196
the losses, I do not consider that any exceptional losses will result in respect of any risk that the Company holds for 1895, as I daresay you will all agree with me that when everything is on the boom there are not so many fires as there are when things are in a low and depressed condition. (Laughter.) There is another circumstance which I think ought to be referred to, so that it shall not pass by, and that is the circumstance that the General Managers intend to ask Mr. Burder to go round everywhere to inspect every risk that the Com- pany has.
It will be a long job, and although we have no reason to doubt that all our risks are perfectly sound, still it will be satisfactory no doubt to a great many people to have that confirmed by Mr. Burder's report. (Applause.) I do not think I need, say any more. believe Mr. Burder is going on the return of Mr. Veitch; he will commence immediately after. wards, and I think that the shareholders, in addition to being very happy with their General Managers, will also consider themselves very lucky in being served by such thoroughly reliable gentlemen as Mr. Veitch and Mr. Burder. (Applause.)
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE LATEST COUP D'ETAT IN
KOREA.
The following very interesting extract from a private letter dated Seoul, the 15th instant, has been kindly given us for publication. Its accuracy is unimpeachable :-
"On Monday, the 10th February, the Russian guard came up to Seoul, 100 men with one gun; immediately after their arrival the King and Crown Prince made their escape from the Palace. They left in women's chairs (those that are closed all around and have a sort of tassel, made of silk mostly, hanging in front), with a woman walking on each side of the chair -otherwise they went without any escort, just like common noblemen's wives; no Russian soldiers or sailors went to the Palace. The King escaped by his own free will. Soon after his arrival at the Russian Legation, the King revoked the hair-cutting edict. Proclamations were stuck all over the city, ordering the im- mediate arrest of the whole Cabinet, every member of which was to be executed immediately and all heads, ten in number, to be sent to the Russian Legation to the King. The Police caught three Ministers, Kun Hun-chip, late Mr. G. H. POTTS-I bag to propose that the Prime Minister, Chong Pyong-ha, late Minis- appointment of Messrs. M. D. Ezekiel and A.ter of Commerce and Agriculture, and Yu Kil. Ross on the Consulting Committee be confirmed, chun, late Minister of the Home Office. and that the present members, Messrs. C. P. Chater, S. G. Bird, J. H. Lewis, M. D Ezekiel,
The resolution was carried.
and A. Ross, be re-elected.
Mr. TOMLIN-I have very much pleasure in seconding that proposal.
Carried.
Mr. H. HUMPHREYS proposed, and Mr. BYRAMJEE seconded, the re-election of Messrs. Fullerton Henderson and A. Coxon as auditors.
Carried.
The CHAIRMAN-Dividend and bonus
war-
The two first were executed on the day of the proclamation, the 11th of Februaryf at the Big Bell; they were not killed by the mob. The third one, the real rascal of the whole lot, was rescued by the Japanese soldiers and is now, as they say, together with all the other persons who are wanted,' staying in the Japanese Legation.
One Japanese who struck a Korean in a crowd standing near the execntion ground was killed by the Koreans; otherwise everything is perfectly quiet in Seoul; Japanese women and
[March 4, 1896.
cangue. The Court added, however, that if it should be found that any of the prisoners had assisted in the recovery of the money, they could be brought up again and have their sentences modified.-Mercury.
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION AT KIANGYIN.
200 LIVES ĻOST.
We learn from Kiangyin, under date the 24th February, that the secret societies are at work again. Just before 1 p.m. on Sunday a terrible explosion took place on the left bank of the river. The main powder magazine which con- tained a large amount of powder blew up; it is not known whether it was by accident or design, but it looks like the latter, as rifle firing was going on after the explosion, and the property of one of the captains was stolen. It is reported that two hundred lives were lost, and there are many wounded. The foreigners on the right bank are afraid to cross, as the Anhui soldiers are in a state of mutiny, are holding their General as a prisoner, and intend to kill him. The foreign instructors when the mutiny breaks out will move over to the Hunan troops on whom they can rely and who will not assist the Anhui men. Our own correspondent writes:-
"Of old a soldier was one who was paid a soli- dus; the Chinese soldier is one who is promised a solidus and is expected to be filled and satisfied with the promise. No marvel then that great difficulty is being experienced by the rapacious officials in disbanding the hasty levies who were to drive the Japanese into the sea. place insubordination has reigned for the past three days, the soldiers having taken charge of officials and everything else they could lay their hands on, and proceeded to say what they would
་་
At this
rants will be ready on Friday. I thank you children walking about unmolested in the and what they would not do. This was brought
for your attendance, gentlemen.
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
#1
THE LATE MEETING OF THE HONG. KONG AND WHAMPOA DOCK CO.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS. DEAR MR. EDITOR,-"Proposed by Mr. Broker Stokes and seconded by Mr. Broker Mody that the director's fees be doubled. Carried unanimously." The great Confucius, I think, defined an honest broker to be a square man
streets. The troops who were sent to defeat the people who did not want to get their hair cut have been recalled. This stupid haircut- ting has cost the Japanese their influence; how the people despised the new law is best shown by the fact that a lot of Koreans have been seen with their mangun (hair net) and their top, knot (real or false) on and dressed in the old style."-N. C. Daily News.
THE ROBBERY OF SOVEREIGNS ON THE "WHAMPOA,”
are
Ehe
Voyage
from
the
Shanghai, 24th February. Nineteen men were charged in a body at the Mixed Court this morning with having stolen from on board the steamer Whampoa, on or about the 15th instant, sixty-seven sovereigns. The circumstances connected with the theft. as follows:-About six months ago,
Australia. during Whampoa had on board a bag containing 500 sovereigns. These were delivered over
officer, to the second
who locked them At the end of up in the treasure room. the voyage the bag was found to be missing, and though a thorough search was made they could not be found. Soon afterwards the Chinese crew were discharged and a new lot
taken on. of men
On the 15th inst., as the ship was lying at Boyd & Co.'s jetty, the cement floor of the galley was being taken up, and a lot of sovereigns underneath; how many there were cannot The men who made the dis- bo ascertained.
were found
fitting a round hole, which shows, beyond doubt, how deeply the Sage had pondéred the subject. Joking apart, I, for one, am thankful that these directors were content with only doubling their salary; they might have quadrupled it, for it is very probable that no one present at the meet- ing would have objected. Was there ever a community so run? The same half dozen names figure on the boards of almost all the important enterprises in the colony. It would be interest- ing to know how many hours each month these industrious men give to the affairs of the Dock Company, let alone those of the other numerous concens they are paid to manage? And let it be remembered that these persons are all the heads or managers of firms, whose business must engage their first and chief consideration. It is simply impossible to understand how they can find the necessary time, if their duties are bona fide and are honestly discharged, unless they had the miraculous power of prolonging covery at once appropriated a good share and the day of 21 hours to oue of 48 or 72 hours, bought the silence of the rest of the crew with and although they have doubtless the power of donations from the same source. The whole adding to their salaries, yet even the kind brokers proceedings, however, came to light, and several cannot so lengthen their days. The fees of the of the crew at once decamped, one man, the directors of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock boatswain, having with him thirty-four sover- Co. were already exceedingly liberal, viz., $3,500 eigns. The police were communicated with, and each half year, and to increase this to $7,000 is through the energetic efforts of the, we must simply an outrage on the shareholders, for it is say, most efficient detective staff, both foreign very evident that they can give no adequate and native, the missing men were all apprehended return for such prodigal remuneration. I think and sixty-seven sovereigns recovered. The man that the Shanghai Mercury lately put the mat- with the thirty-four was arrested in a village at ter in a cutshell when it wrote "The Hong-Yangtzepoo, while another was discovered in a kong shareholders are a puny lot and never like facing the music of directors' meetings."-I am, sir, &c.,
27th February, 1896.
RHADAMANTHUS.
|
village in Pootung. The result of the appear- ance of the nineteen men at the Mixed Court this afternoon was that sixteen of them wore sentenced to six months' imprisonment each, while the three principals were given a month's
about by orders having been received from high authorities to disband a camp that has been stationed here a number of years.
"As usual in almost all affairs, governmental or otherwise, the whole plan had leaked out be- fore the General in command had matured his plans enough to act; so that when he was ready the soldiers had also matured their plans and refused to obey. They are largely Hupeh men, and refused to be disbanded here, as was at- tempted. Further grievances were found in that the General was not paying what he had been ordered to pay the men. Possession was quickly taken of the General's quarters, and his furniture went the way such articles usually go in a Chinese brawl. Afraid to vent their anger on the real offenders, they show what they might do with their enemies were they so in- clined by breaking the furniture to pieces.
"In the excitement of the above heroic action the whereabouts of the General himself had been neglected, so that gallant leader left off the fighting, thus being fresher for the running away, and showed remarkable alacrity for one so corpulent as the General is known to be. Finding that the big bird had flown the little ones were made to suffer, and in the scrimmage a captain had his arm cut off and died soon after from loss of blood. This was Friday last, the 29th. Yesterday (Sunday) a rush was made by the soldiers, so it is reported, on the magazines of the camp, Here such strenuous efforts were made, and such really heroic measures used, that the soldiers were completely subdued; for the magazine was fired, more than two hundred were killed and a great number wounded. terrific was the explosion that houses were shaken two miles away. The affair has not yet been settled, but is looked on with perfect in- difference by the natives of the city, since the fight is in the camp and does not concern them. The intervention of the "Dragon Eye (Literary Chancellor) has been asked, but in spite of his high rank his known corruption is so great that it is doubtful if he will be able to pacify the disturbed elements.-N. C. Daily
News.
So
At Swatow during the month of January the maximum temperature was 76, on the 10th, and the minimum 47, on the 20th, the mean for the month being 61.3. The rainfall amounted to 1.53 in.