116
ANTI-OPIUM CRUSADE AT
ICHANG.
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According to native reports the officials at Idhang are following a course of action which would delight the heart of the anti-opium people. Some days ago the officials of that city made an extensive tour of its thoroughfares, forcibly closing up scores of opium shops, seizing the owners, and giving each of them 400 blows of the bamboo and half that complement to the smokers found on the premises. One hardened offender, who took his beating without saying anything, opened his shop again as soon as the officials turned their backs. He was arrested and put in the cangue for a month. It is by these sporadic outbursts of offended virtue that the officials of China, who are the most confirmed slaves of opium, exemplify their claims to the titles of the fathers and mothers of the people.-- China Gazette,
THE RUSSIAN MINISTER ISSULTAT.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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You
our-
[February 5, 1896.
have an opportunity of meeting Mr. Brenan and placing him in possession of their ideas generally. Till we have done so and ascertained his views, so far as he may be able to import them to us. it is not necessary for me to deal further with matters contained in this report. Gentlemen. I am unable to say that this appoint- ment was made owing to the representations of such should prove to be this Committee, but the case I would take back what I said before and would say now we may almost feel satisfied with our work for this year. (Hear, hear.)
A dinner was afterwards held at which the usual toasts were honoured.
as far back as January, 1893, but up till now. as far
as I know, nothing has been done to rectify matters. The last communication we received, dated 10th January, 1894, from the Postmaster General of Hongkong was in the governmental or evasive and stereotyped
under consideration of style that the question
Regarding the other H.M.'s Government. matter, the Sungpu massacre I am afraid, its the continued apparently settlement and culpable neglect of the British and other gov. ernments has borne, and is likely to continue to bear, abundant fruit. You remember last August how shocked and horrified we were by
The speech of most general interest at the the news of the Whasang massacre. remember with what enthusiasm the great dinner was that of Captain Winsloo, R.N., indignation meeting, called under the auspices who, in responding for the Navy, said--The of the China Association, as mentioned in this changes in the British fleet in these waters report, was attended by members of all nation during the last ten years had been very great. alities in Shaughai; with what enthusiasm At that period the fleet was represented by an ironclad of the Audacious class, two or three we adopted resolutions to address, selves directly to the people of the corvettes, and the remainder were small ships. whole world for sympathy and redress. You The flag was now represented by an ironclad, first our service, fonr remember how meetings were held in Hongkong second to none in
class cruisers, three of which were armoured, and nearly every treaty port in China in which our example was exactly followed. How it was four second-class cruisers of the Spartan type, This resolved to be satisfied only by the just panish-besides a number of smaller ships. ment of the guilty, and a proper inquiry into affected their interests in two ways, and let us ask ourselves are we satisfied with what the conduct of the native officials. Gentlemen, the presence of a strong fleet in these waters was indicative that if any game was to be has been done. For myself I say a thousand played Great Britain was strong to take a hand times No." (Cheers. The late Viceroy of
in it.
It also affected them in another way, Szechuen, within whose district trouble, but no which was that every ship that had gone home murder, had occurred, was disgraced and banished. had been replaced by a stronger and larger I have not been able to determine from the uews- vessel, and one drawing more water, so that the papers whether he was disgraced because of re- Admiral had now very great difficulty in meeting presentations made by the British or French always the demands made upon him as to visiting Minister, orifit was because he was, independently ports, as he had not always ships at his immediate of their representations, a discredited individual dispos: drawing but little water and able to with his own government, but judging from
visit the ports where they were required. The what has happened at Foochow it seems pretty object of having a big fleet was to keep it in a clear the latter was the reason. The troubles perfect state of efficiency and by that they learned at Chengtu pale before these at Whasang. It three things, confidence in their leader, con- Ou getting safely back to Legation Street, inquiry should have been so flouted as it was, at
seems to me monstrous that the commission offidence in their neighbour, and lastly, confidence the Russian and French Ministers preceded the latter place, according to the accounts given to the Tsungli Yamon and demanded that a
by Mr. Banuister. It seems to me grossly proclamation be immediately issued to prevent unfair if the Viceroy of Szechen was further insults to foreigners and if not they severely punished for inadequate protection of the Ministers, would speedily make other ar
foreigners at Chengtn that the Viceroy at rangements for their own protection. This
Foochow and some of his insolent under- request will no doubt prove to be effective andings should be allowed to go scot free when prevent any similar outrages.
The Tientsin correspondent of the Mercury, writing on the 15th January, says :---
Information reached us last night that the Chinese residing in Peking and the suburbs are considerably excited over the construction of the Lin Kolchrao railway, and whilst Count
Cassini with some friends were cut riding, the party were stopped by an infuriated mob, who conceived the foreigners were the cause of the construction of the railway, which they think will injure instead of benefit the people, and stones were hurled at the Count and companions. The Tingchais who arcompanied the party had all they could do to restrain the violence of the mob and to get the people to understand that the party had nothing to do with the railway staff, hat belonged to the Russian legation,
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teu foreigners living under his protection were murdered and when the subsequent
THE SHANGHAI BRANCH OF THE inquiry into the matter was conducted on the
CHINA ASSOCIATION,
Th⚫ annual meeting of the Shanghai Branch of the China Azzeriation was held on the 27th January.
The Chairman in the course of his speech said The China Association was formed for the special purpose of profecting and promoting British interests in China, but our interests are so varied and so great and our intentions so liberal, that in protecting and promoting those; interests would be protecting and promoting the interests of every nationality represented in Shanghai in one way or another. It is pro- bably a fact that in some of the alterations and reforms we have asked for or suggested, we have touched upon matters of a diplo. matic or international character. When such has been the case we have not in any way insisted upon such reforms and alterations, being content to leave such matters to he dealt with by the proper authorities in the hope that it was only necessary to direct their atten- tion to them. In cases, however, which are not in any way of a diplomatic or international character, but in which we are deeply interested. and about which we think we know, we have con- sidered it our duty to urge our views as strongly as possible on those whom wo have addressed. So far, we have little, if any reason. that I know of, to be satisfied with the reception of those views. Should the incoming committee hold the same opinion they will find plenty to occupy them, and I hope that official indifference will not prevent them doing what they consider to be their duty. Referring for a moment to last year's report, I find that matters left over from previous years were postil anomalies and the unsatisfactory so-called settlement of the Sungpu massacre. Regarding the first matter, postal anomalies, I find this question was one of the first that engaged the attention of this Association
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in themselves. Without those three things the fleet was useless. They could only get those qualities by the ships cruising in company, and be mentioned that because at times they saw in the newspapers a question as to where was the British feet, and that it ought to be in such and such a place, but at that time probably the British fleet was cruising not for the benefit of its health but for the benefit of its organisation. (Applause). In late years the speed of vessels bad considerably increased. with the result that in a very short time a man-of-war could be sent to any part of the station. This was very much exemplified by a recent incident, when the fleet was some 800 miles away, but yet in seven days the whole fleet was anchored off Nanking. It was therefore not necessary to keep the big ships on the spot when they could be very well away cruising for the benefit of their organisation. Before sitting down he would like again to thank them very much, and, through those present, everyone who subscribed to the Edgar fund. Not only did he thank them en behalf of the Edgar, but for the whole service, for the kind assistance given by the community on the occasion of the very deplorable accident to the Edgar's launch. (Applause).
HONGKONG.
Chinese side, up to a certain point, in the most offensive and obstructive manner, and I say most emphatically we should not be satisfied with the position in which this affair, as far as we have been informed, has been left. (Applause.) I believe myself it was only because of the manner in which this matter was taken up by the Times and the press generally (to whom our most sincere thanks are due) that anything at all was done, and I beg them to continue to urge for the punishment of the officials if they were guilty. I am only fearful that the great healer Time may cause them to let the mattor drop. The Hunan publications. I understand, flourish as of yore under the fostering bands of Chou Han and his followers. They are a monument of disgrace to all governments in China, including the Chinese Government, and their immediate suppression should be insisted upon. (Applause) Perhaps the most important matter brought forward this year by this Com- The past week has been characterised by mittee was the appointment of a High Commis heavy rains, which are unusual at this season, sioner to examine into and report to H.M.'s and the reservoirs have received a slight benefit Government on all matters in China connected therely. On Wednesday the remains of Dr.
the Russian with British subjects. Our reasons for making Okotine, of
ship Imperator the request and our intentions as to what should Nicolai I., were interred with naval honours. be done are amply set forth in the report. I On Thursday and Friday the championship will therefore only say that we did not intend competitions in connection with the Victoria the appointment to be in any way a reflection Recreation Club took place, and the Governor on our Minister and Consul Generals and Con-wound up the interesting display with a very suls. On the contrary, we intended and expect humorous speech. On Friday the shareholders it to strengthen and support them in the highest in the Hongkong, Canton, and Macao Steam- degree. We have not received any reply to our boat Co., Limited, held their half-yearly meet- request, but we know that Mr. Byron Brenan, ing, and on Monday the shareholders in the a gentleman of exceptional abilities and at- West Point Building Co., Limited, met. tainments, has been appointed to make a tour of inspection in China and Japan, and we can only hope that he will make a thorough examination of all matters submitted to him and furnish such a report as will result in any of our grievances that are well founded being redressed. I hope the China Association will
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The German cruisers Irene und Kaiser left on the 2nd Feb. for Amoy.
We hear that a tiger was trapped and killed by Chinese near Chinwan recently.
Mr learn that Mr. John Andrew is still at Wuchowfu and is likely to return in a fortnight