476-
therefore landed and put in a house in the vil lage. Only two men were left in the guard boat to keep watch on her during the night. About midnight a long boat containing about one hundred robbers came up to her. They were greatly disappointed at finding that, contrary to their expection, no money was in the guard boat. They carried away all the valuable clothes
and weapons they could find.
HONGKONG.
The movements of British men-of-war on the China Station have lately created some amount of oxcitement, but in well informed circles it is considered that the concentration of the fleet up north is merely a precautionary measure and not in any way indicative of a crisis. On the 8th inst. the Legislative Council met. On the 9th and 10th the annual regatta was held, the afternoon of each day being observed as a holi- day. On Saturday last H.E. the Governor presented medals to certain gentlemen who had rendered assistance during the Diamond Jubilee celebration, and on Tuesday His Excellency attered a few words of advice to the Committee
of the Tung Wa Hospital. A boxing tourna ment at the City Hall on Tuesday night at- tracted a big audience.
There were 2,354 visitors to the City Hall Museum last week, of whom 149 were Euro-
peans.
The Beef Guild notifies a further increase in the price of beef, owing to the scarcity and high price of cattle.
Two recruits for the police force, who arrived by the last English mail, were sworn in by the Magistrate yesterday.
H.E. the Governor has given his assent, in the name and on behalf of the Queen, to the Vagrancy Ordinance.
It is notified in the Gazelle that Monday, the 27th December, is to be observed as a public holiday, the 26th being Sunday,
The stamp revenue last month amounted to $25,512, being an increase of $9,263 on the amount collected in the corresponding month of 1896.
The steamer Pakhoî, which arrived on Sainr-
day from Ticatsip and Chefoo, rescued twenty- two Chinese sailors from a Shanghai junk in distress north of the Brothers.
Sir Alexander Buller, C.B., having been pro- moted from the rank of Vice-Admiral to that of Admiral, hoisted his flug at the main on Tues- day on H.M.S. Centurion,
The steamer Glencarn occupied nine days on the voyage from Hongkong to Singapore. The long passage was beginning to cause some fears us to the vessel's safety.
It is notified in the Gazette that owing to the prevalence of foot and mouth disease amongst the cattle in the colony in epidemic form, the Vaccine Institute has been closed until further
notice.
At a regular meeting of the Eothen Mark Lodge held on 13th Dec. Bro. S. Hanisch was elected Worshipful Master, Bro. A. O'D.Gourdin, Treasurer, and Bro. J. R. Grimble, Tyler, for the ensuing year.
In connection with the Camp Gazette there has just been issued a well executed collotype portrait of HE. Sir William Robinson, G.C.M.G., Honorary Colonel of the Corps, The likeness is a capital one.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The hon. treasurer of the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals begs to acknowledge with thanks the following donation to the funds of the Hospitals:
Fruit & Vegetable Guild
850
We have been informed that the Pahang Government have granted the Punjom Mining Company a lease to an area of fifty square miles of territory and that favourable conces- sions as regards the labour conditions governing as largo an area have been extended to the Company. The Company's original prospect ing lease expires in March next.
The following is the record in the Football six-a-side competition to 11th December
Teams.
Moberley Looker Davies Mackay Wood
Matches
Played.
πιο Μ.
3 1
~ Lost.
-NO- Drawn,
OT10:00
Goals
for,
1 Against.
3 0 2 Scratched
5
4
[December 16, 1897.
H.E. the Governor bas confirmed the fol. lowing appointments in the Police Force:- Inspectors Butlin and Kemp, to be first-class Inspectors; Inspectors Duncan and Hannah to be second-class Inspectors; Sergts. Robertson, Baker, and Gillies, to be third-class Inspectors.
The British steamer Ocampo, which left Hongkong for Kobe on 24th November, put into Nagasaki on the 3rd instant, having en- countered a severe typhoon on the voyage, which for several days prevented her from making any headway, and her coal having been ex- hansted by that time, a portion of the cargo was used as fuel to enable the vessel to reach Nagasaki. She left the same evening for Kobe after having replenished her buukers.
The annual installation meeting of the St. John's Lodge was held on Saturday evening, 11th Dec., when Bro, William Farmer, was installed as
Right Worshipful Master for the ensuing year by the Right Worshipful District Grand
4 Master, Hon. C. P. Chater, C.M.G., assisted by Wor. Bro. E. C. Ray, D.D.G.M., and the Grand
Wor. Lodge officers. Right Bro. Farmer then invested his officers as follows: S. W., Bro. J. Lochead; J.W.,
At the Magistracy on 11th Dec. R. F. Town- sand, an overseer, was charged with indecently assaulting three little girls, whose ages ranged from four to seven years. The assault. it is alleged, was committed in defendant's house the girls and the case was remanded until the on Friday. Evidence was given by two of 14th Dec,, bail being allowed in two sureties of $150 each or one surety of $300, On the 14th the accused was sentenced to six months' hard
labour.
Sam Yeen, who was convicted in June last of being the keeper of a gambling house at No. 2, Wa Lane, and sentenced to nine months' im- prisonment, has been released from Victoria Gaol, after serving nearly six months of his sentence. It will be remembered that Sam Yeen was one of the witnesses who gave evid ence in connection with the police scandal. On learing the gaol he was escorted by a detective to a police pinnace and conveyed on board the night boat to Canton as she was leaving the
harbour.
With reference to the recent notification by the Beef Guild of an increase in the price of beef, we are informed by a gentleman who has recently returned from a trip up-country that there is no scarcity of cattle and that no en. hancement of price has taken place in the graz- ing districts. Whatever scarcity or dearness may exist is due solely to the squeezes to which the owders are subjected on the way to Canton and at that city. It is suggested that the mat- ter is one the Registrar-General might profit-
ably investigate.
The following returns of the average amount of Bank notes in circulation and of specie in reserve in Hongkong during the month ended 30th November, 1897, as certified by the mana- of the respective Banks, are published:
Banks.
Average
Specie in A mount. Reserve.
gers
$2,820,782
Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, Hongkong and Shanghai Bank- ing Corporation, $5,892,270
National Bank of
China, Limited, $ 450,000
$9,163,052
$1,600,000
$2,000,000
$ 205,000
Total
$3,805,000 About half-past ten o'clock on the morning of the 14th December building at
A startling rumour was current in the colony on 10th Dec. It was to the effect that the Cen- turion and Iphigenia had been ordered to be in readiness to proceed to sea within twenty-four hours and that this order had been given in con- 92 and 94, Hollywood Road, collapsed sequence of the projected, occupation of Port and a little girl was buried in the debris Arthur by Russia. We have been unable to and killed. For some time past extensive verify the report. but there is no doubt alterations to the wall have been in progress, and that unusual activity is being displayed in the just before the occurrence Sergeant Smith and Naval Yard, workmen in some of the shops be- P.C. McSwayd noticed that the wall was bulging. ing engaged night and day. On 10th December They had just turned to go to the police station Admiral Buller, Commodore Holland, and the with the object of getting the building shored principal naval officers had a private conference up, when the wall collapsed, bringing with it at the Naval Yard, and it was rumoured that the front of the building. The building con- the Centurion would be despatched to the Northsisted of two storeys and with as much haste early this week, It is well known that as possible a search was made amongst the the Centurion has been held in read debris. P.C. MoSwayd rescued a girl from one iness for some weeks past, So perhaps ker coming departure is nothing more than the carrying out of original intentions, Admiral Buller, we hear, will also proceed North, but it is not known whether he will go by the Alacrity or the Centurion.
shop and she was at once taken to the hospital, but her injuries were of such a serious nature that she died before the institution was reached. Another girl received injuries to the head, but fortunately they are not serions. The other occupants escaped uninjured.
=2
Bro. G. G. Burnett; Treasurer, Bro, C. Parksou; Secretary, Wor. Bro. F. Howell; S. D., Bro. J. Burgess; J. D., Bro. A. Weill; Organist, Bro. A. J. M. Farr; D. C., Bro. W. Robertson; I. G., Bro. F. Powell; Tyler, Bro. J. Jorus. After the closing of the Lodge the brethren sat down to a banquet. The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and songs and recitations were given.
The annual installation meeting of the United Service Lodge was held on Wednesday evening,
8th Dec.. when Bro. D. Hall was installed as
Worshipful Master for the ensuing year by the Right Worshipful District Grand Master, Hon. C. P. Chater, assisted by Wor. Bro. E. C. Ray, D.D.G.M., and the Grand Lodge Officers. Worshipful Brother Hall then invested his officers as follows:-S.W., Bro. J. Bremner; JW., Bro. B. Greet; Treasurer, Bro. S. W. Hurst; Secretary, Bro. W. L. Ford; S.D., Bro. G. W. Watling; J.D., Bro. R. W. Strugnell; D.C., Bro. W. H. Woolley; I.G., Bro. J. H. Varcoe; Steward, Bro. W. Robertson; Tyler, Bro. J. R. Grimble. After the closing of the Lodge the brethren sat down to a banquet. The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured and a number of the brethren fav-
oured the company with songs and recitations.
As was anticipated, the concert at the Volun- teer Institute on Saturday evening. 11th Dec., was a complete success. Major Sir John Carrrington, Commandant of the Corps, presided. There was
a large attendance of Volunteers and their friends, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. The songs and recitations were all good and there were so many that the national an- them was not sung until a few minutes before midnight. The performance of M. Merck was one of the best musical treats we have listened to. He gave two cello solos in a most masterful manner and latter in the evening he, Mr. W. G. Bentley, and Mr. G. P. Lammert performed Braga's serenade, Mr. Bentley playing the clario- net and Mr. Lammert the piano. This item was particularly rich and gave the utmost satisfac- tion. The arrangements were in the capable hands of Battery Sergeant Major Duncan, and we should like him to organize a concert at
headquarters once a mouth.
COMMERCIAL.
TEA.
SHANGHAI, 10th December. From Meagra, Welch, Lewis & Co's Circular :— Our last "printed "Tea market advice were dated 26th Blak Tea.-A small business has been ultimo. done at about previous tael prices. The lowest but more quotation for whole af Tia is Tls. 11 apicul, attention has been given to the better classes.
Settlements reportel are :- Ningchow Hohow
Oonam
1,100 J-chts, at Tis. 11} to 17ļ pienl. 1,591
11 to 17 142
ja to
n
}
*J
23-chests.
Stock, 13,254 chests.
19
Green Teas. The United States Customs In- spectors continue to "shut out Teas in a most erratic manner. The position seems to be that the whole business of the season bas been based on estimates of very short supplies, which if not
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