October 7, 1897.]*
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
ties. It is a law that is desirable in the inte- | FOREIGN EDUCATION IN HUNAN. rests of the currency, but it is a law whose enforcement at this moment would cause much inconvenience, coufusion, and loss. Just now, when the food of the people is dear, it will be a
great hardship to render useless, by proclama tion, coins which for years have been in circula- tion in the Colony. In all the circumstances, would it not be well that the Government should necept these coins for, say, a week, at a slight discount-a very slight discount. The Straits Government might, then, at a very small loss, prevail upon the Goreruments of British North Borneo and Sarawak to take over The the coins of their respective States. Governor, as High Commissioner for British North Borneo and Sarawak, would no doubt be able to carry through the transaction successfully.-Straits Times.
"DAILÝ
[SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE
PRESS."] Singapore, 4th October, 11.55 a.in. The threatened riots have not occurred.
[Seditions placards, in Chinese, were recently posted at Singapore inciting to a rising, and inquiry disclosed the existence of considerable ferment. Yesterday was the day fixed for the proposed rising, but the precautions taken by the authorities to cope with it if it occurred have apparently overawed the instigators.]
THE “COPTIC" IN COLLISION.
By the O. & O. s.s. Coptic information is to hand of a collision which took place at Kobe on 22nd inst. between the Coptic and the Osaka Shosen Kaisha steamer Minatogawa maru. The Kobe Chronicle says it affords another illustra- tion of the danger of allowing the Osaka steamers to run at full speed in the harbour. The Coptic was coming in from Yokohama, while the smaller steamer was going at the usual rapid rate in the direction of Osaka. At the time of the collision the Coptic was coming around the Riojun-maru. The Coptic's whistle was repeatedly blown, but no notico appeared to be taken of the warning by the Minatogawa until the steamers were close upon each other. Both then went full speed astern, but the Osaka steamer in dropping an anchor slacked off enough chain to allow her to run into the Coptic. The latter had two or three plates broken near the bow, while the Osaka steamer also sustained some injury.
HOW THESE CHRISTIANS LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
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A MAN-OF-WAR TO SEPARATE THEM, -
Shanghai, 25th September. We regret to learn than the Christian con- verts of the Roman Catholic and Protestant Missionaries at Taichow, near Ningpo, are again in each others' hair and in proof of their Christianity are killing and maiming each other -to show their religious fervour. Considering the policy openly pursued by Drs. Ross and Ashmore and the "meek and lowly" advice given by the Rev. Mr. Mason (the author of the vile "Clio Club" papers published some years ago in a Shanghai evening paper) in the current number of the Chinese Recorder, this deplorable state of things is not to be wondered at. We understand that the British authori- ties largely blame the Protestant converts for the state of affairs prevailing in the Ningpo district. So serious has the situation become that H.B.M's Pigmy, with Consul G. W. H. Playfair on board, left Ningpo at 10 o'clock yesterday morning for the scene of the distur❘ bances and with the object of restoring Chris- tian harmony by the aid of naval force if neces- sary. Truly a beautiful comment upon the blessings which the bigotry of Christians bring to the poor heathen! It makes one sick of tho whole hopeless business. We understand that there has been loss of life on both sides, but the affair is a purely Chinese row, native Pro- testant villagers against Catholic villagers. It is not easy to see when Western diplomacy or British gunboats can come in. We should say better let them fight it out in peace and quietness.-China Gazette,
We have frequently of late commented upon the strange and significant fact that in no place in China is the desire for western knowledge so
keen as in the erstwhile recalcitrant and re-
an.
actionary home of Chinese conservation-Hun- In that province the Literary Chancellon Kiaug, and the President of the famous Yolu school, Mr. Wan, are assiduously striving to spread the rudiments at least of European learning, and we are told that at the recent examinations the students, who had been led to expect to find in the papers set before them some subjects of western learning, were greatly dis- appointed that all such favourite topics were omitted by their examiners. The students were not slow to express their intense dissatisfaction at the omission, the subjects chosen being all the time-honoured Chinese classics and nothing else. Mr. Wau has recently obtained per- mission from Chien, the Provincial Governor, to establish n new academy where western science will be taught in addition to the vener- able and moss-grown Chinese curriculum. The local gentry are giving a hearty support to the school-China Gazette.
RUSSIA'S HOLD ON CHINA,
From Peking we learn that since the date of the edict sactioning the construction of the rail- way line to Manchuria from Shan-hai-kwan, the many syndicate-wallahs now operating (or rather we should say). wishing to operate in China, have come forward, offering to lend the money wanted for this purpose. They have, however, bean told by the authorities that by the terms of agreement with Russia it has been stipulated that should China be unable to con- struct the line without borrowing money she can do so; but that should she be unable to do so, Russia reserves to herself the exclusive right to lend the amount upon terms that have been agreed to between the two Governments. China Gazette.
FOUCHOW MACHINE-MADE TEAS.
The Secretary of the Foochow Ten Improve- ment Co., Limited, Mr. W. P. Galton, writes to the Echo under date 24th September as
follows:-
In asking you to publish the following reports from the Seretaries of the Hongkong, and Shanghai Chambers of Commerce on our machine made teas, it may interest some of your readers to know, that during this month, the only one in which the whole of our plant has been available, we shall have turned out about 215 piculs machine-made tea. Leaf gets scarce in September, or we could, have done more and now that the factory is complete, and the natives willing sellers of green leaf, the prospects of the Company for the future are cheering."
Report on three musters of machine-made teas from the Foochow Tea Improvement Co., Limited.
No. 1 Broken Orange Pekoe. Small leaf with golden tips: less broken than consisting of small (immature) leaf: infusion bright, but not so coppery as that of Indian and Ceylon. Liquor clear and of reddish brown colour: malty enred with dull strength but lacking flavour.
No. 2 Orange Pekoo.
Even leaf, fair make, with some orange tips: infused leaf, same complexiou as No. 1-good thick liquor, with malty character.
No. 3 Pekoe.
Remarks.
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THE GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY.
A Wachang despatch reports that H.E. Sheng is expected in that city on the 15th of October to settle with Viceroy Chang the date for commencing work on the Grand Trunk Railway, Considerable material for making the road bed is already collected near Hankow and a number of navvies have been engaged to begin work as soon as instructions arrive from Wachang.-N. . Daily News.
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*
*EARTHQUAKE ON THE BORNEO COAST.
The following telegraphic news has been kindly put at the disposal of the Singapore papers by the General Manager E. E. A. T. Co, It is from the Superintendent at Labuan :-
An earthquake has been felt at Kudat on the 21st.
A slight tremor was observed at several places along the coust.
About same time a new island was thrown up from the sea between Mempakal and Lambeidan fifty yards from mainland opposite Labuan.
The island composed of clay and rocks, mèa- suring two hundred yards by one hundred and fifty yards and sixty feet high, appears to be in gas increasing in size. It omits inflammable several places, with a strong smell of petroleum gas.
The earthquake was not felt at Labuan.
PERIPATETIC SENATORS ON THE SILVER QUESTION IN CHINA.
Senators Pettigrew (Sonth Dakota), Cannon (Utah), and Dubois (Idaho), who are travelling in China and Japan, studying the Silver Ques- tion, have returned from Peking to Shanghai. A representative of this paper waited on the Senators to learn what progress they had made. Senator Pettigrew said that the visit of the Senators to Peking had put them in the posses- sion of much valuable data, which will prove of great srvice to them in the future, and which will be enhanced by having been gathered on the spot in place of that culled from other sources, which however trustworthy cannot take the place of personal investigation.
When asked what the Senators did at Peking "We had several Senator Pettigrew said:- extended conversations with very many of the leading and most influential Chinese officials. The result of these conversations was that we were assured that China will adhere to the silver tael as a basis for her currency, and that it is now seriously contemplated by the Im. perial Government to establish a mint for the free and unlimited coinage of silver into taels, which will be legal tender, and which will be receivable for all Government dues.
Questioned as to who were the principal of- ficials with whom the Senators had these con- versations, Senator Pettigrew said "I do not care to quote anyone," and Senator Dubois ad- ded:
The conditions in this country are so very different to those of our own that we think it would be improper to quote anyone at all during our visit here. In the United States a public man is open to and expects criticism, but we have enjoyed so much hospitality that we would not offend against the customs of the country, against criticising indirectly those in official power."
Senator Pettigrew said: "We are of opinion, formed largely upon what we have gathered, that China will readily and promptly join the United States in a bi-metallic agreement. The United States, however, has waited long en- ough for international action, she has looked to Europe for a long time, and looked in vain, Rather bold light leaf: good clean infusion, and now she must act alone. We now look not to international action for relief nor to the fair strengh.
Tariff Bill as a panacea. Senator Cannon voted against the Bill; Senator Dubois and myself abstained from voting. We two know that by voting against it we could not defeat it, and therefore, I, personally, declined to vote at But I believed then, and all on the measure. said so at the time, that it was a most iniquit ous measure and that the Republican party, should they agree to its passage should also take upon themselves the responsibilities of the con-
From every point of view, these toas are much nearer in character to Indian and Ceylon than they are to China Congou. The liquor is much heavier than that of China Congou, but they lack point and are susceptible of further improvement.
(Signed), ALEX. CAMPBELL,
J. W. HARDING.
Shanghai, 2nd Sept., 1897.
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