926
3,982 of 1897, enclosing by the direction of Mr. Secretary Chamberlain, for the in- formation of the signatories to the letter of the 18th ultimo, copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hongkong relative to the proposal to maintain, as Harbour Dnes the charge of 24 cents per ton levied at present as Light, Dues on shipping at Hongkong, also adding that Mr. Chamberlain concurs in the view that it is not unreasonable to levy moderate Har bour Dues in Hongkong, provided that the proceeds do not exceed the total expenditure on the Harbour Department, including Light houses, Water Police, etc.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
In reply, I am desired to state, on behalf of the signatories to the letter above referred to. that they regret that Mr. Chamberlain does not consider it expedient to reinstate Hongkong in the position of an absolutely free port, that having undoubtedly been the mainspring of the Importance it has arrived at as a port of call | and converging centre for the bulk of the shipping visiting the Far Eastern seas.
In view, however, of Mr. Chamberlain's opinion that the amount levied as harbour dues should not exceed the total expenditure on the Harbour Department. I am desired to draw attention to the following facts, which, it is considered, conclusively imlicate that, on this basis, there is no ground for increasing the levy
MURDER OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONARY.
A telegram has been received from Kweisha, Kwangsi, reporting that the chapel at Loli tas been pillaged and the Rev. Father Mazel mas sacred and that Sailin is threatened. These are all the particulars given in the telegram. Father Mazel was a young priest, twenty-five years of age, who had only recently come out from France. He arrived in Hongkong in September last and after staying here a few weeks went to Kweishap, where he remained till the beginning of last month, when be left for Loli, Kweishan, from whence the telegram comes, is the town in which the Vicar Apostolic of Kwongsi has his residence, and Loli is a town in this jurisdiction. The telegram leaves it uncertain whether the attack was the result of religions persecution or a simple act of briganlage.
STRANDING OF THE
YIKSANG."
On Saturday morning Messrs. Jardine Matheson & Co. received a telegram stating that the Yang, which went ashore on the rocks at Iwayaki, which is between Nagasaki and Kobe, was expected to float if the weather continued favourable. She was on a voyage
cargo. Assistance has been sent to the vessel
the necessary machinery.
[April 28, 1897.
were insured in the South British Company for $7,000 and first floor in the Transatlantic In- surance Company for $2,000, Six fokis belonging to the birds' nest shop have been charged with arson. The ground for this charge was the finding of several perforated tins containing kerosine in the top storey and it is also supposed that the insurance effected was for a sum much greater than the real value of the contents.
On Saturday Mr. H. E. Wodehouse opened the inquiry concerning the death from suffoca tion of the three men who were found in a cookhouse at the back of 99, Jervois Street, which was on fire on the 21st inst. Six men were arrested on a charge of wilfully setting fire to the place, but one of them was discharged on the application of Mr. H. L. Dennys, Crown Solicitor, who conducted the case for the police. Mr. Dennys explained that there was a suspicion that murder had been committed, as it was thought the fire was the result of an act of incendiarism, Four tins of kerosine were found in the shop, three of them having been placed there, it was supposed, for setting fire to the place, while one of them was perhaps used for legitimate purposes. The evidence showed that the men had died from asphyxia and that they could have escaped only by a which hung down a smoke hole. When the
of 1 cent per ton which has been hitherto | from Newchwung to Kobe with a general outbreak was discovered the five accused men collected as fixed Light Dues.,
In the letter from His Excellenty the Goy-ith ernor of. Hongkong it is stated that the tonnage which visited the port in 1895 amounted to 5,772,289 tous, which at 1 cent per ton yield a revenue of upwards of $57,000 In the letter from the Shipping Firms of the 13th altime, it was pointed ont that the present total expenditure of the whole lighthouse establishment of Hongkong is under $17,000. There is consequently a balance of upwards of $40,000 available from this source general harbour expenditure and, as is shown in Sir W. Robinson's letter, there is a further revenue of $50,000. a emanating from the charge on native craft also available for that purpose, but in addition to this sum of $90.000 per annum I am able to state that there are farther charges on ship ping collected by the Harbour Department. such as native emigration fees, taxes on moor- ings and lighters, etc., which bring in a considerable annual revenue, though I qnable, from the information at my disposal in this country, to state what the amount is.
year
FIRE OM. THE “ BELGIC".
ran about shouting "Fire." The inquiry was adjourned until Wednesday afternoon, when it will be decided whether to continue the inquést or hold a fire inquiry.
THE ANTI-FOOTBINDING SOCIETY.
The Organising Secretary of the Tien Tsu Hni writes as
So many ladies in Hongkong signed the memorial to the Emperor of China against foot binding that it will probably interest many of your readers to hear that Colonel Denby is again pressing on the Tsungli Yamen with all his influence the duty of forwarding this me morial to those to whom it is addressed, the Emperor and Empress Dowager, instead of shelving it or keeping it among their archives as they proposed to do. It may be remembered they said it was very difficult to present such a ́
A fire broke ont.in No. 1 hold of the Belgic at 10.20 on the night of the 21st April as she was lying at her buoy in the barbour. The outbreak originated near an earthen furnace in the 'tween decks which was being used for the purpose of fumigating the luggage of the Chinese passen. forgers, and as soon as it was discovered signals were given. The new floating fire engine was sent to the vessel and a small party of firemen from the Central Police Station also went, but it was not until one o'clock in the morning that they finished their work, which consisted principally of pumping water into the hold up to the combings. The luggage of the Chinese passen. gers and a quantity of matting were destroyed and there was also a somewhat serious perio injury recorded. One of the tubes of the boiler of the new floating fire engine burst, the con- The appeal against footbinding issued by Mr. Chow, one of the literati of Suifu, who has held sequence being that a Chinese fireman was severely scalded about the body. He was taken a post as examiner, continues to arouse many with all haste to the Government Civil Hospital, opponents to this cruel custom. Mr. Chew Fai where he is detained. The Belgic was due to ting, shipping manager of the China Merchants leave here on the 22nd April at noon, but owing Company, has had 5,000 copies printed and circu- to the fire her departure was delayed until day-lated through his native province of Canton. light next morning,
an
It is considered, however, that the forego. ing statements may be fairly held to indicate that the revenue at present collected by the Harbour Department (exclusive of the special levy of 14 cents per ton as, Light Dues in connection with the Gap Rock Lighthouse) is already in excess of the total expenditure of | that Department, and it is therefore respect- fully urged that no further tax of any descrip- tion may be levied upon shipping, as such charge would be exclusively applicable to the general expenditure of the colony, and is absolutely not required to meet any expenditure either directly or indirectly connected with shipping
1. H. JOSEPH, Secretary. The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office,
inorial to the Emperor: It is to be hoped. they con find it not impossible so to do
It were to be wished that many others of the enlightened Cantonese, who have studied in FATAL FIRE IN JERVOIS STREET. Europe and America, would show the same
oil.
SIX MEN CHARGED WITH ARSON.
#
On the 21st April at 5.30 a.m., a fire broke out at 99. Jervois Street, a building of three storeys, and unfortunately three men. were suffocated.. The ground and the top floors were used by a birds nest dealer, the top floor being occupied It is satisfactory to note that the Secretary by the coolies as sleeping quarters, while the of State is of opinion that no charge should be
first floor was occupied by a dealer in aniseed forced on shipping in the interest of what may
On the alarm of the fire being given the be called the general Budget of the colony-Fire Brigade, under Acting Deputy Superin- I am, etc.,
tendent Corcoran, promptly attended and the work was proceeded with so satisfactorily that in three-quarters of an hour the flames were extinguished and the shell of the building was saved from destruction, the coutents only being destroyed. But although the fire itself did. not assume extensive proportions it resulted in the death of three men, one of them being the master of the aniseed oil shop. They were found, while the customary search was being made, lying in a heap on the floor of the cookhouse on the first floor and it was evident that they had been suffocated. They had been sleeping on the first floor and doubtless they rushed into the cookhouse with the object of saving themselves by means either of the smoke hole or a rope which reached to the top storey, but on reaching this room they were overcome by the dense smoke and fell lifeless to the ground. The origin of the fire is un- known and inquiries are being instituted by Inspector Kemp and Duncan. The insurance is rather heavy. The ground and top floors
On the 20th April Mr.. W. E. Hunt. United States Cousul, was riding an Australian horse along Pokfulam Road, and when near Belcher's battery the horse took fright at something in the road and bolted, Mr. Hunt being thrown to the ground. He sustained some cuts on the face and received a severe shook. Happily a friend witnessed the ac cident and with all possible speed he had the injured gentleman conveyed in a chair to the Government Civil Hospital. We are pleased to say that the injuries were not of a very serions nature and after a few hours' atten tion by Dr. Atkinson M. Hunt was sufficiently recovered to permit of his being sent home. We wish the Consul speedy and complete
recovery.
public spirit, for a Cantonese lady who called on me the other day had a foot measuring shorter than my thumb.
At Changchow, in the west of China, a set of young literati are, like Mr. Chow Fai-ting, printing and circulating the Sinfu appeal. At Chungking a society of young literati has been formed, each binding himself to pay a fine if not discouraging footbinding in his own family. At Siufu they go further and pledge themselves not to bind their daughters feet and not to give them in marriage without first requiring a written promise from the future bridegroom and all his family that no off- spring of the marriage shall be bound.
Surely there must be many Chinese in Hongkong who detest this corrupt practice of modern days, and who know enough of the laws of physiology to understand how injurious it is to women in childbirth as also to their off- spring.. Yet so far we have not heard of any determined attempt to do away with footbinding originating in Hongkong. Having just tra- velled through those beautiful districts of China. famed in song and story, where people are dying by the roadside of hunger, and where in some cities all the inhabitants are taking opium : because there is nothing else for them to take, it would be difficult to describe the painful impression made by the truly hooflike feet of the women there, the ugliest, though certainly not the smallest, I have yet seen. How can they take their proper part in life's work, and sustain their husbands and sons under calamities