And d
492
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
*1
On Thursday afternoon three crews of the Hongkong Boating Club competed in a scratch fouroar race, distance about half a mile. The orews were-G. C. Master (stroke), C. H. Gale (2), &. L. Duncan (3), H. J. Gedge (bow),, A Denison (cox); T. W. Lammert (stroke), ¦ Walker (2), Captain Retallic (3), G. C. Fuller. ton (bow). R. F. Raper (cox) H. Skött (stroke), C. Jesumann (2), G. H. Potts (3), E. Goetz (bow), Lieutenant Bellairs (cox). A good start was made and Lammert's boat led for a few lengths, when Master and Skött came up and overtook him. Master and Skött had a very stiff struggle for three quarters of the distance. Master eventually obtained a strong lead and won easily.
The Honorary Treasurer of the Edgar Relief Fund begs to acknowledge with thanks the following donations :~~~-
Mr. St. C. Michaelsen. Mr. F. T. Richards
$25
10
Mr. A. Findlay Smith
10
A Bet
10
Mr. Fung Wa Chuen...
10
Mr. H. N. Mody...
10
V. A. C. H.
Mr. B. Layton...
Mr. G. Stewart
B. N.
Mr. W. E. L. Clement
F. R. L.
A Parsee...
Capt. J. D. Sterling
M.
A. L. O. E.
Brought forward
459
Total up to date...
8573
CHEFOO.
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
9th December. The Chinese transport Chenhai left this ou the 5th instant with General Sun on board and other Chinese officials for Port Arthur, with a view of taking it over from the Japanese. Two foreign lightkeepers with Chinese staff also went over to Port Arthur to take over Lao- t'ieh-shan light, which has been in the hands of the Japanese since the fall of Port Arthur.
The Norwegian steamer Nanking, now on the rocks near Chefoo lighthouse. will soon be a total wreck. This last gale, which began sud- denly on Saturday, 7th instant, has all but fiinsbed her. Had steps been taken earlier both engines and boilers could have been saved in- tact; as it is it is doubtful if much will be saved, as the boisterous season is now setting in, the temperature having fallen from 48 to 30, or two degrees below freezing point.
The only men-of war we see here now are Russians. They come and go between this and Chemulpo with despatches. The Mandjour came from Chemulpo on Friday last, 6th inst.. and left again yesterday, Sunday, 8th inst., with des- patches for Chemulpo, which at present seems to be the headquarters for the Russian squadron.
HANG CHOW.
11th December.
The great and all-absorbing event in this city for the past month was the selection of a place for the foreign settlement. After the negotia tions at Soochow had been completed the High Commissioners came to this city. They were the guests of the high officials, but were enter- tained at the house of Dr. Main. The Japanese Consul-General, Mr. Chinda of Shanghai, repre. sented his government. He and his suite were entertained in a temple next door to Dr. Main's hospital, which was fitted up with foreign furni- ture for their convenience and comfort. They remained nearly three weeks, but there does not seem to have been any great difference of option Mis as to the general terms of the settlement. the Kians inese had long ago decided on a site and the provincial insse Consul General seems to have accepted Viceroy at Nanke best adapted to the purpose. In Chang Chih-tungnly one means of reaching this matter, the Director, DX perilled his chance of succee
Shanghai and the rest of hat leads to the large and Kai Taotai-ship,
h, and the site is to be
The
ques-
outside of this suburb, but about three and a half miles from the north gate. There was some contention as to how much of the land allotted should be allowed to the Japanese, the officials desiring to apportion it with some degree of equity between the different powers that might want to have concessions, but this tion along with some others, it is understood, was referred to the governments of the two Empires. The Commissioners and the officials guests and hosts seemed to have some very pleasant social intercourse. their guests an entertainment on one of the large The hosts gave boats kept on the West Lake for such purposes. There they had a China feast.
Just before the foreigners left there was au entertainment at the house of Dr. Main. All the officials, except the Governor, who was un- able to attend, were present. The Funtai seemed to be the leader among the officials When the invitation to proceed to the dining; room was given it took him about twenty minutes. it is said, to pass from the drawing room into the hall, there was such a strong con- tention between him and the Commissioner of Customs as to the order of precedence. But they all finally got to the table and did fair justice to the various foreign dishes that were served. Some of the displayed fair acquaint- ance with the use of knives, forks, and spoons. but others showed that they had not often handled such implements.
The Chinese seem to think that other foreign powers will wish to have concessions here, but it seems rather difficult to the writer to see any great attraction for foreign merchants here. There is a very small export trade. Consider. able paper of various kinds is made in the neighbourhood and up the river and comes to this place for transhipment: also wood for fuel and timber for building are brought down the river and transferred to the canals for transport to other places. The local products are mainly silk and ton. The Chinese seem to be preparing to take up the silk trade themselves and a com- pany has been formed and building operations have already commenced in the settlement for a silk lature.-M. C. Daily News corre- spondent.
TIENTSIN.
11th December, 1895. A few days ago an accident of rather a serious Monocacy, which nearly resulted in the destruc- nature occurred on board the U.S. gunboat tion of the vessel and possibly the foreign settle.
ment.
below to the store-room, in which there was a It appears that one of the crew went quantity of loose oakum. The man carried
resulted and
means set
i
į
a naked light, which by some fire to the oakum. A big blaze immediately the alarm being given the crew were at once ordered to fire quarters, and all were hard at work with the pumps and pass- ing buckets of water. half an hour the fire was got under, which was After working hard for most fortunate, as the magazine was full of powder. gun-cotton, and dynamite. As it was, the officers were on the point of scuttling her, but by good providence the fire was extinguished
The ex-German Minister. Herr von Brandt, has arrived at Peking, ou his commercial mis- lukewarm. After the position he formally oc- sion, but his receptions have been but cold and cupied here, and after that he has written at home about China and the Chinese, we wonder that he ever accepted such a position as he now holds, for surely the common sense he possesses should have been sufficient to point out" that as German Minister the Chinese officials looked up to him and respected him, for the position dain and contempt. The very officials and he held, but they now look upon him with dis- gentry, to whom he once behaved haughtily, now look down upon him, and he has now graces. to cringe to endeavour to get into their 'good I am of opinion that he has an amount of harm. He is not only looked done and will continue to do Germany down officials, but by even Chinese of the compradore upon by both high and low class. These ask very portinent questions, such as, Does Germany send out a Minister to get orders like a broker P ̈' Has the late German Minister been degraded, and he
[December 25, 1895.
not even a Consul now?" They cannot make die of starvation than face so low (as they think) it out; as a Chinese high official would sooner to have anything to do with trade. I expect that Herr von Brandt imagined that he would have all the officials rushing to him with orders ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary he was but it will not be so. As an Eovoy Extra
different matter. The Chinese firmly believe one thing, but as only a merchant it is quite a that it is impossible for a man who has been an business. Herr von Brandt has made a mis official to understand anything about mercantile take-and so has Germany.
*
On the evening of the 9th the Lanchow train killed and wounded; but full particulars are not left the rails and capsized. There were several to hand yet.
The river is closed up above here, and the ice reaches across the river below here, but I think the tugs may break through it. Owing to the N.W. wind there is not enough water for the steamers to get over the Taku bar, but I think frozen in-Mercury correspondent. there will be no danger of any of them being
HUNAN,
letter, dated Changsha, 4th December, and
The following are translations of a private
have been sent us (N. C. Daily News) by proclamation posted in the same city, which valued correspondent in Hankow
Changsha that a certain French priest named Immediately upon it being rumoured at
of Yochow, on board a gunboat, the Yochow An had arrived at Lingsianghsien, prefecture college of literature at once sent information - sha). There are seven of these institutions to the colleges at the provincial capital (Chang- here, and on the 20th and 21st of November Literature to consult and agree upon the steps to mass meetings were held at the Temple of
land for churches, etc. Eventually numerous be taken in respect of foreigners coming to buy placards were issued and posted all over the city prohibiting the secret sale of land.. HE. Ch'en Pao-chen, the new Governor, arrived at Changsha on the 29th of November, and Wu Tacheng, his predecessor, having handed over- the seals, the latter started for the Yangtze by boat on the 1st of December. It is also Hunan and that a certain Hsü ta-jën has been rumoured that some Japanese are coming to
not yet arrived. "The present is an opportune detailed to accompany the former. They have
moment to break away the barrier of exclusive- ness of the Hunanese once and for all time...
A PROCLAMATION BY THE ENTIRE PEOPLE OF HUNAN.
"
buy land for the purpose of building churches In the event of foreigners coming to
discover it is necessary to be on the alert in order to amongst us to sell them landed property.
beforehand any
secret attempts And it is hereby publicly agreed upon that a reward of ten strings of cash be offered to anyone, irrespective of condition and status of secret negotiations between natives and. of life, who, upon learning of the existence foreigners, assisted by worthless characters, lay the information at the nearest temple for the purchase of houses or lands, shall of learning or college. The reward named will make no distinction between the fact that a sale of land has been actually effected or is in progress of completion; it is only necessary bona fide. After a public investigation shall that the information given shall be true and
shall have this reward and the culprits [who have been made and proved, then the informer have disobeyed the will of the majority) shall money obtained by the sale shall be confiscated, be severely punished. In addition, the purchase one half to go to the public fund, the other half to the informer! Should there be Tis 1,000 of the above money Tls. 500 shall be given to
him without fail. Our words will not be eaten : We will perform to the letter what we pro-
mise."
A fire occurred at Shanghai on the 16th inst.. near the West Gate, French Town, causing
the destruction of fifteen houses. The honses were insured for between 1,500 and 2,000 taels: