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THE EMPRESS OF CHINA " QUARANTINED.
DISCOMFORT OF THE FASSENGERS. The following telegram dated Vancouver (B. C.), 28th April, appears in the San Francisco Chronicle:
William Head, an isolated quarantine station off Victoria, B.C., is to-day a village of a population of over 1,000 people, with at least two doctors and the most Hon., Marquis Breadelbane, Knight of the Garter and Privy Councillor, who is making a voyage of the world, besides several hundred Chinese, all living in an atmosphere laden with fumes of a sulphurous character::
The place became populated very suddenly yesterday on the arrival from the Orient of the Royal Mail steamer Empress of China, flying the yellow flag. J. A. Fullerton, representing the Canadian Pacific Railroad, and Dr. Watt, Dominion quarantine officer, were the only ones allowed to board the big steamer. Dr. Watt was informed that there were two cases of smallpox on board. The disease had developed on the way across. Dr. Watt, in spite of entreaties of some of the passengers, wired from William head that he would detain everyone who had arrived on the steamer, as also those who had been in contact with her any way, that he would hold the crew of the steamer; as also her saloon passengers, in quarantine for the full period, fourteen days. The Empress herself, he said, he would have to detain at least two or three days and if she left then it would be under control of another crew.
When it is stated that the Empress carries nearly 200 in her crew, and that the vessel is intrusted to none other than the most capable navigators and engineers, it can easily be imagined to what expense her owners neces- sarily will be put. It is seldom that one of the liners gets caught with smallpox on board, and if the rule was vice versa the Canadian Pacific Railway would not be in business for long. The cost of maintenance of passengers in quarantine will not, it is said, be all borne by the Canadian Pacific Railroad, for specified on every first-class ticket is a clause not leaving the ship liable in such emergencies. There are 110 saloon passengers on the China, and there are besides between six and eight hundred Chinese. For such a crowd, even with the improvements which have recently been made at the quarantine station by the Dominion Government. there is not adequate accommodation.
The China brings as cargo very much freight. and if detained for long in quarantine, through the inability of the Canadian Pacific Railway to replace her crew on so short notice, shipping interests of merchants in nearly every city of the Coast, as well as those of a great many points inland, will be more or less affected. Passengers are grumbling savagely at the lack of accommodation, and an attempt is being made to charter a steamer with the assent of the authorities, at least for the ladies, so that they will not have to be housed so uncomfortably close together.
THE PEKING RAILWAY.
Who says Peking is asleep! Read this from our very own "special" eyewitness, and rejoice to think of the honour which has befallen the old ceal locomotives of the eighties -
"The 10th of May was really a very import- ant day in Peking, yet very few know or cared anything about it. The first locomotives arrived there about noon, and sidings were rapidly laid to allow of shunting to proceed. The first locomotive happened to be one of two which first came to China for the Northern Railways in 1883, and at one time worked coal trains from Tong colliery to the canal basin, seven miles distant.
"As the earthworks are quite fresh, these light engines are used until it is safe to send larger ones over the track. Thousands of Chinese swarm every day to see the railway, the women especially being very noticeable, and apparently quite forgetful of their usual secluded habits, now something has arrived which is worth seeing. So far as can be gathered all are greatly delighted,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND stock, of which they have only heard exaggerated accounts. The old railway hands swagger about like little gods, creating a certain amount of awe and 'hero worship.'. The most select spot for contemplation seems to be under the cars, where comparative coolness is obtainable. The scene is a busy one and well worth recording, especially amongst the hawkers and hucksters, who are doing a thriving business.
Anyone who has travelled from Tientsin to Fang Tai, about 15 li from the Peking city wall, must necessarily admire the immense work which has been carried out in less than one year. The whole construction, road, bridges, stations, and rolling stock, reflect the greatest credit on the official in charge, H.E, Hu Yueh- fen, his engineer-in-chief, and the other rail- way engineers. The work has been pushed on with the greatest energy and everyone, foreigners and Chinese, praise the capable and honest supervision it has received.-Peking and Tientsin Times,
THE GROWTH OF POLTUNG.
[June 3, 1897 There is talk of lighting the city with gas. "Some time ago negotiations on the subject took place with the Hongkong Gas Company, and now a proposal has been received from another quarter. But will this idea of the Leal Senado succeed ? I doubt it. The Senado wants to make a show of doing much, but in effect it does. next to nothing, and when it meets with diff culties it begins to think how it can raise money and proceeds to increase the taxes. And with all the increase in taxation there is no improvement, but quite the contrary,
Senhor Galhardo has ordered the dredging of the harbour to be proceeded with at once. It is said the work is to be begun in the Chinese way, that is, when the tide is low the coolies will scrape up the sand and carry it away. A commencement is to be made at the steamer wharf.
Senhor Maria Bandeira de Lima bas assumed his duties as Colonial Secretary and Senhor Alfredo Lello has been left with nothing to do. The continued presence of this gentleman in the colony, drawing his pay and doing nothing, is becoming ridiculous.
CANTON NOTES:
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FROM THE CHUNG NGOI SÀN PO” Commissioner of Customs inviting the mer- A notification was issued by the Canton chants of the seventy-two guilds to call on him regard to the modification of the postal laws. on the 22nd May to devise suitable plans with
appointed, but the result of the meeting is Some merchants went to see him on the day unknown,
last few years to the resident of Shanghai is the One of the most surprising things during the rapidity with which various districts have been changed in a short time from country to busy manufacturing or residence centres. Every reader can think of instances, but probably one of the greatest changes has taken place in Pootung during the last year. Where only fields. there are to-day a large cotton spinning one short year ago there was a morass and paddy
and covering acres of ground, and a cigarette mill, with dozens of houses for the operatives, factory, with fair roads running in all direc- tions, and policed by Sikh watchmen. This spot is to the south and east of the Customs signal thunderstorm was experienced in Canton. The On the afternoon of the 20th May a great station, and is on the waste ground that only a year ago intervened between that landing the neighbouring villages were damaged, either wind also blew very hard. A good many trees in and the nearest godowns. river there is now an almost continuous row of small girl ten years of age were killed by light- Further up the by lighting or by wind. Two women and a godowns, and julging by the state of the paths ning whilst they were taking their supper in there must be a very large Chinese community their house in Sui-hing Lane in Honam. A on the peninsula that was not there before. farmer who was working in a field in Shik-taw Certainly it takes one all his time to keep track village with two cows was also killed by light- of the progress of the Settlements.-Shanghaining and the animals shared the same fate. A Daily Press,
MACAO.
afternoon teas
on
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large house in Ku-tai Street, inside the city, was badly damaged by the lightning. Large hailstones fell in Chang-chow at the time of the thunderstorm. It is said that the hailstones were as large as beans.
On the 20th May a thunderstorm was also experienced in a village named Cheung-pak, in and twenty houses in the village, and nearly Kn-in district, There were about one hundred
gale, but no life was reported lost. It is said com-half the number were blown down by the strong that a woman carrying her child in her arms of about eight li. was carried in the air by the gale to a distance
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.
Macao, 28th May. Great resentment is entertained here against Mr. Herbert Goffe, Acting British Vice- Consul, in consequence of an insult offered by him to the whole Portuguese munity. A circular was sent round to the members of the Tennis Club (which includes amongst its membership a few Portuguese) on which they were asked to signify if it would be agreeable to them that the Club should occasionally have
the invite their friends. Many members agreed club ground, members being allowed to to
bat the proposal
Mr. occasion to make the following remark on Goffe took
the circular- "All nationalities may be invited bar the Portuguese." This was, to say the least, very impolite as well as indiscreet on the part of Mr. Goffe. Possibly he may not like some of the Portuguese who go to the Club, but that is no reason why he should bar the whole community, especially in a colony that belongs to Portugal, as that makes the insult a national one, I am sure that any Englishman of good sense will disapprove of what Mr. Goffe has done. If Mr. Goffe wishes to be respected he should show respect to others, Foreigners in this colony are well treated and friendly feelings have always prevailed between them and the Portuguese. Mr. Goffe's predecessors were respected, because they were gentlemen and knew how to conduct themselves in a foreign country. After what has occurred it would be agreeable to Macao if the British Government would transfer Mr. Goffe to an appointment elsewhere.
On Saturday last Senhor Arthur T. Barbosa returned from Lisbon and resumed his old place as Inspector de Fazenda National. The steamer wharf was decorated with flags and a half- finished triumphal arch, ard the principal Chi
with much firing of crackers,
A big fire broke out in a bamboo shop in Yung-ki, in Suntak district, on the 10th May. and two men were suffocated. The origin of Over fifty houses were burnt to the ground
ignited the bamboos, so that the fire spread the fire was the upsetting of a candle, which
rapidly.
The students of the various schools have sent a petition to the Viceroy objecting to the two merchants who, as reported, have farmed out the Waisan lottery, on the ground that they have, joined in partnership with the old farmers, who are known to be most cunning and malicious people, and the petition represents that if they become the farmers, it will be a danger to the examinations.
On the 21st May Wuchow was flooded. A good many boats were carried away and a junk carrying about twenty passengers was capsized, not one of the passengers or crew being saved.
A man named Fung Cheong, who was living in Ta Kiang village, was buried alive by bis clansmen, the reason being that some time ago he swindled sixty dollars from them under the pretence that he was go- ing to repair the ancestral tombs. At last his trick was discovered and he was arrested, but as he had spent all the money and was unable to refund it his clansmen dug a hole in the ground to a depth of about eight feet and buried him alive. The mother of the deceased reported the case to the local magistrate, who has called
the arrival of the are anxiously awaiting nese monopolists received their great advocate upon the san-sz of the village to arrest the
larger engines and rolling
offenders.
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