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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
was practically over, only a few gusts from the [SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE “DAILY PRESS."] south-east occurring after that time.
AT MACAO.
Sunday's gale reached Macao about one o'clock. In the morning the wind showed an inclination to be a little troublesome, but it was
[August 18, 1896
Japanese Customs officials are, but they seem to take little interest in either the smuggling or examination of native junks. When the Chi nese Customs were here, five Europeans and five Chinese writers did all the work, but now there are forty Japanese in the office, and even
thing done. They all seem to be busy, painfully slow and most impossible" crea- tures. There may be some wonderful system in vogue, but nobody to work it.
**
AMOY, 5th Angust. The Government of Taiwan has found it necessary to appoint a Special Court, with a view to examine the cases in connection with the present Rebellion. The Regulations have not until tiffin time that the residents grew been published. They provide that the Court with this huge staff it takes hours to get any really suspicious of dirty weather, and typhoon shall be instituted with five judges appointed shutters were then tightly drawn to and barred.from among those of the Supreme Court and The wind gradually increased in force during the Court of Appeal and shall be opened at any the afternoon, the sea dashed about in a furions place where the Governcy-General of Taiwan manner, and boats proce-ded to the most favour shall find convenient, wheter crimes have been able places of safety. During the early moru, committed with a view (!, to niset the Govern. ing the gale moderated and died away, and, mont, to arbitrarily oceny The land, or to although at times it had blown in very powerful disturb the laws and regulations: (2) to oppose gusta, practically no damage was done. The administration: C to endanger high officials; Praya Grande was cut up somewhat and a lot or (4) when eringes have been committed calen- Save us from such a catastrophe!: Does of paving stones which had become loose were lated to cause diplomatic complications.
this really meau that all European mail scattered about the roadway, but beyond this The Court has been opened of late at Chang-matter will in future be left to the tender no harm was done. The leungsian sheltered wha, where the inquiry is going on in connec behind Molo Chau Island during the night and tion with the cases of a number of prisoners she left Macao on Monday morning an hour and concerned in the present rebellion. a half after her usual time, arriving in Hong- kong soon after twelve o'clock..
THE REBELLION IN FORM OSA.
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
TAINANFOO. 3rd August.
On fiuishing the inquiry at Changwha the Court will be opened in other districts.
[SPECIAL TELEGRẠM TO THE “DAILY PRESS."]
TAIPER, 18th August. Communications have been restored. The rebels have retreated to the mountains.
着看
OPIUM SMUGGLING IN SOUTH FORMUSA.
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
It is difficult to give a clear statement of events since the date of our communication of the 14th ult; but it is certain that the once flourishing towns of Chip-Chip and Hoonim,
ANPING, 1st August. the camphor centres of South Formosa, are
Many articles have appeared in print lately absolutely deserted. This means an exodus of concerning the Japanese atrocities in Mid. about six thousand people, who, with the fugi- Formosa. I would like to write a few lines tives from the neighbouring towns and villages, rogarding the smuggling of opium into South have fled to the hills for safety. It is estimated Formosa. In February last, the Japanese Gov. that forty thousand Chinese are now encamped ernment informed us quite suddenly that the in the open. Many of these are well-to
Importation of opium into Formosa was do people, but considerably over half this prohibited." Since that time considerably namber are utterly destitute. Foreigners have
more opium has been brought into the island large interests at both these centres, and than was ever shipped during the whole of the without means of communicating with their previous year. Chinese junks arrive daily at employés their position is grave in the extreme. almost every port along the coast, chiefly Takow The rebels (?) having retreated to the hills, and Lok-kang, and there is little risk of any the Japanese have had an easy task in reoccupy-seizures being made. As a matter of fact, I do ing some of the places from which they were driven on the first outbreak of hostilities.
On the 16th ult. a force of 400 Japanese soldiers was sent to attack the stronghold of a brigand chief named Kang-gee. This man had challenged the Japanese to fight, instead of pursuing their course of burning villages and slaughtering innocent people. The peculiar nature of the country rendered operations for the attacking party very difficult, and it is reported that the Japanese had eventually to retreat, wità a loss of two hundred men.
It is further stated that the Japanese have made overtures with the object of inducing the
not honestly believe that 5 per cent. of all the Japanese know what opium really is, and in many cases they have never seen the drug. A compl of examples may be interesting. A Chinaman went to the Custom House at Takow to clear a chest of Benares, evidently the first of this description. On opening this chest the ex- aminer started back and looked very scared at finding what he thought "explosive shells instead of opium. He declared that the China- man should be reported and dealt with, and it was only when a European intervened and explained matters that the opium dealer was allowed to clear his drug and go away.
31
Another case, at Tangkang, a large and fugitives to return to the plains, but that the flourishing place south of Takow, where one people, after their bitter experience, have declined to leave their temporary homes in the day a small native craft arrived with a few balls of opium concealed amongst the cargo. A mountains unless a guarantee of their safety is gendarue examined the boat and found the given by one of the Western Powers. It re- mains to be seen if the foreign Ministers in opium. Being much puzzled as to what it was be asked the captain, who at once replied in Japan cannot seriously take the matter in hand. Without some assurance of this kind it is diffi-writing, Chinese medicine"! The opium was cult to see how the island is to be restored to
peace.
allowed to pass. In this way, and in many other well devised plans, John Chinaman sees the Japanese at every turn, and usually goes better."
F
one
The city of Tainanfoo has not escaped excitement. On the night of the 16th July it
After the Japanese arrived, we were officially was rumoured that the rebels had assembled in informed that only the four Treaty Ports, force and would make an attack. Precantions Kalung, Tamsui, Anping, Takow, would be were taken to prevent a sudden rising, and open to foreign and native trade. Between the civil officers were summoned to the Lok-kaug and Anping, Chinese junks come Prefectural Office, under a strong guard. A and go us they please, discharging and loading telegram was despatched to Auping, warning at their leisure. At Anping a farce called the Customs staff, and the Commissioner and examining" native boats is gone through by his officers took refuge in the Customs godown the Customs officers, but few cases of smuggling for the night, duly prepared for an emergency are detected. Tungkang being closed this year, Fortunately nothing occurred and the scare
all the sea-going junks from Chiu-chew, Amoy, soon passed off. The foreign residents in An-
Namoa, &c., have had to put into Takow for their ping were left in blissful ignorance of the situa-export cargoes of rice for the mainland. At one tion, but had the attack been made their time orer 150 large junks were anchored inside position would have been anything but an
Takow, and I suppose every one brought not enviable one..
less (lain three, chesta of opium from China. We can well understand now how it is that in Juur last only twelve chests (!) of opium were cleared at the Custom House at Auping, arainst, say, ti lowest estimate of 120 chests per month in the old days. Who is respousible for all this? We understand the
Although matters are far from settled, it is hoped that peace may be soon established, but it will take years to restore confidence. The Japanese have far more in hand than the over- throw of Liu Yang-fu and the suppression of the rebellion in the North last January.
On the 30th July the Director of the Telegraph Department here issued the follow- ing circular "The Postal business (except money orders and sending baggages) will be accept from 1st August."
mercies of an inefficient staff of Japanese? We, in Formosa, have had bitter experience of the Japanese postal arrangements, and we sincerely hope that letters will be allowed to come to ́us, as usual, through the British Consulate.
THE WRECK OF THE “ ILTIS.”
Chefoo, 29th July. Yesterday morning the arrival of a courier from the S.E. Promontory lighthouse, with the news of the wreck of the German gunboat Iltis on the night of Thursday last, startled the whole community, and filled us all alike with sorrow. The gunboat left here on the morning of the day in the evening of which the typhoon reached us; she was bound for Weihaiwei, and speculation is rife as to how she happened to be off the S.E. Promontory. As yet, few details are known; the ship is known to have struck a small island some nine miles N.E. of the Promontory; she broke in half, and only the fore portion remained above water; from it, two days later, eleven men were taken off by a sampan and conducted to the lighthouse; all the others perished, including all the officers. The typhoon, the first re- corded one in Chefoo, did a good deal of damage, uprooting trees, unroofing houses, etc., and many of our badly built wall collapsed; owing to the floods of rain which accompanied the storm.-N. C. Daily News correspondent.
"
MEMORIAL SERVICE AT HONGKONG.
On Sunday morning a service in memoriam of the late captain, officers, and crew of the German gunboat Altis was held in the German Unfortunately, owing to the' gale, chapel. many German residents at the Peak were unable to attend. Several ladies went as far as the tram station, but turned back on learning that the typhoon gun had been fired at a quarter to ten. Notwithstanding the unfavour- able weather, however, the chapel was crowded, the congregation including a few ladies, amongst whom were the ladies of the Berlin Foundling House and the Misses Eitel. The German Consul, in the uniform of a captain of the Army, received at the door of the chapel those who
attended the service.
H.E. the Governor was represented by Captain Sterling, A.D.C., H.E. Major. General Black by Captain Loveband, A.D.C., and Commodore Boyes by his Secretary, Mr. F. R. Waymonth, R.N. The heads of most of the leading German firms were present, includ ing Mr. Siebs, Mr. Stolterfoht, Mr. Garrels, Mr. Wieler, and Mr. Georg. Dr. Eitel and Dr Wilm, the latter in the uniform of a naval -- doctor, were also present. The Rev. Rieke conducted the service and preached a very touching and impressive sermon.
· RELIEF -FUND, S
We understand that a fund for the relief of the sufferers by the foundering of HIGMS Iltis has been started by an influential committee, of which Mr. N. A. Siebs is Chairman, and that subcription lists are lying at the German Club, Messrs. F. Blackhead & Co., Chas. J. Grupp & Co., Kruse & Co., and Heuermann, Herbst, & Co. Mr. M. Grote is noting as. Sẽ and Treasurer to the Fund and w receive any subscriptious.
We are glad to learn that, so far as is known no foreigner is responsible for the sugg that the, Bund foreshore should be sold, Daily News,
T