thursday, and
Austin Hotel have decided upon large exten- on Friday an extraordinary general mecting of extended to Umbrella Seat, a new wing is to sions. On the one side the hotel is to be the shareholders of the Green Island Cement be added on the eastern end, and a ball Company, Limited, was held. The chief event of the week was of course the St. Andrew's Ball, present chunam tennis court, to be approached room is to be erected on the site of the which was given on Friday under most favour- able auspices. On Tuesday the Sanitary Board by a covered way from the Hotel on the one met instead of to-day on account of the Legisla-trust the enterprise displayed will meet with side and by the Peak Road on the other. We tive Council meeting.
the success it deserves. The ball room, which will presumably be available for entertainments Now that the bulk of the European community of all descriptions, will meet a distinct want. reside at the Peak a commodious assembly room has become a necessity. there for dances and general entertainments
The appointment of Dr. F. W. Clark to be a member of the Sanitary Board is gazetted.
Mr. Hilario Gonzalez has been appointed Vice-Consul for Spain at Hongkong.
There were 1,861 visitors to the City Hall Museum last week, of whom 143 were Eur-
opeans.
At the regular meeting of Zetland Lodge held on Monday evening Bro. D. Macdonald, J.W., was elected Worshipful Master for the ensuing year and Bro. G. J. B. Sayer Treasurer. We hear that there is some probability of a Masonic Ball being given during the present season to celebrate the Jubilee of Zetland Lodge and of the introduction of Masonry into the colony.
་་
There was another big batch of “ no light or pass charges at the Police Court on Monday, no fewer than two hundred and fifty Chinese being dealt with by the Magistrate. Mr. T. Sercombe Smith.
At the Alice Memorial Hospital last month the number of in-patients treated. was 55 and the number of out-patient visits was 1,691. At the Nethersole Hospital the numbers was 51 and 65 respectively.
The Edgar and Spartan, which were tem- porarily detached from the Mediterranean squadron for service on the China station. have now been definitely added to the strength
of Admiral Buller's command.
It is notified in the Gazette that no school for boys opened after the date of the notifica- tion will receive any grant-in-aid unless such school shall give a European education in the English language besides complying with the other requirements of the code.
A Government Gazette Extraordinary was issued on Tuesday afternoon notifying that the Hon. R. M. Rumsey, Harbour Master, has re- turned to the colony and resumed the duties of his office: also that Commander W. C. H. Hast- ings has been appointed an official member of the Legislative Council during the absence of the Hou. F. H. May, C.M.G. During Commander Rumsey's absence his seat in the Legislative Council was filled by the Hon. W. C. H. Hast- ings and Mr. May's seat by Mr. A. K. Travers. The officers and crew of the P. and O. steamer Siam, which has been sold to Japanese, arrived here on Tuesday by the Verona. The Kobe Chronicle of the 27th November says:-We understand that the negotiations for the sale of the P. & O. steamer Siam, which has been lying in the harbour for some two months, have at last been brought to a satisfactory conclu- sion, the final payment being made yesterday by her Japanese purchasers. The vessel has consequently been withdrawn from the berth for Bombay. It is reported that bargain money has been paid on the vessel no less than threa times, negotiations in the two first cases falling through owing to the Japanese speculators uot being able to complete the purchase.
At the Magistracy on Friday, before Mr. T. Sercombe Smith, Chan Chu, master of a licensed cargo-boat, was summoned for allowing his boat to lie alongside the Praya Central for the pur- pose of landing kerosine for more than fifteen minutes contrary to rule 6 of the rules and regulations made by the Governor in Council on the 21st inst. under section 8 of Ordinance 8 of 1873 as amended by Ordinance 8 of 1892. The defendant was landing kerosine for three hours and he admitted being there from 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. He was fined $25. This is the first case which has been taken under the new rule, which was adopted in consequence of the Magistrate a short time ago finding himself unable to convict under the then existing rules.
Mr. Poon Poog, one of the wealthiest Chi- Mr. Poon Pong was a director of the Hong nese residents of the colony, died on Wednesday. kong, Canton, and Macao Steamboat Company, Limited, and was interested in various other ported that his estate will realise a million enterprises. His age was fifty-six. It is re- dollars. On Monday the body of the deceased gentleman was removed from his residence to the Lapsapwan mortuary of the Tong Wah Hospital, where it will remain for some time before headed by two mounted troopers, comprised being buried. The procession, which was over a thousand persons, with the usual Chinese mourning paraphernalia. The route taken was eastward along the Praga to the Clock Tower and then westward along Queen's Road. number of Europeans, including the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart. Hon. C. P. Chater, Hou. E.
་
A
R. Belilios, Hon. T. II. Whitehead, Messrs. J. D. Humphreys, H. N. Mody, G. R. Stevens, A..G. Romano, V. H, Deacon, A. Shelton Hooper, and T. Arnold joined the procession along the route.
the duties of Clerk of Councils are to be per
From the Estimates for 1896 we notice that
formed by the Assistant Colonial Secretary after February next and the office of Chief Clerk in the Colonial Secretary's office is to be abolished. This effects an aunual saving of 84,536, but next year the saving extends only over ten mouths, the present salary being provided for January and February to be Deputy Registrar and Appraiser in the Seth has been transferred on his present salary Mr.
Supreme Court, and the office of Deputy Re- gistrar and Accountant has been revived; some Departments; and the net increase in salaries reductions have been effected in the Legal is $1,971. A saving of $8.080 is shown in the chiefly by the abolition of the Registrar-Gene- Registrar-General's department, accounted for ralship as a separate office. In the Magistracy $6,396 and one of $7,854 in the Fire Brigade. under the new arrangements there is a saving of
Under the head of Miscellaneous Services there resignation of the Consulting Engineer (Mr. O. is shown a saving of $12200, chiefly due to the Chadwick) to the Water and Drainage Depart- meut. The total decrease in personal emo- laments throughout the Service is $12,371 and in Miscellaneous Services there is a decrease of
$12,200.
FORMOSA,
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT WITH THE
JAPANESE ARMY.]
TAIPEEFU, 23rd November. Ocean trips have several times been rande with small boats specially constructed for the voyage, but a sail for long distances by small open fishing boats has not often been recorded. As the Chinese neglected the North Formosa fisheries, the Japanese authorities decided to voyage fishermen from Japan and bring them with their fishing boats to Formosa. Mr. Otah of Japan, who was interested in placing this profitable resource in the hands of his countrymen, arranged with a leading fisherman, who engaged over 60 men with 12 bosts. It was the intention to convey these people and their boats to Formosa aboard a transport,
431
but upon learning this these hardy fishermen made a decided objection, considering the pro- position a slight to their ability as sailors. Therefore at their request they were granted permission to attempt the hazardous journey in their own boats.The little fleet of 12 boats, the smallest 25 feet and the largest 40 feet in length, piloted by a veteran fisherman who was commander, sailed away from their native village near Simimonosaki on the 13th of last arrived off the island of Trushima, which is to month at 1 p.m. At eight the same day they
Loochoo group, two days and one night were the westward of Japan. From there to Okinawa,
spent. To Yayeyama island was the nort sail, from there to Kelung, Formosa, their destina requiring two days and one night more, and tion, one day and one night; the entire fleet arriving together in harbour. Thus only five 800 miles, which even for a clipper would be days and three nights were expended in sailing
of several days each at the Loochoo group, so considered pretty good time. Stops were made
that it was eighteen days from the date of
drawn chart was possessed by the commander, Only a common pocket compass with a roughly departure in Japan before the arrival at Kelung.
who depended more upon his knowledge of the
direction of the currents,-which were watched very closely, rather than from any magnetic it blew very strongly when nearing Formosa observations. The wind was not feared, although and the sea was exceedingly rough, but the current, which is specially strong to the north of Forinosa caused them some apprehension. sails averaging about 3, 6, and 8 or 9 feet The little craft possessed three masts, carrying wide. When the wind was very strong and the sea rough the small sail only was used, this being set forward, but when the wind was fair and steady all sails were spread. On their safe arrival they were cordially welcomed by the Japanese and the Governor presented 200 yen
to be distributed among them.
arrival from them of 5,000 pounds of fish at Six of the boats remained in Kelung and the Taipehfu one day this week shows that they are not idle and that!fish are plentiful. On the arrival of the other six boats at Tameui to engage in the fisheries there. the 36 men com- prising the crews were publicly thanked and complimented by Mr. Kitamura, of the civil de- who was then absent. During his remarks he partment, on behalf of his chief, Mr. Okubo,
said.
We in Tamsui were previously informed admiring your courage we, knowing the rough- of your intention to make this trip and while
for your safety. But yesterday when we saw your ness of the sea to the north of this island, feared
boats sailing into the harbour and we recognized their familiar form we cheered at your safe arrival!
Besides an exhibition of your skill and courage, as a practical illustration of what may be safely accomplished in a small boat, your trip is of great value.
May your efforts at the Formosa fisheries be which has given your native province reason to as successful as your long trip from Japan,
be proud of you and caused all to admire your bravery."
The three-masted ship Inaho Maru, which was totally wrecked in Kelung harbour, was owned by the Yusen Kaisha and was chartered
by the Government, upon whom the loss will fall. She was of 440 gross tonnage, but was old and of not much value.
On the 19th, upon the invitation of Governor Count Kabayama, the leading Japanese officials, members of the Red Cross Society, war corre spondents, and Chinese connected. with the Go- vernment, met in the afternoon at the Governor's house to bid farewell to General Takashima, formerly Commander-in-Chief of the troops in Formosa, and to celebrate the establishing of peace throughout the island. A speech was given by the Governor in which he thanked General Takashima for his assistance in For- mosa; the Guard Division for their services, having been engaged in the field for five months, during which time they were exposed much to disease; the members of the Red Cross Society, who volunteered for the service and rendered the most valuable aid when many of the army medical corps were incapacitated; and the war correspondents, who, although not formally har- dened to the privations of a soldier, were at-