October 22, 1896.] amonnt. It has been paid in and it has not accepted. It must go as amount*to be warded to the plaintiffs, and as they have not accepted it they will have to pay costs.
TIENTSIN.
7th October.
We hear that Captain Ilinsky, a Russian military officer, arrived at Port Arthur from Vladivostock during the middle of September last, and has been engaged in surveying the country through Kin Chowting.
Railway projects are attracting visitors to these parts on business intent. Amongst others Colonel Jeffords, G.E., of the United States, and Mr. O. Shea, his Secretary, passed through this week en route to Peking, and we under- stand these gentlemen are contemplating pro- tracted journeyings into Siberia.
We are glad to note that the long talked-of Junior Club" is about to become an accom- plished fact. There is cartainly room for such | an institution in Tientsin, and we heartily wish it every success. We understand that the Club House is to be in the French Settlement, im- mediately adjoining Yu-tai Hotel.
The press, bere and abroad, are all more or less engaged in discussing the financial straits of China, and it is a little curions that no one has pointed out one item where some Tls. 7,000,000 might be yearly saved to the Imperial Government. This item is for tribute rice, about a million piculs of which is annually sent up to Peking. Ordinary merchant's rice of equal quality to the tribute can be laid down at Peking for Taels 3.50 per picul, whereas it is an actual fact that each picul of tribute rice costs about Taels 11 before it reaches the capital. To deprive all the different officials of the per- quisites and plunder that accrue to them in transporting and disposing of this cereal would certainly be a gigantic task; bat when poverty is pleaded as an excuse for additional duties this little item might, with advantage, be taken notice of by the respective Foreign Ministers.
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The breach in the river at the Tientsin Bend has now been closed, having taken exactly eight weeks, while it might have been closed in as many hours, and indeed should never have taken place. During two days at the beginuing of the week all work was suspended, as those particular days were supposed to have some bad joss attached to them as regards closing breaches. What a commentary on the grave discussions that are going on in the newspapers of the civilised world as to the regeneration of China, the building of fleets, railways. &c., when we have here in the metropolitan pro- vince a ditch a little out of order which a school-boy at home could have prevented from breaking loose with his spade and barrow, Lut nevertheless is allowed for weeks to spread havoc and desolation all round, under the eyes of the magnates of the Empire, and at the last moment is permitted to entail further consider. able loss because some ass or rogue decreed such and such a day for closing to be unlucky. However, we should perhaps remember that our grandmothers would have done the same thing had a hare crossed their path in the morning.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. rightly shot the first man dead. The others soon made themselves scarce, and it is satisfactory to learn that ten of them were very seon caught, and immediately beheaded by the orders of General Li. Mr. Schaller is the officer who pluckily went to Pingyang during the late war to assist the Chinese, but had to ride hard and long to escape the shots of his dutiful and brave subordinates in their endeavour to kill him Peking and Tientsin Times.
SAIGON.
FROM A CORRESPONDENT.
815
Diu, bringing HE. Senhor Horta e Costa, was in sight. A crowd immediately began to gather along the Praia Grande to await His Excellency's arrival, and indeed I never before saw such a number of people going with so much delight to receive and welcome a Governor. The whole of the male European population were present with the exception of half-a-dozen who are desirous of showing their personal importance and are trying to form a party against His Excellency, and even they were at the windows to see the procession that accom- panied His Excellency to Government House.
The tide was low at the time, so the Diu could not come in and had to anchor about
:fal
8th October. M. Rousseau, the Governor-General, is here six miles out. His Excellency and Lady. at present and will visit the interior and. Cam-Horta e Costa came ashore in one of the hodia. On the 1st inst. he went to Mytho, Government launches, and it was not until thereby inaugurating the express trains of the about three o'clock that we had the pleasure of Mytho Railway, which do the distance of 70 shaking hands with His Excellency on the kilometres in one hour and forty miuntes, a
wharf and accompanying him to Government very fair achievement. The only stoppage is at House. Here champagne and port were served Tanan, the capital of the province of the same
and the Secretary-General proposed a toast of welcome to the Governor, wishing him on be- half of the people of Macao health and pro- sperity and expressing the pleasure the whole community experienced at seeing him back amongst us..
name.
A hopeful view is taken of the recently started mining enterprises. One Company is prospect ing the gold and copper mines of Attopeu, on the river Sé-khong, which joins the Mekong at Stung-treng, and another Company has been formed to examine the tin districts of Kammon. in the North Laos, near the Tonkin frontier, and of which Vinh is the port. Neither Com- pany has yet begun actual work, but the pro- spects seem very fair and encouraging. The railway across the island of Khone being now in working order will of course materially assist communication with the Upper Mékong valley.
The weather in Cochin-Chiva is now very favourable. Rain is still falling plentifully everywhere and another month of the same weather will ensure a first rate crop next year.
MACAO.
**
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
14th October. Before giving you the news this week I wish to say a few words with reference to a letter published in our local paper (we have only one) signed by “B. G." of Canton () The letter says there have recently appeared in the Eng- lish newspapers, and particularly in the Daily Press, various letters criticising the Goveru- ment, the Bishop, the public servants, and even the Portuguese nationality, and B. G. re- quests the editors of our local paper to offer me facilities to express my views in the columns of their journal, so that my news and comments may not appear in a foreign paper. But perhaps "B. G." does not know the position of affairs in this colony. Here everything is worked on monopolist principles, and it seems to me that our local paper runs on the same lines. We have only one paper, and " B. G." says any one can send to it articles, news, or letters for publication. It remains to be seen whether the editor or editors would publish anything that appeared unfavourable to the Government, the Leal Senado, etc. I believe not, but that the com- munications would simply be pigeon-holed or thrown in the waste paper basket. I say the newspaper has a monopoly, because some time. ago some gentlemen wanted to re-establish the Independente, but some of the authorities de- clined to give the necessary licence. A few days ago a gentleman writing from the same place as B. G." sent a letter to the same paper BB "B. G." sent his and signed himself
caense.
21
"Ma-
Mr. Schaller, a German, who has now for a considerable number of years been engaged as a military instructor in the north of China, was subjected to rather an adventure the other day at Lu-tai. There are a great number of troops there at present, but for months past a good many of the old ragamuffins have been periodically dismissed, and it appears that some
Did the paper accept and publish it? of those resented their dismissal and resolved to No. Why? Because the letter spoke of a great rob Mr. Schaller, who they thought had been injustice perpetrated in connection with the gir sure to accumulate a store of sycee. Theying of an appointment by the Leal Senado to a attacked his house during the right, and after assaulting his servants and killing his in- terpreter with swords, they made for Mr. Schaller, who was in his house. It is said that he was armed with a revolver, which he was reluctant to use, and nearly paid for his clemency with his life, as the revolver was knocked out of his hand with a stick. The ruf- fans, encouraged by this success, made a rush at him, but he escaped to an inner chamber and was able to lock the door. Here he possessed himself of another firearm, and warned his as- sailants that he would shoot the first man that entered his room. Quite unaware that he had gan in his hand, the mob, of about forty, broke down the door, and Mr. Schaller promptly and
His Excellency returned thanks to the Secretary-General (and all present for the enthusiastic welcome accorded to him and ex- pressed his satisfaction at finding himself once more in a colony for which he has such a great affection, at the same time promising to do all in his power for its welfare.
professor in one of the public schools. And now "B. G." wants me to lose my time in writing to the same paper and then have my communica- tions thrown into the editor's drawer. Let "B. G." write in a contrary sense to that in which he has written on this occasion and see if what he says will come to the public know ledge. "B. G." says that by writing constantly against the Government, etc., foreigners may be led to despise the Portuguese settled in other places. He need not be afraid of that, Common sense will tell and individuals will not be judged by the character of the Government of their country, nor vice versa.
On Tuesday, at 12.45 p.m., the Guia Fort fired one round as a signal that the gunboat
The evening was devoted entirely to the illu- minations on the Praya. There were fireworks in front of Government Honse, and all the public buildings and launches, the two dispensaries, and the Boa Vista Hotel were illuminated, while tar barrels were burnt on the hills of the Gnis Fort, the Military Hospital, and at Penha and Taipa, producing a very fine effect. The Praya was so crowded that it was almost impossible to pass along it. The band played in front of Government House.
Last night a ball in honour of His Excellency was given at the Club Uniao, which was very largely attended, there being seventy-three ladies and perhaps, a hundred and fifty gentle men present. The rooms were very handsomely decorated. The programme and menn were as follows:-
PROGRAMME
1--Quadrilha 2-Valsa 3-Barn Dance 4-Lanceiros 5--Polka 6-Quadrilla
12-Barn Dance 13-Valsa 14-Lanceiros 15-Valsa 16-Polka
Ceia
7-Valsa 8-Barn Dance 9-Lanceiros 10-Valsa 11-Quadrilha
17-Quadrilha i 18-Valsa
19-Barn Dance 20-Lanceiros
21-Galope
MENU.
Potage aux queues de boeuf. Mayonnaise aux crevettes. Chapon braisé avec pommes de terre. Petits fillets de veau à la maitre d'hotel. Galantine de foie gras. Mouton sauce blanche.
Dinde truffée. Faisan à la chausseur. Jambon-d'York.
DESSERT.
Puddings, Confiture, Cristallisée.
et Fruits assorties. - Champagne et-Vins divers. Dancing terminated, abont 4 a.m. H.E was very much pleased with the ball and all the other demonstrations in his honour..
$
If everything goes on well and smoothly we will have Senhor Horta e Costa as our. Governor for two years more. It has given the public much pleasure to learn this, and the pleasure would be still greater if the term could be further prolonged.
The Nagasaki Express learn agencies of the Pacific Mail a Oriental Steamship Companies be transferred from the Nippon to Mesars. Holme, Ringer & Co.
hat