78.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[July 21, 1897.
consult with the direction of the Chinese Com- | THE KING OF SIAM CHANGES HIS pany to settle the condition of the extension.
7-No foreigners in China will be permitted to obstruct the performance of this Convention. If the Chinese (Government) should become involved in war with any other country, and in case the assistance of the Belgian employees should be required by the Chinese Government the said employees shall not be at liberty to refuse to give such assistance.
PLANS.
HE GOES TO RUSSIA FOR POLITICAL
REASONS.
his visit to Europeau capitals. From Switzer- His Majesty has changed the programme of and he has visited Italy instead of going on to Paris as was first intended. It is now learned that Paris will be left out of the royal programme until after the King has returned from Russia and paid his respects to the Czar at St. Petersburg.
I Siamese circles two reasons are heard discussed for this change of programme. It is affirmed with what truth we cannot say--that the King had intended, if possible, discussing the political situation with M. Hanotaux, but that Prince Sevasti was given a bint that such by the French Minister. an irregular proceeding would not be followed
8.- It is agreed that the Belgian Syndicate shall send a competent engineer to control the construction of the railway in its own interest, and at the same time the same engineer will take charge of the plans; but all such plays shall be submitted to the Chief of the Chinese Company for authorization. This engineer shall be under the sole control of Chief of the Chinese Company and the control of the railway will be always in the hands of the Chinese Com. pany. Within the limit of the time the salary of the engineer will be paid by the Chinese
The second reason alleged for the change of Company and fixed by the Belgian Syndicate.
9. All employees of construction and. ad.programme is, that the King hopes to meet ministration shall be recommended by the President Faure in St. Petersburg during the Belgian Syndicate, and accepted by the Chief visit of the French President to the Czar, and will endeavour to interest the Czar in the poli- of the Chinese Company and the contract with tical condition of the country with a view of the employees for a long or short time shall be securing his influence with the French Presi- only determined by the Chief of the Chinese dent. It is also alleged that His Majesty will Company, and all other employees beside the probably endeavour to discuss Franco-Siamese Chief Engineer of the Belgium Company shall difficulties with President Faure while he is be under the strict control of the Chief of the in the. Russian capital. It is, however, very Chinese Company; every employee, either foreign or Chinese, shall be in perpect accord. improbable that either the Czar or President 10-All that is included in clauses 8 to 9, tween the diplomatic agents of the Republic Faure will interfere in the negotiations be- with reference to the foreign employees. lf any irregularities, shall arise which could affect' the personal reputation of the foreign employees the Chief of the Chinese Company will have to inform the Chief Engineer in order to take steps to annul the contract between the Com- pany and employee.
11-All material that cannot be made in China shall be purchased in a foreign country. The half of this material shall be furnished by the Belgian Syndicate at a price which shall be equal to or lower than any other tender; the other half will be offered to public tender and the Belgian Syndicate will have the right to furnish it at the price which may have been previously offered by any other private source than public tender. If there be any material which cannot be divided in such a manner as to be offered at public tender, the Belgian Syndi- cate will have the right to furnish such material at such price as any that have been offered to the Chinese Company from private sources; these terms apply also to freight on the said material.
and Siam.-Siam Free Press:
C
HWAI RIVER COUNTRY:
ATTACK ON A GOVERNMENT
STATION IN NORTH BORNEO,
MAT SALLEH AGAIN.
3
A EUROPEAN OFFICER CAPTURED. The Singapore Free Press publishes the following special telegram :~
Labuan, 12th July. The British North Borneo Government
Station at Gaya was attacked by sixty rebels under Mat Salleh on Sunday morning.
The town and Government Treasury were burnt and looted.
killed.
One police corporal and two prisoners were
Mr. S. Neubronner, the Treasurer, has been
taken prisoner.
Mr. Godfrey Howett and Mr. Joseph Wheat- ley have left Labuan this morning in the steamer Ranee with eight Dyak police.
They should reach Gaya at noon to-day, [On the 23rd September last three North Borneo officials, Messrs. Flint, Dunlop and Little, with their police force, attacked the fort erected by Mat Salleh, the notorious brigand, his followers to take to flight into the interior, outlaw and murderer, and compelled him and leaving several dead unburied. stockade was burnt.]
The captured
CANTON NOTES.
擎
| FROM THE "CHUNG NGOI SAN PO.”| Viceroy Tan has applied for two months' leave on account of sickness. His Excellency still resides in his Yamen, but declines to act with reference to public affairs except in cases of great importance.
The West River in Namhoi, Samsni, San-oi, and Suntak districts is again higher than usual by three feet. In some parts it nearly over- flows its banks. The natives of the districts mentioned are now burriedly repairing the dykes and villages are keeping constant watch on the river.
The police are very active in making raids on gambling houses, under instructions from the Governor. A good many cases have been brought to light and many offenders have been convicted. Some fantan gambling houses have been sealed up by the Government. H.E. the Governor went himself in the disguise of one of the common people to make inquiries con cerning crime of all descriptions on the night of the 10th instant and several following nights.
New regulations concerning the Toi-pau likin levied on coal have been posted up. Every ton of coal of first quality is to be charged six candareens, and that of second quality three candareens. Every hundred catties of native coal is charged one-tenth of a candareen. Comparing this new regulation with the old one the likin duty is now a little
Having recently spent six months time in travelling in the region usually known under the above caption, it may interest your readers to hear something from that large and some what unknown region, and especially as regards its possibilities for trade. The Hwai River Country may be roughly outlined as embracing the northern third of the province of Anhuei and the eastern half of that of Honan-a district of about 5,000 square miles with a population estimated at 25,000,000. Topo- graphically it is a high and almost treeless plain gently sloping toward the south-east. with a few hills near the water courses to break the monotony of the landscape. The soil is fertile, in most places exceedingly so, and pro- duces large crops of wheat, millet, hemp, tobacco and opium, as well as various kinds of vegetables and fruits, while horses, mules, 12.-The Belgian Syndicate is entitled to donkeys, cattle, sheep, goats, and hogs are have a commission of 5 per cent. on any mater.
reared in great numbers, but from a lack of ial furnished by the company, but the material proper trade relations with the outer world from Peking to Pao ting-fu shall be excluded. these products are exchanged in a limited 13-Each company will send a representative amount only with the surrounding districts for to Belgium to examine the material; their
other commodities. The people are industrious salaries and expenses shall be paid by their res-
and intelligent, and only need the proper en- pective companies. In case there be any discouragements to develop into a thriving com-lighter. agreements between them, an expert in suck mercial people. At present a limited amount matters is to be appointed arbitrator, the fees of trade is carried on with the port of Chinkiang, to be paid by the party found to be in the and we think that if the proper effort was made by those engaged in the development of trade in China a large and remunerative market could be built up in oil, lamps, clocks, matches, cotton, woollen and linen goods, timber and agricul
The last tural implements and machinery. named should be manufactured especially for the Chinese market, and until the trade was established efficiency would need to be sacrificed in a measure to cheapness and the prejudices of the people, especially in the matter of design. On the other hand a large supply of wheat, millet, hides, wool, and perhaps tobacco could be found that would find, under proper care, a ready market in other parts of China or abroad. This entire region is watered by the Hwai River and its many tributaries. and is thus in direct communication with the port of Chin- kiang via the Grand Canal and Hwai River, which route we found by frequent soundings to furnish a channel with a minimum depth of about four feet of water, during the low water season, as far as the large city of Chengyang-kwan, some 400 miles from Chingkiang, aud I believe that a line of light draught steamers could successfully ply on this route were permission granted by the proper authorities.-Shanghai Daily Press Correspon-
wrong.
14-The Belgian Syndicate and Chinese Company will not cede their right to any one else.
15-If in case of force majeur the Chinese Company shall not be able to pay the interest agreed upon and the amortization the Chinese Company and Belgian Syndicate agree to extend the time during which payment is to be nade and on the same terms and interest. If the Chinese Company shall pay the whole capital before the expiration of the term, interest to cease from that date.
་
16. Ratification to be made two months after the signing of this contract to be approved by the Chinese Government.
17.-This contract to be made in French and Chinese; if any difficulty arise re the inter- pretation of the contract, the two languages will be taken and accounted valid.-China Gorette,
We have received from the Harbour Master a copy of the following telegram from the Master Attendant, Singapore:-"Singapore, 17th July. Steamer Farfalla missing between Condor and Anamba. Advise steamers going that direction render assistance,"
dent.
A curious story is told to the effect that the sea in Kinchow district is exceedingly clear, so that the bottom can be seen distinctly from the surface. It is said that if the bottom of the sea can be seen distinctly from the surface a sage will soon appear.
A fight broke out a fortnight ago in the village named Sheangtak, in Hoifong district, between the two clans named Wong and Ku. The result was that the Ku clan was defeated. Over forty of its men were killed. The case was reported to the local Magistrate, who sent some soldiers to be stationed there.
HONGKONG.
The sensational scandal caused by the alleged acceptance of bribes by police officers has culminated in the arrest of Inspector Witchell, who has been committed for trial on charges of neglect of duty and receiving bribes. Two interesting cases have been heard in the Supreme Court, but naturally the scandal is the sole topic of conversation.
1
There were 2,400 visitors to the City Hall Museum last week, of whom 185 were Ea ropeans.
Manila has established nine days' quarantine upon arrivals from Amoy, and a precautionary observation of one day in the case of arrivals from Hongkong.
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