336-
TIENTSIN.
12th April. The extra-Concession proclamation of the Taotai has been the event of the month up to date. The matter was virtually decided on March 31st, the last day of Mr. H. B. Bristow's tenure of office as H.B.M.'s Consul, when the Haikuan Taotai sent a formal despatch acquieso- ing in all the essential points of the memorial of 1896. I need not enlarge on the question, as doubtless some of your correspondents in the North have already given it appropriate pro- minence. Mr. Bristow's personal popularity with the high officials has been quite a factor in the happy solution of the pro- blem and he leaves office with the kudos which it was their special desire to ensure; but it is not to be forgotten, as our local organ unjustly seems to forget, that others have con- tributed largely to the result, e.g., Sir Claude Macdonald in Peking, the secretaries and interpreters on both sides, and the Special Committee of the British Municipal Council. "This last body, under the tactful direction of Mr. Edmund Cousins of E-wo, has played an unseen but a strong part throughout all the negotiations, and I am confident that Mr. Bristow would be the first to acknowledge how much is due to Mr. Cousin's fine judgment and strong yet conciliatory spirit. A proposal will be submitted to the new governing body as soon as it is organised that the boundary road be called Bristow Road in compliment to our genial outgoing Consul. Serve him right!
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
been alive to the vast importance of this river | question ever since the lesson of last summer, when the Peiho shoaled up to 4 feet: "he has had repeated interviews with the Consular Body and has manifested an intelligent interest in the proposals urged so strongly by Count du Chaylard, our local doyen. The Peking people supported us admirably, and the Tsungli Yamên adopted an encouraging attitude to Wang Wen-shao: he recently memorialised them that he was prepared to go the length of Tls. 100,000 from the provincial resources; and last week they authorised him to do so. It is expected that His Excellency is ready to go as far as Ils. 120,000, but, as Mr. de Linde's entire scheme will cost nearly three times this amount, there is just a fear that we may see the usual addle that attends half measures, and which is the constant curse of Chinese policy. Locally it is believed that last year's loss alone of the three great shipping companies combined with that of the Tug and Lighter Co. was more than the estimated cost of the whole scheme proposed by Mr. de Linde. It is further understood, though I can quote no authority, that while two of the com- panies might willingly submit to guarantee the interest and sinking fund of a loan, one holds ont on sheer question of principle. Well, it is a curious commercial principle which allows a sum of Tls. 70,000 to be lost for an annual output of Tls. 10,000; especially when an inappreciable increment of the freights would easily recoup this petty sum
[April 28, 1897.
CANTON NOTES.
FROM THE “ CHUNG NGOI BẢN PO.” The houses which were sealed up by the authorities last year because they belonged to merchants who were accused of taking part in the late disturbance in San Francisco have been restored to the owners, the mandarins in Canton having received instructions from the Chinese Consul-General in San Francisco to the effect that the disturbance has subsided:
The 20th instant was the birthday of Viceroy Tan Chung-lun. All the officers in Canton went to His Excellency's yamen to offer him congratulations and make him valuable presents, but His Excellency refused to receive any visi- tors or to accept any presents. It should be remembered that of all the predecessors of Viceroy Tan, only H.E. Chang Chih-tung refused to accept presents offered to him on his birthday. It is said that the value of the pre- sents made by the officers to H.E. Li Han-chang, late Viceroy of Canton, on his birthday was over a million tȧels.
The French Consulate, which is situated next to the yamen of the Provincial Treasurer, is to be removed to Chau-kung-kwan, in Ut-shan Street, near Kwon-yam Hill. The Chau-kung- kwan has already been photographed for the French Consul.
but if that yet-unborn. Corporation has auy all round: it is; however, curious that tlie Cham.ling about the patent, which the Government
sense of the proprieties, it will assuredly also have a Via Consobrina, or a Cousins Square,
́in its street nomenclature,
It is to be noted that there is no Concession, Her Majesty's Government does not take over the lease of one square inch of additional soil; such a enurse is strongly objected to both at Peking and Whitehall; the Chinese officials simply hand over some 1,600 odd mow of land, 900 of which are already in our possession as buyers, to be under our complete municipal control. We shall make roads, fill ponds, close grave-yards and remove nuisances, we shall light the area, drain it, police it, and lay our water pipes therein with precisely the same freedom as we now do in the British Settlement; we shall moreover 'raise taxes by the decree of a representative body, and shall have compulsory power over native owners to pay these taxes, but there is to be no other interference with existing interests (except on grounds of public health), and Chinese are to be allowed to reside in the area.
!
come.
The engineer's scheme has commended itself ber of Commerce and the Consular Body did not supplement it by some financial proposals. The Chinese dearly love a detailed plan, if it be only to discuss, & plan which often precipitates their inchoate or solvent ideas into decisions which result in action. If the Consular Body had suggested a River Conservancy composed of Chinese officials and foreigners with power to raise Tls. 350,000 and to collect a revenue for interest shipping, it would have had some
and redemption fund from the of success. A trumpery Tls. 30,000 a year would be the merest bagatello on the would probably have ensured both subscription Tientsin trade. The presence of foreigners to the loan and judicions expenditure of the
money.
+
chance
The rail contract fell to Mr. C. D. Jameson, an American civil engineer who has been for some time resident in Tientsin. His figures were far and away the lowest sent in, and as he quoted for Carnegie material he was facile The total value of the two con- princeps. signments is said to be just under Tls. 450.000. As this is the first time Ameri- can steel has triumphed over European in competition by closed tenders, it has at
I have no special but I think the explanation of the phenomenon knowledge of the arcana of the steel trade,
is as follows. Carnegie and the second great American rolling mill have coalesced into something like a Trust and have begun an. internecine struggle with the other steel makers
tracted much remark.
:
A merchant has been granted permission to to erect a flour mill in Oi-yuk-tung Street, near the South gate. Last year two merchants were granted permits to erect flour mills, but their permits were withdrawn owing to their quarrel- refused to grant to either of them. his family were attacked recently by a band of A military officer named To Tsan Yung and robbers while passing through the Tak-hing district en route to Canton. The son and con- cubine of the officer were wounded by the robbers, who took away all their valuables. The Magistrate of Samshti district has increased the police force for the protection of merchants trading on the West River.
H.E. Tan Chung-lun has been granted two months' leave on account of ill-health. His Excellency has refused to receive visitors
any
of his leave. and he will not meddle with public affairs except in cases of urgent importance during the time
MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]`
Macao, 22nd April.. The new Governor of Macao, H.E. Senhor Galhardo, is now on his way out and is expected about the middle of next month or a little earlier. No special preparations are being made for his reception and of course there will be no such demonstration as on the occasion of Senhor
Horta e Costa's return last October. His
of his administration will be. Some people Excellency is coming out for the first time and no one
can say what the character
seem inclined to form unfavourable opinions in advance, but I hope before Senhor Galhardo has been here long they will find they are mistaken. This is what all people of good
A new municipal body will probably be formed, but as the existing B.M.C. is by far the biggest holder, its influence will probably be paramount for a long time to The new body will probably use the pre- sent executive, procedure
a
altogether desirable, as it will secure unity of pur- pose and high efficiency from the begin-. ning. Things will probably go slow for the first three years, as it is particularly expedient not to alarm the present Chinese land-holders. They will be apt to regard taxation for road making, etc, as confiscation, tyranny, and all gorts of administrative robbery. It is hoped that within that period the remaining 700 mow may have passed into foreign possession.
Waterworks threaten to be our next public excitement, The Landrenters meet this week and temporary state of affairs. Both he and Excellency stayed at the Boa Vista Hotel. In
to discuss a specific plan formulated by the Tientsin Waterworks Co., and it is generally anticipated that the Council will be authorised to come to an agreement with that corporate body. Just at the last moment, however, a rival company has come into the field, and it is possible that this may ensure a further delay. The essential feature of the rival company is filtration ander high pressure; such filtration claimed not only to exclude organic matter, but to be germicidal. The new scheme also, 1 think, has a clause undertaking to provide water for Municipal purposes gratuitously, but on the other hand the B.M.C. is required to guarantee a certain minimum consumption by the population of the Settlement.
Hydraulics are on the boom just now, for the improvement of the river on the lines sug- gested by Mr. A. de Linde, A.M.I.C.E., is about to be undertaken. Viceroy Wang has
their object being practical monopoly. The struggle is acute, aud Carnegie steel which cost $23 gold per ton to produce is being sold at $17 gold. Mr. Jameson is supposed to have hopped in with his tender in this very peculiar
the Chinese railway's are to be warmly congra-
tulated.
~
Mr. B. C. G. Scott has taken over charge as H.B.M.'s Consul vice Mr. H. B. Bristow retired. Mr. Bristow leaves us with the hearty goodwill and esteem of all who had the good fortune to
know him.
As Consul-General Comte du Chaylard has also left Tientsin. Mr. Sheridan Pitt Read (U.S. Consul) is now the doyen; the interests of the commercial community will be safe in the hands of this able and energetic official N. C. Daily News correspondent.
A shop in China Town, Yokohama, adjoining H.M. Gaol compound, was burnt down on the 11th inst. The European proprietress of the Globe Saloon, close by, went out to see where the fire was and fell down dead, it is supposed from heart disease.
sense wish.
Sir Claude MacDonald, the British Minister,
arrived here on Wednesday morning about half- past eleven, by one of the torpedo boats, and was received with a salute of fifteen guns. His
the afternoon he made an official call on the Council of Government, a guard of honour be ing posted at the entrance to Government House Boa Vista, and the military band played during to receive him. His Excellency dined at the
dinner. His Excellency left this morning about eight o'clock and received a farewell salute of the same number of guns as on his arrival. Italian Convent have been all right since their The nuns and European children of the removal to Green Island, no more cases of plague having occurred among them. A few cases have occurred on the other side of the Convent, where the Chinese children are accom- modated, but the Government has, ordered mat-sheds to be erected behind the Guia Fort for these children, and I think we will probably hear of no more cases. In the city there is nothing of importance to report in connection with the disease, but the authorities are taking